MACCREADY NATURE RESERVE

• Address: 9243 Skiff Lake Rd, Clarklake, MI 49234
• Hours: Open daily from dawn to dusk
• Trails: Red (1.6 miles, moderate, fairly flat), yellow (1.4 miles, moderate) and blue (2.5 miles, difficult, very hilly)
• What to take: Comfortable walking or hiking shoes. (Flip-flops would be a bad idea.) Your time. (There is so much to see if you don’t hurry.) And bug spray. (Has anyone ever regretted taking bug spray on a hike in the woods?)
• Dogs are allowed but must be leashed
• No hunting, firearms, camping or campfires
• Bikes are prohibited
• Skiing and snowshoeing are allowed from Dec. 1 to March 31

The only human I crossed paths with during a spring hike at the MacCready Nature Reserve startled me.

That’s not bad news. It just demonstrates how winding and twisty the trails can be, how thick the vegetation is and how the trails can provide solitude even when there are several cars in the parking lot and hikers on the trails.

“Ope,” popped out of my mouth instinctively. We exchanged greetings and then it was back to my solo hike in the woods. And no matter the weather, the trail or the season, a hike at MacCready Nature Reserve is an adventure.

I hiked the three trails on three different spring days that featured a wide variety of spring weather. The first day was perfect: bright sunshine, blue skies, temperatures in the 60s and a light breeze.

It was that day when I spotted a single deer that stood frozen about 50 feet from the blue trail. It was nearly invisible because its hide perfectly matched the tree trunks and old leaves that stood behind it as well as the low-lying weeds and vegetation that partially hid it from my view. I’m not sure how I even saw it.

A staredown ensued. When it ended, there was an even bigger surprise: There wasn’t just one deer in sight. There were five. The other four were only identifiable by their white tails as the herd, now spooked, dashed into the vegetation and disappeared from view.

That wasn’t the only time I stumbled upon wildlife. Not even close.

A woodpecker tapped on a tree, providing rhythm as background for the melodic birds that also call the forest home. A cardinal couple darted across the trail just in front of me. A frog hiding in a swampy area croaked repeatedly with a tone that would have made the bass in a barbershop quartet green with envy.

There are three trails at MacCready Nature Reserve:

• The red trail, which is moderate and fairly flat.
• The yellow trail, which is hilly and provides a bit more of a challenge.
• The blue trail, which is very hilly and more difficult.

Every season provides different scenery, from the fresh shades of green in spring to the beautiful variety of colors in fall. Winter weather adds challenges, with snow and ice sometimes making footing a bit uncertain, especially on the hills.

No matter the season, the trails provide a sense of peace and isolation, a place to escape the busyness of life. Seeing several cars in the parking lot does not mean you will find a crowd on the trails. The trails are long and winding.

You can sometimes go an entire hike without seeing anyone at all.

What you will hear almost all the time: birds. Birds, birds, birds. Sometimes, when you’ve been hiking on the trail for several minutes without seeing another human being, you can imagine that the birds are talking about you, curious about your presence in their space.

Hikers have the option of putting their head down and getting in a good workout, especially on the long and especially hilly blue trail. But doing so would mean missing out on the best that MacCready Nature Reserve has to offer: the incredible variety of plant life and animals that often blend into the landscape.

Those looking for a casual walk in the woods or an easy hike for young children will want to start on the red trail and decide whether they want to take on the increased challenges the other trails provide after that. All the trails have long flat stretches, but all of them are also winding with hills that can be a challenge at times.

It’s a challenge worth accepting. You don’t have to go on vacation to get away from it all. Peace and solitude on the trails at MacCready Nature Reserve is just one of many good reasons to visit Jackson County.

By Chris Iott

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