YOURS TO EXPLORE. YOURS TO PROTECT.
Grass River Natural Area is a 1,492 acre nature preserve surrounding the Grass River, located in the heart of Antrim County. Along with the beautiful views of Grass River, we also offer seven miles of well-maintained trails including 1.5 miles of boardwalk floating above northern fen and cedar wetlands. With all of these natural features, Grass River Natural Area offers visitors an outdoor, living laboratory to explore and learn. The Grass River Center is open year-round, offering a comfortable learning environment for public programming, school field trips, camps, and more.
OUR MISSION
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To manage the Grass River Natural Area, conserve and protect its watershed, and provide opportunities that increase knowledge, appreciation and community-wide stewardship of the natural environment.
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Downed trees on trail?
Call 533-8576 or 533-8314 or report them here EXPLORE Boardwalks, hiking, education center, kayaking, skiing, snow-shoeing, birding... Maps Here |
HOURS
Hiking Trails: open 365 days a year, dawn to dusk Boardwalk reconstruction project starts on 6/4. Check here for updates. Grass River Education Center: 6500 Alden Highway, Bellaire, MI Fall, Winter, Spring: Saturday & Sunday 11:00am to 4:00pm Summer (starting 6/12): Tuesday - Sunday 10:00am to 4:00pm REGISTER FOR PROGRAMS HERE or call 231-533-8314 (M-F) 231-533-8576 (Sat-Sun) |
UPCOMING EVENTS
Register for a class by clicking HERE.
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WHAT DOES THE RIVER OTTER TELL US?
River otters are an amphibious mammal that are known for their curious nature, intelligence, and playfulness. Did you know they can act as environmental indicators (also called indicator species)? Contaminants that occur in the environment can concentrate in the otter over time in a process known as biomagnification. For this reason, river otters do not tolerate polluted waters and are typically found utilizing only high quality rivers and wetlands. Therefore the presence or absence of river otters in an ecosystem can serve as an indicator of habitat quality. The video below recorded a river otter family using the protected streams at Grass River - a sign of the health of the natural area and of your efforts to protect it!
