May 2024 E-Newsletter

Connecting with Nature Series: Running with Nature

Join us for our Connecting with Nature series, where we’ll showcase various activities enjoyed by supporters of our Ottawa County Parks. From popular activities like mountain biking, hiking, skiing, swimming, and fishing to less traditional ones like forest bathing, artistic endeavors, and volunteering, there’s something for everyone. Regardless of the activity, the common thread is the opportunity to immerse oneself in nature, which has been scientifically linked to numerous benefits such as improved attention and reduced stress and anxiety levels.

During this series, we will be highlighting nature-based activities and encouraging you to explore new recreational opportunities. It is a great way to spend more time in nature and reap its rewards.

This month, we’ll explore why trail runners love the variety of terrain and awe-inspiring scenery offered by Ottawa County Parks.

Kayla Webber

As a trail runner I have deeply enjoyed exploring all of Ottawa County Parks trails, from the 1-mile loops to navigating the North Ottawa Dunes trails point to point. Trail running helps me connect to nature and to myself in a way running on pavement never allowed. I get to be with nature and watch every season unfold and flourish. I get to feel the ground change beneath my feet; from sandy dunes that work my muscles as I climb in the heat of summer, to the fallen leaves that crunch beneath my feet with every step, to the snow that works its way into my trail shoes and clings to my running tights as I trudge through trails no one else has after a snow storm.

A moment that sticks out to me the most was on a relatively hot August day during the longest run I had done so far. I had not brought any water or food because I was new to what long runs on the trail meant. In my personal life I was at a fork in the path and consumed with thoughts of doubt and worry when the trail opened up to the beach. I had to climb a small dune before I reached the clearing that led out to the beach and I was feeling so thirsty, hungry and quite defeated.  As I made my way out of the trail and onto the beach there was a Bald Eagle flying right above me. I stood there in awe of this giant bird that I had never seen in the wild before (I had never seen a Bald Eagle that close up before even). A sense of peace and relief filled my body, I knew I was connected to something so much bigger than what I was experiencing the previous moment. I’m not sure if I ran or walked slowly back to the trailhead but what I do remember is knowing that I was connected to Nature and made to run the trails.

Some of the greatest things about trail running is the community, the snacks and we don’t care how fast anyone is! We spend a lot of our time power hiking and taking breaks on long runs. We share stories of our adventures and hope anyone new to the group sticks around to become a part of the stories we share.

Jeff Smucker

I was a runner in college but didn’t do much of it after that until I picked it up again when I turned 40 years old. I started doing longer-distance running at this point but stayed on the roads for a few years. A friend of mine finally got me started running on the trails and I fell in love with it immediately. My first trail race was a marathon in Pennsylvania where I missed a turn and added over a mile but I was still hooked.

Soon, I started running more trails and found a group of friends who, like me, found joy in running through the woods. I found out that I had a lot to learn about running on the trails; while the basic running motion is the same there is a skill to running quickly up and down rocky, rooty trails that isn’t developed when running on the roads. I was quite happy to spend the time working on it.

I still run often on the roads, but there is no question that my favorite runs are on the trails. Running on trails gets me away from roads, cars, and noise. The air is clearer and the stress melts away as I let myself enjoy the sights, sounds, and smells of nature. The soft surface (pine needles are my favorite) is easier on my joints than asphalt. I especially like getting to the top of mountains, hills, or whatever rise that I can find. The labor is honest and the views can be fantastic.

I moved to Ottawa County from Pennsylvania eight years ago and immediately set out to find the best trails in the area. There are great trails in west Michigan (and greater Michigan in general) and there is plenty to keep one busy in Ottawa County. North Ottawa Dunes is my favorite county park for trail running. I like that I can combine Hoffmaster and Ottawa Sands with North Ottawa Dunes to get longer runs without having to do loops.

There are many smaller county parks that also offer good trail running.  You might have to do loops if you want more than three or four miles but the scenery is excellent. For the best hills, stick to the dunes near the lakeshore like Kirk Park, Hemlock Crossing, and Rosy Mound (great for stair repeats). Other nice spots include Eastmanville Farm, Connor Bayou, Riverside Park (with access to the trails next door in Bass River Recreation Area), Pigeon Creek, Grand Ravines, Grand River, Crockery Creek, Stearns Creek, and Upper Macatawa. Each park has its own unique feel and they offer a wonderful diversity of natural features.

Don’t forget the Open Spaces! If you enjoy exploration and don’t mind getting lost you can try places like Port Sheldon Natural Area, Hiawatha Forest, and the Bend Area. There aren’t many established trails but that just makes it interesting.

My advice is to get out, move, and explore. There is a county park near you that is ready to reduce your stress, open your mind, inspire you, and make you sweat (if you want to). Summer, Fall, Winter, and Spring are all great times to take advantage of them. Enjoy!

Yellow trout lily (Erythronium americanum) is a familiar sight in our Michigan woods this time of year, not so much the flowers but the ubiquitous mottled leaves. It’s found in moist deciduous forests and thickets, taking advantage of the sun before the trees leaf out.

A member of the Lily family, it’s been reported in all but six Michigan counties, and very likely occurs in those six too. Its range includes the entire eastern half of the U.S. (except Florida!) and eastern Canada.

The common name refers to the mottled leaves which resemble the coloring of brook trout. The narrow, elongated leaves are normally strongly brown-mottled, but once in a while the mottling is very pale or may be absent altogether. The plants grow from small corms and spread slowly to form colonies, but can take many years to flower. The plant has only one leaf until it matures, then it has two. The flowers close at night.

USDA lists nearly 30 different species in the U.S. while Michigan hosts only two species, yellow and white (E. albidum). The white trout lily is found in the lower half of the lower peninsula and the far west end of the upper peninsula, but oddly not in between.

Elsewhere, it is also known as adder’s-tongue, fawn lily, dogtooth violet, glacier lily, or avalanche lily.

The leaves and corm are edible, and the leaves can be cooked as greens, or eaten as a salad, or made into tea. Some people may have a sensitivity and it may induce vomiting, so try cautiously if you’re going to. It is alleged to have antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, lymphatic, wound-healing, and nervine properties.

Photo credit: Bobbi Sabine

The course starts at Grand River County Park, winding you through a natural surface trail until you hit the newly completed Idema Explorers Trail segment that leads you along the Grand River to Grand Ravines County Park. 

• 10K and 5K
• 1-mile fun run/walk for kids
• Dogs are welcome
• Walkers are welcome
• Virtual option for 10K and 5K

To learn more and register, run over to the race website.

Proceeds from this event support the Ottawa County Parks Foundation.