Category: MIchigan private

Frederik Meijer Gardens

Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park
“One of the nation’s most significant sculpture and botanic experiences, Meijer Gardens [Grand Rapids] includes Michigan’s largest tropical conservatory; five indoor theme gardens; outdoor gardens, nature trails and boardwalk; sculpture galleries and permanent sculpture collection; library; café; gift shop; education center; and meeting rooms. Both indoors and outdoors, the 158-acre main campus is barrier free and handicap accessible.”  Thank you to Larisa Draves for letting me know about this.
Here is the Gardens website.  Phone 616-957-1580.   Map
Wheelchair AccessibleAll the paths through the gardens are wide and accessible.  These include the Leslie E. Tassell English Perennial & Bulb Garden, the Gwen Frostic Woodland Shade Garden with its Kettle Pond, and the Richard and Helen DeVos Japanese Garden.

Detroit Metro Area

Detroit Metro Area
Wheelchair AccessibleClinton River Park Trail winds along the east bank of its namesake river in Sterling Heights, a northern suburb of Detroit. It is a 4.5 mile asphalt trail between Edison and Nichols streets.  “The paved trail runs through a tranquil, wooded area; keep a lookout for deer, turtles, and waterfowl.”  TrailLink description.

Dow Gardens and Whiting Forest

Dow Gardens and Whiting Forest
The Dow Gardens at Midlands encompass 110 acres with seven different gardens, including the Pollinator Garden, Streamwalk, and Color Garden.   Accessibility
Here is the Gardens’ website.    Phone 989-631-2677 or 800-362-4874  There is an entrance fee.
Wheelchair AccessibleThere are over two miles of “barrier-free-hardsurfaced pathways.   There are also golf cart tours twice daily (except Sundays) May through September.  Call ahead to reserve one of the four loaner wheelchairs.
Thank you Kate for sending me information about this and other Michigan accessible trails.
Thank you to Alicia Kildau for this additional information: Whiting Forest, adjacent to the Gardens and run by it, has the largest canopy walk in the country and most of it is ADA accessible (there are a few rope sections going off it that aren’t).

Audubon Wildlife Sanctuaries MI

Audubon Wildlife Sanctuaries   Michigan Audubon’s phone number is 517-641-4277.  You might want to inquire first before going out to these trails as I am not sure just how easy they are.
HikerwithcaneBernard W. Baker Wildlife Sanctuary has the Iva E. Doty Native Wildflower Trail, a one mile self-guided trail. The trail, “with an extensive boardwalk, winds through a wet meadow, past a quiet pond and woodland creek and along the edge of a flood plain forest.”  A self-guiding brochure is available at the Doty Shelter.
HikerwithcanePhyllis Haehnle Memorial Sanctuary has a loop nature trail and an observation site.  The observation site is wheelchair accessible and I think the trail would be easy.  This is a great place to see cranes in the fall. Map
Hikerwithcane Otis Farm Bird Sanctuary  According to the book “Best Easy Day Hikes Grand Rapids, Michigan” by Kevin Revolinski,  there is an easy grass and packed dirt 1.9 lollypop trail here going through wetlands, hardwood forest and prairie.