Home › Michigan › Zeeland › Upper Macatawa Natural Area
Upper Macatawa Natural Area
4.7 ★★★★★ 324 Google reviews · Running trail in Zeeland, Michigan · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Mixed
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Upper Macatawa Natural Area's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
Paved park with a mix of terrains including wetlands, meadows, hills and woodlands.
What runners say about Upper Macatawa Natural Area
“The trail is well maintained and features wetland, grassland, wooded area, etc.”
“Beautiful little area with dome pretty good mountain bike and trails”
This is a wonderful walking, running, and cycling trail for all outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers. Even on a rainy day, the trail was a lovely place to take our dogs for a walk.
This is my favorite park to hike in Ottawa County. The trails vary from wetlands to deep in the woods. There's lots of wild flowers and wildlife, so there is no shortage of pictures to take. Be careful if you're going in the early spring or after a big storm.
An American eagle recently moved into the area and can be viewed from the paved walk way. The nest is impressive! Very large sticks and branches. Be sure to review the laws protecting the eagle nesting area. There is a perimeter area that must be yielded to the Eagle. Birding is magical here!
We had a nice evening hike at the upper macatawa natural area! Lots of wildflowers and wildlife. The meadow part is the land of frogs and crickets! The park is well used but not overcrowded. My husband also loves mountain biking here!
Trail conditions & character
“An American eagle recently moved into the area and can be viewed from the paved walk way.”
“Beautiful little area with dome pretty good mountain bike and trails”
“I went left off the trailhead, and that was more challenging (steeper hills) than if you go to the right (I took that route after turning around).”
“I went left off the trailhead, and that was more challenging (steeper hills) than if you go to the right (I took that route after turning around).”
“There are dog waste barrels, a drinking fountain, and bike maintenance area at the start.”
“There are dog waste barrels, a drinking fountain, and bike maintenance area at the start.”
Plan your run at Upper Macatawa Natural Area
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- SurfaceMixed — more than one surface along the route, so check the segment you plan to run
- DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- At the trailheadparking, restrooms, water — reported by runners
- DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
- Websitemiottawa.org
- Phone(616) 738-4810
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Hours
| Monday | 7 AM–10 PM |
| Tuesday | 7 AM–10 PM |
| Wednesday | 7 AM–10 PM |
| Thursday | 7 AM–10 PM |
| Friday | 7 AM–10 PM |
| Saturday | 7 AM–10 PM |
| Sunday | 7 AM–10 PM |
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