YANKEE SPRINGS
Williams Lake is a little known waterway and attracts very few visitors. That’s why I like it. To get to the lake, take M179 east from Briggs Road. Look for a “Chief Noonday Outdoor Center” sign on the side of the road. Head south at the sign on a unimproved trail.
The trail will take you to the primitive access site.
The site and the surrounding area is home to the biggest pine trees in southwest Michigan. Other stands of these huge pines can be found throughout Yankee Springs. At the landing, under the shade of the forest canopy, is one of my favorite spots to take a lunch break. Right in the middle of the access site is a huge maple tree and next to it is a pine tree of equal size. They grew so close to each other that they fused together, appearing as one tree! You never know what you’ll see when you spend time in the outdoors!
Williams Lake is shaped like a U. The bottom of the U is narrow and makes Williams Lake look like two connected lakes. The boat launch is located on the north side of the U, so I explored the north basin first.
I then paddled through the narrows, which is home to a beaver lodge.
I ended up on the south side of the U (the south basin).
At the west end of the south basin, I explored an unnamed creek.
The creek finally got too narrow for my kayak, so I turned around and headed back down the creek.
When I was back on the south basin, I went to the narrows.
I paddled through the narrows, back to the north basin and the boat landing, ending a scenic trip.
KAYAKING SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN 