The Ledges

The designated parking here is Fitzgerald Park. This park has a $3 entrance fee per car ($5 for non-residents). If you want to avoid this fee, park in downtown Grand Ledge and find the Riverwalk on the south side of the Grand River, just west of downtown. A good parking spot is right next to Fitzgerald Field and Island Park. The trailhead begins at the Eaton County Parks & Rec Departme...

Rose Lake Area Loop is a loop trail that takes you by a lake located near Haslett, Michigan.

This adventure starts as any kayaking trip does: the great car-kayak shuffle.  I’ll leave that planning to your group size, but I recommend a 2 car minimum, one left at the take out spot (Fallasburg Park or downtown Lowell behind the KDL Library) and the other parked at Whites Bridge Road.  If you’re paddling with a larger group, I highly recommend shuttling as many people in one vehicle to the...

Cascade Peace Park Trail is a loop trail where you may see beautiful wildflowers located near Ada Township, Michigan.

Lepard Nature Preserve Loop is a loop trail where you may see local wildlife located near Alto, Michigan.

Finding a quiet, relatively secluded place to backpack can be difficult in Southeastern Michigan. However, backpacking at Blind Lake in the Pinckney State Park is a fantastic option for those searching. Blind Lake is accessible by a 7 mile hike in from Silver Lake, but can be approached from several different routes using the Potawatomi and Waterloo Trails.  The Blind Lake rustic campground pr...