This Pickerel Lake 2-Mile Hiking Loop is Perfect for Kids

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Read this Before You Hike the Trails at Pickerel Lake Park

6001 Ramsdell Rd NE, Cannonsburg, MI 49317

The Scoop on the Trail

This 2-mile loop takes you around Pickerel Lake in Rockford.

You’ll see great views of the lake and surrounding woods while you walk. While there are some hills, part of the trail is a boardwalk over the water. Bonus: This part of the trail can be easily accessed by stroller.

If you’re feeling extra-ambitious, there are also a number of offshoot trails if you want to get in extra miles and more challenging terrain, but many visitors simply enjoy the quick walk of the main loop.

Trail Difficulty: Moderate, with some hills.
Dogs Allowed? No, as this is a nature preserve.
Facilities: Restrooms May – Oct, portapotty the rest of the year.
Stroller Friendly? Partially.
Time of Year Accessible: Open year round.

Thanks to our sponsor, Kent District Library.

Kent District Library offers an enormous collection, free events for all ages, reading programs, friendly staff and more. Plus, each of KDL’s 19 branches houses a fun and educational play space for kids. Stop by your local branch soon!

19 Branches Throughout Kent County
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Pickerel Lake spans nearly 80 acres, with the park offering over 300 acres of walking and wildlife observation, making it popular for nature enthusiasts of all ages.

Also known as Fred Meijer Nature Preserve, Pickerel Lake Park is a fun place to fish. (The boardwalk is a good spot for this).

With such diverse terrain and varying environments, you’ll want to keep a lookout for a range wildlife as you hike.

The trails are open through the winter for cross country skiing.

One-of-a-Kind Movie of Your Visit

Pickerel Lake would be a great place to bring a Go-Pro from KDL. Strapping a Go-Pro to the head of a toddler is sure to get you some great footage and great memories, right? If you’re wondering how to check one of these out (for free), here are the details.

Make Some New Friends While You Explore

Want to hike with other mom friends around Grand Rapids? Check out Hike It Baby – a group dedicated to raising kids with a love of the outdoors. Their active Grand Rapids branch Facebook group hosts a variety of events including trail hikes, urban strolls, toddler crawls to park and plays.

Saugatuck Dunes State Park has Multiple Trail Options With Stunning Views of Lake Michigan

All Trails Point Toward Lake Michigan at Saugatuck Dunes State Park 6575 138th Ave, Holland, MI 49423 The Scoop on Saugatuck Dunes State Park I tend to have a gravitational pull toward Lake Michigan--so I was thrilled for an excuse to explore the lakeshore at Saugatuck Dunes State Park! Saugatuck Dunes State Park offers four different trail loops at varying lengths (from 2.5 to 5.2 miles). I would recommend checking the trail map before you go since there wasn’t one readily available at the trailhead when we visited. [...]