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Do you frequent our trails? Help to maintain 7.5 miles of trails and boardwalk at Grass River Natural Area by donating below
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MAPS AND TRAILS
Click on a map for a larger view (printable links are shown below the maps)
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GRNA Trail Map
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Chain of Lakes Paddle Map
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Printable Maps
Trails Guide - Color (PDF) - trail map and paddle map Trails Map - B & W (PNG) Trails Map - B & W (PDF) |
Dogs and pets: Pets are only allowed on-leash on Rail Trail and Algonquin Trail. Parking is available at the Rail Trial and by the green barn at the Algonquin trailhead at the entrance. Read more about this guideline here. Dogs and other pets are not allowed on the boardwalk trails.
Hours: Grass River Natural Area trails are open every day from dawn to dusk. A naturalist is at the Grass River Education Center 7 days a week from May through October, and on weekends in the winter. While at the site, be sure to visit the Center to speak with a naturalist and enjoy the exhibits. A gift shop features nature-related books and items with proceeds furthering the educational programs. The entrance road is at 6500 Alden Highway, Bellaire, MI.
Hiking: Seven miles of trails weave through the natural area and all provide easy walking. Gravel trails around the Grass River Center provide easy access to the Center. Boardwalks covering the Sedge Meadow and Fern Trails provide accessibility to wetland flora and fauna and are wheelchair friendly. The Woodland, Chippewa, Nipissing, Algonquin, and Rail Trails are upland forested dirt footpaths. Learn more about our ADA trail accessibility here.
Kayaking: See Paddling Guide above for water access points and paddling times. Kayaking is available on all 2.5 miles of Grass River, and Lake Bellaire & Clam Lake. If you need to rent a kayak, check out local rentals here. Check out the Chain of Lakes Water Trail for detailed info.
Winter: The entrance road is plowed all the way to the main parking lot all winter. The Chippewa, Nipissing, Algonquin, and Rail Trails are groomed for classic cross-country skiing (over 3 miles). All other trails are accessible by snowshoeing and backcountry skiing. If you need to rent skis or snowshoes, check out local rentals here. Grass River now has shoe shoes to rent for all ages, and skis for kids.
Bicycling is allowed on the Rail Trail and entrance road only.
Hours: Grass River Natural Area trails are open every day from dawn to dusk. A naturalist is at the Grass River Education Center 7 days a week from May through October, and on weekends in the winter. While at the site, be sure to visit the Center to speak with a naturalist and enjoy the exhibits. A gift shop features nature-related books and items with proceeds furthering the educational programs. The entrance road is at 6500 Alden Highway, Bellaire, MI.
Hiking: Seven miles of trails weave through the natural area and all provide easy walking. Gravel trails around the Grass River Center provide easy access to the Center. Boardwalks covering the Sedge Meadow and Fern Trails provide accessibility to wetland flora and fauna and are wheelchair friendly. The Woodland, Chippewa, Nipissing, Algonquin, and Rail Trails are upland forested dirt footpaths. Learn more about our ADA trail accessibility here.
Kayaking: See Paddling Guide above for water access points and paddling times. Kayaking is available on all 2.5 miles of Grass River, and Lake Bellaire & Clam Lake. If you need to rent a kayak, check out local rentals here. Check out the Chain of Lakes Water Trail for detailed info.
Winter: The entrance road is plowed all the way to the main parking lot all winter. The Chippewa, Nipissing, Algonquin, and Rail Trails are groomed for classic cross-country skiing (over 3 miles). All other trails are accessible by snowshoeing and backcountry skiing. If you need to rent skis or snowshoes, check out local rentals here. Grass River now has shoe shoes to rent for all ages, and skis for kids.
Bicycling is allowed on the Rail Trail and entrance road only.
Accessible trails and spaces highlighted in green
Accessibility at GRNA
Grass River Natural Area is working to improve access to the natural area and trails. Here are some of the ways the natural area has been made more accessible:
Accessible Trails: Shown in Green
The .3 mile Sedge Meadow Boardwalk from the Grass River Center to markers 16, 17, and the Dock is now an ADA accessible boardwalk opened in fall 2024. An additional .25 mile loop from markers 15, 18, 13, and 14 was replaced in 2018. Packed gravel trails provide access from the Grass River Center to the boardwalks.
Building Access:
The Grass River Center has hard gravel trails and accessible parking available next to the building. A wheelchair is available at the Center for use by visitors.
Restrooms:
Accessible restroom facilities are available inside the Grass River Center during open hours and a wheel-chair accessible porta potty is located at the cabin. Two pit toilets are located at the main parking lot.
The remainder of GRNA trails are dirt footpaths with tree roots and minimal elevation changes, some narrow single-track on the woodland loop, and older 4’ wide boardwalks on the Sedge Meadow Loop between 17 and 18 and on the Fern Loop between 13 and 12.
Grass River Natural Area is working to improve access to the natural area and trails. Here are some of the ways the natural area has been made more accessible:
Accessible Trails: Shown in Green
The .3 mile Sedge Meadow Boardwalk from the Grass River Center to markers 16, 17, and the Dock is now an ADA accessible boardwalk opened in fall 2024. An additional .25 mile loop from markers 15, 18, 13, and 14 was replaced in 2018. Packed gravel trails provide access from the Grass River Center to the boardwalks.
Building Access:
The Grass River Center has hard gravel trails and accessible parking available next to the building. A wheelchair is available at the Center for use by visitors.
Restrooms:
Accessible restroom facilities are available inside the Grass River Center during open hours and a wheel-chair accessible porta potty is located at the cabin. Two pit toilets are located at the main parking lot.
The remainder of GRNA trails are dirt footpaths with tree roots and minimal elevation changes, some narrow single-track on the woodland loop, and older 4’ wide boardwalks on the Sedge Meadow Loop between 17 and 18 and on the Fern Loop between 13 and 12.
Directions to Grass River Natural Area (Google Map to GRNA)
The Grass River Natural Area entrance is at 6500 Alden Highway (Co. Road 618), 4 miles northeast of Alden, 6 miles south of Bellaire and 8 miles west of Mancelona. The preserve is also accessible by boat from the Grass River dock located on the south end of Grass River between Clam Lake and Lake Bellaire.
The Grass River Natural Area entrance is at 6500 Alden Highway (Co. Road 618), 4 miles northeast of Alden, 6 miles south of Bellaire and 8 miles west of Mancelona. The preserve is also accessible by boat from the Grass River dock located on the south end of Grass River between Clam Lake and Lake Bellaire.
