Nature preserve exploration in Rockford, Michigan

The Maas Family Nature Preserve is a beautiful park and tourist attraction located at 10450 Summit Avenue Northeast in Rockford, Michigan, United States. Visitors can enjoy the stunning carpet of purple lupine blooming in May and June, as well as the tall prairie grasses and wildflowers later in the summer. The preserve is home to a variety of wildlife, including the federally-endangered Karner blue butterfly. The Land Conservancy is working to restore and expand the oak-pine barrens ecosystem on the preserve, making it a unique and important natural community in Michigan. Visitors are asked to stay on the trail to protect the delicate ecosystem and wildlife. The Maas Family Nature Preserve is a peaceful and scenic destination for hikers and bikers on the White Pine Trail, offering a chance to experience the beauty of nature in West Michigan.

Saul Lake Bog Nature Preserve is a stunning park and tourist attraction located at 10471 6 Mile Road Northeast in Rockford, Michigan. This Category 1 preserve offers easy access to a variety of unique ecosystems, including oak-hickory and beech-maple forests, hardwood swamps, vernal pools, sphagnum bogs, and tallgrass prairies. Visitors can explore three trail loops totaling 1.8 miles in length, each offering beautiful views and opportunities to spot wildlife. The preserve is home to Saul Lake Bog, one of Michigan's most biodiverse bogs, supporting over 90 native plant species and a wide variety of wildlife. A long-term ecological restoration project is underway to convert an old pasture into a native tallgrass prairie, expanding by one acre each year. The preserve also features forests and savannas that were previously cleared for farming, now being restored with the help of volunteers.