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Proud Lake is my favorite place to hike! It has this ever-changing terrain that makes hiking there so enjoyable and every time I come here, I always discover new things to look at and appreciate. There are trails upon trails here, but hands down my favorite trail is the combination of the Red and Blue trails here, which forms a 5 and a half mile figure 8 loop throughout the recreation area. It's great for all skill levels as it is relatively flat and well marked, just a longer length than one might be used to, but it's so worth it! Proud Lake is the best in all seasons, so you really can't go wrong when you're here! Love this gem of a park and am thankful to Michigan DNR for such a wonderful spot to recreate!
I stayed at the campground for 6 days, it's a nice small to medium sized campground. Most of the sites slope towards the lake, so you will have to level your camper. The staff is very friendly and work hard keeping the place clean and neat. The bathrooms and showers are cleaned a few times throughout the day. The RV dump / fill station is nice,clean looking & well laid out, and trust me, I've seen some run down ones ! The mosquitoes were vicious, blood thirsty vampires ! The outhouses were terrible and needed the waste pumped out or just burn the entire thing down. I vote for the latter.
Sometimes the beauty of Michigan is apparent from the roads and highways, but pull off the beaten path and you will find tranquility. We are so lucky to have this park minutes from our home. There are quite a few different entrances into the park depending on what your plan is, so I would recommend looking at a map before you venture out, as they are not all close to each other. There are three places you can launch a boat or kayak from one being the campground, the main boat launch and a very small place on the river. The great thing about this park is that you get access to the lake and the river and can take the river all the way to Kensington metro park. This is more of a lake for small fishing boats and kayaks, not large motor boats. We saw one large boat and it caused some trouble for kayakers. The water is also shallow in many areas and has narrow passage ways so take the large boats elsewhere. From the lake, there is a nice "beach" area (grass, no sand) to stop off and have lunch at a picnic table. A quick walk up the hill takes you to restrooms which are currently closed during COVID19. There are also lots of nice hiking trails throughout the park with maps and markers along the paths to guide you. There are plaques along the paths to inform you of the native wildlife as well. Some areas are paved and others are dirt. There are special areas for bikes versus pedestrians so watch for the signs. Overall, a great park with lots to see and do.
We really enjoyed our stay here. It was so convenient to get around the area. The sites were pretty spacious. Only negative was on the weekend it was over run with loud children riding skateboards and scooters around and around. It may have just been bad luck and not always like that. The rest rooms and shower were the nicest I think I have ever seen. We would definitely stay again but maybe just during the week
Spent a week camping here in August 2013. Fairly larger campsite (35), on the outer ring of the campground. During the week it was quiet and relaxing. Fills up pretty full on the weekends. Even with a full crowd, it was quiet in the evenings. Nice hiking and biking trails. The washrooms were brand spanking new this season and really nice. Showers were clean and toilet areas were good. (Now, if we could get camping people to actually clean up after themselves and not be pigs, but that's different than the park keeping things clean). Close enough for the husband to commute to work and relax in the evenings. We will be returning to this park.
We have lived in Novi for a while and I love Proud Lake. There are many trails and they are well marked so there were many Saturdays I would spend hiking with my dog to the far corners. You can rack up several miles if you take the long routes. The lake is very pretty and attracts people fishing and kayaking. Things are well kept and there is ample parking not matter how busy. I don't like the few people who like to let their dogs run off leash. I don't want to pepper spray them, but I have a small dog who gets nervous when other dogs run up to him. Not going to let him get bit up by a dog three times his size- so be courteous. There are a lot of great places for photography as well, something I love just as much as hiking. Make a point to get the pass on your plate so you can enjoy Michigan's state parks all year long!
This is one of my favorite campgrounds out there. It's perfect for a little family get away. The hiking trails are just stunning. You can also go fishing & kayaking. The lake is beautiful & clean. Perfect for swimming on a hot day. They also hold little informational classes for kids about all the wild life in the park which is a huge bonus. They also. Sometimes hold movie screenings for the family.
Michigan is blessed with many gorgeous natural resources from Lake Michigan to Lake Huron & in between. In the metro Detroit area we have many fine county, State & Metro parks & sadly they are very underused, Proud lake is a great resource, wonderful Hiking, Cross country skiing trails, Camping , Hunting & other outdoors pursuits & with Today's weather being actually nice in Michigan we decided to take advantage with what looked like a total of 3 other people. Daily or season passes are available & miles of hiking trails, even one that links up 17 miles away with Kensington Metro park
Proud Lake State Rec Area is surprisingly rural for its location. Situated in the corridor between I-96 & M-59 southeast of Milford, and south of Highland State Rec Area & east of Kensington Metropark, I expected something more akin to Maybury State Park. Instead, Proud Lake is like Highland, but with less road noise. This was my first hike there, and it is winter. The trails were icy, and at some points I abandoned them to walk parallel in the woods for my own safety. That being said, it was still a very nice hike. I started on the trailhead from the parking lot near the headquarters off N. Wixom Rd. The parking lot has a map right next to where the trail access path begins. Once you wander down this pre-trail, you get to trail marker #1. I followed the markers sequentially, and at #3 was rewarded with a beautiful vista of towering white pines. From there I proceeded to the Marsh Trail, which was very scenic this time of year. You can skip right to the more woodland portions by going left - #3 to #20. The park has a nice mix of woodland and wetlands, with plenty of gorgeous scenery in both. The trails are well marked, but there are sub-trail spurs that can be misleading. I enjoyed my winter foray, and I'll be back this Spring to see what the rest of the trails have in store. I recommend giving hiking a try a Proud Lake. I will be back.
3 months ago
very pretty hiking trail but TONS of mosquitos all around. bug spray is a need! the trails are easy and good for beginners. read more
1 year ago
5 years ago
Beautiful area, good place for a walk- sandy trails, best of all, the leaves are turning a million shades red, orange, green, yellow. October is the colorful month! Quite a tourist attraction and so many spots for family and wedding shots. We met several photographers on the trails.... It's a BIG place and didn't seem crowded - even on a weekend. Great local hike, easy gentle grade. Well marked trails with signs that show the loop and local attractions in the area. Bridges and lookouts to make the most of the water views. Several parking lots, and camping sites are available too. read more
Proud Lake is my favorite place to hike! It has this ever-changing terrain that makes hiking there so enjoyable and every time I come here, I always discover new things to look at and appreciate. There are trails upon trails here, but hands down my favorite trail is the combination of the Red and Blue trails here, which forms a 5 and a half mile figure 8 loop throughout the recreation area. It's great for all skill levels as it is relatively flat and well marked, just a longer length than one might be used to, but it's so worth it! Proud Lake is the best in all seasons, so you really can't go wrong when you're here! Love this gem of a park and am thankful to Michigan DNR for such a wonderful spot to recreate! read more
5 years ago
I stayed at the campground for 6 days, it's a nice small to medium sized campground. Most of the sites slope towards the lake, so you will have to level your camper. The staff is very friendly and work hard keeping the place clean and neat. The bathrooms and showers are cleaned a few times throughout the day. The RV dump / fill station is nice,clean looking & well laid out, and trust me, I've seen some run down ones ! The mosquitoes were vicious, blood thirsty vampires ! The outhouses were terrible and needed the waste pumped out or just burn the entire thing down. I vote for the latter. read more
Sometimes the beauty of Michigan is apparent from the roads and highways, but pull off the beaten path and you will find tranquility. We are so lucky to have this park minutes from our home. There are quite a few different entrances into the park depending on what your plan is, so I would recommend looking at a map before you venture out, as they are not all close to each other. There are three places you can launch a boat or kayak from one being the campground, the main boat launch and a very small place on the river. The great thing about this park is that you get access to the lake and the river and can take the river all the way to Kensington metro park. This is more of a lake for small fishing boats and kayaks, not large motor boats. We saw one large boat and it caused some trouble for kayakers. The water is also shallow in many areas and has narrow passage ways so take the large boats elsewhere. From the lake, there is a nice "beach" area (grass, no sand) to stop off and have lunch at a picnic table. A quick walk up the hill takes you to restrooms which are currently closed during COVID19. There are also lots of nice hiking trails throughout the park with maps and markers along the paths to guide you. There are plaques along the paths to inform you of the native wildlife as well. Some areas are paved and others are dirt. There are special areas for bikes versus pedestrians so watch for the signs. Overall, a great park with lots to see and do. read more
We really enjoyed our stay here. It was so convenient to get around the area. The sites were pretty spacious. Only negative was on the weekend it was over run with loud children riding skateboards and scooters around and around. It may have just been bad luck and not always like that. The rest rooms and shower were the nicest I think I have ever seen. We would definitely stay again but maybe just during the week read more
Spent a week camping here in August 2013. Fairly larger campsite (35), on the outer ring of the campground. During the week it was quiet and relaxing. Fills up pretty full on the weekends. Even with a full crowd, it was quiet in the evenings. Nice hiking and biking trails. The washrooms were brand spanking new this season and really nice. Showers were clean and toilet areas were good. (Now, if we could get camping people to actually clean up after themselves and not be pigs, but that's different than the park keeping things clean). Close enough for the husband to commute to work and relax in the evenings. We will be returning to this park. read more
We have lived in Novi for a while and I love Proud Lake. There are many trails and they are well marked so there were many Saturdays I would spend hiking with my dog to the far corners. You can rack up several miles if you take the long routes. The lake is very pretty and attracts people fishing and kayaking. Things are well kept and there is ample parking not matter how busy. I don't like the few people who like to let their dogs run off leash. I don't want to pepper spray them, but I have a small dog who gets nervous when other dogs run up to him. Not going to let him get bit up by a dog three times his size- so be courteous. There are a lot of great places for photography as well, something I love just as much as hiking. Make a point to get the pass on your plate so you can enjoy Michigan's state parks all year long! read more
9 years ago
This is one of my favorite campgrounds out there. It's perfect for a little family get away. The hiking trails are just stunning. You can also go fishing & kayaking. The lake is beautiful & clean. Perfect for swimming on a hot day. They also hold little informational classes for kids about all the wild life in the park which is a huge bonus. They also. Sometimes hold movie screenings for the family. read more
3 years ago
Michigan is blessed with many gorgeous natural resources from Lake Michigan to Lake Huron & in between. In the metro Detroit area we have many fine county, State & Metro parks & sadly they are very underused, Proud lake is a great resource, wonderful Hiking, Cross country skiing trails, Camping , Hunting & other outdoors pursuits & with Today's weather being actually nice in Michigan we decided to take advantage with what looked like a total of 3 other people. Daily or season passes are available & miles of hiking trails, even one that links up 17 miles away with Kensington Metro park read more
Proud Lake State Rec Area is surprisingly rural for its location. Situated in the corridor between I-96 & M-59 southeast of Milford, and south of Highland State Rec Area & east of Kensington Metropark, I expected something more akin to Maybury State Park. Instead, Proud Lake is like Highland, but with less road noise. This was my first hike there, and it is winter. The trails were icy, and at some points I abandoned them to walk parallel in the woods for my own safety. That being said, it was still a very nice hike. I started on the trailhead from the parking lot near the headquarters off N. Wixom Rd. The parking lot has a map right next to where the trail access path begins. Once you wander down this pre-trail, you get to trail marker #1. I followed the markers sequentially, and at #3 was rewarded with a beautiful vista of towering white pines. From there I proceeded to the Marsh Trail, which was very scenic this time of year. You can skip right to the more woodland portions by going left - #3 to #20. The park has a nice mix of woodland and wetlands, with plenty of gorgeous scenery in both. The trails are well marked, but there are sub-trail spurs that can be misleading. I enjoyed my winter foray, and I'll be back this Spring to see what the rest of the trails have in store. I recommend giving hiking a try a Proud Lake. I will be back. read more
I've lived in the area for about 2 years now and have really just discovered this gem of a state park. Well, I knew it was there, drove by it often, but never really took advantage of it. My first experience was on Easter Sunday. My husband and I decided that after our very filling brunch, we needed to go for a walk. It was a chilly day, but, hey, we live in MI. My first thought, when we parked our car, was DANG! I couldn't believe how many people were out hiking on Easter Sunday! What a pretty pretty park. The trails are in great condition as well. I noticed that they had markers for cross country skiing, so I will definitely check that out soon! Well, I went back a couple of weeks later for another hike, and again, I couldn't believe how many other hikers there were. I love that this park is so well utilized by others, and I feel safe hiking alone because of that. Don't get me wrong, its not so packed that you're running people over. It's just so nice to see others taking advantage of this park and the great outdoors. I really look forward to visiting again and again, and enjoying the different seasons. Don't pass this park by like we did for so long.....check it out, breathe in some fresh air, enjoy nature, and get some exercise while you're at it! read more
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