2020 RIVERFEST FLOWS ON WITH A VIRTUAL EXPERIENCE
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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COVID-19 PROTOCOL
THE GRASS RIVER CENTER IS NOW OPEN! From now through October, the Center will be open 7 days/week from 10:00-4:00, barring any changes in the COVID-19 situation. Staff have been working hard over the past few months to create new procedures that ensure the safety of our visitors; chief among these are requiring all visitors and staff to wear masks and to practice social distancing while inside the Center. If you're not comfortable visiting us in an indoor space, we will still have the Roving Naturalist tent set up by the cabin on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:30-1:30, where a naturalist will be available to answer questions. And, of course, our trails are open every day from dawn to dusk.
GRNA administrative offices remain closed while staff works from home. Staff members will be monitoring their emails and questions may be addressed to info@grassriver.org. You can call the Center at 231-533-8576 to speak with a Staff Naturalist.
GRNA administrative offices remain closed while staff works from home. Staff members will be monitoring their emails and questions may be addressed to info@grassriver.org. You can call the Center at 231-533-8576 to speak with a Staff Naturalist.
Did you know the Federal Coronavirus Tax Relief Bill allows taxpayers to claim up to $300 of charitable contributions as a tax deduction on their 2020 taxes even if they are not itemizing?
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EXPLORE
Boardwalks, hiking, education center, kayaking, skiing, snow-shoeing, birding... Maps Here Downed trees on trail?
Call 533-8576 or 533-8314 or report them here |
HOURS
Hiking Trails: open 365 days a year, dawn to dusk Grass River Education Center: 6500 Alden Highway, Bellaire, MI Spring, Summer, Fall: Open 7 days a week through October! 10:00am to 4:00pm Winter: Saturdays & Sundays 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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FUN IN THE FIELD |
OUR NEW BOOK HAS ARRIVED! |
We have loads of resources for family and educators. CHECK THEM OUT HERE!
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GRNA published "Great Lakes Wetland Walks" by Peg Comfort, a full-color guide to wetland wildflowers of the Great Lakes Region. Order your copy 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!
