Sterling State Park & River Raisin NBP

Our summer in Michigan begins in the city of Monroe. This is our only planned stop on the east coast of the lower mitten and we came here specifically to see: Lake Erie and River Raisin National Battlefield Park.

Sterling State Park

Our first stop is Sterling River State Park where we purchase our MI State Park Pass. This little window decal allows us to enter all the state parks throughout MI without having to pay any daily entrance fees, as well as camp for free on State Forest Lands all summer long. If you’re planning to spend any time in Michigan State Parks, this is a very worthwhile purchase.

Lake Erie

As we leave the entrance station, we wind our way past the marshlands toward the back of the state park to get our first and only look at Lake Erie. It’s cold and very windy; but wow is the view worth it.

Marsh Trail

Next we walk back toward the marshlands and the Sterling Marsh Trail; which is a 3.6 mile paved trail around these unique marshlands. As we travel along we see: otters, muskrat, egret, heron, turtles, bullfrogs, red winged blackbird, and many other species of wildlife. 

The path is well populated with other nature lovers out enjoying the weather and as the day progresses, the sun decides to bless us with its presence. The winds are also much calmer the further we venture away from the lake.

River Raisin National Battlefield Park

Our next stop is River Raisin National Battlefield Park which is only about a city block in size. It has an incredible visitor/educational center commemorating and interpreting the January 1813 battles of the War of 1812. Standing on the battlefield, it’s hard to believe such a small, non-descript area was the site of one of the US’s worst defeats and where the Indian Laws were implemented. These laws created enormous changes in the U.S. that continue today.

Next Stop…. Indiana Dunes National Park