October 8, 2023
Woke up after a good night’s sleep in my car, ate the fish and chips given to me the previous evening by the campground host (they were good!), and drove north toward Ironsides Island. I knew this NNL is closed to the public due to it being an important breeding habitat for herons, but I was hoping to get a glimpse of it from the nearby shores. No dice. Though a kind home owner offered to let me use their driveway to get a decent view, I only got to see a nearby and smaller island instead of Ironsides itself. Oh well, I tried.
Next stop was Dexter Marsh. Dexter itself is a little town that looked beautiful in its fall foliage, and I stopped by a little shop to get a decaf before trying to find access to the marsh. One little road I tried had a PRIVATE sign next to it, but I had better luck by a boat launching area off Military Road. I got a couple photos of the marsh and Muskellunge Bay. The marsh is “a relatively undisturbed, extensive example of a large bay-head marsh complex” (NPS website).
The forecasted rain and wind had not yet begun, but the skies looked ominous as I arrived at Southwick Beach State Park. One of the trails leading into Lakeview Marsh and Barrier Beach NNL starts just outside the entrance station, and I parked and made quick work of the easy mile-ish trail leading to Lake Superior and the barrier dunes. The waves came quickly, but I managed to stick my hand in the water without getting my feet submerged.
The wind picked up as I left the area and drove down Route 3 looking for more access to the NNL. Found a spot and hiked another trail into the area, making sure to wear a blaze orange vest and hat since I had seen a hunter head into the marsh ahead of me.
My final jaunt was a trail farther south off Route 3. This one followed South Sandy Creek and had info signs about the local fish and birds. It ended at a look-out platform.
This NNL is, according to the New York Dept of Environmental Conservation’s website, part of the largest natural fresh water barrier beach system in NY. It contains a diverse habitat with a multitude of fish, bird, and mammal species.
The rain began before I got back to my car, and the wind started howling before I returned to the campground. I was glad I hadn’t bothered with my tent the evening before, as the other tents had caved in while I was away. I spent the rest of the afternoon in the warm laundry area charging my phone and writing up the rest of my Acadia NP posts. Bob (the campground owner) stopped by at times to chat and make sure I had everything I needed. He’s a great fellow who takes good care of his campground and the people who stay there, so I recommend Up the Creek Campground to anyone going through the Sandy Creek/Ellisburg, NY area.
Spent the night in my car listening to the howling and constant 30mph winds (with 45mph gusts) and the strong beat of the heavy rain on my roof. Slept well in spite of the tempest.