Ottawa County 2026 Park Scavenger Hunt

Events Calendar

2026 Scavenger Hunt (graphic from Ottawa County Parks)

a news release of Ottawa County Parks

Ottawa County Parks is excited to announce the return of the Parks Challenge in 2026, now featuring a brand-new Scavenger Hunt. Thanks to the creativity and generosity of Kristopher Reinhardt of Edward Jones, park visitors can take part in a year-long adventure designed to highlight Ottawa County’s parks in a fun and interactive way.

The Scavenger Hunt runs throughout 2026 and invites participants to follow clues, explore county parks, and search for hidden tokens. Each season, three clues will lead to one county park, for a total of four mystery parks during the year.

The first participant to find the hidden token at each mystery park will win $250. Participants must be registered to be eligible. If the token has already been found, visitors can still participate by searching for and scanning a QR code at the site to enter a quarterly prize drawing.

Reinhardt shared why supporting this effort was meaningful to him:

"Ottawa County Parks have become a foundational part of who I am. I didn’t know or understand that when I started exploring them," said Kristopher Reinhardt, sponsor of the 2026 Scavenger Hunt. "I have visited these places during some of the most triumphant and hardest times of my life. Each time, the Parks have amplified the highs and softened the lows. Every visit has left me feeling less stressed, happier, and more optimistic. This is the true prize of the Scavenger Hunt. The money is simply an incentive for people to start their journey.”

Clues will be released on social media at the beginning of each month by Kristopher Reinhardt and the Ottawa County Parks Foundation. Participants may also sign up to receive clues via email.

See Full information at Ottawa County Parks


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Former Scout Camp Greilick Open to Public

Events Calendar

Camp Greilick ski trail (photo from Grand Traverse County)

compiled from several sources, mostly from a news release of Grand Traverse County

After Over 1,000 hours of volunteer time, plus work from staff and community partners, Camp Greilick near Traverse City, Michigan, is now open to the public. Four-season activities are available.

Featured are: A hiking trail called Lagoon Loop, additional trails for hiking, snowshoe, backcountry cross country skiing, an 18-hole disc golf course, “Wood Chip Hill” children’s area with story walk and bouldering wall and two geocaches.

The overarching park vision is to protect and preserve the conservation value of the property and dedicate it as a public space where county residents and visitors can experience passive and active outdoor recreation, learn to be better stewards of the environment, and develop skills to improve their outdoor experience.

Grand Traverse County acquired the former Boy Scout camp property in 2024 after it had sat idle for many years. “We are honored to bring this special piece of property into our parks system and make it available for the public to create lifelong memories and enjoy outdoor recreation and education, just as it has for many decades. We are especially thankful to the staff and volunteers who have dedicated their time and talents to help us open the park,” said John Chase, Director of Parks and Facilities for Grand Traverse County.

Planned additions for 2026 are: outdoor and environmental education opportunities, on-site lodging, and pavilion/lodge rental. The county is also working with North Sky Raptor Sanctuary to bring a raptor education center and rehabilitation facility to the park.

The park is located at 4754 Scout Camp Rd. and can be accessed from Hobbs Hwy (please note that map applications may incorrectly route drivers on Ranch Rudolf Rd.).

It is open 365 days a year from 6 AM to 11 PM. Facilities are currently winterized, so plan to pack in water if needed. Porta Potties are available on site. Leashed dogs are welcome and pet waste stations are in several locations. The kiosk in the parking lot has a large print map with a full park layout, as well as a QR code so that visitors can take the map along with them. Residents are also encouraged to sign up for monthly newsletters about all of the happenings at Camp Greilick.

Here is the map of Camp Greilick Trails

For additional information, contact Grand Traverse County Parks and Recreation at gtparks@gtcountymi.gov, Grand Traverse County Parks and Recreation


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Prune in Winter to Prevent Oak Wilt

oak leaves with oak wilt (photo from the Michigan DNR)

a news release of Michigan DNR

Trees across Michigan are just wrapping up their display of fall color, with the reds, oranges and yellows of oak trees often taking center stage. That annual autumn color fest may be at risk, though, because oak trees across areas of Michigan are dying from oak wilt.

One of the best ways to help prevent oak wilt from infecting trees on your property is to avoid wounding them during the high-risk infection period, April 15 to July 15. Winter is a safe time to prune oak trees.

Caused by the fungus Bretziella fagacearum, oak wilt is fatal to oak trees, especially those in the red oak family, which includes black oak, northern red oak and northern pin oak – all identifiable by their pointed leaf tips.

Once a tree is infected, the fungus may fruit, creating distinct, gray to black fungal pads under the tree’s bark. Fungal spores can be picked up by sap-feeding nitidulid beetles attracted by the pads’ yeasty odor. Sap beetles spread oak wilt when they visit pruned or damaged oaks to feed on their exposed sap.

Oak wilt often is first identified when green leaves turn yellow or brown on the edges and begin to drop during the summer. Infected oaks can spread the disease to other oaks through underground root connections or grafts, creating an expanding circle of dead trees.

Winter is the ideal time to prune trees because nitidulid beetles and other pests that cause harmful tree diseases are less active in cold temperatures.

The DNR maintains an interactive online map for viewing verified, reported and treated locations of oak wilt across the state. The tool also can be used to report suspected oak wilt infections. What can be done? Michigan.gov/ForestHealth or MichiganOakWilt.org.

To learn more about oak wilt, visit Michigan Oak Wilt


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Brothers Die After Falling Through Ice

Events Calendar

Island Lake, Kalkaska (from hybrid imagery)

compiled from several sources

Two brothers died this past weekend after falling through the ice on Island Lake southwest of Kalkaska, Michigan. They were 22 and 13 years old. A third boy, aged 14, managed to crawl back onto solid ice and call for help. But it was too late to save the boy and the young man. The 22-year-old was found quickly and taken to the hospital, but was not able to be revived. His younger brother was found the next morning in about 8 feet of water.

This is surely a tragedy for the families involved.

It also provides a good opportunity to remind us all of ice safety, espcially since winter seems to have come early to West Michigan.

Your safety is your responsibility! These tips are from the Michigan DNR:
• There is not a reliable "inch-thickness" to determine if ice is safe.
• You can test ice thickness and quality using a spud, needle bar or auger.
• Strongest ice: clear with bluish tint.
• Weak ice: ice formed by melted and refrozen snow. Appears milky.
• Stay off ice with slush on top. Slush ice is only half as strong as clear ice and indicates the ice is not freezing from the bottom.
• If there’s ice on the lake but water around the shoreline, be extra cautious.

See more ice safety tips from the Michigan DNR
See news article about the drownings at UpNorth Live


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Local Couple Create Trail at Sparta Sports Complex

Tim Shelton scouting trail (photo by Katy Shelton)

from a conversation with Katy Shelton

Looking for stories to feature on this blog, I was reading about a recently created trail around the perimeter of Sparta Sports Complex, Sparta, Michigan. Imagine my surprise when scanning the article, to realize that I know the people responsible for creating this trail.

Katy and Tim Shelton, active North Country Trail hikers and volunteers, decided they wanted a trail near their home where they could get in 5K (three miles).

"We wanted to create a trail for the residents of Sparta that was nearby and easily accessible. Hopefully walking on our trail will inspire them to continue their hiking adventures and seek out other trails, farther away. They will soon discover all the neat trails that are out there for everyone to explore."

Starting two years ago in dense woods full of "pricker bushes" and undergrowth, the couple began pounding in orange stakes to determine a suitable route for the new trail. "We hammered in over 300 of them," Katy told me.

"I don't like long pants," Katy says. "That first year was brutal. We plotted a course and chopped out a trail through woods and wild raspberry bushes with LOTS of thorns and over a TON of trippable roots." Tim's trousers would be covered in sharp, prickly seed pods. Katy's legs took a real beating! But they persisted. They got help from other community volunteers, and this fall (2025) the 3.5-mile trail opened.

At first the couple carried all their tools in by wagon, but eventually the Sports Park loaned them the use of a golf cart which made the logistics much easier.

Signs are in place and locator maps will be installed. KAty explained there is currently a small detour where a river improvement project is underway, but the trail is still useable.

Katy said, "I'm working to get it on AllTrails, but that's a work on progress."

The park also features ball fields and a disc golf course.

See Sparta Sports Park
See Fox 17 news report on the project


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Hager Park's US Map Feature Restored

Events Calendar

Hager Park USA map from Google Imagery

compiled from various sources

Centered in Hager Park in Jenison, Michigan, is a terrain map of the United States large enough to easily be seen in Google imagery. The outline is obvious, some of the rivers are sculpted in, and even some of the relief features.

The park and playground were built in the 1990s, but the map recently got a facelift in the summer of 2025. This was the work of Eagle Scout Wyatt Nance. He recruited over 75 other people to help with the project. Overgrown with weeds and eroded, the map was hardly discernible any more. Wyatt raised funds, repaired the boundaries, hardened the edges with stone for accessibility, and recreated the borders of the states.

At the very bottom of the picture the oddly shaped structure is a wooden playground, a portion of which is built to look like a ship.

In addition to the map and playground there is a picnic area and about three miles of hiking trails which connect to nearby neighborhoods.

See map of Hager Park
Read WZZM article about Wyatt's project


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Sign Up for Online Watershed Course

(graphic from Michigan State University)

a news release of Michigan State

Michigan State University Extension's Introduction to Lakes Online course is a six-week, self-paced program that covers lake ecology, shoreline protection, watershed management, and more. It’s perfect for property owners, community members, and anyone who cares about our waterways. Early bird registration is open through January 6!

Introduction to Lakes Online is designed for interested individuals, decision makers, local leaders, resource professionals, and lakefront property owners interested in gaining knowledge about inland lakes and connecting with others who have a similar interest. In this introductory course, participants increase their knowledge and understanding of the following six topics:

• Lake ecology
• Watersheds
• Shorelines
• Aquatic plant management
• Michigan water law
• Community involvement

This award-winning six-week course is offered once a year and consistently draws strong interest.The course features a simple, easy-to-navigate website, clear instructional videos, and weekly reminder emails

For more info and registration see MSU Extension


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Kalamazoo Residents Speak Out Against Development

Asylum Lake (photo from Western Michigan University)

from a news article at Watershed Voice

Asylum Lake Preserve is owned by Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Michigan. There are 274 acres protected for passive recreation and educational activities through the university.

Recently, the Kalmazoo Planning Commission was presented with a request to rezone an adjacent parcel at the corner of Stadium Drive and Drake Road for commercial use.

This is not the first such request. In 2020 there was a request to rezone from residential to commercial for the purpose of building a car wash. That request was denied.

The current proposed rezoning is consistent with the Kalamazoo Master Plan, however, no specific development plans were presented to the commission.

Residents turned out in force, and the public comment period continued for five hours. Change.org presented a petition with 14,000 signatures to deny the request. The primary concerns were environmental, and causing pressure on the adjacent preserve. One resident stated their case succintly, "“We have roughly 137 car washes in the greater Kalamazoo area and one Asylum Lake."

Commissioners were convinced, and added concerns of their own such as increasing traffic problems at an already busy corner.

The Planning Commission voted 7-0 to deny the rezoning request. The final decision will be made by the City Commission.

Some walking trails exist at Asylum Lake, and a Master Plan is in place to create more. This will be the subject of a future GOTC article.

See Asylum Lake Preserve


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Winter Trail Etiquette

classic groomed ski tracks on the left, and skate-ski/snowshoe grooming on the right (photo from the National Park Service)

compiled from several sources. By jhy

There are basically three kinds of grooming that are done for non-motorized trails in winter. Classic track grooming for cross-country skiers consists of two parallel lines about a foot apart in the snow. Skate-skiing track is a wider, ribbed surface that is essentially compacted and flat. Grooming for fat-tire bicycles is similar.

What are the rules when you encounter groomed winter trails?

Above all, find out the local rules for the trail you are using, which may be more specific than these general guidelines.

There are several absolute tabus. When you encounter the classic two-groove ski tracks, do not do anything on these except cross-country ski with skis no wider than the tracks. In fact, it's best if skiers try not to cut across these tracks, herringbone up hills, etc. Of course, a fall might damage the grooves, but if traffic is not heavy, some effort should be made to repair the tracks. Hikers, snowshoers, skate-skiers, and pets should not use these tracks. Unfortunately, in many cases, we can't train the deer or coyotes to stay off.

The flat, ribbed tracks for skate skiing and fat-tire biking are a little more flexible. Still, you should stay off them with boots. Walk pets elsewhere. Some trail systems allow snowshoe use on these tracks, others do not. In particular, if you use snowshoes with deep-gripping cleats, you will probably not be welcome. Anything that puts gouges in the surface can present not only an annoyance but a hazard to fast-moving users. Bicycles on these trails should have a minimum 3.8" tire width.

Protocol is that slower users yield to faster ones by stepping out of the track or trail. In many cases, trails are signed to be one-way. This is for safety. Meeting a speedy user head-on is not good. Do not stop at the bottoms of hills or just around blind corners.

In many cases, groomed trail systems charge a user fee. This helps cover the cost for maintaining grooming equipment.

In the immediate local area:
• Crystal Valley and Pentwater Pathways are groomed for classic skiing by volunteers of the Oceana Cross Country Ski Association. Donations are welcome, but there is no fee for using those areas.
• Big M is groomed for classic skiing by volunteers, with separate trail groomed for fat-tire bikes by Shoreline Cycling Club. Donations are encourged and there is a collection box at the parking area.
• The Manistee Non-Motorized Trail is partially groomed for fat-tire bikes by Shoreline Cycling Club, and partially for classic skiing , with an additional snowshoe loop/ dog walking loop
• Ludington School Forest has trails groomed for fat-tire bikes by Shoreline Cycling Club. The regular hiking trails are not groomed.
• The Logging Trail at Ludington State Park is groomed for classic skiing. Snowshoes are welcome to the side.
• Just slightly farther south, the Dragon Trail at Hardy Dam Pond is grooming 13 miles with ribbed track for shared use by fat-tire bikes, skis, and snowshoes.
• Muskegon Luge has a 3.5 mile groomed ski trail, and a 2.5 mile snowshoe trail. The trails are lit in the evenings and open 7 days a week. $10 daily trail pass. Open till 9 pm weekdays and 10 pm Fri & Sat.
• Commercial ski resorts often have cross-country trails.

There may be other groomed trails in the area. Feel free to let me know of them.

Contact me at events@getoffthecouch.info


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5-County Multi-use Trail Connection Effort Revitalized

bicycle riders on the Hart-Montague Rail Trail (photo by Josh Schuyler)

from an article in the Ludington Daily News and personal recollection, by jhy

Before Covid, various committees were organized in Mason, Lake, Oceana, Newaygo, and Manistee Counties (Michigan) to formulate a regional plan for connecting multi-use trails in the five counties. I was a part of one of those committees.

Most of the early discussion centered on the fact that connecting Ludington with the Hart-Montague Rail Trail is no easy task because there is no longer a railroad right-of way. Since that time, a group Friends of the Pentwater-Hart Trail has formed and is making progress toward connecting Pentwater to the north end of that trail at Hart.

Connections east from Ludington are problematic, as the railroad is still live track from Baldwin to Ludington, so use of an abandoned railway is not an option. The Pere Marquette Rail Trail currently begins in Baldwin and runs all the way to Midland. The US 10 corridor is extremely busy and a dangerous bicycle ride. When US 10 was widened in 1990, wide, curbed, paved shoulders were added. Everyone wondered why bicycles did not immediately rejoice at this. The simplest reason is that curbs were added at every driveway so it is just a continual series of bad bumps, and it is usually littered with broken glass and random junk. The five lanes of traffic and heavy commercial development make it an unappealing corridor for a bicycle trail.

Just prior to Covid, the committees were presented with a marketing strategy for any eventual plan. However, the proposal was not well received, and then Covid hit. Everything stalled.

Now the Building, Planning, Drains & Airport Committees of Mason County have been presented with a new effort, spearheaded by Dave and Kathy Maclean (former owner of Spindrift bicycle shop). A number of agencies are interested in starting the process again to try to connect with regional trails.

Priorities would be to connect Ludington State Park with downtown, downtown to Consumers Pumped Storage property, then on to Pentwater, and finally from Ludington to Scottville. This concept has been broken into these four segments, each plan under the leadership of a different person. Portions of these routes are part of the US Bicycle Route system, although that primarily uses roads.



See Ludington Economic Development


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Calvin Ecosystem Preserve Adds Large Rock Garden

Calvin University Puddingstone (photo by Kent Ratajeski)

compiled from various sources

Calvin University in Grand Rapids, Michigan, hosts a 44-acre Ecosystem Preseve. Along with an adjacent research area (not open to the public), the preserve offers both recreational and educational opportunities. There are 1.7 miles of trails, available only for hiking with no pets. Open 7 am till dusk.

The preserve is inhabited by 260 species of plants, including several trees approaching 250 years old and the smallest plant in the world, called watermeal. Many animals, including 18 species of amphibians and reptiles, 179 bird species, and 27 species of mammals have been identified in the preserve.

Now the university has added a large rock garden near the entrance at East Beltline Avenue. The garden features a variety of Michigan rocks. The centerpiece is a 16,000-pound puddingstone. Puddingstone is more usually found in the Upper Peninsula, but it all was brought here from Ontario by the glaciers.

Kent Ratajeski posted a picture of the rock on Facebook, and people immediately began to travel to see the massive stone. Ratajeski serves as director of the Bruce Dice Mineralogical Museum at Calvin University, and is also an educator.

Various classes will take advantage of having larger specimens to study than can be handled in a classroom. Additionally, this rock garden will focus on rocks rather than serving as a matrix for rare plants. Climbers are welcome, and kids are loving the "playground."

The garden was made possible by a donation from Thelma Venema, a lifelong lover of geology and rocks.

See a brochure of the trail system


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Portions of the Dragon Trail Groomed for Winter Use

map of groomed trails (from Mecosta County)

compiled from several sources

The 45-mile Dragon Trail around Hardy Dam Pond in Newaygo and Mecosta Counties, Michigan, has a total of 13 miles that are groomed for multi-use winter adventures. The trail remains open for hikers, bicyclists, skiers and snowshoes. As such, the grooming is not focused on one user group.

Bikes should have tires a minimum of 3.8" wide (fat tire bikes). Hikers should stay to the side of the trail. Showshoes and skis are welcome on the groomed trail.

Sections that are groomed are shown highlighted in green on the graphic, which includes the Brower Loop and Section 5 which runs between Mecosta County's Brower Park and Davis Bridge Park. Parking areas of each of these parks are plowed and will be maintained on weekdays throughout the winter. Vault Toilets are available at both locations, with a hand water pump available for use at Davis Bridge.

For parking at Newaygo and Mecosta County Parks, a permit is required. Each county has its own permit. One permit does NOT cover all parking along the loop. 2026 annual Vehicle Permits are now available! Standard vehicle permits are $35 each with regional passes available for $60 each. Stop by to purchase a permit in person at the Parks Administration office in Paris, MI, Mon-Fri 8:30-5:00, or call 231-832-3246 to purchase over the phone! Or drop your fee in the fee pipe at Brower or Davis Bridge Parks and your permit will be mailed out to you!


See the complete rules for Trail Etiquette


See the main website for The Dragon Trail

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