Oak Park — Attraction in Grand Ledge

This park is home to an iconic climbing area known as Grand Ledge, home to some of the only climbing in the state of Michigan. While the walls are not tall (25-35ft) and require top rope anchor setups due to delicate sandstone features, the climbing culture of shared ropes and interactions between climbers is wholesome. Riverside views are pretty and the climbs are fun. The culture of “obligatory sharing” of ropes may not be for everyone, and many of the routes are packed so closely together that some of the senior climbers in the area will feel that you have “gone off route” with certain holds despite this culture not existing at other climbing walls outside. That said, guidebooks for the area are scant, and the routes the older (65+) climbers know by heart are both difficult and fun to take on the challenge of climbing. All and all, a wonderful place, I am disappointed I did not travel here sooner, and while being told “you didn’t REALLY finish the route” by somebody can be frustrating, but it is well meant given this area is so small that official routes made by decades of passionate climbers...

I've been here a few times for walking and relaxing. The park itself is pretty small, only a couple of acres, but that's not to say it's bad at all. It has a well shaded grassy area perched above a walkway that showcases some honestly quite impressive natural sandstone cliffs. The walk down there can be a bit precarious and the dirt path is a bit muddy at times, but it's worth it if you want to see some genuinely rare natural beauty in central michigan. Asside from that, the park as a whole is Fairly well maintained by both the city and visitors and it has a trashcan, picnic table and charcoal grill for those who enjoy a bit of cooking in the park. Altogether, it's a decent place to go if you're passing through and want to see wow grand ledge...

Always a nice hike here. Go to the bathroom before leaving home! Port-a-potties available nearby. You can spend a real nice day exploring around here. It can be hard for kids to resist the temptation to crawl on the ledges, but doing so does accelerate their erosion so please keep that in mind. Except of course in designated areas for rock climbing. I have been to this park as well as those connecred to it so many times in my life and still haven't explored all of it! This area is truly one of my favorites and becoming my children's favorite as well.

Nice shady trails to spend a day on. In the winter, some areas can get pretty slick so be prepared for that as well as some narrow paths. A great place to explore in...