Explore

Anderson Woods Nature Preserve is a forested natural area near Muskegon, Whitehall, and Montague. A wheelchair and stroller accessible trail system leads visitors through a towering oak and white pine forest, interspersed with glades lush with blueberry and wintergreen.

With more than 1,000 feet of pristine Lake Michigan shoreline and environmentally fragile barrier dunes, the Barrier Dunes Sanctuary is a great place for walking the beach, picnics, and wildlife viewing.

Located near Lowell, the B.D. White Nature Preserve is a natural landscape legacy. With rolling terrain, a cold water stream, and a meandering trail, the preserve provides habitat for a multitude of wildlife and serves as a natural area for people to enjoy and learn.

Overlooking Brower Lake near Rockford, this preserve protects rare bog and oak barrens ecosystems. The land provides quality habitat for a multitude of wildlife and provides people with a quiet natural landscape for hiking and nature study.

This natural area in Cascade Township features a beautiful hardwood forest and a small stream and wetlands that feed the Grand River.

Castle Park Reserve protects nearly 400 feet of undeveloped Lake Michigan shoreline in a designated Critical Dune area. Together with Dune Pines Nature Preserve and an adjacent privately-held conservation easement, Castle Park Reserve is part of a natural area that protects more than 50 acres of lakeshore habitat.

Nestled just south of Grand Haven, DePersia South Highlands Nature Preserve offers a small pocket of natural beauty along the Lake Michigan shoreline. Forested dunes like the ones found at DePersia provide critical habitat for wildflowers, reptiles, and migratory birds.

Located just south of Holland, Dune Pines Nature Preserve protects a forested dune ecosystem. A loop trail leads hikers through rolling backdunes that feature mature trees and good opportunities for viewing birds and other wildlife.

Located in northern Muskegon County, Flower Creek Dunes Nature Preserve protects unspoiled dune habitat along the lakeshore. A boardwalk leading to an overlook provides panoramic views of Lake Michigan and the surrounding dunes.

This little-known park features a hardwood-pine forest with mature tulip trees. There are also pockets of wetlands and in the northwest there is an open “blow-sand” area that is a good reminder of how the land was left after the logging era.

Located just north of Holland, Kuker-Van Til Nature Preserve protects natural land in a highly developed area. A loop trail leads hikers through a variety of habitats: young oak forests, mature hardwood swamps, and open sandy dunes.

Just south of Pentwater, Lake Breeze Nature Preserve protects a diverse coastal forest and pristine vernal wetlands. A stone’s throw from Lake Michigan, the preserve is a quiet haven for wildflowers, wildlife, and nature lovers alike.

Lamberton Lake Fen Nature Preserve is the Land Conservancy’s most urban preserve. Despite being within the Grand Rapids city limits, the preserve protects a high-quality prairie fen, a type of wetland that is very rare in West Michigan.

A hidden gem tucked behind tall dune hills, Lost Lake is a botanical treasure with plants found in both bog and coastal plain marsh habitats. An unpaved trail leads around Lost Lake, easily accessed from the Snug Harbor parking lot. A wheelchair-accessible trail from the Winter Sports Complex leads to an accessible overlook and viewing scope on the wetland’s north side.

Located in Rockford, the Maas Family Preserve is home to a remnant oak-pine barrens ecosystem–a unique savanna community that supports the endangered Karner blue butterfly. The preserve is a popular stop-off point for users of the White Pine Trail, particularly in May and June when the purple lupine is in full bloom.

There are no trails leading through this rugged dune property. Steep, forested ridges are interwoven with narrow valleys. Tucked in the dune hills are wetlands and a small pond.

Located near Spring Lake, Minnie Skwarek Nature Preserve protects biodiversity, improves water quality, and provides a destination for those nearby to connect with nature.

This section of the Muskegon River is easily accessible from Newaygo. Visitors will float through the city and past forested slopes along the river.

The Muskegon River is the second longest river in Michigan and is known for its good fishery which includes the threatened Lake Sturgeon. Several tributary streams and wetlands supply high quality cold water to the Muskegon River in this section.

The massive, forested dunes at this county park near Ferrysburg rise around the 10 miles of hiking trails that connect with PJ Hoffmaster State Park.

There are no trails leading through this rugged dune property. Steep, forested ridges are interwoven with narrow valleys. Tucked in the dune hills are wetlands and a small pond.

Located near the lakeshore between Holland and Grand Haven, Palomita Reserve protects a critically-important Great Lakes marsh ecosystem. Its location along the multi-use Lakeshore Connector Path makes it easy to access and enjoy this beautiful property.

Downstream of the “flies only” fishing section, this part of the river is heavily forested as it passes through several hundred acres of U.S. Forest Service land and non-developed private land.

Fishing is the biggest draw to this section of the Pere Marquette River that features high quality waters and scenic, wooded slopes.

Large cedar and hemlock trees line much of this stretch of river. Keep an eye out for turtles and bald eagles–wildlife is abundant here.

This section of the river maintains much of its forest integrity, even though it is mostly privately owned. This portion is deeper than upstream, though there are areas that are still wade-able along the edges.

This area features impressive forested slopes and overlooks, and large emergent wetland areas. It is a good birding area because of the more open areas.

The Pigeon River is a small river with a slower current that meanders through mostly forested banks in Ottawa County. It has been nicknamed the “turtle trail” because the abundance of turtles that are usually easy to spot on the river.

Located near Brohman in central Newaygo County, Richmond Woods Nature Preserve spans two watersheds, protects multiple wetland types, and features a sustainable, working forest.

A paved trail leads through former pastures, now being restored to natural habitats, down to the Grand River where there is a canoe landing and river overlook. Looping unpaved trails let visitors explore the lowland forest that shades the river in this Ada Township park.

Located between Saugatuck and Holland with towering dunes, 2.5 miles of undeveloped shoreline, and no crowds–this is one of the great Lake Michigan parks.

Hiking trails loop through the dunes, around wetlands, to the north shore of the Oxbow Lagoon, along the Kalamazoo River channel, and the Lake Michigan shoreline, offering scenic views at every turn. At the beach, look for migratory shorebirds including gulls, plovers, sandpipers, and terns.

Located east of Rockford, Saul Lake Bog Nature Preserve is one of West Michigan’s flagship natural areas. Convenient parking and over a mile of meandering trails allow visitors to appreciate the bog, prairie, forests, and fields–and the diversity of wildlife they support–in all seasons.

The Highlands is a collaborative project between the Land Conservancy and Blandford Nature Center. It is located in the heart of Grand Rapids at the former Highlands Golf Club and is currently undergoing planning and restoration.

This former cow pasture-turned-county park near Zeeland was returned to fields and wetlands. It meanders to miles of the Macatawa River, attracting a variety of wading and grassland birds. It offers extensive hiking and mountain biking trails.

Located just outside of Lowell, adjacent to Lowell High School and the Wittenbach/Wege Environmental Center, this preserve is often used as an outdoor classroom by Lowell-area students and nature enthusiasts. Hiking trails wind through mixed hardwood forests, cross over a trout stream, and wander through old farm pastures.

Whitey’s Woods is a forested portion of Lake Harbor Park that offers visitors natural beauty and opportunities for quiet recreation.