DAHLEM ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTER
- Address: 7117 South Jackson Road, Jackson, MI 49201
- Hours: Trails are open daily from sunrise to sunset. The Nutshell Gift Shop is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday
- Trails: There are several of varying lengths, ranging from the Woodland Trail Loop (1.83 miles) to the Arboretum Trail (0.24 miles). Several of the trails intersect, which gives a hiker all sorts of options.
- There are indoor public restrooms available during the day on weekdays. There is a port-a-potty available nearby when the restrooms are closed.
- What to take: A few dollars. The trails are available to hike at no cost, but there is a box just steps from the parking lot where you can make a donation.
- The Nutshell Gift Shop and exhibit areas are open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday to Friday.
- A basic family membership at the Dahlem Center costs $45.
When you walk the streets of a subdivision, it’s good to keep your head up. There might be cars and bikes on the road and angry dogs in your neighbors’ yards. Staying alert means staying safe.
When you walk the trails at the Dahlem Environmental Education Center, located just a short drive south of the city of Jackson, it’s good to stay alert for a different reason.
You just never know when you might see something awe-inspiring in nature.
I don’t generally have my face in my phone when I’m out for a hike. But on this day on this hike in May, I had my phone in hand for just a few moments to take notes for this story. Little did I know there was a surprise waiting for me as the trail opened up from a wooded area into a meadow.
“Snort.”
A doe with two fawns snapped me right back to the task at hand: enjoying all that nature has to offer.
Was it a warning sign to me, the intruder? A heads up to the two fawns that accompanied her? It didn’t matter one bit what her intention was. It was just simply awesome. We stood and watched each other for a few minutes before the doe decided to calmly lead her family back into the forest.
The trails at the Dahlem Center are peaceful. A long walk on this overcast spring day led to no human contact during time on three different trails. The snorting doe was not the only wildlife that interrupted the peace.
- A great blue heron made a ruckus as it took off from a swampy area directly next to the boardwalk — a long wooden walkway through a marshy area — on the tail end of the Grassland Trail loop.
- A pileated woodpecker called out in a low tone as it flew across the trail as the Grassland Trail loop neared the pathway back to the Dahlem Center’s main building.
Both startled me. Both were highlights of my day.
Of course, you won’t have a choice about what type of wildlife you might cross paths with. But one question you will want to ask yourself: Just how long do you want your pleasant walk in the woods to be?
There are plenty of options for everyone.
Want to take your little ones out for an easy walk in the woods while they look for pretty flowers, cool bugs or wildlife? The Nature for All Trail begins and ends right by the parking lot and is less than a half mile long.
Want to spend an afternoon in the woods? The Woodland Trail loop and the Grassland Trail loop will give you plenty of time to enjoy the wide variety of trees, wildlife and landscape. The trails are extremely well marked and intersect in several spots, which makes it easy to shorten or lengthen your walk on the fly.
Unlike the nearby MacCready Nature Reserve, which features trails that are very hilly, the trails at the Dahlem Center lend themselves to a casual walk in the woods rather than a true hiking experience. But what a great walk in the woods.
The varying landscapes make things interesting. You’ll see plenty of trees. But the trails will also take you by or through a prairie grassland, a conifer plantation, a vernal pond, a wet meadow, a fen overlook, a glacial pond and much more.
Want to spend extra time in the woods? The Dahlem Center provides plenty of opportunities to take your time. There are park benches everywhere. Many of the open spaces feature birdhouses on posts to allow you extra chances to see birds.
Since the word “education” is right there in the name, it should be no surprise that there are signs all along the trail describing the foliage and the wildlife.
One of the first signs you will cross paths with when you start out into the woods says it best:
Mindfulness moment: Trees are generating oxygen all around you. Take in a deep breath. Exhale slowly. Repeat.
“If you want to conquer the anxiety of life, live in the moment, live in the breath.” — Amit Ray
The five miles of trails at the Dahlem Environmental Education Center are a perfect place to do just that. Stay mindful. Breathe deep. Jackson County has plenty to offer visitors. The Dahlem Center is just one of many highlights. It’s a great place to enjoy the deer and the day.
By Chris Iott
Connect to our trail guides and other resources for planning your trip to Jackson County.
