100 Steps Gorge
A few miles south of the Mackinac Bridge on I-75 is an exit to Route C-64. Take this two-lane road west towards Pellston to find a little-known trail system and a hidden area with natural springs in the Douglas Lake Nature Sanctuary. Douglas Lake is a 3,300-acre lake about halfway to Pellston. Most of the southern shoreline is undeveloped. It is owned by the University of Michigan which operates a Biological Research Station there. As you drive west from the interstate highway you will see a sign on the north side announcing the Biological Research Station. A bit further you will see split rail fences on the left. That is where you will find parking for the trails.
The parking area is gravel and is marked by the split
rail fences. At the back of the parking area is the
entrance to the trail system with an excellent map
posted. The map clearly depicts the various loops with
approximate distances for each. While these trails are
simple pathways and are mostly unimproved, they aren’t
too challenging and are mostly under half a mile in
length. There are several shallow canyons/ gorges along
the trails. The most interesting one, the 100 Steps
Gorge, is reached by stairs located at the front of the
parking area. You don’t have to hike at all to get to
the top of the stairs.
There are 100 steps that take you down into the gorge.
Little known outside the immediate area and missed by
most motorists, this is a great stop to see rare natural
beauty. The name 100 Steps is appropriate. The way down
is very steep and there are 100 steps, but it is worth
it. At the bottom is pristine forest and pure running
streams. The streams are formed by springs that bubble
right out of the hillside. There are short trails that
follow the meandering streams. You can walk along
upstream to find the spots where the springs emerge from
the side of the bluff.
The cold water bubbling out of the ground and forming
the streams produces an interesting phenomenon. There is
a 15-degree temperature difference from the top of the
steps to the bottom. Even in winter it is 15 degrees
cooler at the bottom of the steps than it is at the top.
In the summer this is a great spot to pause and cool off
from the heat up above.