What a great hike! So calm and peaceful. And the elevated walkways by the canopies are awesome. Try and come here if you can. So close to New Buffalo! read more

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What a beautiful spot! The trails aren't very long but provide a great view of the river and the marshland. One takes you down the hill from the parking lot out onto a boardwalk through the marsh area, which is full of plants, flowers, and animals in the summer, and out onto an overlook to the river. Heading up takes you to a 60 foot high marsh overlook that sways just a little bit and gives you a great view of the area. Fishing is permitted from the lower deck. The park is free to enter. A very enjoyable walk. read more

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THIS spot! When we first tried to check it out, the parking lot was full, so we left to have a beer down the street. After our beer, I decided to give it one more try, SO glad we did. This is one of those quick turn high return nature areas, meaning, for minimal effort, you can experience and enjoy some pretty impressive natural areas and views. Shout out to the physically challenged, this is a conducive spot to enjoy, complete with handicap parking spots and well groomed zig zag trails with handrails to traverse. Is it worth stopping for? Absolutely. If you are scared of heights, you may want to skip the upper observation deck. Also, this spot begs to be photographed, but please do be careful with your electronic devices because if you drop them you probably will not be able to retrieve them. Overall, the entire loop is less than two miles long, so it will not take long to complete; but the views will be worth it. Enjoy! read more

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The views here are spectacular. We've often seen the platform as we drove past on Red Arrow. It's a great place to chill and pass some time. There are a few short trails that you can hike and high and low platforms where you can get a good look at the Galien River marshlands. Free to the public with lots of parking read more

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My family had an amazing time here! We originally set our sights on Warren Dunes State Park, but the line of cars to get in was completely insane. I used the Yelp app to see what was nearby, and Galien River County Park caught my eye immediately. It wasn't too crowded at all, and parking was a breeze. This spot is open from dusk until dawn, and is closed in the winter due to snow and ice (this is not a place you want to experience covered in ice! Lots of climbing.) My sons had the best time hunting for bugs and spiders here. There was definitely no shortage. We were all mesmerized by the views, too. The marsh was so amazing to walk over -- bright greens and blues everywhere you look. They have a boardwalk that lets you walk out so far! They also have a lookout point but we were a little freaked out by that. Not for those with a fear of heights! We loved following different trails and taking in the views. You can experience the whole park in less than an hour, for sure. It also would be a great option for someone who wants to walk but needs ground that's a little more sturdy. We were grateful to find this place! read more

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We visited here based on a recommendation. Wow, the viewing platform is national-park build quality. The board walk gets you out and into the marshland. Thanks, GRCP, for a good hike. read more

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Easy stop not far off the expressway. The boardwalk and skywalk were a lovely break after my drive around crazy Chicago.

We looked for some trails to see before heading to the beach and so lucky we stumbled upon this find. Fall was the perfect time to see the beautiful colors the park has to offer! Its free, which is nice and a different setting than your normal park. It was busy but plenty of photo opportunities. It's a must see! read more

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First time coming to Michigan in a while but this place was outstanding! Located a little over an hour away from the Chicagoland area sits this place. It's small but it's perfect for anyone that's handicapped limited. There are two trails. One takes you out into the marshlands and the other trail takes you to this amazing overlook site. Parking can be a bit of a hassle since it's small and limited. Overall highly recommend the visit! read more

Galien River County Park - Parks Near Me - New Buffalo, Michigan

fun little walk , over a wooden bridge to see the marsh. close parking. if you look closely- so many species of birds ,flying about. well maintained park ! read more

It was a pretty place to visit but just be aware that it's a quick visit place unless you want to fish or bird watch for awhile. It was moderately busy when we visited but it was super hot. Was disappointed that dogs aren't allowed to visit as our dog loves the outdoors and hiking. Some really nice views and pretty scenery. read more

Perfect little jaunt and worth it. Nice well maintained trails and boardwalks. The lookouts over the River are amazing! read more

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Very cute little park. The trails are small but just right when you're with someone who can't walk very well. It's really nice that the main trail is hard packed and then even turns into a boardwalk. My mom appreciated that. There's a nice little lookout tower above the river that is terrifyingly high if you have a thing with heights. And it sways. But if you can get over that, you're good. There's also a lower boardwalk right on the water that goes further out towards the river that's nice. On our walk we saw a little family of something swimming. They were really small so I don't know what they were but it was fun to watch them. We also saw a bunch of Chipmunks in the forest. It's nice that there's no entrance fee. The only downside is how small the parking lot is. I'd hate to go on a day when there's tons of people there. read more

Nice trails through woods and over the marsh with a nice overview of the river. Ends up being a little over a mile to make the whole loop.

Fun outdoor excursion with a short, kid friendly path. Excellent views of the marsh and river.

Nice little park to go for a 30 minute or less jaunt through the trees and riverside. It's a good park to walk around when trying to build up an appetite for another Redamak's burger. We went on a sunny day at the end of May and the weather was perfect. The park mainly consists of an observation deck that is pretty high up and offers great views of the rest of the park and the river. There is also a short boardwalk that leads to the end of the river where you will find many kayakers on the river. While this park is limited in what it offers in recreational activities and acreage, it is a nice place to spend 30 minutes. read more

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Really nice park with wooden walkways that leads to an observation look out above the river and a separate path that leads to a river look out. Have your cameras ready! Limited dirt parking lot, but shouldn't be an issue as it doesn't seem to attract too many people on the weekends. There is a nearby entry way just down the street to unload your kayaks into the river or rent if you desire to paddle your away down/up the river. If you're not looking to kayak, you'll easily finish exploring the wooden walkways in under an hour. Still pretty cool to see though if you're in the area. Jen M's photos capture the amazing views from this park. 'Til next time, cheers! read more

Amazing place. Boardwalk over marsh to river is a great walk. The canopy Boardwalk through the woods is spectacular with amazing views. Rent kayaks nearby and dock them at the river by this park. Then walk the boardwalk and canopy. Across the road from this is the rest of the park-beautiful modern park with outdoor basketball court, volleyball court, kids playground and mini water park. Gazebo for picnicking and individual picnic tables in cool spots throughout property. Free admission to all. What a gem this place is! read more

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What a cute little hidden spot right off of 12! I grew up vacationing here and now my parents live here full time. We just happened to be driving by when my husband asked my mom to turn into the park to check it out. There's a really nice look out point and it's fun to watch kayakers coming down the river. It's technically not dog friendly but we brought our puppy and nobody had any issues with it! read more

Brand new park opened in May 2014. Nice paved walking paths that a great for families plus more rugged paths as well. Really cool bridge that leads to a huge observation deck with views high above the river and marsh. You can also take the paths down the the marsh level. The only down side is there are no restrooms and not a lot of parking. read more

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Pretty awesome park. We were in town for the weekend and decided to check out the tower over the marsh. It's a nice little hike. The tower is pretty cool, it shakes from side to side, so if you are afraid of heights like me, brace yourself. read more

What a lovely park with easy to walk trails through very interesting and unique to the area marshland. We saw a huge, beautiful bird, a family of ducks and plenty of dragonflies. Highly recommended for an enjoyable stop in nature. Plan to spend about 60-90 minutes. read more

If you live anywhere from New Buffalo to Three oaks, back to Union Pier and all the way North where Bridgman is (our home!), you must go out here for a visit. Whether you are an adult who wants to have a wonderful view of the Galien River along with putting your eye on a beautiful bird, or whether you are a twelve year old that is able to make the walk, ask your folks to bring you. It's a nice walk. My wife and I live in Bridgman and we have done this several times. One thing I pass on is someone moving around too much or quickly on the suspension bridges. But maybe that is another selling point to the younger goofballs. But please be safe while your up there. Great and beautiful space and view. read more

This county park is so spectacular. There are so many unique trails to go down, and many cool things to see. My favorite and many others is the tall hanging platform. It's very tall and maybe not the best for people afraid of heights to be on. But it's definitely a cool spot you should check before leaving new buffalo. And right across the street there's kayak and paddle boarding rentals... as well as a splash pad and playground!! read more

Very pretty park, small there are no picnic areas to bring food. Just a small walking area.