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Maumee Bay State Park

MBSP
Park event information. MBSP reservations
and information.
People always ask me where I windsurf at and when you have the
best spot around the answer is easy. Maumee Bay State Park is
perhaps the best overall park facility for windsurfing in the
Midwest. Just a few miles from downtown Toledo the park is located
on the southwest corner of Lake Erie. You'll find a large parking
lot with grass rigging area and a short carry to the water.
For beginners there is a large inland swimming lake with a special
spot for launching small craft from.
The water quality has been monitored there closely
the last few years. If a problem does arise warning signs are
posted.
The above picture shows a people rigging up at
the 2004 regatta. The park lodge is in the background and you
can see people using the paved bike path. The lake beach is
to your left and is about 100 yards deep and three quarters
of a mile long.
There are
no trees in the immediate beach area to block the wind. Maumee Bay is shallow
and warms up fast in the Spring and stays warm into late October, we even sail
usually through the first weeks of November. The first 100 yards is chest deep,
after that just twelve foot or so.
Northwest winds are the best having a good five miles of clean
air and hit the beach full force - however due to the shallow
bay depths the waves seldom get bigger than three foot even
in 25 knot winds.
Southwest offshore winds mean gusty conditions near shore. However
you can sail just a mile out past the point into the main bay. There you'll usually
find steady wind and just light chop. Also that's where you'll find most of the
hot shot locals.
MBSP
has everything you need for a mini-vacation, a camp ground
or do the resort hotel, even rental cottages on the golf course,
bike and rollerblade trails, golfing and tennis courts.
InLand Swimming Lake at Maumee Bay State Park
This is a large 10 acre lake for swimming, kayaking and even
small sail boats that is right next to the main beach front
on lake Erie. On the far South side is parking Lot #1 and at
the back of that lot is a small craft launch area. This is where
we usually give lessons at. We can't say it's the best beginner
spot in the world but it's definitely a great one. If the wind
and waves are up too much for you on the lake then just head
over to this spot. During even the calmest of August dog days
a easterly breeze will build about 1:00pm that is perfect for
first timers.
Crane Creek State Park
Just down the road about 30 minutes East of Maumee Bay State
Park is Crane Creek State Park. Since MBSP opened in 93 it's
not gotten much windsurfing use but still it's a decent spot
for northwest to northeast winds. Trees line the beach area
so southern winds mean you'll be slogging to get out and in.
The waters are deeper there so an onshore wind generates small
three foot swells.
Kelly's Island in Lake Erie
There are on the water rental houses to be had at
Kelly's Island but they don't come cheap. Also there are
plenty of off the water places and you can then use the state
park public boat launch and beach to sail from. The state
park is on the north side with beach on a large cresent
shaped bay so traditional south west winds mean a big board
to get out. East to Northeast winds are premo. The best part
of Kellys is the waters out there are often clear .. yes you
read right clear clean waters. From Marblehead Kelly's island
is not much more then 4 miles offshore and about a 20 minute
ferry ride. A day trip out there taking your vehicle across
on the Miller ferry from Marblehead won't cost you much more
than $20.
Middle Bass Island in Lake Erie
Take the Miller Ferry from Catawba which requires advanced
reservation (www.millerferry.com).
From Catawba, Middle Bass island is around 9 miles offshore
and about a 40 minute ferry ride. A round trip ticket for your
vehcile and one person runs around $50. There is a newish Ohio
state park with small campground right next to a parking
lot and a great beach launch area right on the west shore. This
small park was recently improved and the state plans to greatly
improve the park in the future. This is really a premo windsurfing
spot especially so when the wind kicks up from the west. There
is a fun restaurant bar named GF Walleyes' within a 5 minute
walk plus Sonny's water taxi runs every hour over to the South
Bass island to the party town of Put In Bay. Below is the beach
area and the camp spots start right at the right where you see
part of a pinic table. In 2007 the campground had no water,
electric or showers but there are restrooms. Also close to the
park is St. Hazards
Resort. This little resort has a little of everything, camping
tent or RV, a bunch of cabins, bar, restaurant, pool, bar at
the pool with entertainment on summer party weekends.
Luna Pier City Beach
North of Toledo about 8 miles is Luna Pier Michigan, the town
has a small sand beach and parking lot right where the road
dead ends into the Lake(all just 1/2 mile off I-75). Southern
or west winds mean big boards to get out as trees and houses
line the shore. However in traditional southwest winds you are
rewarded with some nice flat water sailing and gentle chop.
After launching head south about a half mile and sail just beyond
the power stacks as winds are a little nicer there. Since this
is a city public beach there is no fee to use it.
At a recent session there (Aug 2004) I found the beach to be
groomed, water conditions great and I found some nice 8.0 wind
there. Once out aways you have to watch a little for trolling
fisherman (black flag on stern). Only thing I didn't find was
other windsurfers which does make it a less fun afternoon. Also
I seen a sign that noted a Web site to check water
quality there.
Any type of easterly is prime there though backwash from the
pier and shore walls make launching a little nerve racking.
On a good east blow there are some very nice swells to be found
(though I've not seen them personally I've heard they can be
six foot or so ( sail down to the power house stack to find
them).
Erie Rd - Consumers Power
Just south of Luna Pier Michigan with an entrance from I-75
is Erie Rd and the Consumers Power plant. At the end of that
road is a secret spot that's great during easterly winds. This
is a wildlife area and has like 3 miles of sand beach that's
good for general hiking. Down side is there are no facilites,
you must unload and then park your car about 100 yards up the
road and it's about a 100 yard carry to the water. The power
stacks sorta loom over you .. but nature is everywhere else.
Also I'd not leave any valuables in the vehicle either as this
spot is kinda in the middle of nowhere.
Monroe - Michigan - Sterling State Park
Sterling
State park is at exit 15 on I-75 just a 20 minute drive
north of Toledo. Once off I-75 the park entrance is barely a
1/4 mile away with another mile drive inside the park to the
main beach area. As with most all Michigan state ran parks there
is a daily entrance fee or one can purchase a yearly pass. The
beach area, parking lots and campground area were remodeled
just a few years ago and the restroom facilites are about as
good as they get for a state park. If your camping overnight
it's possible to get a spot right on the sand beach within 50
yards of the water. Parking at the main swimming beach lots
leaves you with a long 100 yd carry to the water. I prefer the
farthest south lot which is even a longer carry but moves you
farther away from the swimmers. There are some nice shade trees
there by the water and alot of nice sand. The beach runs north
and south so an easterly wind means a nice onshore wind. In
all this is a pretty nice place to windsurf from.
Maumee River - Walbridge Park - Perrysburg Area
There are several launch spots like Walbridge park by the Zoo
and Maple Street in Perrysburg. An old favorite was Rossford
City park but they posted signs there years ago and wanted out
of towners to buy a permit. There is a nice small launch area(along
side the park across from where old Coral Burger used to be
on river road) in Maumee about a half mile north of the bridge.
The winds are fickle in the river because it's down in a valley,
however once in a while on strong North or South wind day, there
actually is good short boarding to be found. However perhaps
the biggest downside is the water quality can be ugly at times
especially just after a big rain. There is no monitoring of
water quality that I know of. The river can be quite fun to
longboard on but don't use a long or a good fin .. the bottom
is all rocks!
Maumee River - McClure Area
About 25 miles south of Toledo you get to Grand Rapids where
a dam is, behind the dam the river is deep, slow and wide for
several miles and the river is not in a deep valley like it
is in the Toledo area. The difference between water level and
the top of the west bank I'm guessing is usually less than 20
feet.
Currently these are virgin windsurfing waters. I'm still exploring
the area for a decent launch site. There are sections where
the shore is not lined with trees that are very good wind wise
but not easily accessible. Your best bet is to launch your power
boat up at Grand Rapids (Mary Jane Thurston State Park) and
go exploring for wind.
Perrysburg - Three Meadows Pond
Located on the east side along I-75 a nice couple acre pond
ran by the city. Winds are blocked there by trees but that's
fine if your just starting out or giving a lesson. The water
quality is usually excellent there as the city runs a swimming
area on one end of the pond.
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