The Coolbough Natural Area is one of my favorite places to hike. Why? There are many reasons such as easy parking, looping paths, lots of wildlife and points of interest, a porta-john, and many more, but I will save my favorite for last.
Coolbough has many options for hiking loops in its 400 acres: The Wetland loop including the Old Rail trail (1.87 miles), Cathedral Pines Loop (.67 miles), Prairie Loop (1.29 miles) and Valley of the Ants (.47 miles) all have points of interest, unique plants and different ecosystems. These trails can be mixed and matched depending on your interests and stamina. The trails also connect with the North Country Trail for those who want a longer hike than a couple of hours. Maps are posted, especially at intersections, to keep you on the correct trail and numbered markers to tell you about interesting details.
Some of the Coolbough trails are wider and shared with horseback riders. These are easier to hike, but you must watch out for fresh piles from the horses. The Valley of the Ants hike has giant ant hills with mesmerizing occupants and trees decimated by woodpeckers seeking tasty crawly things.
While I am not knowledgeable about birds, I’ve seen many people and their binoculars identifying several types of winged creatures from blue herons to yellow-belly sapsuckers. The trails also have many benches to enjoy nature and observe wildlife.
The endangered Karner Blue Butterfly also makes Coolbough its home in the rare pine and oak savannah prairies. Look for the butterfly that is about the size of a nickel on the purple cone-shaped lupine flowers.
Have you figured out my favorite part yet? It’s the trail markers. I love following the red boot soles that mark the paths. Even if you don’t have a unique sense of humor about trail markers, Coolbough Natural Area, on Bayberry and 58thStreet, just off Croton Drive about 3.5 miles from M-37, is a great place to hike.
For a copy of the field guide with directions, trail maps and points of interest, check here: http://www.brookstownship.org/BTWebsiteTemplatel/1blank/coolbough-field-guide—final.pdf
By Wendy Sinicki
Snowshoe Adventure On The Dragon
Being an avid runner from a young age and now a personal trainer, I have spent a lot of time running and hiking over the years. In more recent years, due to my work schedule, I found myself stuck to the convenience of the gym equipment. During the 2020 Quarantine...
Deer Hunter’s Must-Do in Newaygo County
The trees are bare, the air is crisp and the calendar has just flipped to November… In Northern Michigan, that means deer hunters are headed to the woods! If you haven’t tried your luck in the deer woods of Newaygo County, we recommend checking it out. With...
Fall Colors: A Bird’s Eye View
Flying amidst the clouds, high above Newaygo County, Doug Harmon captured Newaygo County's fall beauty perfectly. It's the season, jump in your car and head North! Newaygo County is here to greet you. Grab a bite, even stay the night! Come explore the rivers,...
Sandy Beach Camping
My favorite part of the camping, is waking up early in the morning. When the campground is quiet. I usually get up before the sunrise, to take a quiet stroll around the park.
First Time Hiker
I’m a bit embarrassed to admit, that even growing up next to the Manistee National Forest, literal minutes from the North Country Trail, my first time hiking it was this past winter… in my mid 30’s! While my preferred adventure typically includes a glass of wine on...
Traipsing Through the Winter Woods
I am in love with Newaygo County. We’ve lived here three years now and keep discovering hidden treasures. If you love to be out in nature as my husband and I do, then each season brings new adventures and experiences.I did not think snowshoeing sounded like much...
Fall Color Tour Time!
Top 5 places (and maybe a few more) to take great Fall color photosFall is my favorite time of year. I love watching the rainbow of colors change from day to day. Science says that water and temperature determine when a tree’s leaves turn colors. I don’t much care for...
Newaygo’s Riverfront Park – A Great Place to Walk Your Dogs!
We have 14 acres and some nice trails on our property that our dogs get walked on regularly, but we try to get them out for a ride in the truck and a walk “elsewhere” as often as we can too. They really like walks in the woods but sometimes, especially after work, we...
Birch Grove Schoolhouse Offers History, Comfort Along the North Country Trail
I love hiking, and the North Country Trail has 65 miles of trail in Newaygo County through pine, oak and maple wood stands, around lakes and rivers and even over swamps and wetlands. All of my explorations have been on day trips exploring different sections at a...
Fresh From the Farm
Agriculture has long been a staple of the NewayGo County economy. One reason why Gerber Baby Food put the area on the map was because of its relationship with local farmers. You’ll see the same focus on agriculture and locally produced fruits and vegetables at...
Local Golf Course Wins National Award
Waters Edge Golf Course in Fremont, MI has initiated substantial changes. The entire staff at Waters Edge is excited to announce their Grand Opening of Holes #5 and #6. Ray Hearn, a nationally recognized Golf Course Architect, was hired by Waters Edge to design and...
Flowers are Popping at Loda Lake Wildflower Sanctuary
This darn crazy spring and summer weather we are having is making it frustrating for photographers. I went to Loda Lake this week on the only day it hadn’t rained and was surprised by how I was joined by other photographers and hikers doing the same thing. School is...
The Wetland Trail – A Unique Ecosystem
I’ve mentioned before in a previous blog that I work for TrueNorth Community Services, the parent company of Camp Newaygo. Unless people attend one of Camp Newaygo’s public events such as their “Dinners on the Ridge” series this summer (July 20 or August 10) most...
Agritourism
I recently heard the term Agricultural Tourism or Agritourism for short, and was immediately intrigued by the idea, that individuals go out of their way to visit areas because of the agriculture. After a little bit of research, I realized that the idea of visiting an...
Hunt for Karner Blue Butterflies at Sanctuary
Sometimes you want to do something different than follow a path through the woods. Maybe you want to create an adventure or a bit of a scavenger hunt for an endangered species. One of the good things about the late spring/summer season is the endangered Karner Blue...
A Branstrom Park Day
I had just bought myself a new pair of waterproof low hiking boots and I needed to try them out. If you live or work in Fremont, or if you’re vacationing in the area and stop there for supplies or to grab something to eat, do yourself a favor and do not overlook...
Our First Hike
Kelley and I had always dreamed on having a home near water when we retired. A place where we could sink down solid roots and flourish after many years of working and building a life for our family in the Detroit and the Grand Rapids areas. So, on weekends we’d go...
Camp Newaygo: A Special Day, a Special Place
It was a chilly Saturday morning for late April but I knew the Tai Chi would warm me up. It was the second in a series of free classes offered through the AmeriCorps Safe Routes to Health initiative at Camp Newaygo. The class, like the first one, was to be held in...
