By Crystal Gwizdala
Whether you’re feeling stir-crazy or a stir for nature, these casual hiking trails are the perfect blend of wildlife and convenience.
Sure, treadmills are controlled and sidewalks are flat (-ish), but occasionally we need something different from our walk: the sound of wind tickling the leaves, the crunch of a twig under your foot, a blanket of sunshine on your skin. Even with urban development in mid-Michigan’s Tri Cities — Bay City, Saginaw, and Midland — there are still well-maintained hiking trails.
Here are some of my favorite spots:
Bay City: Tobico Marsh
(Crystal Gwizdala/S&H editor)
Bay City State Park features one of Michigan’s largest coastal wetlands, Tobico Marsh. The three-mile hiking loop is a popular destination for its accessibility, simplicity and length. Dogs enjoy running in the woods and their humans enjoy complimentary pet waste pick-up mitts. Despite being close to town, Tobico is lush and comforting.
Tobico’s 2,000-plus acres of diverse landscape offers not only hiking trails, but also canoeing, fishing and sturdy observation towers. Nearby is the Saginaw Bay Visitor Center, a campground and the beloved Mussel Beach ice cream parlor. If you’re looking for a quick walk with the dogs and family, Tobico is perfect.
Pros:
- Dog-friendly (free waste pick-up mitts!)
- Beach
- Ice fishing
- Canoeing/kayaking
- Seasonal hunting in designated areas
- Quick loop route
- Observation platforms
- Outhouses along trail with hand sanitizer
Cons:
- Loops may be boring
- Usually busy on fair-weather days
Midland: Chippewa Nature Center
Tucked off of M-20, the Chippewa Nature Center is the perfect respite for family fun. Not only are there 19+ miles of hiking trails, but there are also programs and classes for children and adults alike, such as fungi identification, basket weaving, guided canoe or hiking trips and more.
As a regular solo hiker, I find Chippewa Nature Center too busy at times. But the wildlife never fails to impress and the variety of trails makes for a fun day. There are also great annual events, such as the Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival.
Pros:
- Wheelchair-accessible trails
- Short, paved trail options
- Family-friendly
- Well-marked trailheads with large, color maps
- Printed map brochures
- Canoe/kayak launches
Cons:
- No dogs allowed
- Likely to run into other people
- Riverside trails may be icy in winter
Midland: Midland City Forest
(Crystal Gwizdala/S&H editor)
For the hiker who craves variety, Midland City Forest is the place to be. Sprawling trails — for hiking, biking, skiing or horseback riding — weave through the forest, emboldening nature enthusiasts to choose their own journey. Loop routes enable the less adventurous to enjoy the outdoors, too.
When I’m itching for adventure, I come here. It’s a place I can wander, indulgently switching my route as I please. I can make it short. Or I can meander through the trails, soaking up the day and relishing the gift of time. The biggest downside with Midland City Forest is its proximity to busy roads.
Pros:
- Customizable routes
- Horse trails
- Biking trails
- Ice skating pond
- Groomed sledding/toboggan hill
- Dogs allowed
- Rentable chalet
Cons:
- Noise from road
- Trail markers can be hard to find
Saginaw: Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge
Boasting 10,000 acres of forest, grasslands, wetland, marshes and rivers, the Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge is rife with wildlife. Although most popular for migratory birds, turtles, snakes, frogs and salamanders call this refuge home.
I go to Shiawassee when I want to clear my head. The major trail systems—the woodland trail and the Ferguson bayou trail—each offer approximately 4.5 miles. Trails usually aren’t busy because they’re longer, and so fewer people commit to them.
Pros:
- Lengthier trail systems with some customization
- Bird watching
- 6.5 miles of trails for vehicle use
- Fishing areas
- Boat launch
- Seasonal hunting in designated areas
Cons:
- No dogs allowed
- Poorly marked trails
- Some trails are unusable during flooding seasons
Need more motivation?
On Sunday, September 22, Great Lakes Bay Regional Trail will be hosting their annual “Trail Mix” event. For $25, you get a complimentary T-shirt, snacks, drinks, grilled food and an annual Trailblazer membership. Most importantly, it’s an opportunity to meet like-minded people and explore the Great Lakes Bay trail system. For more information, visit https://www.greatlakesbaytrails.com/trail-mix-event.