Chippewa Nature Center — Attraction in Homer Township

A true gem of a facility. Extensive trails for walking ( no pets, no bikes), modern and well-kept buildings, free admission, and a very large expanse of land to explore. The property includes miles of river frontage, a large pond with an elevated viewing platform, and several sections of land adjacent to the main nature center. The go-to place for school field trips in central Michigan and I can't think of a better place locally to bring children for a natural outing. The main visitor center is free and has an abundance of nature- themed attractions. There is also an outdoor children's recreation area that our granddaughter loves. It has an assortment of old pots and pans, perfect for making " mud pies." The paved Chippewa bike trail ends here, which is an extension of the Pere Marquette trail from the Tridge in Midland. This section of bike trail is always a treat to bike on ( round trip is 8 miles) and you can always get a drink of water and use the bathroom at the center before turning around and heading back. Plus, there is a do it yourself bike repair station at the trail's end under a sheltered pavilion at the center. A future building under construction will be a children's education center, scheduled to open in 2025. Plus, an additional 500 acres of land with a mile of Chippewa River frontage was recently acquired by the center. The future looks bright for the...

History, hiking, classes, paddling, biking, nature trails, outdoor nature child day care, historical homesteader architecture, peace and serenity, visitor’s center, clean outhouse, all within a few minutes from downtown Midland. Chippewa Nature Center is truly a magnificent gem honoring some of Earth’s splendor in a small city in Mid-Michigan and is well worth the trip out to.

If there ever was a wonderful get away from all the noise of the factories and highways, this is a place to go and find your refuge.

There is ample dirt lot parking and shade near the kayak launch. Near the launch is also some of the historical buildings and barns. There are a handful of picnic tables shaded by mature trees and a clean outhouse for your facilities needed moments.

Outside of the Nature center, there is a paved nature path that goes on for miles through wild flower fields and forest fringe. Bike, walk, or run to your hearts content along side a quiet country road. You may even see a porcupine...

I absolutely love it here! There is a wide variety of ecosystems to explore and the trails are well-maintained and absolutely beautiful. The Homestead has farm animals and an heirloom garden, and the free moonlight strolls led by the staff are wonderful. CNC also offers a Nature Day Camp, which is a great program that helps kids form connections with nature, and has a CIT opportunity for teens (which I highly recommend). The Chippewa Trail is also great for biking/running and leads right to CNC, and all the staff in the visitor's center are super friendly and easy to talk to. The Nature Center is doing great things for the community by making nature easily accessible to everyone, and is changing the lives of so many...