Maceday Lake
Maceday Lake Paddle
by Cecelia Stinstrom
May 11, 2019
Seven kayaks and two canoes with a total of nine paddlers explored five inland lakes on this trip. From the launch at the Maceday Lake DNR access, we were able to watch an osprey fishing as the group assembled. Due to all the recent rains, water levels were high. We began by paddling north across Maceday Lake into Lotus Lake, where we found the
smallest (but longest) of the culverts we would paddle through. It was a bit of a scrunch for the canoeists, but we all got through and found ourselves in Lester Lake. Due to all the recent rains, water levels were high throughout the day giving all of the culverts and channels plenty of draft for our boats.
After some narrow sections, we got to Greens Lake passing Bay Court Park. Here we saw an interesting pontoon boat that had been turned into a low-tech fireworks barge and a duck blind, an oddity for a
residential lake. Due to the high water level, we were able to paddle a ways up an very swift section of the Clarkston River, but it was really too narrow for sea kayaks so we retreated before getting up to Dixie Highway and the entrance to Dollar Lake.
Regrouping and heading back down the chain, we took a canal system with a sign calling it the Parkview Yacht Club and crossed into Van Norman Lake. This was another route through a culvert usually too
shallow for passage. Here we again headed to the highway, paddling up to the dam.
After a short break, we returned to Lester Lake and through the culvert back into Lotus Lake. Not wanting to just retrace our route back to the launch, we found one last tunnel to transit prior to hitting the home stretch. Overall, we paddled about 9 miles in three hours on a route nobody in the group had paddled before.
After reloading our vehicles, the group repaired to Hilltop Brewing for refreshments. We did have two paddlers who tried to join us but were screwed up by road closures due to a 5k race. Hopefully they can make the next trip.
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Can Cecelia really go through there?
(photo by Vicki Schroeder)
Can Cecelia really go through there?
(photo by Vicki Schroeder)
It looks too small!
(photo by Martin Goschnick)
Tom Gochenour in action
(photo by Vicki Schroeder)
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