What Is The MacCready Nature Reserve
The MacCready Nature Reserve is a dog and family friendly, 408 acre park that offers several trails for it’s visitors to walk, hike or run. Varying in length and rated from moderate and fairly flat to difficult and very hilly. The reserve also includes marshes and ponds along some of the trails.
My family and I went on Mother’s Day and choose the “Red” trail which is 1.6 miles in length and is the moderate, fairly flat one, none of the marshes or pond waters are on this trail. We had our dogs with us this time and since it was our first hiking excursion of the summer, we took it a bit easier.
What To Expect
MacCready is open to the public year around with one exception…it is closed for private hunting on November 14th and reopens to the public at dawn on December 1st.
Trails are clearly marked with colored, directional signs that have arrows on them. You must stay on the trails and not venture into the woods as they are under forest management with Michigan State University.
The color of the arrow will correlate with the trail you take. It makes it very easy while in the woods. Forget the breadcrumbs, Hansel and Gretel would have loved this setup too…
There are signs throughout the reserve explaining exactly what is being studied as you walk along.
Is It Allowed?
Most places have rules and the MacCready Nature Reserve is no different.
To help you out, here’s a list of do’s and don’ts
- Stay on the trails
- Dogs are welcomed but must be leashed at all times and you must clean up after them
- Leave ONLY footprints! Do not leave trash anywhere but in receptacles at the building
- Unauthorized motor vehicles are not allowed
- NO bikes at all
- No hunting, firearms, camping, campfires or overnight stays
- Park is open from dawn to dusk, daily
- Snowshoeing and skiing are only permitted from December 1st – March 31st
- STAY ON THE TRAILS (yes, I did repeat this)
- ONLY take pictures and nothing else
- No nighttime entry into the park
- Respect the boundaries of personal residencies around the park
On a personal note, if you do see trash while on the trails, please pick it up and dispose of it properly. Ocassionally, trash blows in from farms nearby and just needs to be taken care of.
Watch Out For The “Nature”
This is a nature reserve, therefore, you will most likely run into the nature!
Barely on the trail and we were greeted by a Garter snake! I’m not fond of snakes but I snapped a picture and we both went on our separate ways, exactly how it should be.
The trails may also have downed trees blocking them. That will happen in the woods so climb over and walk on…or be like me and crawl over because I am quite graceless.
We were all a little surprised that we heard very few birds and only saw a of couple squirrels. I know I expected a bit more activity. Perhaps it was because we were there so early in the Spring, benenfit of the doubt and all.
Yay or Nay?
This is definitely a YAY!
This is a great and inexpensive way to get out of the house, get some exercise and become one with nature. There are other trails that I will be exploring as the year goes on and since this is close to my home, I can take my time doing so.
One of the nice things about here is that although there were several vehicles in the parking lot, we only ran into a couple of people on the trail. There is plenty of room for eveyone!
Where’s The Map?
Last Views
Since this is a nature reserve, I have more photos than content. Come enjoy my Mother’s Day walk!
As I revisit over the next few months, I’ll be sure to add more photos! Let me know if you go!!
A Special Thank You!
I’d like to give a special shoutout to my friends, Yvonne and Randy for telling me about the MacCready Nature Reserve!
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