Possible Kayak Launch at Rockford

Rogue River at the 12-Mile Conservation property (photo from Kent County Parks and Recreation)

from an M-Live news article

The 12-Mile Conservation Area at 4400 12 Mile Road NE, Rockford, Michigan, is located between the White Pine Trail and the Rogue River. Kent County is hoping to develop a portion of the 22 acres with an accessible kayak launch and a boardwalk, parking lot, and four-season restroom.

There is approximately a half-mile of river frontage on the property, and it is a popular access site for the trail and the river, but currently the only amenity is a gravel parking lot.

Kent County Board of Commissioners discussed, on March 26, approval of submission of MDNR grant applications. The county is applying to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Trust Fund for $400,000 of the approximately one million needed. If approved, the state funds would be appropriated in 2027 and park construction would begin in 2028.

Visit Kent County Parks


These links are checked on the date of the article. As the article ages, some links may become invalid

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Michigan Adventure Races- January and May

Events Calendar

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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Events for the Week of Nov 24-30, 2025

compiled from various sources

I am attempting to build an actual calendar so that notices could be seen more than a few days in advance. Projected launch date: Nov 25

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Thru Nov 30- Storybook Walk
Holland, Paw Paw Park East
Monday – Saturday 9am – 5pm, Sunday 12pm – 5pm
storywalk hike
1230 Paw Paw Drive, Holland, MI 49423
Free

Take a StoryWalk! Pages from a featured book will be posted on signs along the path for your family to read together. Stories are available to read during park hours. Thank you to our local libraries, Loutit District Library and Herrick District Library, for making StoryWalks possible!

Current book is Thanks/ Gracias by Pat Mora

For Storywalk schedules, see the Ottawa Hikes Foundation on Facebook

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Tuesday, Nov 4- Hike Muskegon regular hike
Muskegon area
11:00 AM
hike
See Facebook page
Free

The Hike Muskegon- West Michigan Parks group hikes every Tuesday and Saturday at 11:00 am (and occasionally other dates). Their destinations are posted only a couple of days ahead of time, so check the Facebook Group to find where the next hike will be.

For more information, see the Hike Muskegon Facebook Group

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Friday, Nov 28- Land Conservancy of W Michigan Work Day
Rockford
10:00 AM
seed planting
10471 Six Mile Road, Rockford, MI
Free

Join the Land Conservancy of West Michigan as we plant seeds and celebrate our volunteers and 25 years of the Saul Lake prairie project.

The Black Friday Prairie Planting has become an annual tradition at Saul Lake Bog Nature Preserve. This part of the season is an optimal time to plant seeds, and the volunteer event grew in popularity over the years as more people sought to "opt outside" on a day better known as a shopping extravaganza. Hundreds of people have come to know Saul Lake Bog Nature Preserve because they participated in a prairie planting workday.

This year, we will host the final Black Friday Prairie Planting. At the event, we will celebrate the completion of the prairie restoration project and the volunteers who made it all possible. We'll plant seeds, enjoy games and refreshments, and there will be a short program to acknowledge this incredible milestone

For more info, contact The Land Conservancy of West Michigan

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Saturday, Nov 29- Hike Muskegon regular hike
Muskegon area
11:00 AM
hike
See Facebook page
Free

The Hike Muskegon- West Michigan Parks group hikes every Tuesday and Saturday at 11:00 am (and occasionally other dates). Their destinations are posted only a couple of days ahead of time, so check the Facebook Group to find where the next hike will be.

For more information, see the Hike Muskegon Facebook Group

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To have your quiet outdoor recreational event in West Michigan listed, contact Joan Young. They will be posted the Monday before the event.

These links are checked on the date of the article. As the article ages, some links may become invalid

Go To www.getoffthecouchnews.blogspot.com for all the news
See Get Off The Couch