Quincy/Coldwater Area in Michigan

Trip Overview

This is a pleasant day trip, and an easy paddle. My friend Doug McDougal led this trip. It allows time for talking and gawking as you paddle. We put in at the north end of First Lake (N41 56.189' W84 53.948') and traveled southwesterly through the chain of lakes. Marble Lake is the second one; it is a L O N G narrow body of water with many cottages. We exited at the southwesterly end of the lake, passed under Bennett road, and entered Middle Lake, Archer Lake, and Lake Bartholomew (all three constitute only one body of water).

We exited Lake Bartholomew at its southwesterly corner (N41 52.537' W84 56.109') into a channel. About 1/4 mile down the channel you pass under Central Road and encounter a DNR (Michigan Department of Natural Resources) boat launch on the easterly side of the channel. This is a good lunch stop as there is a convenience store on the westerly side of the channel. If you aren't doing a vehicle shuttle, this is a good spot to turn around and do the return trip. If you are shuttling, there is another nice take out further on down the chain of lakes.

We continued southwesterly into Wright Lake and East Long Lake. From there, we entered into Coldwater Lake and took out at a park and boat launch on the westerly shore (N41 49.837' W84 59.023') at the end of Maxson Road.

Accommodations:

Parking only, no camping. Restaurants in nearby quincy. Motels and restaurants in Coldwater.

Fees:

One dollar entry fee into park. Worth it because you are then near the water.

Directions:

I-69 to exit# 13 (Coldwater MI) just 13 miles north of the border between Michigan and Indiana. Proceed easterly on M-12 for 4 miles. As you are entering the burg of Quincy, a park is on the south side, and a McDonald's restaurant is on the north side of M-12. Take Lake Drive southerly about 250 yards to the park.

Resources:

Street maps to get there: http://www.mapquest.com/cgi-bin/share?sc4cq2idt2gebgqq and http://www.mapquest.com/cgi-bin/share?s40cc2idh27ebnys

Topo map of area: http://www.mapquest.com/cgi-bin/email_topo?sbeal2jdk2yebmxg