Beauty Surrounds You at Fallasburg Park
1124 Fallasburg Road, Lowell, MI 49331
natural hiking paths through hardwoods with a covered bridge
Trail Length: 2.1 miles
Trail Difficulty: Easy
Dogs Allowed? Yes, but they must be on a 6-foot leash.
Facilities: Modern restrooms
Stroller Friendly? No
Time of Year Accessible: May 1 through October 31 from 7 am to sunset
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Fallasburg Park is just so beautiful! This picturesque park located just north of Lowell in the historic Fallasburg community.
Spanning over 250 acres, this is a popular place for kids and families to take in a hike, explore an historic covered bridge, fish, or take fall family photos.
Fallasburg Park is one of over 50 walking trails in West Michigan.
More About Fallasburg Park
The large park has many places to park and explore. This map will help you figure out where to go when you visit. Two popular places are the play area by the enclosed structure and the covered bridge.
When my friends and I visited, we let the kids get their energy out at the play structure with the big tire swings. Located by the enclosed shelter, you’ll know you’ve found the right place when you see the stone archway over the driveway.
Then we began our hike (part of the North Country National Scenic Trail) just behind the play structure, by the maintenance building. The hike wound around to the McPherson Road bridge, across the flat river, past the disc golf, back through the woods, and popped out on Covered Bridge Road.
We enjoyed walking past historic buildings, many of which are residences today. On most Sundays, their school house is open to the public.
We walked over the historic covered bridge, built in 1871, one of only two covered bridges in Michigan that allows vehicle traffic.
Then we walked past another play structure with the covered picnic tables and down past this adorable creek. You can cross the creek to get to a very small play structure and enjoy the flat grassy plain between the creek and the Flat River.
The paved path took us back up to the enclosed shelter and play structure where we started.
And the kids still had enough energy left to race back to the swings for more fun!
Tips for Your Trip From Other Parents
- Fallasburg has a mix of mature shade trees and, of course, woods hiking, so there are many opportunities to get out of the sun. However, it’s sunny at the covered bridge and the play structures and along the river if you fish.
- Parking is easy at Fallasburg. There are several places to park in this sprawling place, making it easy to visit different areas (main play structure, smaller structure by the picnic pavilion, and covered bridge) if you have smaller children who can’t walk as far.Â
- There are many spots to picnic around the park, with a mixture of open picnic tables, a covered pavilion with picnic tables, and an enclosed structure that you can rent.
- We did not encounter bugs both times we visited in October, but in the summer you’ll want mosquito protection, especially by the Flat River and the creek.
- The hike from the main enclosed shelter to the covered bridge and then back up past the creek is a very easy walk, but you’ll want a baby carrier for smaller kids. Our kids were aged 3 and up and did the walk mostly without complaint.
- While Covered Bridge road does take you back in time in a way, remember that you’re still walking on a paved road that cars occasionally travel on – be extra watchful of small children.
Toddlers would enjoy the smaller play structure by the covered shelter along Covered Bridge road, but may struggle with any hiking. There’s also a small creek nearby and also the Flat River which you’ll want to watch them around.
A great spot for kite flying is down the hill behind the enclosed structure, just across the little creek. Here you’ll find a nice open grassy area for kite-flying fun.
Map of Grand Rapids Parks and Trails
Find your next outdoor adventure near you with our map of the best hiking trails, playgrounds and parks in West Michigan.