Parks & Nature Areas The fish jump, the loon sings, the deer stand so still. Spring beauties and tiger lilies speckle the forest floor and Michigan's oldest tulip poplar lies fallen in a blanket of moss. Explore the immense beauty of southwestern Michigan, where the lake drops shells along the shore, a rare cranberry bog lies quietly, where an English garden, a memorial garden and wetlands with majestic blue herons reflect a sense of peace, a sense of undisturbed country. Hard copy information online order form

Arthur Dodd Memorial Park Cass County Parks Department Office 340 North O'Keefe Street Cassopolis, MI   49031 Park location GPS [41.9084° N, 86.2171° W] 269.445.8611 (Reservation Information)   Picnic tables Children's play equipment   Fishing in a class A trout stream Horseshoe pits   Hiking trail 1 mile Volleyball court   Open games area Canoe launch   Public phone Fresh well water Directions: From Eau Claire, take M-62 east 4.7 miles, then south 4.7 miles on Indian Lake Rd, bear right and follow Creek Rd to Arthur Dodd Memorial Park. MapLink     WebLink

Fernwood Botanical Garden & Nature Preserve 13988 Range Line Road Niles, MI   49120 269.683.8653   269.695.6491 Contact: Carol Line Hours: Fernwood is open year-round. Summer hours: Tuesday-Saturday 10 am-6 pm and Sunday Noon-6 pm Winter hours: Tuesday-Saturday 10 am-5 pm and Sunday Noon-5 pm. GPS [41.8658° N, 86.3406° W] Fernwood is a non-profit botanical garden and nature center located on 105 splendid acres. The Plym Visitors Center contains a fern conservatory, gift shop and gallery (Clark Lecture Hall). Winding woodland trails, gardens with colorful flower beds, tall-grass prairie, waterfalls and a waterwheel are interspersed throughout Fernwood. Throughout the year, Fernwood offers classes, workshops, gallery shows and lectures. Tours are available. Portions are handicap accessible, please call for details Admission: Admission is charged for non-members. Children 5 and under are free. Directions: US-31 exit 7, take Walton Rd southwest 1.5 miles, then Range Line Rd north 1.7 miles. Follow signs. MapLink     WebLink

Fred Russ Forest Cass County Parks Department Office 340 North O'Keefe Street Cassopolis, MI   49031 269.445.8611 Russ Forest Park GPS [42.0122° N, 85.9623° W] Russ Forest is a national landmark of 737 acres of virgin black walnut and white oak. The forest is owned and administered by Michigan State University, which uses the forest as a research station for hardwood forest management. Visitors are welcome to hike along forest trails, visit the headquarters building which houses public displays, see the historical Newton House located in the forest, and then picnic in the neighboring Russ Forest Park. Admission: Donations appreciated Directions: Located 8 miles east of Dowagiac at the intersection of Marcellus Highway and Decatur Road. MapLink     WebLink

Grand Mere State Park & Nature Area Thorton Dr Stevensville, MI   49127 269.426.4013 GPS [42.0036° N, 86.5356° W] Along the Lake Michigan shoreline. Adjacent to Lincoln Township Park, this 371-acre nature area is a favorite spot for "birders." As part of the 1,000-acre Grand Mere State Park, Grand Mere Nature Area offers a variety of settings for studying the outdoors, including sand dunes, beach woods, an old lake bed, a hemlock swamp and cranberry bog. Visitors will enjoy hiking or cross-country skiing the trails and observing a variety of native birds and mammals throughout the seasons. Directions: I-94 exit 22, west on Grand Mere Rd, then south 7/10 mile on Thorton Dr. Follow signs. MapLink     WebLink

Kal Haven Trail State Park Van Buren State Park 23960 Ruggles Road South Haven, MI   49090 269.637.4984   269.637.2788 Hours: Park Admin Mon-Fri 8-12 am and 1-5 pm GPS [42.4112° N, 86.2627° W] The Kal Haven Trail is a bicycle and hiking trail that follows the old railway line from South Haven to Kalamazoo, a total of 34.1 miles away. The trail is non-technical and is mostly prepared path with some road stretches. Along the way the trail passes through a number of scenic natural areas and towns, each with their own attractions. Handicap accessible Admission: Park permit required Directions: I-196 exit 20, then west on Phoenix Rd 6/10 mile, then north 1/2 mile on Bailey Ave. Follow signs to trailhead parking. MapLink     WebLink

Love Creek County Park & Nature Center 9292 Huckleberry Road Berrien Center, MI   49102 269.471.2617   Fax: 269.471.4018 Hours: The center is open Wednesday through Friday, 9-5; Saturday and Sunday, 10-5. Closed Monday and Tuesday. GPS [41.9513° N, 86.2981° W] Love Creek County Park & Nature Center features over 100 acres of meadows, forests, marshes and creeks. Visitors will enjoy hiking and skiing over 5 miles of trails. An interpretive building offers a nature book shop, classrooms, a variety of displays and exhibits, and a popular wild-life observation window through which you can observe an assortment of birds and mammals throughout the year. Wildflowers are in bloom from April through October. Admission: $3 per vehicle for Berrien County residents, $5 for non-residents, $25 for an annual entrance permit. Directions: From Eau Claire, take Linn St / Eau Claire Rd / Huckleberry Rd south 2.3 miles. MapLink     WebLink

Madeline Bertrand County Park 3038 Adams Road Niles, MI   49120 269.683.8280   Fax: 269.683.6667 Hours: April - October: Open daily 10 am - sunset. November - March: Open Wednesday - Sunday, 10 am - 5 pm, Closed Monday & Tuesday. GPS [41.7609° N, 86.2651° W] Located on the east bank of the St Joseph River, this park offers visitors a variety of outdoor activities. An 18-hole Disc Golf Course, designed by the world's leading course architect, is contained within Bertrand's pine and hardwood forests. Each hole features a cement tee-off area, a pole target and tee sign that indicates hole number, distance from tee to hole, par and an illustrated overview of the hole. Bring your plastic flying discs and enjoy the fun! Other park features include hiking trails, river bluff observation tower and shelter, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing areas, playground, visitor center, warming shelter, modern restrooms and picnic areas. Barrier-free trail available for handicapped visitors. Sorry, we're not handicap accessible. Admission: $3 per vehicle for Berrien County residents, $5 for non-residents, $25 for an annual entrance permit. Directions: Connect to US-31 south around Berrien Springs to US-12. Take US-12 east towards Niles. After crossing the St. Joseph River turn right (south) onto Third Street at the traffic light. Follow Third Street south approximately 2.25 miles to Ontario Road. Turn right onto Ontario Road and follow the directional signs to the park entrance on Adams Road. MapLink     WebLink

TK Lawless Park Cass County Parks Department Office 340 North O'Keefe Street Cassopolis, MI   49031 269.445.8611 TK Lawless Park GPS [41.8967° N, 85.8668° W] This 820 acre nature park is open year-round and boasts a broad range of recreational activities. 269.445.8611 (Reservation Information) 269.476.2730 (TK Lawless Park)   15 rustic campsites, each with a fire ring and table Cabin that sleeps 4-6   Picnic shelter with tables Fresh well water   Fire bowl Reservations required   10 miles of mountain bike trails 7 miles of leisure bike trails   Groomed cross country skiing Picniking   2 ball fields Soccer field   2 horseshoe pits Fishing   Innertube sledding One mile paved total access trail   Children's play equipment Open games field   Volleyball court Disc Golf Admission: Annual pass, in-county $15.00, out-of-county $20.00 Daily pass, in-county $1.00, out-of-county $2.00 Directions: From Cassopolis, travel east 7.4 miles on M-60, then south 1.1 mile on Lewis Lake Rd, then east on Monkey Run to entrance. MapLink     WebLink

Van Buren State Park 23960 Ruggles Rd South Haven, MI   49090 269.637.2788 GPS [42.3362° N, 86.3028° W] Outdoor sports enthusiasts will enjoy spending time at the Van Buren State Park. Located on Lake Michigan, the park offers visitors a variety of year-round activities. In the Summer, take an invigorating hike along one of the park's many nature trails. Then cool off with a quiet, refreshing swim. In the Fall, hunters can enjoy camping and hunting in the park's designated areas. 205 campsites provide plenty of room for overnight trips. Winter brings with it plenty of snow for cross-country skiing and snowmobiling fun. Directions: I-196 exit 18, north 1/10 mile on M-140, then west 7/10 mile on 14th Ave, then south 1.4 miles on Blue Star Hwy> Take Ruggles Road entrance to Park. MapLink     WebLink

Warren Dunes State Park 12032 Red Arrow Hwy Sawyer, MI   49125 269.426.4013 GPS [41.9010° N, 86.5950° W] A summertime favorite, Warren Dunes State Park offers 1,507 acres of dunes and lakefront camping. Open year-round, the park offers camping and hunting in the Fall, cross-country skiing in the Winter, and picnicking, sailboarding, swimming, hiking, and hang-gliding in the Summer. 197 campsites with electricity, hot and cold running water, showers, bathrooms and fire circles make the park ideal for family camping. Children will enjoy the variety of playground equipment and the organizational youth area for 150 people. Directions: I-94 Exit 16, three miles southeast of Bridgman on Red Arrow Hwy. MapLink     WebLink

Warren Woods State Park Elm Valley Rd Three Oaks, MI   49128 269.426.4013 GPS [41.8275° N, 86.6230° W] Warren Woods Nature Center, administered by the Warren Dunes State Park officials, is a favorite site for hikers and naturalists. The Woods is made up of a 311-acre tract of virgin beech and maple. Hikers will enjoy the rare chance this nature center provides to observe birds and small animals in an uncut, natural setting. Naturalists will also appreciate the wide variety of plants and wild flowers that grow in the woods - over 100 species! After your hike, sit back and relax with a quiet picnic lunch at one of the many picnic sites found throughout the Center. Directions: I-94 exit 6, then east 2.7 miles on Elm Valley Rd. MapLink     WebLink

Back to the top Back Home