Walking Trails

Ecosystem Preserve / Visit and Learn / Walking Trails

Come walk the woods, and enjoy God's amazing creation.

We invite you to explore the Ecosystem Preserve and its 44 acres of forest and wetlands accessible to the public. Over a mile of trails are available for wandering, taking in the beauty of each season, and discovering flora and fauna typical of West Michigan. The preserve is inhabited by 260 species of plants, including several trees approaching 250 years old and the smallest plant in the world, called watermeal. Numerous species of animals have been identified or reside in the preserve, including 18 species of amphibians and reptiles, 179 bird species (about 60 nest here), and 27 species of mammals.

Walking trails are open from 7 a.m. to dusk. See the overview page for hours and information about other features and facilities, as well as general policies and ettiquette to observe while walking the trails.

To learn more about the natural history of the Preserve, check out our trail guide, and download our vertebrate checklist and vascular plant checklist of all the animals and plants that have been seen in the preserve.