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    Al Sabo Preserve

    4.6 (13 reviews)

    Al Sabo Preserve Photos

    Recommended Reviews - Al Sabo Preserve

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    Brian P.

    This nature preserve is a cool spot, as it allows for various paths which can lead you on far and enjoyable walks. Don't be afraid to veer off the path & take a step on to a makeshift river bridge

    Marianne T.

    One of my favorite places on Earth, where I met the love of my life and some of my best friends. The Mother Tree (giant tree in the middle of the big field) is a beautiful space to hangout and spend time with others. Lots of trails to explore and plenty of great spots to hammock at.

    Moab Trail
    Loren S.

    I finally made the trip over to Al Sabo this spring to do some mountain biking. I was really surprised at how nice this hidden gem is! So I just parked in the dirt parking area off of Texas Drive and headed out. This place is fairly easy to navigate but if you need to know where to go, research the map online before. The map at the parking lot is kind of dumpy. I first headed to the Moab trail. This was pretty basic. The path is wider. There are no real obstacles to speak. I then took the Atwater Trail. This was a blast! It wound through some very pretty landscapes and also had some fun ups and downs. There was also a log obstacle. At this point I got kind of lost with what trail I was on. I think I might have ended up going backward on a trail too. This didn't matter much and I just pressed on and found some familiar ground a few minutes later. It's difficult to get lost as everything basically loops around at some point. There were a lot of hikers the day I went. I also saw lots of dogs. This place was very good for the Portage/Kzoo area. It's nice to have it here and not have to head over to Fort Custar. I certainly will be heading back!

    CodyAnn J.

    Love al sabo! Such great trails for adventuring, biking, and running. Also a great area for photos! The tall pines are so majestic! The parking lot is small and usually full though due to how great the trails are.

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    7 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    11 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    9 years ago

    Nothing crazy beautiful but just a nice place to enjoy nature see some spruce trees and the marsh is pretty cool and scenic

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    Review Highlights - Al Sabo Preserve

    Such a beautiful place with nice paths for walking, running or biking.

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    Bow in the Clouds Preserve - Nature Walk

    Bow in the Clouds Preserve

    4.6(7 reviews)
    10.5 mi

    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.

    Photos
    Bow in the Clouds Preserve - Nature Walk

    Nature Walk

    Bow in the Clouds Preserve - Nature walk today. Great day to take some photos

    Nature walk today. Great day to take some photos

    Bow in the Clouds Preserve - Nature walk

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    Nature walk

    Woods Lake Park

    Woods Lake Park

    4.1(7 reviews)
    4.7 mi

    We've been swimming here for years, so I was surprised to see I hadn't written a review yet!…read more This park has a sandy (with some gravel) beach, accessed via a hilly sidewalk from the handicap parking next to the newish picnic pavilion. Note: to get to the handicap parking, you don't park up top (and walk down those stairs, obviously!), but drive down a clearly marked accessible road down to the four handicap spaces nearer to the beach. You will still have to walk/wheel from those spots to the water. The water starts out really shallow (good for playing, if you have littles), and then goes deep pretty quickly. There is often a bunch of seaweed near to the shore, and, depending on the weather, the water can be murky. Persevere! STILL! It is a swimmable lake, and feels really good to get in the water, so close to home. There's a small playground area, a grassy area next to the sidewalks, and then, along the lakeshore, plenty of space for fishing.

    An oasis in the middle of the city, it's easy to blink-and-you-miss-it this gem across from Oakwood…read morePlaza near the intersection of Oakland Drive and Parkview. This small park offers an elevated path and raised overlook and a small beach. If you work nearby, this is a great place to escape on your lunch break with a picnic and a good book. I once spotted a snowy owl in a tree adjacent to the park. Definitely a life highlight! Not the best swimming hole in the area (definitely visit Portage's Ramona Park for a bigger, better beach), but still worth the trip.

    Photos
    Woods Lake Park - Cool plant

    Cool plant

    Woods Lake Park
    Woods Lake Park

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    West Lake Nature Preserve - These things smelled as cool as they looked. Bees were loving them

    West Lake Nature Preserve

    4.5(2 reviews)
    4.8 mi

    The unique and fragile ecosystem located in this park is even more amazing when you consider it's…read moreat the heart of the city of Portage. Some of the first stops along the sanctuary's trail are viewing platforms overlooking a marshy area, which, though enjoyable, still require you to press on to reach the five-star attraction -- a wetland bog featuring carnivorous pitcher plants, sphagnum moss, and tamarack trees. You will have to walk awhile on paths through the woods before you reach the actual bog, which must be traversed on a floating boardwalk. Choose to wear shoes that will keep your feet dry. (At certain times of the year the boardwalk may even be flooded and inaccessible.) Mosquito spray and drinking water are also must-haves. Autumn is a particularly beautiful time to visit; the colors are spectacular. The trek ends with a glorious view of West Lake. You can sit on benches on the viewing platform before the trip back to the parking lot. Your wetland adventure will take 45 minutes or more depending on your pace and frequency of stops. Also, beware of poison sumac growing along the trail through the bog; the risk of getting a rash is a great deterrent to picking any pretty plants along the way.

    Yet another Portage Park that has elevated walkways over the bogs. Be aware both that when you walk…read moreover these rubber walkways, water will squirt up through the holes so you're likely to get damp (not a huge deal on a hot summer day, but pretty intense when you're going on a run in the late fall or early spring). Also, despite being a fairly neutral looking gray, these elevated walkways get incredibly hot. I noticed my chihuahua was lifting his paws so I reached down and touch the surface and it was scalding, so we carried the dogs for those stretches of the paths. We saw lots of butterflies, birds and a gorgeous turtle on our recent visit. Our cousin had a hard time finding the geocaches that were supposed to be on our route, though. There's a beautiful West Lake view at the end of one of the elevated platforms and lots of yummy wild blackberries to forage if you happen to be at the park in early July. We're always on the hunt for great spots to take our dogs for a nice afternoon hike, and this will be becoming one of our go-to spots.

    Photos
    West Lake Nature Preserve - Taking a break

    Taking a break

    West Lake Nature Preserve - The Moss is very cool and damp, a great place for a puppy to cool off on a hot day

    The Moss is very cool and damp, a great place for a puppy to cool off on a hot day

    West Lake Nature Preserve - Our Chihuahua hates walking on these (and be sure not to take dogs on these in the summer since they get incredibly hot)

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    Our Chihuahua hates walking on these (and be sure not to take dogs on these in the summer since they get incredibly hot)

    Al Sabo Preserve - hiking - Updated May 2026

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