Sunday, July 8, 2007

Hidden Lake Gardens: Hike Notes

I originally posted these hike notes on the Great Lakes Hikes and thebackpacker.com forums.

Hike Name: Hidden Lake Gardens
Location: southeast MI
Length: 5
Submitted by: reformed lurker
Date Submitted: 12/4/00

Description:

Sure, it's not wilderness. But Hidden Lake Gardens has some nice hilly hiking in a part of Michigan where this is limited. The hiking is consistently up-and-down and is similar to the Waterloo-Pinckney trail to the north.

Animal life is typical of SE Michigan - deer, turkey, owls, etc. - and trail maintenance is superb.
This area is especially nice in winter. You can see tropical and desert environments in the conservatory.

No camping is available on-site, but Walter J. Hayes State Park is not far away.

Directions to Hike: The Gardens are on M-50 ten minutes west of Tecumseh. Drive time from Ann Arbor, Jackson or Toledo is less than an hour.

Contact Information Contact Hidden Lake Gardens (run by Michigan State University).

Phone: (517) 431-2060

Address: Hidden Lake Gardens, Tipton, MI 49287

04/21/02

Sunday, I did a 5 mile loop at Hidden Lake Gardens (on M-50 nearTipton in Lenawee County). This is some really great trail. It's got some up and down, but the best part is the way the trail often hugs the edge of a hill. At times you have to balance yourself on a little ledge of trail. Fun. Fun. Fun. Lots of deer. Beautiful trees and flowers. The place is 4 minutes from my house, so it's a nice after work hike. I wish they would extend the trail to 10 miles, but hey, it's a landscape arboretum. When it's snowy you can hang out in the desert conservatory and dream you're in Arizona. That's better than hot chocolate.

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