Hiking Notes: Bedford Branch Library

I wrote the following hiking notes in 1999:

Bedford Branch Library

Municipality: Temperance, Bedford Township

Trail name: Library Nature Center Trail

Trail Distance: .25 miles of designated trail loop; 1 mile including umnaintained loop trail

Surface: woodchips on maintained sections, dirt and sand in umnaintained areas

Difficulty: Easy

Directions: From Monroe, travel south on Monroe Street (M-125) to within 1.5 miles of the Ohio border. Turn right on Sterns Road. After about 3.5 miles, turn right on Jackman Road. Follow the library signs about 1.5 miles and park in the southwest corner of the lot. The drive from Downtown Monroe is 19 miles and takes about 20-25 minutes.

Facilities: Water, bathrooms and books are available within the library. Monthly, guided nature walks are also conducted by library staff.

Contact: Contact the Bedford Branch Library: 8575 Jackman Rd., Temperance, MI 48182; (734) 847-6747

Description: The Bedford Branch Library is the jewel of the Monroe County Library System. Facilities are modern and a nature center has been developed behind the building. To find the trailhead, head left of the main entrance. Follow this for a quarter mile until you
almost return to the parking lot. This is the end of the maintained path. At this point, you will see a well-worn dirt trail heading off to the right. There are occasional spur trails, but if you follow this main path, you will pass through a wooded area and reach an intriguing dune area. When I visited in June of 1999, there was a pond in the middle. This would be a very nice place to read a book or eat lunch. Follow the edge of the dune area to the right and pick up a trail that leads back into the woods. After a short walk, you will hit an intersection. Stay left. The trail to the right leads to private property. The trail to the left leads back to the dune. Again, follow the dune to the right and pick up another trail that connects to the trail back to the library. The unmaintained trail totals about.75 miles. Just a note: 1 believe that the unmaintained trail crosses Bedford Schools property, so be mindful of school hours.

Recommendation: I found this trail to be very interesting. Birders, families and residents of Bedford would especially like this trail.