Friday, April 29, 2016

Enjoy the Great Outdoors this May with Events in Western Michigan State Parks

State parks and recreation areas in western Michigan will host a number of activities throughout May that will help guests take advantage of the spring weather. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources invites park visitors to participate in several events around the state, all designed with Michigan's great outdoors in mind.

Sunday, May 1Mountain bikers on a trail.
Fort Custer Stampede at Fort Custer Recreation Area (Kalamazoo County):
The Southwest Michigan Mountain Biking Association will host its annual mountain bike race, which consists of 50 percent scenic single-track trails. There are a variety of courses for every skill level. For more information, visit www.swmmba.com.

Friday, May 6, to Sunday, May 8

Camp N' Clean Weekend at Muskegon State Park (Muskegon County):
Help Muskegon State Park prepare for summer by volunteering in the park. Campers will receive a free night of camping May 6-8 if they are willing to clean at least two campsites. For more information, please call the park at 231-744-3480.

Thursday, May 12, to Sunday, May 15

Fort Custer Horse Friends Spring Campout at Fort Custer Recreation Area (Kalamazoo County):
Enjoy this great opportunity to camp and leisurely explore nearly 20 miles of equestrian trails. The Fort Custer Horse Friends will be hosting a nightly campfire, morning coffee, Saturday morning pancake breakfast and an evening BBQ potluck dinner. Reservations and questions may be addressed to Toni Beth Hess at mrssleeperiv@aol.com, 269-781-9688 or visit www.fchfa.org.

Friday, May 20, to Sunday, May 22

Great Lakes Kite Festival at Grand Haven State Park (Ottawa County):
This fantastic kite-flying event is perfect for the whole family. Enjoy incredible kite ballets, kites as big as school buses and the world's largest outdoor kite store. For more information, visit www.MACkite.com or call 616-846-7501.

Saturday, May 28

Gold Spike Trail Tour III along the Fred Meijer Pioneer Trail and Musketawa State Trail (Kent County):
This annual bike ride hosted by the Friends of the Musketawa State Trail gives cyclists of all abilities a chance to explore the Fred Meijer Pioneer Trail and the Musketawa State Trail, while promoting rail-trail usage and enjoying the outdoors. For more information and to register, visit www.musketawatrail.org.

For more information about these events, visit the online calendar of events at www.michigan.gov/gogetoutdoors, call the park, or contact Elissa Buck, DNR recreation programmer, at 989-313-0000.

Inside Michigan's Great Outdoors subscribers are always the first to know about reservation opportunities, state park events and other outdoor happenings. Visit www.michigan.gov/dnr to subscribe now.

Many of these events are free to attend, but a Recreation Passport is required for vehicle entry. Learn more about how the Recreation Passport provides access to Michigan state parks and more at www.michigan.gov/recreationpassport.


Contact: Elissa Buck, 989-313-0000