Asylum Lake Preserve Master Plan

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Asylum Lake Nature Preserve (photo from Western Michigan University)

from the Asylum Lake Preserve website

Asylum Lake Preserve is a 274-acre parcel of land that is owned by Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Michigan. The land is used for university research and is preserved as a passive-use recreation area under an agreement between the city of Kalamazoo and WMU. Asylum Lake's preservation was ensured as a condition of the development of the College of Engineering on Parkview Avenue. The Asylum Lake Preserve is located at the corner of Drake Road and Parkview Avenue in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

On the property are two lakes in addition to prairie and forest ecosystems. Currently, about three miles of trail with moderate elevation changes exist, but the Master Plan calls for additional trails, including those for persons with disabilities, and several paved access routes for emergency vehicles. The existing trails are a mixture of natural surface and pavement. There are several observation/fishing platforms along the shore of the larger lake.

As a preserve, the primary goal is to maintain habitat for native plants and wildlife, but quiet recreation is welcome. Dogs must be leashed. A volunteer group supports the preserve.

Currently the plan is in Phase II which involves improvements to the existing trails.

See map of the Master Plan for Asylum Lake
Download the Asylum Lake brochure


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Paddling Film Festival February 27

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paddling (photo from Quiet Adventure Society)

from the Quiet Adventure Society

In connection with the 2026 Quiet Adventure Symposium, there will be a a night of film to kick off the event. A selection of this year's 2026 Paddling Film Festival World Tour is brought to you by Drift and Roam Events and Quiet Adventure Society. The Film Festival will be at E. L. Hannah Community Center: Albert A. White Auditorium, 819 Abbot Rd, East Lansing, Michigan, 48823, on Fri, Feb 27, 2026 from 7-10 pm.

This event will feature 6 Films including the award winners for Best Canoeing Film, Best Instructional Film, Best Short Film, Best Documentary, and a Special Jury Mention.

General Admission: 320 seats on the main floor and 155 seats in the balcony. Seats are first come first serve at doors. Advance discounted tickets avalible thru 1/31 for $8. Advanced tickets available starting 2/1 and running thru 2/26 $10. Day of tickets 2/27 at Door $15(Cash/Card). Children (10 and under) FREE with adult ticket. Verification of age to be provided if asked, at the discretion of venue staff.

Proceeds from this event will equally go to support the misisons of Drift and Roam Events and Quiet Adventures Society as oulined below.

The day-long Quiet Adventure Symposium will be February 28, 2026 at the Farm Bureau Pavilion at MSU, Lansing, Michigan.

Drift and Roam, LLC ’s goal is to connect people of all backgrounds with the joy of paddling and the beauty of the natural world. Through inclusive programs, accessible adventures, and a welcoming community, we inspire exploration, stewardship, and a lifelong love for the outdoors. The first step in this is building a following by hosting engaging events in the Metro Detroit area such as paddling basics clinics, safety techniques, and competitive races.

The Quiet Aventure Society seeks to educate the public and encourage participation in non-motorized, outdoor recreation; to promote public concern and support environmental stewardship and conservation of natural resources of the Great Lakes region; to plan and execute annual and special events for any or all of the purposes listed. They have hosted the annual Quiet Adventure Symposium (formerly Quiet Water Symposium) since 1996.

Buy tickets


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Tribal Purchase of Land Will Not Impact Boardman Lake Loop Trail

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Boardman River Bridge, Loop Trail (photo from TART)

compiled from several sources

What has been the Boardman Lake Campus of Northwestern Michigan College will be sold to the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa. The purchase price is $27 million.

The college is moving all its facilities to the main campus in downtown Traverse City. Money from this sale will be used for capital improvements at the downtown location.

Of concern to many local recreational users is the fact that the Boardman Lake Loop Trail passes through that property. The tribe has stated that the trail will not be impacted in any way. They have also signed an agreement that no gaming activities will be conducted on the property. There are already a number of office buildings on the land, and the intent is to use them for centralized government administration.

The Boardman Lake Loop Trail was completed in 2022, and is four miles long, encircling Boardman Lake. It includes urban and wooded sections and a spectacular, sinuous bridge over the Boardman River. Approximately one quarter mile of trail will now be on tribal land. The trail itself is owned by the City of Traverse City, in partnership with Grand Traverse County and Garfield Township. TART Trails collaborates with these entities to support the development and maintenance of the trail.

See map of the Boardman Lake Loop Trail


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Improvements to Vasa Trailhead

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VASA trail sign (photo from Grand Traverse County)

from VASA Trails

We are excited to announce that GTC Parks and Recreation has been awarded a $400,000 grant for improvements to the Vasa Trailhead Park from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund.

This award, combined with matching funds from TART Trails and the County will bring needed reconstruction of the stormwater retention system, increased and improved parking, connecting pathways between the warming hut and trails, and more.

“The Vasa Trail network is one of the most beloved recreational resources in our area. A passionate group of community members had a vision in the late 1980s for a world-class trail system. Their dream came true and now we have the opportunity to redevelop the Vasa Trailhead Park to match that vision. We are grateful to the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund Board for helping make this happen,” said John Chase, Director of Parks and Facilities for Grand Traverse County.

Design and engineering for the project have already been completed. Funds are anticipated to become available from the State of Michigan in 2026 with a construction schedule to follow.

The Vasa Pathway is named for the famous Vasaloppet ski race in Sweeden, the world's oldest and largest cross-country ski event, established in 1922. In 1977, the Grand Traverse Vasa held it's first ski race. The trail system consists of a series of four four-season loops located east of Traverse City, Michigan. The longest loop is 25 kilometers, and the shortest is three. The trail hosts the annual Iceman Cometh bicycle race, and the North American Vasa cross-country ski race.

See map of Vasa Pathway


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MOWA Invites Nominations for 2026 Clean Waterways Award

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Kenneth Kornheiser receives the 2025 award on behalf of Kalamazoo River Watershed Council from MOWA board member Jeff Nedwick (photo from MOWA)

a news release of Michigan Outdoor Writers Association

The Michigan Outdoor Writers Associations (MOWA), in partnership with Enbridge, is accepting nominations for the 2026 MOWA Clean Waterways Award. The Clean Waterways Award recognizes and rewards organizations who demonstrate continuous, voluntary efforts to protect, preserve, and enhance the lakes, rivers, and streams of Michigan.

Threats to Michigan’s waterways are on the rise and it’s more important than ever to protect our most vital and treasured assets. While stewardship of our waterways is everyone’s responsibility, MOWA is specifically seeking to reward local or regional organizations operating within the state of Michigan for their voluntary stewardship efforts.

Last year's recipient was Kalamazoo River Watershed Council. The KRWC played a critical role in the cleanup and restoration of the Kalamazoo River after the July 2010 oil spill that released up to a million gallons of tar-sands crude oil into Talmadge Creek – a small tributary to the Kalamazoo River near Marshall, MI – which resulted in the contamination of a 30-mile stretch of the Kalamazoo River. The Kalamazoo River Watershed Council, an Assisting Agency under the Unified Command led by U.S. EPA and Enbridge, closely monitored the spill response and contributed numerous technical suggestions based on their experience and familiarity with the river and floodplain ecosystems. They were also involved in outreach activities, including public talks and presentations to schools and community groups.

About MOWA
Founded in 1944, MOWA is a non-profit organization comprised of outdoor communicators with a passion for communicating about nature, the environment, and outdoor recreation. MOWA’s members communicate on various outdoor subjects including hunting, fishing, skiing, hiking, snowmobiling, backpacking, the environment, education, trapping, travel, humor, natural resources, conservation, ecology, birding, boating, canoeing, kayaking, shooting sports and more.

Detailed information about the award can be found by visiting the Clean Waterways Award section of the Michigan Outdoor Writers Association website. Please contact Jeff Nedwick for additional information or questions: jeffsoutdrs@gmail.com


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Traverse City Adopts Complete Streets Policy

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Traverse City downtown bike lane (photo from TART )

based on the Traverse City policy statement

This month, December 2025, Traverse City, Michigan, passed a new policy that sets the goal for all city streets to be "complete," which means they will be designed not only for motor vehicles, but will accommodate walkers, cyclists, and public transportation, all with ADA compliance.

"Traverse City aims to provide a complete and connected transportation system that enhances safety, health, and quality of life for all users." The vision is to create a network that offers safe and efficient corridors for travel for all modes of transportation, and to set metrics by which to evaluate progress toward that goal.

The policy sets city-wide standards. However priority will be given to "historically underinvested and underserved" neighborhoods. One percent of the annual city budget will be earmarked for this purpose, and all new construction, renovation, re-paving, etc must meet the new standards unless a clear exception is granted for a good reason. Exception applications must be open for public comment for 30 days.

The following performance measures will be assessed each year, including but not limited to:
• Miles of sidewalks with pedestrian-scale lighting
• Winter maintenance levels for all users
• Miles of missing sidewalks completed
• Ridership of local transit agencies
• Pedestrian and bicycle counts on streets
• Improvements in ADA accessibility and curb ramps
• Miles of completed Complete Streets

An article by 9 and 10 News cites the first example of the policy's success. Eighth Street was recently reconstructed, and it meets all the standards. Residents are reported to be extremely happy. There is also a picture showing the newly adapted street and sidewalk lanes.

See 9 and 10 News article


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Bass River Segment Idema Explorers Trail

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map of Phase II (map from Ottawa County)

compiled from various sources

The Idema Explorers Trail (IET) is part of the Grand River Greenway, a planned 85-mile, non-motorized, multi-use pathway that will connect public lands between Grand Haven in Ottawa County and Grand Rapids in Kent County, Michigan, following the Grand River Greenway. The trail is being constructed in phases along the south side of the Grand River. Once completed, it will link to Grand Rapids and the Kent County portion of the Grand River Greenway. Ottawa County will host 36.5 miles of the Greenway.

Phase I, a 3-mile segment from Riverside Park to the Max Bayou boat launch area, is scheduled to go out for bid in January, with construction anticipated to be complete by fall 2027.

The Idema Explorers Trail was named for the Bill and Bea Idema Foundation, which has provided significant funding for the project. Recently another $400,000 has come from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund for Phase II. This phase includes construction of a 0.7-mile, 10-foot-wide, paved pedestrian and bicycle trail from the Max Bayou boat launch area to the Bass River Open Space – Walcott Site, a bridge over the Bass River, accessible fishing stations, a 0.5-mile natural-surface trail loop, and more. Phase II is located east of M-231 on the Grand River, beginning at Riverside Park.

“This segment is phase two of the 7.4-mile Bass River corridor, which will be built over several phases and has the potential to be one of the most scenic sections of the Idema Explorers Trail,” said Jason Shamblin, Parks Director. “It will connect five parks, feature extensive waterfront views, cross the Bass River, and be almost entirely separated from roadways.”



See more at Idema Explorers Trail


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Gravel Grinder Set for June 27, 2026

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Gravel Grinder rider (photo from Michigan Coast to Coast)

from Michigan Coast to Coast

204 miles from Au Gres on Lake Huron to Ludington on Lake Michigan or… 100 mile loop from Ludington to the Manistee National Forest and back. Take your pick of two options in this popular Michigan dirt road bicycle race/event.

Start your day at the sunrise shores of Lake Huron. Make one all-out push west, 204 miles through Michigan farmlands and grasslands, rolling hardwoods, the majestic Manistee National Forest, all the way to the sandy beaches of Lake Michigan at Ludington. Or try the challenging 100-mile Ludington-Manistee National Forest loop.

The two courses will not be known for their gravel, ironically, but for everything that’s NOT gravel – the forest roads, the two-tracks, the snowmobile trails. Much of the second half of the course is heavily forested, closed in, constantly changing. It’s a challenging, roller coaster ride. Set your eyes on the glorious sunset over Lake Michigan or ride into the night to get to the finish line on time.

Coast to Coast 204 MILES
Date: Saturday, June 27, 2026
Start time and location:
6:00 AM (sunrise) - Point Au Gres Marina, 2325 Green Drive, Au Gres, MI 48703
Finish location: Stearns Park, Ludington, MI
The 204-mile race is crew-supported. You must have your own support crew or pay to use our Breakthrough T1D (formerly Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) fundraising crew.

Coast Loop 100 MILE
Date: Saturday, June 27, 2026
Start time and location:
8:00 AM Stearns Park, Ludington, MI, 420 N Lakeshore Dr, Ludington, MI 49431
Finish location: Stearns Park, Ludington, MI
The 100-mile race is self supported. A support crew can meet you at, and only at, the official Big M checkpoint if desired. If you don’t have a support crew, you must still have a rescue vehicle within reach in case you need to drop out or if the race gets cancelled during the event due to severe weather. The race does NOT provide rescue vehicles.

See complete info at Michigan Coast to Coast


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Outdoor Recreation Economics

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Michigan outdoor recreation participation by activity 2022 (graph from Michiganbusiness.org)

data from Michigan Business

From 2022, the most recent year full data is available, outdoor recreation and supporting industries provided almost $14 billion to the Michigan economy.

There are multiple ways to break down this data, and many additional graphs are available at the link below.

I've selected two graphs to share in this article. The graph above shows how many million trips each type of recreation produced. The graph can be changed to show many combinations of activity. These are mostly non-motorized except "Water Activities," where muscle-powered sports could not be separated out. From highest to lowest number of trips are Bicycling at 440 million trips, Water Activities, Day-Hiking (off road), Wildlife Viewing and Photography, Snow Activities, Backpack Camping, and Horseback Riding at about 20 million trips.

The graph below shows the value added to the Michigan GDP as a percentage of the annual budget. The numbers indicate a small value. Only Boating/Fishing (top green line) and RVing (red line) contribute over 1%. Hunting, Hiking/Tenting and Snow activites are all below a half percent. Figures are from 2012 to the end of 2022.

Value as a percentage of Michigan GDP for outdoor recreation (graph from Michiganbusiness.org)

To put this in persepective, most of the state income is from property and income taxes, and federal money. Many of the other categories are small. Recreation income is greater than that from tobacco taxes, or from lottery ticket sales.

Access more info and customizable graphs at Michigan Business


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Michigan Adventure Races- January and May

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Adventure Race participants (photo from Michgian Adventure Races)

from Michigan Adventure Racing

Adventure Races involve a combination of orienteering, hiking/running, paddling, and bicycling. Participants attempt to check in at various waypoints in any order. Single entrants or teams compete. Some people simply want to see how many checkpoints they can find. Others compete for prizes- to collect all the checkpoints in the shortest time. They are timed events. You have anywhere from 3 to 8 hours to complete the course, depending on the event.

Usually logo gear and a meal are included in the registration fee.

The largest winter Adventure Race in the United States is held in Rockford, Michigan. The 2026 date is January 17. It is expected to sell out at 475 participants. This is the 15th year for the Winter Adventure Race.

The Winter Race is a 3-hour event, presented by the Village of Cannonsburg and the Honey Creek Inn. Run or hike, search for checkpoint flags, and conquer Amazing Race-like challenges in up to three hours of time flying by.

Registration is still open, but a late fee is charged at this point.

See more about the Winter Adventure Race in Rockford

On May 30, 2026, Muskegon State Park will host both a 5-hour and 8-hour Adventure Race.

Experience fun and challenging trekking, orienteering, paddling, and biking over some of the most beautiful terrain in and around Muskegon State Park, along gorgeous Lake Michigan. You and your teammate(s) will race together to find as many checkpoints as you can in the time period.

Both courses feature a nice mix of packed, marked trails and off-trail running with manageable amounts of sand, scenic flat-water paddling, and fast gravel and paved road biking (no singletrack trails in the area). Most teams are projected to get the majority of checkpoints within 4 or 7 hours. We will give a bonus hour for each race to help those teams get back to the finish in time so the final cutoffs will be 5 and 8 hours.

"Teams" can be solo individuals, any combination of 2-4 persons over age 14, and family teams where at least one participant is under 14 (must be a family member).

See more about the Adventure Race at Muskegon State Park


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Rosy Mound Improvements Funded

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existing and proposed trails at Rosy Mound ( map from the Rosy Mound Master Plan with highlights)

from Ottawa County

One of the 2025 Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund recommendations was for $800,000 to Ottawa County. The one-line description was for the Petty's Bayou area. This, however, does not tell the full story. Two specific projects will split the funding. One will be covered in this article.

Half the money will be applied to development on the recently acquired 127 acres at Rosy Mound near Grand Haven, Michigan, which will proceed according to the Master Plan. This will result in an additional 2.6 miles of foot trail, bringing the total to 4.4 miles.

A new parking area on Lakeshore Drive with 50 spots for day use will be built. Additional project elements include 0.85 miles of universally accessible paved trails, two new beach connections, two scenic overlooks, an extensive stair and boardwalk system, and a vault toilet.

It is proposed that the improvements will be implemented in four phases:
A. The new parking area, a loop trail and spur to an overlook
B. Additional trails leading to the Lake Michigan beach
C. Connections south to the existing Rosy Mound trails
D. An additional connection between the two parking areas, nearer to Lakeshore Drive.

The map above shows existing trails highlighted in lime green. All trails to the north of that will be constructed.

The legislature must still approve the appropriation, but this is usually a formality.

See Rosy Mound Master Plan for additional info and more maps (a pdf)


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Grand Traverse- The Ridge- Closer to Funding Goal

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The Ridge (photo from the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy)

mostly from the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy

Just east of Traverse City, Michigan, the Mitchell Creek watershed can be overlooked by a high finger of land known as "The Ridge." This has been the focus of protection efforts for many years, and that is very close to becoming a reality. Of the $11.1 million dollars needed, $9.5 million have been raised. Most notably with the addition of $4.8 million from the Natural Resources Trust Fund.

The ridge runs north and south, separating Baker's Creek from Mitchell Creek which both flow to the East Arm of Traverse Bay.

The GTRLC calls this purchase "the centerpiece of a 312-acre property identified as one of the region’s highest-priority landscapes for protection. Known as 'The Ridge,' this ecologically rich land protects water quality, provides critical wildlife habitat and offers exceptional potential for recreation."

The TART trail runs along the shoreline, just at the base of the ridge, and the VASA trail is to the east. The proposed preserve also serves as a key link in a growing network of protected lands, adjoining the Mnaadendan Shkaakimiikwe Nature Sanctuary and located near the Holiday Woodlands Natural Area, Mitchell Creek Meadows: The Don and Jerry Oleson Nature Preserve and the George and Ada Reffitt Nature Preserve.

A housing development was once proposed for this high ground from which there are views of Old Mission Peninsula and downtown Traverse City. If the land is protected, it includes approximately six acres of level land which has previously been disturbed which could be used for this purpose with little ecological damage.

The brochure states that this land would provide the opportunity to create a trail network linking Traverse City with the VASA trail.

The brochure (link below) has good maps and more information

See The Ridge fundraising brochure


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