Michigan has a number of trails with minimal obstacles. Some are very easy and others are wheelchair accessible. Here are just a few of them.
These links were found through Internet search. I would love to learn about more accessible natural areas from those of you who have been there. With your help, we can share our knowledge with disabled people everywhere and also increase awareness of the need for more accessibility. Please e-mail me with your suggestions using the form in the sidebar.
Federal
State
Local
Private
Miscellaneous
Federal
Hiawatha National Forest
Hiawatha National Forest is in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The Forest’s dramatic shorelines lie nestled up to Lakes Superior, Huron and Michigan — three of the five great lakes. “Our lakeshores, lighthouses, islands and abundant snow create a place of respite and play within a day’s drive of urban and rural areas of Michigan, Wisconsin, other nearby states…[and Canada].Here is the Forest Website. Phone 906-428-5800
Nahma Marsh Trail is a 0.3 mile linear trail with broad vistas of the marsh. “This hard surfaced fully accessible trail ends at a two-tiered viewing platform where an assortment of wetland wildlife can be seen.”
Colwell Lake Hiking Trail “This 2 mile long loop trail meanders along the edge of Colwell Lake and is surfaced to be fully accessible to people with mobility impairments.”
Monocle Lake Interpretive Trail The first 1000 feet of this 2 mile trail, including an elevated boardwalk with a wildlife viewing platform, is wheelchair accessible.
? There are a great many short day hiking trails in Hiawatha National Forest described as “easy”, but I can’t tell if they really qualify for this website.Isle Royale National Park
“Isle Royale National Park is a remote island wilderness in the middle of Lake Superior. It is only accessible by ferry, seaplane, or private watercraft.”
Map Phone 906-482-0984 Here is the Park Website.
? Windigo Nature Trail 1.2 mile The Windigo Area Guide says the self-guided loop trail crosses fern-filled cedar lowlands, and hardwood forests of maple and birch. AllTrails says it is good for “all skill levels.” However, the Park site cautions that Isle Royale terrain is “rough and uneven.”Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
Pictured Rocks offers sandstone cliffs, beaches, sand dunes, waterfall, lakes and forest. Accessibility As described in the Disabled Traveler’s Companion. Here is the Lakeshore Website. Phone 906-387-3700
A Braille introduction to the park can be downloaded from the Accessiblity page.
There are trails described under Day Hikes which sound pretty easy. Call first to be sure.
Sand Point Marsh Trail 0.5 mile loop along a boardwalk through a wetland.Munising Falls 800′ one way paved trail to view the 50′ waterfallMiners Castle Overlook 200 to 1,300′ one way. Views of Miners Castle, Lake Superior, and Grand Island.
Log Slide Overlook c200 yards of densely packed gravel.Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore
Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore has sandy beaches, high bluffs, forests, inland lakes, and unique flora and fauna. High dunes afford spectacular views across Lake Michigan. As described in The Disabled Traveler’s Companion.
Map Here is the Lakeshore website. Phone 231-326-4700 Accessibility
? There are several trails which might be easy for you. Call to find out.Duneside Trail is a 0.9 mile round trip interpretive trail to a deck and a small pond. It begins at the north end of the picnic area and parking lot. It “winds through an open field at the base of the dunes, then through the forest to a wetland.” Trail map and guide.
? There are some hikes on South Manitou Island which sound easy, but call first to learn about them.
Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail “Currently the trail runs almost 22 miles between Empire and Bohemia Road, connecting to park attractions and the town of Glen Arbor along the way. Most of the trail is asphalt, but a 3-mile section which goes through the Port Oneida Rural Historic District north of Glen Arbor is crushed stone.”
? Good Harbor Bay Trail 2.8 mile loop which might be too long for you, but maybe you could do part of it. “Flat, wet in places” There is a short boardwalk and a footbridge.
State
Hartwick Pines State Park
At 9,672 acres, “…Hartwick Pines is one of the largest state parks in the Lower Peninsula. The park’s rolling hills, which are built of ancient glacial deposit, overlook the valley of the East Branch of the AuSable River, four small lakes and unique timber lands. The principal feature of this park is the 49-acre forest of old growth pines which gives the park its name.” Here is Grayings website describing the park. The Park website. Phone 989-348-7068
Old Growth Trail is 1.25 mile loop which takes you into the park’s “49-acre tract of virgin timber, the largest continuous stand of old growth white pines in the Lower Peninsula.”
Au Sable River Trail is a 3.9-mile interpretive foot trail that passes through old growth trees along the banks of the Au Sable River.
? The Mertz Grade Trail is a 2-mile trail that begins at the picnic area. The trail then follows an abandoned railroad area and through a second-growth forest. The description does not say this is easy, but old railways usually are. Best to call ahead to be sure.Maybury State Park
“Maybury State Park contains almost 1,000 acres of gently rolling terrain, open meadow, mature forest, a variety of wildlife and abundant wildflowers…” Description on EyeOnMichigan. Map Park website. Phone 248-349-8390
? There are 4 miles of paved bicycle trails and six miles of “unpaved hiking trails meander through wooded areas and around a large pond”. There is wheelchair icon on the internet descriptions of these trails, although the hiking trails are described as “easy to moderate”. Better call in advance to learn more.Port Crescent State Park
“Port Crescent State Park is located at the tip of Michigan’s “thumb” along three miles of sandy shoreline on Lake Huron’s Saginaw Bay near Port Austin. It is home to a dark sky preserve, a modern campground with waterfront views and a camper cabin. It also offers visitors ample opportunities for fishing, canoeing, hiking, cross-country skiing, birding and hunting. In addition, a wooden boardwalk parallels the shoreline offering scenic vistas of Saginaw Bay.” Park description and photographs of the trail in a nice blog, “The Midwest Guest” and reviewed in Trip Advisor.
Here is the Park website. Phone (989) 738-8663
The Dunes Nature Trail is a 3/4 mile interpretive trail with stops describing dune landscape, history and wildlife. “The trailhead also features an audio message repeater with messages, benefitting the visually impaired.”Sterling State Park
“Sterling State Park’s 1,300 acres offers great recreational opportunities including over one mile of beach, boating, shore fishing on Lake Erie and the fishing lagoons, lakefront camping, wildlife viewing and six miles of trails.”
Here is the Park website. Phone 734-289-2715
Sterling Marsh trail, a 6 mile accessible interpretive trail which borders Lake Erie.Tahquamenon Falls State Park
This almost 50,000 acre state park is near the northern tip of the western region of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Thank you to Kate who brought this park and its beautiful waterfalls to my attention. The Upper Falls drops nearly 50 feet and is more than 200 feet across. The Lower Falls is a series of five smaller falls cascading around an island. Here is the Park’s website.
Phone 906-492-3415 Here are maps of both the camping areas and the trails. Detailed map of the Upper Falls Day Use Area. Detailed map of the Lower Falls Day Use Area. Facebook page.
Trail to the Upper Falls 0.3 miles Loaner wheelchairs are available at the “Fact Shack” by the parking lot.
? Nature Trail 0.3 miles. I am not sure how easy this is. Better check with the park first.
Trail and road to Lower Falls about 0.2 miles paved plus 0.4 miles gravel road along the river with views of the falls.Tawas Point State Park
This small park is a “.. jagged hook of sandy beaches, wetlands and small dunes…” This unique sand dune ecosystem is a major landfall for birds migrating across Saginaw Bay. It is a wonderful spot for birding. Thanks go to Kate for letting me know about it.
Tawas Bay Pedestrian and Bike Path 13.9 miles paved travels along the edge of Tawas Bay from the Park to Dyer and North Huron Road. Here is the TrailLink.com description.
Sandy Hook Trail 1.5 miles, sandy interpretive path with a few stretches of boardwalk. Map and detailed guide. Waterloo Recreation Area describes a “network of seven different trails that traverse a total of 14 miles” in the Waterloo-Discovery Center area.
The Dept. of Natural Resources website says “Of these trails, the “Rockway” loop is the only trail that meets ADAAG standards for universal accessibility.” I can not find Rockway on their maps! Try calling headquarters at 734-475-8307 to learn where it is and if you do, please let me know. Here is the Recreation Area’s website.Yankee Springs Recreation Area
“Yankee Spring’s rugged terrain, bogs, marshes, lakes and streams, lend itself to many forms of recreation outdoor recreation, including 30 miles of hiking trails, 12 miles of mountain bike trails, 10 miles of horseback trails, two public beaches, picnic shelters and two universally accessible fishing piers (one at Gun Lake and one at Deep Lake)” Phone 269-795-9081 Here is their website.
Yankee Springs – Gun Lake Trail. 0.50 mile long Map Reviewed on TripAdvisor
There is also the one mile loop Sassafras Nature trail which is described as easy, flat and wooded.
Local
City of Davison
Black Creek Nature Trail is a 1.6 mile paved path. From TrailLink: “The Black Creek Nature Trail begins at the Davison Township Municipal Center and winds its way to the trail system in the City of Davison’s Jack Abernathy Regional Park. Travelers on the trail will enjoy the tree-lined, 1.6-mile route along the Black Creek to the 138-acre park.”The City of Petoskey
Petoskey maintains the Bear River Valley Recreation area where there is a paved path and a dirt trail on either side of the river. Trip Advisor reviews . Thank you to Tim Knutsen for this information: “The 10′ wide, paved non-motorized trail on the west side of the river was … designed and built to ADA standards, providing an accessible walking surface about 8/10ths of a mile long, that actually climbs 50′ in the first 1/2 mile. It’s a unique opportunity for people of all abilities to view a natural stream as it makes a dramatic descent to Lake Michigan.”Grass River Natural Area
Antrim County’s Grass River Natural Area, south of Lake Bellaire, has a system of six short trails through wetlands and woodland. From Trails.com: “Hundreds of species of plants, 65 species of birds, 35 species of fish, and 33 species of reptiles and amphibians make this area a naturalist’s dream.” Phone 231-533-8314 or 231-533-8576 Trail Map Here is their website.
The Sedge Meadow boardwalk trail 0.75 mile is highly recommended by Trails.com
The 0.43 mile Fern Loop Trail is accessible and has a guide rope and braille interpretive signs for visually impaired hikers.
Most of the trails are boardwalks or easy walking, but you might call to be sure of conditions.
Private
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.
Bernard 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.
Phyllis 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
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.Chippewa Nature Center has 15+ miles of trails through 1200 acres of “diverse ecosystems”. The Chippewa Trail is a paved 4-mile route from Midland to the Nature Center. Call their office at 989.631.0830 for information about trail difficulty. Map
Detroit Metro Area
Clinton 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
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.
There 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).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
All 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.
Miscellaneous
Michigan Operation Freedom Outdoors (MiOFO)
“MiOFO is a cooperative partnership with a mission to “…provide improved outdoor recreation opportunities for wounded veterans and individuals with health challenges; and, to coordinate a support network that facilitates their recovery through connecting with nature.” Initial efforts will focus on Sharonville State Game Area, which is near Ann Arbor, Jackson, Lansing, and Detroit. WebsiteMichiganTrailMaps.com is a great resource for finding trails. You can filter for difficulty, length, paved and many other parameters. Unfortunately, there is no filter for accessibility, and of course, “easy” doesn’t mean the same thing to everyone. I came up with 11 trails which were described as easy, paved, and in parks.
Nature For The Blind has a directory of Braille trails for almost every state in the US and for many other countries.
The Rails-to-Trails Conservancy lists some 88 wheelchair accessible trails in Michigan. Most of these are primarily bicycle trails and are through combinations of urban, suburban, and rural environments. I would love some feedback on any of these or segments of them which provide an escape to nature for disabled walkers or riders.