Michigan Trail Tuesday is our attempt to showcase a different trail or trail segment each week. The Mitten State is home to thousands of miles of trails, including the new Iron Belle Trail that runs from Detroit in the southeast to Ironwood in the western Upper Peninsula and more miles of the North Country Trail than any other state.

If you’re looking for great trails and a little bit of history in the Lansing area, Woldumar Nature Center is a perfect spot for a visit. Located on land that was originally donated by Gladys Marquerite Old Anderson (daughter of Ransom Eli Olds, Oldsmobile), this beautiful nature center now offers five miles of trails for hiking and cross-country skiing, restored historical buildings including a barn that can be rented for special events, and a variety of educational field trips and camps for students. You’ll find this peaceful preserve just minutes away from the highway, but once you’re on the trails you just might forget you’re just five miles away from downtown Lansing. We had the chance to visit Woldumar in June and hiked some of the trails and today we offer up some photos from our visit as well as everything you need to know before visiting.

From the large parking lot you can head to the visitor’s center (where there are restrooms, a few exhibits, and a small store) or pass the barn and start exploring the trails. We took one look at the map and we knew we wanted to head to the lagoon area to try and see some wildlife, so we headed off on the red trail to marker one and the Walnut Glen. The trail was wide and well-maintained, and in a short distance passed a nice open area that can be set up for weddings and other events. We followed the trail through the woods until it met up with the orange trail. For a short time you are on both the orange and red trails, then the orange trail splits off to the left just before the lagoon.

It didn’t take long for our first wildlife sighting at the lagoon. We could see a family of ducks near the back, but then some movement caught my eye near a log maybe a hundred feet away. A great blue heron was perched on the log, staring intently into the murky water. It then jumped in and came back up with a fish in its beak! We stayed and watched it finish its lunch, shot a few pictures of the wood ducks from a distance, then continued on our way.

The orange trail offers a split at marker #14, we chose the path to the left to continue around the lagoon. The trail is absolutely beautiful through here, then it curves and parallels the Grand River. At marker #8 there is once again a choice in trail and a bench with a great view overlooking the river. We chose to rejoin the red trail here and loop around the outside of the property.

The red trail passes through a beech-maple forest, then it curves back towards the trailhead as you begin to explore a white pine forest. We saw a lot of birds through here, as well as a few squirrels. We only crossed paths with a few other hikers and runners during our visit, and this was one of the quietest parts of our entire hike. The views looking up to the tops of the trees were fantastic.

After the pine forest we met up with the green trail (prairie loop), which is much more open and colorful than the trails through the woods. Many flowers and plants were in bloom, bees and butterflies were active, and a few signs along the way told us more about the ecosystem here.

We looped through part of the green trail (the entire trail is 1.4 miles) then rejoined the red trail for a short and relatively straight trip back to the trailhead.

Behind the visitor center and near the starting point for the blue and orange trails is the Moon Cabin, and 1860s residence that is being preserved and restored here at Woldumar Nature Center. There is also a blacksmith shop nearby that is sometimes open for demonstrations.

A few interpretive signs near the trailhead explain more about the Moon and Olds families and the history of the area.

The Woldumar Nature Center is located at 5739 Old Lansing Rd. There is a $2 fee to use the trails, pets are allowed as long as they are leashed, and bicycles are prohibited. Visit the Woldumar Naure Center website to find out more.