Let’s go explore! Christmas has come and gone, copious amounts of cookies have been consumed, and we’ve eaten every shape and flavor of cheese we could find. We are usually curled up inside, counting snowflakes as they drop by our frosted windows, but this year let’s get outside!
Sarett Nature Center in Benton Harbor is a nonprofit organization that focuses on environmental education, and hosts multiple events throughout the year that teach about wildlife, conservation, and how to become a naturalist. The Main Nature Center building is open to the public, Tuesday through Sunday, and the hiking trails are open every day from dawn to dusk. They are currently hosting their 2021 Winter Break Escape, which offers two adventure trails and provides fun for the whole family. The Easy Adventure hike introduces you to Rita Rabbit and Rodney Raccoon, who need your help to find each other for their play date, and takes around 40 minutes to complete. The Long Adventure offers different paths from which to choose, and is roughly an hour and a half. Both hikes have maps online or available at the front desk when the building is open.
South Haven has been named one of Michigan’s first Trail Towns, with the Kal-Haven Trail and Van Buren Trail totaling almost 50 miles of dedicated hiking and biking space. Van Buren Trail State Park exists along a former railroad and runs through multiple types of terrain, categorizing it as Intermediate difficulty. Kal-Haven Trail is also a rail trail, and has trailheads in South Haven and Kalamazoo. The trail has a limestone slag surface which allows sufficient traction for biking and snowmobiling.
In Berrien Springs, Love Creek County Park sits on 200 acres of pure beauty. Hiking trails wind through six miles of land, and when the snow falls, groomed trails cover five miles of rolling hills for cross country skiing, fat tire biking, and snowshoeing. Skiing equipment is available to rent in adult and youth sizes, and the trails are open during daylight hours. The entry fee is per vehicle, $3 for Berrien County residents, $5 for non-residents. Check their website for updated hours and special events offered through the winter.
Our fabulous state offers a multitude of trails, parks, recreation areas, and campgrounds for the outdoor enthusiast, and there are so many close to home. Warren Dunes State Park in Bridgman is bustling all year round, with six miles of hiking trails, sand dunes (the holy grail of sledding), and campsites. There are nine different trails to explore, ranging from .2 miles in length, to the full 6 miles; great for cross country skiing! Grand Mere State Park is located just a few miles away in Stevensville, and provides a half mile dune trail, and a .7 mile paved trail. State Park / Recreation passes are required for entry at Warren Dunes and Grand Mere.
Winter is here and the snow is on its way. Let us welcome the new year with an adventurous spirit, pride for the area in which we live, and the desire to explore!
By Jocelyne Tuszynski, MOTM contributor
