Hiking Project Logo

An extended, full tour on the wooded and boardwalk trails around the nature preserve at Pickerel Lake.


Your Rating: Rating Rating Rating Rating Rating      Clear Rating
Your Difficulty:
Your Favorites: Add To-Do · Your List
Zoom in to see details
Map Key

3.4

Miles

5.4

KM

Loop

1,016' 310 m

High

843' 257 m

Low

444' 135 m

Up

443' 135 m

Down

5%

Avg Grade (3°)

20%

Max Grade (12°)

Dogs No Dogs

Features Birding · Lake · Views · Wildlife

Overview

Many visitors to Pickerel Lake stay on the two-mile Lake Trail without knowing what unexplored, unique trails lay beyond the lake. This loop hike combines a handful of trails through the forests and marshes around the lake with the popular sections of the elevated lakeside boardwalk to provide a sample of each trail type and environment.

Given the amount of water through this area, numerous bird species can be seen as well as other local wildlife. This can also mean bugs in the warmer months.

This loop heads in the clockwise direction in order to follow the one-way section of the Lake Trail on the east side. Of course, this route can be shortened to accommodate time or ability. An obvious section to bypass is the Sandy Knoll Trail by continuing west onto the Woodland Trail, cutting off just over a mile in length.

Need to Know

No dogs or wheeled mechanisms. Eastern portion of the Lake Trail is one-way, going clockwise. Open to cross-country skiing in the winter. Restrooms closed except for a port-a-potty in the offseason.

Description

Start at the main parking area off Ramsdell Road NE and head west on the Lake Trail toward the first elevated boardwalk section. These boardwalks are popular spots for anglers and photographers who don't have to worry about trees and shrubs that might otherwise get in the way from the shoreline.

At the end of this stretch, there is a bathroom, which is closed in the offseason.

Continue into the woods as the Lake Trail bends to the left (southwest) toward the entrance for the Sandy Knoll Trail, which winds through the Larch Swamp area with the short spur of the Larch Swamp Trail. Back at the lollipop stem of the Sandy Knoll Trail, use the Woodland Branch Trail to continue north toward the Woodland Trail, with the first sustained hill climb of the hike and the high point of the loop just before the two-mile mark.

Along the Woodland Trail, you'll pass three trail entrances, each to the left; the first is a Woodland Branch Trail that heads to the boundary of the preserve and Sunfish Lake Road, the second and third are the entrance/exit of the Highland Trail loop, which adds a half-mile loop for visitors looking for even more mileage.

Just before the 2.5-mile mark, the Woodland Trail will rejoin the Lake Trail for some lakeshore travel before the final one-way section through the vibrant marshes of Pickerel Lake before returning to the main parking area.

Flora & Fauna

Songbirds, waterfowl, beavers, deer, muskrats.

Contacts

Shared By:

Zander Göpfert

Trail Ratings

  4.7 from 3 votes

#2766

Overall
  4.7 from 3 votes
5 Star
67%
4 Star
33%
3 Star
0%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Recommended Route Rankings

#28

in Michigan

#2,766

Overall
13 Views Last Month
1,311 Since Nov 21, 2019
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult

0%
0%
50%
50%
0%
0%

Photos

Pickerel Lake Park - Fred Meijer Nature Preserve" by Rachel Kramer (https://tinyurl.com/tgvrh5p), Flickr licensed under CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)
Nov 21, 2019 near Rockford, MI
Pickerel Lake Walkway" by John Winkelman (https://tinyurl.com/v95vdys), Flickr licensed under CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)
Nov 21, 2019 near Rockford, MI
Path at Pickerel Lake" by John Winkelman (https://tinyurl.com/tqe8en4), Flickr licensed under CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)
Nov 21, 2019 near Rockford, MI

0 Comments

Weather


Current Trail Conditions

Unknown
Add Your Check-In

Check-Ins

Mar 6, 2021
Lyndsie Davidson
Welcome

Join the Community! It's FREE

Already have an account? Login to close this notice.