An alluring stretch of beach right in the middle of Cathead Bay is backed by dunes that gradually give way to forest. A few different paths wind through the woods to reach the beach, leading a walker through the secession of forest to dune. The open dunes, along with the numerous blowouts, are a fine example of this natural community, which was once common along the eastern Lake Michigan shoreline. In the sand and gravel flats behind the foredune, state-endangered piping plovers nest and feed. The public stretch of the beach is great to hang out on, but please don't loiter on private property – you are welcome to walk along the beach, just don't set up all your beach gear. Local lore says that Al Capone had a house on Cathead Bay.
Cool things to do: fly a kite at the beach, look for piping plovers nesting in the open dune – but be careful not to disturb them, picnic at the lunch area close by the car park, build a sandcastle at the beach. Hiking, cross-country skiing, hunting, fishing, camping (adjacent), photography, nature study.
Cathead Beach (2005) by Joel Dinda
News from the Week
Stories from the week included a nice story on Leelanau.com's Jeremy Steck from the Leelanau Enterprise, an article on tonight's Conservancy Auction & Picnic (featuring a chance to cook with Mario Batali) and a feature about the Sleeping Bear Dunegrass & Blues Festival. Because the Conservancy auction is held at Woolsey Airport, we did a Leelanau on Location feature on Woolsey Memorial Airport.
The Week's Weather
After starting cool, we jumped back into the 80s and 90s last week. It looks like we'll stay there through the weekend and (hopefully) make up some of our 10" rain debt at the beginning of next week. (maybe a tiny bit today too)
July 26, 2007: Early rain, then mostly sunny & upper 70s (80Ëš/66Ëš)
July 27, 2007: Partly sunny, scattered showers and low 80s (82Ëš/69Ëš)
July 28, 2007: Early morning showers then sunny, light breeze & 80s (84Ëš/61Ëš)
July 29, 2007: Sunny & 80s (84Ëš/57Ëš)
July 30, 2007: Sunny & 90 (91Ëš/62Ëš)
July 31, 2007: Sunny & 90 (91Ëš/68Ëš)
August 1, 2007: Sunny & 90s (93Ëš/66Ëš)
