A base camp trip with day hikes to explore historic South Manitou island. The trips begins with a 2 hour ferry ride to the Island located off the coast of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lake Shore. We'll explore giant perched dunes, old growth Cedars, and wild beaches. We will also explore the islands historical light houses, farms, school houses, grave yards and ship wrecks. We'll be camping near the beach and cooking over an open fire for the duration of the trip. Click here for more information about South Manitou Island*

About South Manitou Island

South Manitou Island is part of an island chain off the coast of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lake Shore. The island was created when Glaciers carved out the basin that would become Lake Michigan and left a high ridge of limestone. Over hundreds of years, wind and waves created high, sandy bluffs on the west side of the island which moved inland, forming perched dunes and the interior of the island.
Tucked away on the southwest corner of the island is a grove of virgin white cedar trees. One of the fallen trees showed 528 growth rings, dating its existence to before Columbus.
The island has only about eleven species of mammals, compared to about forty species on the mainland. The island mammals include fox, beaver, coyote, chipmunk, fox squirrel, snowshoe hare, deer, mouse and four species of bats. The small size and isolation of the island make it difficult to maintain a diverse mammal population.
The 100 foot (30 m) lighthouse tower, active from 1871 to 1958, marked the location of the only natural harbor between South Manitou and Chicago. Ships took refuge during storms and steamers stopped at the island to refuel with wood for their boilers.
In 1901 the U.S. Life-Saving Service built a station on the island to assist ships in distress. The life-savers could row out in their surfboat or use a line-throwing gun and breeches buoy to rescue stranded sailors.
The island also has two easily visible ship wrecks from this era. The Three Brothers (1911), can be seen from shore at Sandy Point between the dock and the lighthouse. The Liberian freighter, Fransisco Morazan (1960), ran aground on the southwest shore of the island and still stands visible above the waves.
Farming developed slowly on the island, but by 1870 most islanders were self-sufficient farmers. Surplus crops were sold to passing ships and mainland markets. The isolation of the island provided an ideal environment for growing prize-winning rye, beans and peas. Today, there are no active farms on the island, but farm buildings, abandoned machinery, the old school and cemetery are reminders of the past.


Manitou Island Transit has been helping Crystalaire reach South Manitou Island for over 50 years. Visit their website for more information on the ferry ride and the island.
www.leelanau.com/manitou

Labels:  Base Camping