I'm so glad they added more parking because wow... this place blew up You can tell they didn't…read morefully expect how popular it would get. On those first nice days of the season? Forget it... it's PACKED. That said, it's honestly such a great park. The walking path is a really good, not too short where it feels pointless but not exhausting either. The landscaping is beautiful and feels really well taken care of, which makes a big difference. The playground is a huge hit with my kids, and the pond with the ducks is always a highlight. It just has that easy, relaxing vibe. Bathrooms are clean, there's a nice pavilion, and tons of open space for picnics or just letting the kids run wild. We keep going back... just maybe not on the very first sunny Saturday

Came here to walk a chilly fall Sunday, first time here and it was alright. Paved walkway for…read moreexercising and walking your doggo, little spots for picture taking (I counted 5 families taking photos), large playground and views of the Clinton River from a few bridges. Length of path is just about 1.4 miles for a loop.

Holland Ponds is the best place for hiking! My friends and I love coming here with our dogs because…read morethere is a river through the entire place, which means plenty of opportunities for the dogs to swim! The park is also connected to the apple trail, which leads to Yates Cider Mill, so it's honestly the best place to spend an afternoon! The dogs have fun, the humans have fun, you can take a mid-hike break to fuel up with cider and donuts, and then head back through Holland Ponds! The only downside to the park is that it's close to a shooting range of some sort, far enough away that you can't see anything, only hear things, so for dogs that spook a bit towards fireworks and the like, they will be able to hear sounds that might make them a bit jumpy.

I like this park for many reasons, but mainly because it has that true nature feel to it with so…read moremuch to look at and take in as you walk and meander it's trails. The main trail is gravel, but there are areas that veer off here and there along the way that take you off the beaten path and into some 'real' nature trails. With so much to offer, you can venture off and explore the foliage, ponds, wildflowers, rabbits, birds, frogs and the elusive (at least for me so far) Blue Herons. In fact this park is a Blue Heron Rookery and a nesting area for them as well. Look up into the trees while walking along their nesting areas because they build their large 3 foot by 3 foot nests high in the trees out of twigs. There are signs as well warning the public not to enter their sacred nesting areas. It's very quiet, serene and even a tad rustic compared to the other parks in the county. It does have benches along the way, but the grasses in mid summer have grown up and around some of them making them not so easy to sit on. They also have a small pavilion that once had a picnic table, but the table is now gone, so it's 'just a pavilion' hoping for another table one day so it can once again have visitors sit under it's covered and shady rest area. But why not carry one of those fold up chairs and heck, bring a picnic bag lunch and enjoy a quiet meal as you feel like you're in the middle of nowhere. Make sure to look up and side to side as you're traversing the trail because there are things to look at all around if you take the time to explore. You're so close to the city, yet so far away when you're in the middle of this park so take the time to enjoy all of it's offerings. There are areas where you can get a nice picturesque glimpse of the lily pads in the water and listen to the frogs croaking their tunes as you meander along the path. If you like the type of setting where you seem one with nature and you like a calm, serene setting, this park is a must to visit. Who knows, maybe you'll get lucky and see one or more of the Blue Herons. If not, there's always next time because this peaceful park is worth exploring when you want to get away from the city grind.

Spencer Park is a hidden gem in Rochester Hills! It's my favorite park to spend a summer day with…read morefriends/family or by myself to a walk on the hiking path. It's open for swimming Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day with Lifeguards on duty from 8am to dusk. Last year they installed a new paved walking trail that goes around the lake. It's so much nicer than the old gravel pathway! It's approximately 1 mile around Carter Lake and it's perfect for getting your steps in. However, dogs are not allowed in the park even if they are on a leash during Memorial Day to Labor Day. During off season you can bring your dog on a leash to walk if you choose. Another strict rule to note is that no floatation devices are allowed in the water for swimming. It's a popular spot to go shoreline fishing and there's a fishing dock along with canoe, Kayak and paddle board rental. In addition, there are sand volleyball courts, tennis courts, basketball courts, barbecue grills, a concession stand, and a play structure. You could easily spend the whole day here and never get bored. It basically has all the same amenities that Stoney Creek offers but smaller. It cost $5 per day if you're a Rochester Hills resident or $10 for a non resident Monday through Friday and Saturday and Sunday a few dollars more $8 for resident and $15 for a non resident). You also can buy a season pass which i do every year. The season pass gets you into Bloomer Park as well. I highly recommend this local park to anyone who loves nature and the outdoors. Great for all ages and especially families!

Thelma G. Spencer Park is a really pretty park with a beautiful lake, sandy beach, and plenty of…read moregreen space to enjoy. It's a nice spot to take a walk, relax by the water, have a picnic, or spend a summer afternoon swimming or renting a kayak. There's a lot to do, but it also feels like a great place to slow down and enjoy the scenery. The park caught my eye while I was exploring and driving around Rochester Hills. I thought it would be a nice place to stop and stretch my legs and enjoy some fresh air, and it was. Note that a vehicle entry or parking permit is required during peak seasons, though walking or biking into the park is free. Definitely worth a visit if you're in the area!

I thoroughly enjoyed my wanderings at River Bends Park, lots of options for your activities while…read morevisiting. I was on a limited time crunch today, so I stuck mostly to the main, paved trails (happily many sections of this path still ran through the woods); but there are hiking and/or biking trails branching off in many directions all throughout the property. Make sure to watch the trail signs, as some are for bikers only. River Bends is also a dog friendly park, note that they must remain on a maximum of a 6ft leash at all times. While I visited today with only my pupperoni, River Bends park is great for kids of all ages. There are a multitude of play areas for children, great to help wear out their energy. There is also a disc golf course that winds throughout the park, supplying players with beautiful nature views. You could also enjoy a BBQ on one of their charcoal grills, relax at a picnic table, or pavilions if you have a large group; nature watch on a nearby bench, our even try out a game of horseshoe. The park appeared well maintained, for the most part; although a few signs could use some repair. They have restroom facilities, and port-a-pottys available for use (although I did not enter them to speak of their cleanliness). You can find trash receptacles around every bend, so there's no excuse for lazy littering, and there is a main sign available showing you all of the trails and their difficulties. You can find this sign posted off to the side of the parking lot; which itself, had plenty of available spots. Definitely a favorite park to stop and enjoy, highly recommend.

I recently got into the whole #MTBProject thing. Bought myself a bicycle the price of a slightly…read moreused Ford vehicle. Hit the trails and joined a few Facebook groups. I've always seen the mountain bike trail on a Facebook post and so since my husband was driving up the area to group study with his cousin. I set up the bike rack and brung it along. Dropped him off at the starbuck and I came straight here. So the trail was rather pretty easy and laid back. None of the super high uphill climbs that'll destroy your quads, but it does have its moments. The drops were good and the course was rather nicely laid out. Theres even nice ramps and dips to make the trail lean over to the fun side. It's a bit short for the intermediate mountain bikers, but it's a ton of fun. I would run the trail again if given the chance. Thank you so much for reading my review. I hope this helps with your decision making experience. Enjoy your awesome yelptastic day!

Love this beach! We now go there only. We've been there 9…read moretimes in the last two weeks. The water is SO CLEAN, NO seaweed, no bird crap (like metro) and no rocks! It's absolutely gorgeous. And there's NO CHARGE but better go early cuz parking is very limited. Most of the time we have to park in the subdivision and walk over.

This is such a cute little park with a small but great beach area, kids modern playground and…read moreplenty of parking spaces. I've been here a few times for weekend festivals and also just to walk along the waterfront. It's got a beautiful view and plenty of nearby restaurants to go to.

Rotary Park is one of my favorite places to go in Sterling Heights. It honestly feels like you're a…read morethousand miles away, even though it's right around the corner. I love walking the trails because there's always something new to see, from the river views to all the wildlife and beautiful scenery. It's peaceful, relaxing, and a great place to clear your mind and enjoy nature. Every time I visit, I'm reminded what a hidden gem this park really is. Never disappointed! And you even can fish and kayak there!!!

A challenging but fun little playground. Has swings, sides and a ropes course. Small but not too…read morebusy. We had the Park to ourselves.

Here for a party & I am very impressed!…read more Beautiful parks and land. Can't wait to come back and run or bike the trails. Lots of pavillions for gatherings. Bathrooms were clean and I didnt have to worry about a critter running across my feet while I'm washing my hands. Also had boat / kayak access to the lake. Definitely check it out!

This park is the best park to walk at in the area!!! There many trail for bikes and just for…read morewalking. There beautiful ponds and lakes to look at as you walk or fish at. There also amazing playgrounds. I wouldn't recommend the beach.

Bear Creek Nature Park in Oakland Township, Michigan, is a 107-acre park with trails for hiking…read morethroughout hardwood forests, marshes, and meadows. It offers amenities such as a picnic pavilion, playground, and bathrooms. Spring ephemerals include the stunning white trillium. There's plenty of wildlife and it's a great spot for birding.