🐾 Kids at the Dog Park: Real Stories, Safety Risks & Smarter Solutions
If you’ve spent time at an off-leash park, you’ve probably seen it:A parent strolls in with a stroller 🚼 or […]
Grand Blanc Commons is a hidden gem for pet lovers looking for dog-friendly trails in Grand Blanc, Michigan. This expansive 1,300-acre nature preserve features several well-groomed hiking trails, winding through forests, over bridges, past creeks, and through marshlands, providing dogs and their owners a natural escape close to home. While dogs must remain leashed, the area is welcoming to pets, and the trails offer plenty for pets and their owners to explore together, making it a popular spot for dog-friendly hiking in the area.
The park is known for its peaceful atmosphere, scenic beauty, and variety of wildlife that make every visit unique. Accessible via the back of the Grand Blanc public library parking lot, Grand Blanc Commons is also kid-friendly, with engaging features like a realistic tree house and wood structures. There are benches scattered throughout the preserve, perfect for taking in the surroundings, but note there are no picnic tables, restrooms, or garbage cans, so visitors should plan accordingly and pack out what they bring in. Whether you’re looking for tranquil walks, bike-friendly dirt paths, or a great pet-friendly trail in Grand Blanc, this spot offers something truly special for the local community.
Although you can hear loud traffic, it’s a nice walk. Muddy in the spring.
It was a nice nature walk . Me and my son went for a walk both loops they have in the nature walk. The only thing would be nice if there were lights that goes along the nature trails I was thinking solar lights would be a green way of having lights and saving money and maybe even plant sunflowers and maybe have some hummingbird houses and or feeders would be cool. Having flowers planted needs water, maybe somehow putting together a watering system that runs off solar power and / or wind power something staying green and saves money and doesn’t cause any type of pollution or cost money if possible. Maybe even let the community and neighborhood plant a flower and / or tree in memory of someone they love or for a cause or just to help our earth , a better cleaner environment and air and help decrease pollution and help keep air clean and keep the pollution in the air down and promote a better future and keep our planet earth around longer:)
Entrance is at the back of the library parking lot. There are several intersecting trails that are well-groomed but the posts marking the trails do not have any maps or information on them so it is easy to get lost.
An absolute hidden gem. I’ve lived in Grand Blanc for 15+ years and thought that I’d seen everything until I stumbled on this trail head while taking my kid to the library. I have no idea why this park isnt more widely known. Bridges and fast running creeks, winding dirt trails and hills through wooded areas, trails through thickets and raised through marshland, and a well established fairly dense forest on the far end with trails through it as well. There are rarely many people back here and there are plenty of paths explore with a lot of variety. Like others have said, its very quiet and low key. Hiking is fun but this is an absolutely perfect low intensity mountain bike course. Its also a good place to walk your dog. There is no signage anywhere but its not terribly difficult to navigate. There is however a long stretch of the outer trail that is typically overgrown with grass except for a single trodden foot and bike track. Once you get through that it opens back up again. There are several geo caches tucked away in various locations that we’ve tracked down if that’s your bag. Regardless, if you’ve never been here and you want a nature escape, go now.
A 1300 Sq acre Nature Preserve donated by the McFarlen family. Not well known. In my opinion, one of the best walking trails in Grand Blanc. It is Dog friendly too (byobag🐕). The only downside is there are no restrooms or garbage cans. You can eat your lunch on benches, but there are no picnic tables. Also has an abundant variety of birds, deer and other wildlife. And several walking trails (up to 2 miles a piece)
Signs on the entrance map outline the trails for you. The maps outline the trails using different line fonts and colors. It is hard to navigate, but there is a little help. There is also a map in the middle of the trails with the same color coordinated, different font line indicators. The Outer Perimeter is called the bird trail. There’s also a trail that runs along Thread Creek, and many intersecting, inner trails. The Nature Preserve houses a realistic tree house, and other man-made wood structures, that are fun for kids. As previously stated, it is a hidden gem. Enter through Grand Blanc public library, off Perry Road or from Grand Blanc United Methodist Church, Bush St., near downtown. Happy trailing 🌻😎
Although you can hear loud traffic, it’s a nice walk. Muddy in the spring.
It was a nice nature walk . Me and my son went for a walk both loops they have in the nature walk. The only thing would be nice if there were lights that goes along the nature trails I was thinking solar lights would be a green way of having lights and saving money and maybe even plant sunflowers and maybe have some hummingbird houses and or feeders would be cool. Having flowers planted needs water, maybe somehow putting together a watering system that runs off solar power and / or wind power something staying green and saves money and doesn’t cause any type of pollution or cost money if possible. Maybe even let the community and neighborhood plant a flower and / or tree in memory of someone they love or for a cause or just to help our earth , a better cleaner environment and air and help decrease pollution and help keep air clean and keep the pollution in the air down and promote a better future and keep our planet earth around longer:)
Entrance is at the back of the library parking lot. There are several intersecting trails that are well-groomed but the posts marking the trails do not have any maps or information on them so it is easy to get lost.
An absolute hidden gem. I’ve lived in Grand Blanc for 15+ years and thought that I’d seen everything until I stumbled on this trail head while taking my kid to the library. I have no idea why this park isnt more widely known. Bridges and fast running creeks, winding dirt trails and hills through wooded areas, trails through thickets and raised through marshland, and a well established fairly dense forest on the far end with trails through it as well. There are rarely many people back here and there are plenty of paths explore with a lot of variety. Like others have said, its very quiet and low key. Hiking is fun but this is an absolutely perfect low intensity mountain bike course. Its also a good place to walk your dog. There is no signage anywhere but its not terribly difficult to navigate. There is however a long stretch of the outer trail that is typically overgrown with grass except for a single trodden foot and bike track. Once you get through that it opens back up again. There are several geo caches tucked away in various locations that we’ve tracked down if that’s your bag. Regardless, if you’ve never been here and you want a nature escape, go now.
A 1300 Sq acre Nature Preserve donated by the McFarlen family. Not well known. In my opinion, one of the best walking trails in Grand Blanc. It is Dog friendly too (byobag🐕). The only downside is there are no restrooms or garbage cans. You can eat your lunch on benches, but there are no picnic tables. Also has an abundant variety of birds, deer and other wildlife. And several walking trails (up to 2 miles a piece)
Signs on the entrance map outline the trails for you. The maps outline the trails using different line fonts and colors. It is hard to navigate, but there is a little help. There is also a map in the middle of the trails with the same color coordinated, different font line indicators. The Outer Perimeter is called the bird trail. There’s also a trail that runs along Thread Creek, and many intersecting, inner trails. The Nature Preserve houses a realistic tree house, and other man-made wood structures, that are fun for kids. As previously stated, it is a hidden gem. Enter through Grand Blanc public library, off Perry Road or from Grand Blanc United Methodist Church, Bush St., near downtown. Happy trailing 🌻😎
Although you can hear loud traffic, it’s a nice walk. Muddy in the spring.
It was a nice nature walk . Me and my son went for a walk both loops they have in the nature walk. The only thing would be nice if there were lights that goes along the nature trails I was thinking solar lights would be a green way of having lights and saving money and maybe even plant sunflowers and maybe have some hummingbird houses and or feeders would be cool. Having flowers planted needs water, maybe somehow putting together a watering system that runs off solar power and / or wind power something staying green and saves money and doesn’t cause any type of pollution or cost money if possible. Maybe even let the community and neighborhood plant a flower and / or tree in memory of someone they love or for a cause or just to help our earth , a better cleaner environment and air and help decrease pollution and help keep air clean and keep the pollution in the air down and promote a better future and keep our planet earth around longer:)
Entrance is at the back of the library parking lot. There are several intersecting trails that are well-groomed but the posts marking the trails do not have any maps or information on them so it is easy to get lost.
An absolute hidden gem. I’ve lived in Grand Blanc for 15+ years and thought that I’d seen everything until I stumbled on this trail head while taking my kid to the library. I have no idea why this park isnt more widely known. Bridges and fast running creeks, winding dirt trails and hills through wooded areas, trails through thickets and raised through marshland, and a well established fairly dense forest on the far end with trails through it as well. There are rarely many people back here and there are plenty of paths explore with a lot of variety. Like others have said, its very quiet and low key. Hiking is fun but this is an absolutely perfect low intensity mountain bike course. Its also a good place to walk your dog. There is no signage anywhere but its not terribly difficult to navigate. There is however a long stretch of the outer trail that is typically overgrown with grass except for a single trodden foot and bike track. Once you get through that it opens back up again. There are several geo caches tucked away in various locations that we’ve tracked down if that’s your bag. Regardless, if you’ve never been here and you want a nature escape, go now.
A 1300 Sq acre Nature Preserve donated by the McFarlen family. Not well known. In my opinion, one of the best walking trails in Grand Blanc. It is Dog friendly too (byobag🐕). The only downside is there are no restrooms or garbage cans. You can eat your lunch on benches, but there are no picnic tables. Also has an abundant variety of birds, deer and other wildlife. And several walking trails (up to 2 miles a piece)
Signs on the entrance map outline the trails for you. The maps outline the trails using different line fonts and colors. It is hard to navigate, but there is a little help. There is also a map in the middle of the trails with the same color coordinated, different font line indicators. The Outer Perimeter is called the bird trail. There’s also a trail that runs along Thread Creek, and many intersecting, inner trails. The Nature Preserve houses a realistic tree house, and other man-made wood structures, that are fun for kids. As previously stated, it is a hidden gem. Enter through Grand Blanc public library, off Perry Road or from Grand Blanc United Methodist Church, Bush St., near downtown. Happy trailing 🌻😎