I would say Provin Trails is one of my favorite trails in Grand Rapids. Some people might find it…read morestrange that I say that, but let me explain! Provin Trails isn't the biggest trail/park out here. It's not even the most glamorous. But to me, it's one of the most interesting. There are 3-4 different routes you can take, and some are of course more challenging. There are some trails that can be quite steep, and others that are actually more sandy! There is a section in the middle of the trail where you can see some mini sand dunes. I was really not expected that, so it was really cool to see them. There were a good number of people walking their dogs here, so maybe something to note as a dog owner. I would come back here!

It's a go hiking in the greater Grand Rapids area. One loop around the perimeter is just under 1…read moremile and it's guaranteed to get your heart rate up. After living in Arizona and hiking the mountains of Arizona for a few years this was a good Michigan comparison. For clarity I'm not calling us a mountain

This is a cute little park. I was looking for a place to walk/run yesterday and came across this…read morepark. They have nice boardwalks, so neat! I love the nature, it's like you're far from the city. So many birds! Best to bring your binoculars! I bet it's more beautiful in spring and summer. The only downside is they have small parking and no bathroom. However, the trail connects to a ballpark, so I'm not sure if they share the BR. Also, you can walk outside the park, they have sidewalks. I highly recommend this park.

We just recently discovered this little neighborhood park and were pleasantly surprised by the good…read morequality of the trails. There's little elevation, lots of boardwalk and a lot of birds on the day we visited. The one downside is there is no bathroom on site, but there's one not to far away at a baseball park that I think may share the same name. It was a little busy the late summer we were there but it didn't feel over crowded at all and everyone we met was very friendly. Great place for families.

Decent view at one of the highest point in GR. It would be better if city trim some of the bushes…read moreoff at the edge to provide more opening to look at downtown. Not remove the plants, just trim the tops a little bit. I don't know if it is the same park but if you walk down to the end of the street, pass all the new built houses. You will arrive at another lookout.

Sure, Grand Rapids may be small, but it oozes charm. If you didn't think you could get some cool…read moreviews from the city on top of a hill, think again!! We were looking for a park to take some photos in and kind of accidentally found Lookout Park. Although it's small and in a neighborhood, it had some of the nicest views of the city that I'd seen! The neighborhood it's in is very beautiful as well, so it's the perfect place to take a stroll.

I love walking at Millennium Park. I have been exercising here for many years. There are miles and…read moremiles of paths to explore. I enjoy mixing up my different routes to go different distances. There are several small lakes, one of which has a beach and other activities such as paddle boats. There are two different entrances to the park, which helps spread visitors out on really busy days like weekends. On the Secchia Meadows side, there is a nice pavillon where my friends had their wedding. I highly recommend Millennium Park for anyone who enjoys spending time outdoors, spotting creatures such as deer, turtles, muskrats, eagles, and more.

I've got lots of thoughts running through my head, simultaneously, all the time. So when I stepped…read moreup to the check-in counter at Millennium Park Boat Rentals, the thoughts in my head were: Wow! It only costs $8 per hour to rent a kayak? Sweet! Wow! These people checking me in and telling me safety information are incredibly young! Will they be able to save me and my family if our kayaks flip over and we fall into the lake? Wow! What a beautiful day! But I wonder how often people fall into the lake. I also wonder how deep the lake is. I also wonder if it's possible to be trapped underwater if your kayak flips over. In the end, I decided to kick it on the sandy beach and wave at my family as they happily paddled on the lake. They had a great time kayaking. I had a great time not kayaking. Like Hot Chocolate says: Everyone's a winner, baby. Kayaks are either single-person or double, and we used one of each. There are very few instructions given, which was a little alarming to me. (You mean you just assume we know what we're doing?!) But fortunately, my family knew what they were doing, so they didn't need much instruction to get themselves out on the water. As you paddle around the lake, you pass the Millennium Park beach and splash pad, plus little islands here and there. There is about four miles of shoreline to explore. I was told that the lake was nice and calm, and that it was a pleasant time on the water. We rented kayaks, but Millennium Park Boat Rentals also offers canoes, paddle boats and stand-up paddle boards to rent. Keep in mind that rentals are seasonal -- this place is only open from Memorial Day-ish to Labor Day-ish.

Hudsonville Nature Center ⁣ ⁣…read more76 BEAUTIFUL acres of woodlands, wetlands and prairies is tucked away is this neighborhood. It's absolutely gorgeous in the Fall. ⁣ ⁣ These hiking trails are well kept and well loved by the community. Along the trail are lookouts, bridges, and picnic areas. The nature center offers guided tours as well! ⁣

Luton Park is mainly a mountain bike park with lots of winding trails and paths but my boyfriend…read moreand I managed to get a really nice hike in since he only has a road bike. The trail map is pretty clear with different levels of intensity and the trail we were on was clearly marked. I believe the trails are about 9 miles total. Note that the paths are very uneven in some spots so it's not the best for those with limited mobility. All the bikers we encountered were super friendly and appreciative when we stepped off the trail to let them pass by. Be on the lookout for bikes as they can get going pretty quick here! We saw a couple other people walking their dogs and enjoying some unseasonably warm weather last fall. There is a restroom facility but it looked to be closed while we were there - for construction, COVID times, or maybe both. There is ample parking and the park itself is easy to find using a map and the entrance is clearly marked. The views last November weren't that pretty, but it was nice to get outside and I think it would be really peaceful and beautiful to check out in the late spring, aka now. We made a night of it by ordering some burgers from Bridge Street Burger Shack for pickup after our hike - definitely would do that again!

Hiking to the beach is much more satisfying than driving next to it. First about parking, since it…read moreis a state park, you need to have a state park pass or you can buy it at the gate. There are 4 trails, north trail about 1.25mi (one way), not too bad. The trail will turn away some families so it is more private. Not too many people even in the summer.

It is a hike to the beach!! I don't recommended bringing a stroller. But we still had a fun time…read more What an adventure! Parking was $11 It was beautiful though once we got to the Lake. We did the beach trail

Rosy Mound Natural Area's dunes, forested trails, and shoreline views were stunning!…read more Pulling in there is small parking lot, restrooms, and pay station kiosk for the $8 daily permit. The 2.2 mile trail starts at the parking lot leading you through the woods right to Lake Michigan's shoreline. The trail consist of dirt, dune, and board walk paths with a total of 360 stairs; so get those quads ready! Thankfully there are lots of shaded places to stop and rest with benches along the paths and between flights of stairs. Note to mention: This is a no pet area so keep your furry friends at home! Would definitely recommend Rosy Mound if you're up for a short hike and want to enjoy a breathtaking shoreline view or beach at the end.

Beautiful hike to the beach!…read more The trailhead starts in a parking lot, weaving through the woods. You go up stairs to a dunes overlook and you can continue to follow the trail down to the beach. The beach and the sand dunes are beautiful, especially at sunset. There are bathrooms at the beginning of the trail and near the beach.

This beach has a ton of dunes to climb in and plenty of parking…read more I could see how it might get congested with a very thin road, running in and out of the only entrance, but the beach is beautiful!

Bathrooms are well kept. The concession stand is so nice and the attendants at the booth are great!…read more It's my favorite beach and the saugatuck area has so much to offer. Coffee shops ice cream wineries in the area. Get there early and avoid lines up the winding road.