e-Touring the Dunescape

From Hoffmaster State Park

Last Sunday, sandwiched into our programs and outreach at GLNMM, we bicycled southward 12 miles to Hoffmaster State Park where we met with park staff, distributed Leave No Trace hangtags and brochures, and interacted with park visitors. It was a beautiful day for a ride, and we were in good spirits when we arrived at Hoffmaster. We were very impressed with the Hoffman Visitor Center. The interpretive exhibits and educational programs effectively present the story of the various components of the coastal ecosystem and its geomorphology. Exhibits also tell the stories of the determined individuals who advocated for creation of such public parks and natural areas, whose efforts ensured that these extraordinary places would be preserved for all of us to experience.



We hiked the park’s boardwalk and climbed the 170 wooden steps that reach the uppermost heights of Hoffmaster’s impressive dunescape. The boardwalk protects the fragile dune ecosystem from the erosive wear and tear of visitor foot traffic. As recompense for our exertions, we were rewarded with spectacular views of blue, windswept Lake Michigan stretching out before us to the west. Clusters of Monarch butterflies caught the shore breezes on their migration south. We spent a full afternoon exploring the park and talking with other visitors, and the sun was settling down into the great watery expanse of Lake Michigan as we pedaled back to our base camp at the USS Silversides in Muskegon.

From Hoffmaster State Park

Hope to see you down the road,

Peggy and Barrett
e-Tour 2010

e-Word: “expansive”