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By Joan Young, MCP contributor
Finding a new hiking trail close to home is a surprising occasion for me. And yet, I did just that this month. This is a very short trail, only three-tenths of a mile long. However, discovering it led me to learn more about options at the Mason County Fairgrounds just east of Ludington, beyond attending the annual Fair.
Charles Wing
But first, the trail. The Wing Interpretive Trail was built in 2013, and was named for the original property owners, the Charles G. Wing family. Wing was Mason County Probate Judge, and bought the Ludington Daily News in 1911. At the time of his death in 1920 he was president of the Ludington State Bank He owned a 185-acre farm that is now the site of the Mason County Fairgrounds and the Mason County Airport. The property was sold to the county board of supervisors with the stipulation that the fairgrounds and airport be built.
The trail’s primary purpose is to provide a recreational opportunity beyond that of attending the fair. The trail and other improvements were funded with Michigan Recreation Trust Fund money. The trail is natural surface and passes through a wooded area. It starts on the Fairgrounds Road just a tenth of a mile west of Meyers Road near the Mason County Animal Shelter. It is an incomplete loop, however you can finish the circle on the Fairgrounds Road. You could also turn around and go back to the starting point through the woods. The full loop is 0.4 mile; if you turn around you get 0.6 mile. Most of the trail is shaded, although the eastern end of the U is along a grassy field.
Some of the trees and wetland plants at the east end are identified with signs, which is why it’s called an interpretive trail. There is a bench in a nice clearing near the trail entrance.
There is room for one or possibly two cars to park on the grass at the trail entrance. Otherwise, when there is no event at the fairgrounds there are plenty of places to park that would not be in the way, and this would allow you to lengthen your walk by adding some of the paved pathways through the grounds.
Also, I was not aware that the fairgrounds campground is open to the public except during certain blackout dates. There are 87 campsites and several showerhouses. None of the sites are shaded, but most are pull-through. They have tables and fire rings. Enter from Meyers Road, and there is a self-pay tube and the full list of regulations. Most of the rules are the usual, however, no skateboards, roller blades, or bicycles are allowed on the fairgrounds. The campground is open from April to October, except for the dates around the county fair and the annual quarterhorse show.
A map of the trail can be seen at getoffthecouch.info/mason/wing.htm
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