grass river natural area

Great place to hike, snowshoe, run and recreate! This place offers year round activities for the whole family.

This is my favorite natural area to walk and hike in in northern Michigan. There are boardwalks over marshes and across streams and lookouts over grass river. No camping or pets are allowed and all trash is carried out so very pristine,

The flora and fauna was like nothing I have ever seen before. Excellent boardwalk hiking through the wetlands.

The Grass River Natural Area has lovely hiking paths. These paths are appropriate for the novice and for families. One passes by various land forms including river, marsh, and forested areas.

Like many natural areas, it is simply a great place to visit and walk through. If you are looking for a quiet, beautiful location to take in northern Michigan's pristine flora and fauna, this is a great place to do so just outside of Bellaire, Michigan near Torch Lake.

May be difficult to find as is off all main highways. Includes numerous trails. Some are natural, others are wooden planked. Includes a clean, new, spacious visitor's center. We didn't have a lot of time to spend in the area, but will definitely return to explore the beautiful terrain. Highly suggest!

First time thru the Grass River and the views are spectacular as you wind thru this 30 minute boat ride from Clam Lake to Lake Bellaire. Lots of birds, great views and amazing sunsets.

Great place to stop and see what the 'chain of lakes' looks like without jet skis, baha boats and 'can't hear yourself think' engines and speakers. Have been making stops here for years and never disappointed. This is a wonderful place with knowledgeable naturalists and great programs for families and nature lovers. Make sure to bring binoculars and comfortable shoes. Trails are mixture of wood chips, natural earth and boardwalks.

May 22 and it was 48 but coder in the windy exposed areas. However, we survived and actually enjoyed our hike. The trails we took were all boardwalk, but quite extensive. They lead through a swampy area ecosystem, full of trees, rotting trees, sedge meadows, and many benches to sit and listen to the multitude of birds. However when we were there we met a load do school kids, shouting, running, and having a good time somewhat oblivious to their surroundings.Pick up a trail map at the gift shop and visitors center and hike around. No fee is collected.ZB

We went out of our way to find this area which has cultivated several interesting hikes through different ecologies. We walkws the boardwalk through the marsh area. It was very well done, with a view of the Grass River and beautiful flowers and birds to view. This would be a great place to take young children for a moderate hike of interest. The nature center is beautiful with a substantial gift shop.

Your kids will love all the green and might start singing Kermit the Frog songs - boardwalks are neat

The Grass River Natural Area has something for everyone. Birdwatching, hiking, wild flowers, geologic history and many classes. I love to spend a relaxing few hours walking the trails and observing all that nature has to offer. The grass river is beautiful and unpolluted, supporting many varieties of fish, turtles, Lily pads and other water plants and is relatively unspoiled by civilization.

this area has a good hands on nature center with programs for the younger set. a boardwalk through the wet forest and grass lands that is not too long for the family, but yet interesting for the nature lover.nice view of the Grass River/Clam Lake from a viewing stand on the boardwalk. there is also a dock for making this a boating adventure. you can reach this from Torch, Clam or Bellaire lake.

If you have time, visit the Grass River Natural area. You will learn about the different plants and animals that are found in the area. Take the time.

I led a Senior group twice to this area; the last time we had a docent who was so knowledgeable of the plant life and added to our enjoyment. Nice bathroom facilities and well marked walking paths.