What a really nice nature center. Four miles of beautiful hiking trails and it doubles as a kind of sanctuary for wounded animals. I saw more owls then I have in my entire life. They also have a school for kids that seems to be rich in programming. Three bucks to get in and the staff was very helpful. Only thing that would help would maybe more signage around trees. But that's pretty minor. A total gem! read more

Blandford Nature Center - Zoos Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

We came on Saturday at 11:00 in the morning. This is a Michigan must do! Going in, we purchased our tickets ($3 per person) and got to visit with some of the animals they are rehabilitating/giving a better life. Our hearts go out to the animals in their center and the struggle they went through, and we are glad to see them living their best lives now in peace and safety. We walked and hiked around-there was so much to see! You will need some good shoes to walk in, but the hike/walk was not a challenging one. We enjoyed our time in nature and exploring the area. We wished we could have stayed longer than 2 hours. Don't forget to visit their gift shop and make them a generous donation. Their merchandise is wonderful and there is something for everybody. We would have happily paid more for admission-the money goes to such a great cause. We WILL be coming back to this. read more

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Happy Earth Day! It may be raining today, but this weekend shows a gorgeous forecast in store. Take the moment while it's nice to head over to Blandford Nature Center! This is one of my favorite local places to take the pup for long walks/runs. You can park either outside the center at a trailhead on Hillborn Ave NW (just before the main drive that leads into the Center's parking lot), OR you can park at the old Highlands lot (off Leonard St). There are now some paved trails both in the Highlands area and 'woodsy' area, there are some nice trails behind the Nature Center (beyond the animal enclosures). Either way, you get the best of all worlds: paved trail, open skies, and/or woodsy paths. In the winter people will snow shoe or cross-country ski the highlands. In the spring and summer you'll be treated to wildflowers and natural grasses. Keep your eyes open: we've seen wild turkey's, deer, all kinds of birds, etc. It's also a great place for trail running (slopes, hills, flat spots). read more

this place holds a special place in my heart. i've been going here longer than i can remember, my grandparents would take me. peaceful and huge place to explore. they also do great work with rehabilitation. read more

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Blandford Nature Center ⁣⁣⁣ If you're up it, stop by the visitor center, grab a map, and explore! You can even return your map when you leave for somebody else to use next time. ⁣ read more

Blandford Nature Center - Zoos Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

My toddler and I took a hike here this morning around 9a. Actually, we've had a membership for a few months now but it's been so hot and humid, we haven't been going as often as we planned when we signed up. My husband and I walked the trails on the morning of our anniversary back in the spring and actually saw a family of deer really up close! It's beautiful how peaceful and quiet this place is! We stopped by the visitor center to sign in and to say hi to the rescued owls, turtles and possum (not my fave animal!). We decided to do the wildlife trail today which started off by the outdoor caged porcupines and turkey vultures. We kept our scavenger hunt list from the last time we did the trails and found a squirrel, a y-shaped stick, a log, spiderwebs, a green leaf and a brown leaf. We got stuck on wild berries and animal footprints - we'll have to look harder for those next time! Also, I'll have to remember to bring bug spray next time - lots of mosquitoes post rain storm! read more

Awesome place for a nature walk any time of year. One of my favorite places to visit to get some fresh air.

Blandford Nature Center is a nonprofit that offers so much to our community! They are currently closed to the public but their many trails remain open for hiking. My boyfriend and I went to Blandford to hike the other day and enjoyed the sights and sounds of nature. We saw a bunch of deer in the meadow! Since the visitor center is closed, the drive is gated off, so you'll need to park on the street and walk in. The trails are not super well marked but there are maps posted near the visitor center and online. There are three main areas of trails: The farm, the woodlands, and the highlands. We did part of the west loop and the back forty of the Woodlands. It was an easy hike but it was a little muddy in spots. There's not a ton to see foliage-wise at this time of year, but we saw some birds and enjoyed being in nature. It was really peaceful and not at all busy; I think we saw maybe 6 other people while we were there. They do accept donations which you can do online or bring cash and put into their donation boxes. Blandford Nature Center is one of those places that I feel is so amazing to have in the city, where you can feel one with nature. We're lucky to have this spot! I would love to visit again when everything is open and to participate in some of their special events when they start them up. read more

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This is such a hidden gem! Like to take my parents here for the peaceful hikes and wild life. If you happen to get a chance to go during sugar bush it's a truly neat experience. They also run some fun programs for the kids. I got the pleasure the other day to speak with the woman in the blacksmith building and she showed my son and I the things she made that day and how she does it! They have several other little buildings: school house and log cabin. They have a really cool nature center with some birds and turtles. For $3 a person I think it's a cheap day trip to do with the family! Get outdoors and explore. And speaking of exploring if you geo cache we found one on one of the trails! Added bonus!!! read more

Blandford Nature Center - Zoos Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

My husband and I attended the Snowshoe with your Sweetie program here for Valentine's Day and had a great time. There were a handful of dates and times to pick from, but it did end up selling out! We booked it a couple weeks in advance. The event went for an hour and a half and provided snowshoes and a lantern-lit trail through the woods. They also had refreshments, fires, and a photo area. We enjoyed a cup of hot chocolate after a couple of laps around the trail. The staff was also super friendly. Blandford also provides snowshoe rentals outside of this specific event - we will definitely be back for more snowshoeing. read more

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Great place to visit with kids of all ages. I am a member and get free admission to see the animals and discounted summer camps and classes. Staff is always smiling and helpful. They are very engaging and helped me with any question I had. Today I went hiking with the snowshoes they offer for free to members. For nonmembers there is a small fee. Trails are basic and easy to navigate with posted signs. I felt very comfortable hiking on their trails. The animals at the farm are well taken care of and seem happy. Inside there are owls and turtles to observe and learn about. Great place to visit with kids, alone, your pet, and/or significant other. Also, I spotted 6 deer on my hike! Enjoy the sunshine, -Jennah read more

Blandford Nature Center shared that they will be having invasive domestic pet cats on the property. In regards to there social Media post, Cats 100% will still chase birds and other wildlife regardless if they are "well fed". Not all cats are mousers either and shame on them for turning two adoptable kittens into outside cats. There are NUMEROUS WAYS to deter mice ( Barn Sanctuary publicly just showed everyone how to do this!) such as humane traps, storing food correctly, and even getting chickens and Guinea fowl to eat mice if that were the case. This is a very disappointing situation seeing a nature center (former rehab center) that specializes in native habitats on there property is letting cats take over there property.Based off there research, I would say they need to do more, esp coming from a licensed bird rehabber I would be happy to share that info. read more

A hidden gem of pure beauty. Truthfully I don't think I would have gone here, until a friend of mine with a kid suggested we go for a walk here yesterday afternoon. My only reason for not going is that I have always associated it with being something for children to enjoy. I remember going on a school field trip here and it being awesome! Much to my surprise a lovely fall afternoon is great to walk around in the nature trails. There is a small visitor center you must enter before enjoying the grounds. If you are not a member there is a small fee of $3 to enjoy the property. Inside the visitor's center there are preserved animals to look at and fun facts to read. There are even some live birds of prey in the back room too! The only part I didn't get to check out was the wilderness trail, because I had my dog with me. You can bring your dog and walk s/he around the grounds anywhere except the wilderness trail because of the animals they have along the trail kept in cages. The animals don't settle well with the dogs being around. I hear there is a pretty sweet bobcat though! I am curious to go back in the spring time when nature blossoms back up to see what the trails look like around that time! The trails are short and not strenuous by any means, pretty flat. Suitable for all ages. The staff inside was helpful in answering any questions, while providing a map of all the different trails! read more

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So. Great. A little slice of heaven near the city. Right off of Leonard and easy to get to. The trails are really well marked and pretty extensive. In the Visitor Center you will find a cute little gift shop, clean bathrooms and some of their rescue animals (mostly owls). You have to take time to visit them! They have more rescue animals out back on the wildlife trail. There is a farm as well, all connected by a trail system. It's $3/ person to visit, including the trails. It's more than worth it. They also have a yearly family pass you can get and if you're a veteran you get a significant discount on it. You can visit the trails after visitor center hours until dusk if you have a yearly pass. Your dogs can use the trails with you except for the wildlife trail as long as you keep them leashed and clean up after them. It's a great option on a beautiful day. read more

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Attended this year's Sugarbush Festival and liked the place so much, we bought a membership. For a Nature Center located within a completely urban area, I think Blandford does a pretty good job of offering a sylvan respite from its surrounding municipality. For a family with children, the trails offer an appropriate level of challenge but do not require one to be an experienced hiker. I applaud the attempts to house the injured wild animals on-site, though I am glad that Blandford made the recent prudent decision to cease their rehab program in order to better direct their funds to their education piece. One of the most attractive elements of Blandford Nature Center is their partnership with the adjacent Blandford Middle School, a 6th grade program wherein the students have the Center's grounds as an additional "classroom" and learn dendrology, snow and Lake Michigan ecology, cartography, geology, ornithology, economics, environmental threats, wild flowers, Michigan history, and more. Awesome! read more

Assess this place for what it is, not what you want it to be. Nature Center is a perfect descriptor of this place! Let me "walk" you through my visit. My mother's healthy knees are not what they used to be! We were looking for a 1-2 hour walk outside to enjoy the sunshine. We got so much more! The visitors center has a few live birds and others which are primarily used for educational purposes for young kiddos. The walking tour comes with a map of the area and helpful trail descriptions. You're never far from the end, and the green trees seems to surround you at times. Admission? $2. You can swing it. Get outside! Enjoy the beautiful grounds and inquire about volunteering. read more

Walking the trails at Blandford Nature Center is one of the undeniable highlights of life in Grand Rapids. To commune with nature in such a free and relatively unrestricted manner is a rare and valuable experience especially for young ones learning to appreciate and respect our natural environment. And for those individuals who nurse a dependency on TV or the internet, be sure to take some time to talk to the knowledgeable staff at Blandford, as they are always eager to impart their love of the natural world to anyone who'll take the time to listen. While you're there, check out the maple syrup making facility (the maple sugar candy is Deee-licious!), and see if you can't take home a dozen eggs from the on-site chicken coop. Years ago there used to be a small aviary as well with owls and other birds of prey, so ask around if you're ornithologically incined. read more

Clearly Jammy D. is a terd and doesn't have a clue how wonderful this place is to have in our town. Please anyone who is curious about this place disregard Jammy. I don't know anyone who has grown up here or moved here who has not loved this place if they have visited. What a great opportunity for city kids who otherwise never get to see nature. The staff are excellent and very knowledgeable. The trails are great for families, along with all the day camp activities they have through out the summer. Sugarbush in the Spring is not to be missed. Go see for yourself the great wonders that this place has to offer! read more

This place is absolutely awesome! They've a few animals that you can look at my particular favor the great horned owl! But in the last few years the one that's left lost its partner . Anyways there's a brand new built building where they care for the owls and other enclosures for the outdoor animals. And amazing trail that you can hike. Lots of programs for kids and families and you could rent out the venue there. They have summer programs and they are a rescue. So if you ever find a big bird or bird of prey that's in need of help always call Blanchard nature center they will send someone out... it's super cheap. read more

Beautiful. Inviting. Interactive. Great staff. Clean bathrooms. Awesome place for kids to learn, have fun outside, & just really experience true nature. Always a great spot for alone time too! Who doesn't love walking endless trails! Great spot. Loved this place when I was a kid & now I bring my son here! read more

Blandford is a great place to spend some quality outdoor time. It has plenty of trails to walk, they do animal rehabilitation, there is a bobcat, they make maple syrup. Its a pretty fun place to be. And if you go during one of the festivals, I would highly recommend checking out the blacksmith shop where they have people doing some sweet iron work, last time I was there I got to help make my own knife. yeah, it was pretty bad ass. read more

Habitat improvements in the past few years has resulted in successful nesting of eastern bluebirds in the meadows at Blandford Nature Center. As one drives into the property along Hillburn Avenue, bluebirds can often be spotted on the overhead wires that parallel the road. You can also spot them in trees surrounding the meadow near their nesting boxes, and hear their sweet song. This summer there have been three nesting pairs of bluebirds, as well as several pairs of tree swallows, a family of chickadees and two pair of wrens, all nesting in the provided nesting boxes at Blandford. Hooray for all the enthusiastic volunteers who cleared brush and invasive plants to prepare habitat and those who managed the nest boxes! read more

We like Blandford. It could be a little more exciting, sure, but it's a solid nature center. We like walking the trails and seeing the rescued animals. We take our boys each week now. The staff is great too, friendly and energetic. read more