118 Bay City
State Recreation
Area
wildlife viewing | directions and facility information
 
Photos: © Earl Wolf
Photo: © Earl Wolf
Tobico Marsh in the Bay City State Recreation
Area is one of the largest open-water marshes remaining on the Saginaw Bay, but this area contains much
more than just the marsh. On a short hike you can traverse several
different types of habitats; from cattail marsh, to brushy shrub areas,
to upland hardwood forest. The shoreline is layered with sandy dune
ridges, which once were at the water’s edge, but were left high and dry
as the Bay receded over thousands of years. A boardwalk, two 40-foot
observation towers, and a floating marsh dock with fixed spotting scopes
offer excellent wildlife viewing along the Frank N. Andersen Trail. The Saginaw Bay Visitor
Center features
displays, dramatic dioramas, and a spectacular multi-image slide show.
Enjoy the Field Observation Room with its wildlife feeding area, new
floating dock with fixed spotting scopes in marsh, new boardwalk along
the Saginaw
Bay shoreline, also
with fixed spotting scopes for watching shorebirds. A new rail-trail
connection to the Bay City Riverwalk improves
access to the park, as well as providing an alternate transportation
route and travel way for wildlife.
 Wildlife
Viewing
Photo: © Phil Seng
Good probability of seeing waterfowl and shorebirds almost
year round. Watch for Caspian terns and black-crowned night herons, which
are very common here. In May, you may see pike and carp spawning in the
open water around the bridges and boardwalks along the trail. This area
is an excellent funnel for migrating warblers in the spring. Bitterns are
also seen here. Spend some time on the two observation towers to get a
bird’s-eye view into the surrounding treetops. White-tailed deer are
occasionally seen in the early morning—especially at the northern end of
the trail. Hikers report regularly seeing otter, beaver, gray and red
fox, coyote, and Blanding’s turtle.
Hunting is prohibited on Tobico
Marsh, but is permitted on some of the outlying areas. See a property map
for details.
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