Ortonville Recreation Area — Attraction in Hadley Township

Nice hills to get a hike in the woods. Trails well marked. Really only a large loop with a hillier trek through the middle. 2.75 mi east side thru center loop. Around 3 miles around outside loop. Could make it two loops for more mileage. Bugs bad in summer, but it's great rest of year. Muddy with rain. There is a vault toilet about 1/4 mile from Parking, next to the rustic cabin. Bathroom was open in winter with actual TP and hand sanitizer, but dirt road blocked to vehicular traffic so must walk, bike, xc ski. But that's what u come there to do. Mtn. Biked before also, fun, but not always well maintained. Trees down, etc so you have to walk around. Xc skiing is NOT groomed. Although a decent hill skier, this trail is relatively well used by local dog walkers, so snow shoes are better, unless you can get 1st tracks And don't mind setting track. Parking is for around 12 vehicles. Never seen more than 6, so seems ample, but it's about 1/2 mile or more back thru sometimes slippery snow. I use 4 wheel drive in snow, but unless large snowfall and they haven't plowed, you would be fine with front...

This place has really gone downhill since I was a kid. It’s honestly disappointing to see the state it’s in now. I understand that there are boats on the lake, but that’s no excuse for how dirty and unkept it has become. The water is murky and has an unpleasant smell, making it far from inviting for swimming or wading. While my kids were playing in the water, one of them actually found a rusty fish hook lying right where they were standing. That’s not just gross — it’s dangerous.

The so-called “swim” area isn’t even a real designated swim zone. There’s no clear boundary, no safety measures, and certainly no indication that the water is being cleaned or maintained. It just feels neglected.

When I was younger, this was a place families could come to enjoy the day, relax by the water, and feel safe letting their kids play. Now it feels like a hazard. Between the trash, unsafe objects, and the overall poor condition of the lake, I wouldn’t recommend this to anyone looking for a family-friendly spot. It’s sad to say, but this place needs serious attention before it can be considered...

Hiked the equestrian trails many many time and I love the hilly terrain. Unless you’re really moving and got the better part of a day, you most likely won’t hike all of these rugged trails in a single hike. I would personally rate them as easy in skill level but medium in challenging, simply due to the ups and downs of the hills if you’re not a seasoned hiker. Plenty of wildlife all around but you most likely won’t see much because they hear you before you can see them even if your quiet like me. Well marked and placed signage so it would be difficult to get lost. There are plenty of ponds located all around the trails which makes it even more enjoyable. If you get the chance I highly recommend coming here for a...