Michigan Trail Tuesday: Lehman Nature Trails at Montcalm Community College
Michigan Trail Tuesday is our attempt to showcase a different trail or trail segment each week. The Mitten State is home to thousands of miles of trails, including the new Iron Belle Trail that runs from Detroit in the southeast to Ironwood in the western Upper Peninsula and more miles of the North Country Trail than any other state.
This has been an exciting year of exploring new trails as we try to visit one in every county in Michigan. In late May we had the chance to head north and hike the beautiful Kenneth J. Lehman Nature Trails at Montcalm Community College. There are more than four miles of marked trails here in Sidney, offering visitors the chance to walk through woods, grasslands, and wetlands with plenty of chances to do some birdwatching or see other wildlife. Numbered signs identify different trees and plants, vernal pools, and animal habitats. Benches are placed along the trails so you can stop and rest, and we found a few other surprises as well. We visited here with no idea what to expect and left very impressed with the trail conditions and signage, as well as the scenic views and wildlife viewing opportunities.
We parked by the housing building (our visit was on a weekend and there was no one else there) and headed off to start our visit with the Swamp Walkway by the Lehman Nature Trails sign. It didn’t take long to tell we had picked a great place as this boardwalk passes through a swamp that was starting to wake up for the spring:
We also quickly realized we were going to need to load up on the bug spray for this hike, as the mosquitos also seemed to be enjoying the favorable spring weather conditions. The trail heads in either direction after the boardwalk, and we chose to take a left and follow the Witch Hazel Trail north.
The Tree Swallow Trail meets up with this trail and heads west. A few spur trails lead to a loop trail around a vernal pond. We kept following the trail and encountered a “Wind Phone” that lets visitors speak memories or message to loved ones that have passed away.
We joined the Wood Duck Trail from here and followed along the south shore of South Twin Lake. A quick trip south leads to a suspension bridge over a marshy area, so we went to check that out and crossed before turning around and crossing it again to get back to where we had been.
The trail eventually meets the White Pine Trail where there is a boardwalk out to a viewing spot on the lake.
The White Pine Trail loops around the northwest corner of the property, with a spur trail called the Sugar Maple Loop. This was one of our favorite parts of the trail as fallen trees had been used to mark the edge of the trail as it winds through the tall trees.
You’ll want to keep your eye out through here for lots of fun additions, like birdhouses, feeders, and other decorations. Another vernal pond can be found on the west side of the trail right before it reaches a three-way trail intersection.
The Forest Heritage Trail was one of the best spots for birdwatching, and we took a shortcut past the MCC water tower and one of the instruction buildings to get back to the main driveway and then rejoin the Tree Swallow Loop.
We spotted a beautiful Scarlet Tanager while making out way to Wetland Way, which led us back to the main part of campus. This was a fantastic stop for some hiking and birdwatching!
The Montcalm Community College campus is also home to a Heritage Village that has more than 20 buildings as well as a train. You’ll find this campus and the Kenneth J. Lehman Nature Trails at 2800 College Dr. in Sidney.