Michigan is a land of amazing natural beauty featuring forested hills, dense forests, mountains, streams, waterfalls, and so much more. It’s no wonder the state is renowned as “The Trails State” boasting over 12,500 miles of trekking paths for communities in Michigan to explore. Thanks to its diverse terrain, hikers of all ages and athletic abilities can put on their boots, roam around, and enjoy the unique charms of each season! So if you were looking for hiking spots near Eaton Pine Village, MI, here are the top five places!
Mill Pointe Park
Take a trip, or a series of trips, through the Rapids at Mill Pointe Park. A Low Head Sanitation Dam was demolished and rebuilt with a series of natural rack weirs with fish and kayak passage lanes as part of the Rapids Project, a community-based investment. The region is filled with the sensory experiences of flowing water that only Mother Nature can deliver.
Waterloo State Recreation Area
With a superb 4.7-star rating from 1,532 Google reviews and approximately 21,000 acres of woods, lakes, and marshes, Waterloo Recreation Area is Michigan’s third-largest parkland. Situated in northeast Jackson County, the park is the biggest in Southern Michigan, with 11 lakes and more than 50 miles of roads for trekking, biking, horseback riding, and skiing! Its landscape is distinguished by kettle lagoons, moraine deposits, wetlands, and marshes formed by receding glaciers during the last ice age.
DTE Energy Foundation Trail
Holding an excellent 4.9-star rating from 536 Google reviews, the DTE Trail has a four-loop, 22-mile trail for hikers and bikers. It’s essential to remember that the path direction for hikers and bikers varies. Foot traffic goes counter-clockwise on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, and clockwise on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. For bikers, it’s the opposite. The DTE trail markings are simple to follow and the paths are extremely well-kept, with something for everyone at various levels of difficulty. It’s a beautiful, challenging, and wonderful way to take a quick getaway through the woodlands!
Oak Ridge Park
It’s a lovely day for a stroll in Oak Ridge Park (behind the old Northwestern Elementary School). This charming park offers a variety of activities, including picnic tables, a dog waste station, and story walks. There is also a 0.8 mile loop route that you may explore. It takes an average of 17 minutes to accomplish this course, which is generally regarded as simple. This path is ideal for birding, hiking, and strolling, and you won’t see many people while hiking.
Riverbend Natural Area
Riverbend Natural Area is 15 minutes away from Eaton Pine Village. Riverbend Natural Area is a great area to stop when kayaking! Canoers and kayakers are welcome to explore the wonderful nature pathways located in this park. This canoe landing spot is well provided for visitors, including restrooms and nature trails. During the summertime, Hiking and riding are permitted on the nature paths for hiking enthusiasts. Explore mature woods, successional fields, a creek, forested flood plains, and river bank ecosystems!