A lake, hiking trails, and a permanently protected natural area make for a variety of discoveries in Barry County. Bailey Nature Preserve has a 30-acre lake where visitors can fish, canoe, and kayak. A conservation easement permanently protects the Preserve’s natural features. This brings specific activities on the water together with the long-term preservation of nature.
Explore landscapes on foot and by water
Pierce Cedar Creek Institute also provides access to a variety of habitats, including wetlands, forests, prairies, and agricultural land. More than nine miles of public trails are free to use year-round from dawn to dusk. Because access details may change, it is a good idea to check them before visiting. The Institute’s landscape was shaped by the melting of the Saginaw Lobe of the ice sheet—a geological history behind its varied landforms.
At Historic Charlton Park, more than three miles of trails wind through woodlands, restored prairie, field margins, and wildlife habitats. The park covers 310 acres on Thornapple Lake. These landscape types make the trails an opportunity to experience woodlands, open prairie, and field margins on one outing. Devil’s Soupbowl in Yankee Springs Recreation Area offers another kind of natural feature: a glacial formation.
For birdwatching, visitors can explore numerous bird-rich habitats along the Thornapple Birding Trail: in more than 22,000 acres of state game areas, in many parks, and around more than 250 lakes. The Paul Henry–Thornapple Trail, meanwhile, is being developed as a 42-mile multipurpose recreational route from Grand Rapids to Vermontville; some sections are already complete. The 42 miles refer to the planned total length, not to a fully completed route. The described route passes through farmland, forests, and small towns, follows and crosses rivers and streams, and runs close to the Thornapple River.
Discover history through places and structures
Indian Landing connects a historic site with the history of the region’s Indigenous residents. The area around Indian Landing was inhabited by the Potawatomi, Odawa, and Ojibwa; in 1835, villages stood in Sections 24 and 25 of Hastings Township. In 1972, Indian Landing was listed on the Michigan Historical Register in recognition of its first Indigenous residents.
Built in 1903, McKeown Road Bridge is the last surviving metal truss road bridge in Barry County. The bridge park is wheelchair accessible. Together, the bridge and park offer two specific points of interest: a preserved structure with a distinctive place in the county’s history and an accessible place for wheelchair users.
Automotive history at the Gilmore Car Museum
The Gilmore Car Museum is dedicated to preserving the history and heritage of the American automobile. It displays more than 400 vehicles across over 209,100 square feet of exhibit space. The 90-acre historic campus is home to seven partner museums. One of North America’s largest collections of hood ornaments and automotive mascots adds a specialized collecting field to the story of automotive history.
Through the “Vintage Rides” program, guests can ride in a classic car with a trained museum docent. The program offers a different way to engage with historic vehicles than walking through the exhibits. Basic camping sites are available on-site for longer stays.
Barry County brings together nature trails and waterways, traces of Indigenous history, a surviving bridge structure, and an extensive automotive museum. When choosing accommodations, consider which of these discoveries you want to shape your trip most.
Discover more destinations: Rutland Charter Township, Orangeville Island, Baraga County, Gogebic County, Gratiot County, Wayne, Mecosta County, Muskegon.
View the main travel overview: Michigan.
