Super fun, quiet, off the beaten path park. The trails were all dirt, but mostly smooth. There are…read more1 or 2 good spots to sit and hangout, but no grills. There is a bathroom. There's a small floating dock that can maybe fit 2-3 fisherman at most. Mostly come for the views and to take in the scenery. The lake is serene and tranquil. Great for photography

Relatively new nature park for Kalamazoo County. This heavily wooded park with a central lake &…read moreperimeter hiking trails is reborn from a former 100 year old Boy Scout Campground Campus. Only a handful of physical elements remain from the scouting days. Park entrance fee is minimal & single day passes are available. No overnight camping allowed. Primary appeal will be hiking, birdwatching & fishing. The trails are pretty well marked and grooming will only get better over time.

This very large park includes three miles of walking trails that loop so you can get a different…read morebunch of scenery coming and going. Some of the trails go parallel to the Kettle Lakes. The website indicates that they're great for walking in the summer and cross-country skiing in the winter. The first part of the red trail I walked was unimproved. Definitely not handicapped accessible but that's the charm. It's quiet and it's peaceful and it's a great opportunity to get some nature. The entrance on Helmer Road has a parking lot. [Review 11148 overall, 922 of 2019.]

This is a perfect place for a quiet walk in nature. Somehow manages to be peaceful and tranquil…read moreright in the city, just a few minutes from home. The only problem is that parts of the trails are frequently flooded, so you either have to detour or look for the little collateral trails that go around and bypass flooded/muddy areas. I like that with the different loops of trails connecting you can either get in a quick walk, like under a mile, or wander around the trails a little more and get several miles in. I usually either jog or walk here, I've seen bike tracks in the mud but I haven't been able to find info on whether biking there is actually permitted and I haven't tried it yet. One of my favorite places to walk around here!

Went to hike with friends after school. We got scavenger hunt maps which was neat for the kids to…read moresearch for to cross off. We were able to see several birds and learn about them. Birds journeys that led them to be at the sanctuary. Usually you get to feed them but not today since they had a flu going around. Nice paved paths to walk on for strollers and wagons. Bathroom area to use if you need to go. Swans are so much bigger in up close viewing.

This is a wonderful place to see so many birds. It is usually not as crowded as some of the larger…read morezoos in the area. Which adds to the enjoyment in my opinion. The whole sanctuary is a great place for singles, couples, families and anyone who enjoys wildlife. Young kids get a thrill out of seeing the birds. And in non COVID times can feed them too. Adding to children's enjoyment. There are some birds in captivity (usually rehabbed animals) which are common in Michigan. Then the lake and ponds are great places to see waterfowl in their natural habitat. This is a treasure in Kalamazoo county. And a place not to be missed.

Wow what a park, wrapped around the lake. I didn't realize the sheer size of the place.read more

Large park, well used by the locals. We were here on a Sunday, there was a disc golf tournament,…read morepicnics and in general a lot of people using the park. We stopped by to sneak in a little fishing after an appointment. The lake is very shallow around the shoreline, has a ton of lily pads and we couldnt get any interest from the fish. Most people appeared to be " bucket fishing" for bluegills. We will skip it next time we are in town but it is a nice park.

I stopped here for a bit to destress in the green. This is a very pretty park that has been set…read moreaside though it isn't completely isolated from the noises of the buses and trucks that pass by. Still, pretty, green, refreshing. Great walking and jogging and biking trails, picnic benches, covered areas, grills, fishing areas, permanent structures with restrooms. This park has everything. Over 200 acress and connected by a 3.5 mile trail. [Review 11230 overall, 1006 of 2019.]

Nothing beats a nice stroll in the park. No matter the season! The beautiful green now has a slap…read moreshot of other colors bringing the fall features to life! But as lovers of spring and summer. Green was our calling card for sure. Very beautiful park!

The park is under some construction through September which is a bummer but from what they've dug…read moreup, it looks like there will be some great improvements. The ball field will go away but they're putting in new playground equipment, new pavilion, new basketball courts and updated restrooms. In the meanwhile, the parking lot is still there, the river is still there (note the warning about eating the fish) and it's a nice, peaceful spot. [Review 11208 overall, 984 of 2019.]

This is our go-to putting-in point for kayaking to Arcadia Ales (it's round about an hour's paddle…read more-- longer if you're feeling leisurely and faster if you're going for a big workout). Plenty of parking, tons of covered picnic area. We staged about 75 kayaks/paddleboards/canoes there for a recent Kanoe the Kazoo event and it didn't feel too crowded on the riverbank, which was awesome. However, you've got to be pretty strategic about how you put in (fortunately we had seasoned paddlers leading our group who gave good advice about how to put in, but those who tried to enter the river closer to the woods/fence/parking lot got caught up in some wicked current. Be sure to put in farther out toward the picnic structure and park and paddle across the river then let the current drift you across the mini-rapids. Don't forget -- it's unsafe to eat the fish from the Kalamazoo River. We saw tons of people fishing on our recent excursion and really worried about their health. A few people were sad to see a small tent city on the river's edge -- personally it made me happy that some of the homeless had found a more pleasant haven than the city parks. Just a matter of perspective, I suppose. One of the "tent cities" was also a group of 5 matching, new-looking tents so I suspect that group was a group of people kayak-camping.

We had walked around this preserve more than several years ago but never realized it was part of…read morethe Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy (SWMLC). Evidently, we weren't so adept at reading signs then. I don't recall if there were graveled paths leading to an overlook last time. The overlook looks to be several hundred yards to the west of the trailhead, and there are three benches along the gravel paths. There's a dirt path that goes from the right of this area down a small hill to the marsh. The dirt path turns into a boardwalk with occasional interpretative posts. Depending on the time of the year you go to this preserve, it will either strike you as a place of phenomenal beauty or one of the Gates of Hell. Several years ago we experienced this preserve as the former, then later the latter. Our first several encounters were when there were flowers everywhere. It was stunning. Later that summer, babysitting an Irish Wolfhound for a friend who was stuck in the hospital, we walked about the preserve - dogs must be on leashes - and we discovered the boardwalks were covered with overgrown foliage. So not taking a misstep off the boardwalk into water was a challenge. And then later, surprise! We and the dog caught ticks. It was simple to find the few that were on our legs and to remove them, but checking through the fur of a dog whose size is just short of a pony was arduous. So for this most recent time, we checked out the gravel paths and overlook. The paths wander around. The overlook, which is an inverted V shaped structure and already marked with graffiti, is a bit small but it provides a great view of the marsh below. The plateau above the marsh looks like it's a project and that SWMLC has something in mind to do with it. The parking is dirt and gravel except for the 2 spaces reserved for handicapped parking. Those 2 spaces are concrete. There is a white barn to the right of the parking lot that has the trails posted. Entering and exiting the preserve's parking lot can be tricky because there is a blind corner north of the entrance, so southbound traffic on Nazareth Rd. can just suddenly and unexpectedly appear. In short, a beautiful area. Watch out entering and leaving the parking area. Do tick prevention.

Beautiful nature preserve. Tons of native plants, animals and bugs. Good for families, dogs, hikers…read moreand maybe joggers. Really well made trails and beautiful scenery. Also some really great examples of trees and birds. There is good parking for handicap accessory vehicles.

Fair warning -- many of the paths here run on the muddy side (including some of the raised paths…read moreover the bog that have holes in them that let water through). There is lots of lovely hiking to be done here, though ... And because the area tends to be damp it's a great place to spot cool plants and fungi. Recent, an elevated path was added that connects this park and neighboring Elliason. We're loving all the work the city has done to connect it's natural spaces.

Beautiful park with excellent hiking trails. Wear hiking boots if you're planning on walking bog…read moretrail!