Lime Island State Recreation Area, Protected area in Lime Island, Michigan.
Lime Island State Recreation Area is a protected natural area of about 980 acres located in the St. Marys River between Michigan and Canada. The island features multiple hiking trails across its terrain, sandy shores for walking, and six cabins along with ten platform tent sites for lodging.
The island served as a coal fueling station from 1910 to 1982, supporting maritime traffic throughout the Great Lakes region. Workers and their families created a small residential community during this period to maintain the refueling operations for passing ships.
Indigenous peoples established seasonal camps here thousands of years ago, taking advantage of limestone deposits and the island's location for food resources. Today visitors walking through the area can observe evidence of these early settlements woven into the landscape.
Reaching the island requires arranging boat transportation, as there is no road access to this location. Weather conditions on the river can affect travel, so it helps to plan your visit timing and check conditions beforehand.
The island preserves remnants of its coal station era, including old storage tanks and a coal dock that show how ships were once refueled here. These structures stand as quiet reminders of the industrial activity that once powered Great Lakes shipping.
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