Take a magical hike in the woods on the Bush Bay Trail near Cedarville, Michigan. With beautiful views of Lake Huron, limestone and dolomite formations, and all the moss that would make a fairy garden jealous. This hike is well worth the stop.
The Bush Bay Trail has been nicknamed “the Narnia Trail” and for good reasons. There’s something whimsical about it.
Bush Bay Trail
There are two ways to access this trail. Hikers can start at the Bush Bay Scenic Overlook and make their way east or at the John Arthur Woolman Preserve and hike west. We began at the Bush Bay Scenic Overlook. There were no signs to indicate the start of the hike and if I hadn’t thoroughly researched the trail beforehand, we may have missed it entirely.
The first half mile of the hike was mostly dirt with plenty of tree roots. We had to watch our steps carefully to avoid tripping. As we continued to move west, the terrain and trail became more rocky. This section varied between flat, smooth rock surfaces, rock steps, and large rocks that we had to squeeze through.
From here, the trail began to smooth out and became relatively easy. There were a few areas that appeared to have recently been or were frequently flooded. During our hike in early October, there was hardly any mud. In the west season, it is likely that there will be sections of this trail that are impassable.
One of my favorite aspects of the Bush Bay Trail was the large boulders that dotted the Lake Huron shoreline, and the large, mossy-covered boulders that the trail wound around.
Roughly 1.1 miles from the start, we reached Narnia. Comparatively, this particular section didn’t offer anything more special than the rest of the hike. It certainly had its share of beauty and magic.
The focus was multiple large, moss-covered boulders. Many of them had small trees growing on top of them and mini ferns mixed in with the moss. We walked through the narrow passages where the boulders formed. It truly was magical and the entire hike was unlike any other that I have been on.
Overall
The Bush Bay Trail is certainly a special experience. From the deep green moss to the beautiful views of Lake Huron and Bush Bay. There are so many unique aspects to this trail. It is great for beginner hikers and captivating for experienced hikers. It is well-marked and easy to navigate.
So put on some good hiking shoes, grab a hiking stick if you want one, and hit the trail.