The Kellogg Research Forest is an interesting & m as maintained forestry research facility. Like…read morethe USFS, it's a bit too rah rah forestry industry focused but is genuinely educational about the tree species on display in various stands ... there is a surprising number of species showing what goes into commercializing a selected species or figuring out which species will thrive under which environmental conditions...

Hidden nature trail, you never believe this is only 20 min away from Kalamazoo, hiking, house…read moreridding, pretty in summer, great place to ski in winter, part of Kellogg Biological Station, open to public. It is a part of the National Park's North Country National Scenic Trail form NY to North Dakota under construction, longest continuous hiking trail in US! http://www.nps.gov/noco/index.htm After the rainy day all the forest trees smells REFRESHING! Jan/ 2014 About a beautiful swamp board walk: a secret garden Just before the covered bridge and trail entrance gate form the parking lot, go walk left-north, there are rest room, maple syrup log house, picnic area beside the trout creek, keep walking for about 5min. The end of the road with a driving loop, you will see the bridge to cross the creek. Cross the creek walk bridge and you will find the most beautiful little area of this forest, board walk through the swamp with water plants. Best time is in Spring green time. Stay walk along with the creek side trail ( stay with left trails) and cross the high voltage power line. You will see the maple syrup gathering place, start crumbing along with north side syrup correcting tubes you will go back to the north end of main trail. It is about 15min walk. If you like to stay in loop trail, go straight up to the bit steep trail form the main road crossing ( there are two trails go up hill, go right-south hill trail). about 50min you be back to the east side of the covered bridge to the parking lot. This is a great walk including 20 min climbing - cardio, and 15min relaxing gentle down hill, feels like taking exercise class. Have a little great time in nature! Map is available at the ranger station beside the parking lot!

Traveling has become so darn expensive (mostly thanks to hotels and rental cars) so I've been…read moretrying to find places within driving distance to explore this year so I can drive and also camp to save money and connect with nature more! I loved this campground. It's quite large with lots of lakes and bodies of water. I didn't get to hike a ton but the one trail I did hike was great and very peaceful. I reserved campsite 159. I will say that the campsite next to it was basically right on top of mine so it would be great for a group site! It was also located right by the bike/hike trail, so that was good for me but could see how it wasn't as private as other sites. Loved the check in process and great location related to Kalamazoo.

This is a beautiful campground and the bathrooms were clean and new. HOWEVER, there were mosquitos…read moreand poison ivy everywhere - even in the middle of the campsites! My kids had to wear sweatpants and sweatshirts in 75/80 degree weather. We couldn't go anywhere without there being poison ivy within 5 ft of us. Our group (especially my children) were all covered in mosquito bites (we are talking 10+ on each of their faces - even with using bug spray, and multiple other methods of deterring mosquitos!) The staff were rude and unprofessional. The DNR officers were belittling and grumpy toward a large family group (adults with small children). This was our first time camping at this state park... and likely the last time camping at a Michigan state park. I am so disappointed in how Michigan is using their resources to create a "family friendly" campground when the way people are treated are not reflective of that. The campsites are not safe for children. Do better for someone else's sake, Fort Custer.

This place is great for hiking and meeting up with friends! I really enjoy all the flora & River.read more

The Black River Preserve is truly a spectacular place. The location of the preserve, along the…read moreLake Michigan coastal area, makes it a premier migratory songbird stopover. There is also great biological diversity ranging from poplars and redbud trees to hemlocks and birch trees. The Preserve encompasses 120 acres of rolling forest, meadows, and scenic tributary ravines. The trails are all marked and offer easy-to-difficult hiking options. We spent a Sunday afternoon in October walking through this magical preserve. The Mainstem Trail is the most direct route through the preserve. We traversed slops of the north and middle ravine and crossed streams along the way. We stopped at the "quiet spot" bridge and closed our eyes and just listened to the peaceful sounds of nature. The Black River Preserve is located on 8th Ave. in South Haven. There is a gravel park lot and a trail map posted at the trail head. If you are looking for a place to go for nature and a quiet atmosphere, be sure to check out the Black River Preserve.

This is a great campground to be at. At the current time I am writing this, it is Memorial Weekend…read moreand we all got together to have a BBQ and everyone came down. We had a blast. It was definitely a fun time. The campground owner, Mike, is a phenomenal guy, and even the staff is very nice. You can also go in the river for a canoe or kayak ride, which was very fun as well. If you're going to be in South Haven, MI, this is a place to stop at. We had a great experience. 5 stars.

Best camping experience in a long time, maybe ever. Staff extremely friendly and helpful…read more(especially Brandon amd his grandfather). Clean facilities. Wood cheaper than at the gas-station (even if you have to buy it on the premesis). Canoe/Kayak rental and ride on the premises. Just a short distance from South Haven, breweries and wineries and a blueberry farm. Will definitely be back! Thank you for the experience. Chris S.

Hiking to the beach is much more satisfying than driving next to it. First about parking, since it…read moreis a state park, you need to have a state park pass or you can buy it at the gate. There are 4 trails, north trail about 1.25mi (one way), not too bad. The trail will turn away some families so it is more private. Not too many people even in the summer.

If you like walking trails the Saugatuck Dunes Park is a great place to do so. The trails are easy…read morewith a few hills here and there. A lot of nature that's been undisturbed. The trail leads to lake michigan.

The mill has been a prominent place in my life for almost 40 years. It's where I go when I need to…read moreleave the world's problems behind.

I adore Scott's Mill Park! My friend and I have always had our girls evenings out there. We just go…read moreout and sit on the bench of the small cabin and stare down at the gorgeous scenery and talk. Also a great back drop for engagement or graduation photos out near the cabin and cute garden.

Great park. The ranger met us and a parking pass ($5). The…read moresite was perfect for the reunion outing with play structure and a volley ball court. Bathrooms close and super cleaned for a park. Very well stocked. Parking was easy.

I love this park for walking and just enjoying the good fresh air. The vibrant fall colors are…read morealways a perk, if I am visiting at that time of year. For you locals, it is a blessing.

Wonderful visit, warm sunny day. Greatly enjoyed chatting with the head miller. He was full of…read moreinformation about the mill itself and expanded our knowledge of multiple grains while discussing bread making tips n tricks. We strolled a shorter bath but forgot our bug spray so didn't adventure into the woods. The gardens around the mill were picturesque and the mill store had a great variety. I would recommend a visit and be sure to engage the miller for all your questions !!

Well done tours of a genuine mill. Fascinating story behind the original owner! Great place for a…read morepicnic or a stroll - the grounds are beautiful. Check online for hours - not open every day (for tours).

The dog parks are very nice, some shade and water is available for dogs of all sizes. The drive…read morearound is very nice and tree lined with a nice boat ramp

Tried to go to the park this evening. We had no cash but scrounged up $4. Unacceptable the park…read more"ranger" said. We offered to pay with card or the $50 we had. Also unacceptable. She said we could pay with check.. which I'm sorry, this isn't 1990. Very disappointed this was our experience.

Went to hike with friends after school. We got scavenger hunt maps which was neat for the kids to…read moresearch for to cross off. We were able to see several birds and learn about them. Birds journeys that led them to be at the sanctuary. Usually you get to feed them but not today since they had a flu going around. Nice paved paths to walk on for strollers and wagons. Bathroom area to use if you need to go. Swans are so much bigger in up close viewing.

This is a wonderful place to see so many birds. It is usually not as crowded as some of the larger…read morezoos in the area. Which adds to the enjoyment in my opinion. The whole sanctuary is a great place for singles, couples, families and anyone who enjoys wildlife. Young kids get a thrill out of seeing the birds. And in non COVID times can feed them too. Adding to children's enjoyment. There are some birds in captivity (usually rehabbed animals) which are common in Michigan. Then the lake and ponds are great places to see waterfowl in their natural habitat. This is a treasure in Kalamazoo county. And a place not to be missed.