Guided hikes part of 50th anniversary celebration for Land Conservancy of West Michigan
To celebrate a half-century of preserving the Lake Michigan dunes, the Land Conservancy of West Michigan will launch a commemorative series that includes guided tours through one of the region’s most iconic landscapes.
OTTAWA COUNTY — To celebrate a half-century of preserving the Lake Michigan dunes, the Land Conservancy of West Michigan will launch a commemorative series that includes guided tours through one of the region’s most iconic landscapes.
The hike, scheduled for April 18, serves as the kickoff for the organization’s 50th anniversary. Since its founding in 1976, the Land Conservancy has protected more than 13,000 acres of land and 15 miles of shoreline across an eight-county service area, according to its website.
The event, starting at P.J. Hoffmaster State Park, offers participants a choice between a two-mile or a seven-mile hike. Naturalists will lead the groups, providing history of the dunes’ formation and the ongoing efforts to protect the ecosystem from manmade development and invasive species.
The hike is a collaborative effort involving staff and volunteers from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Ottawa County Parks and the KLH Dunes Preserve.
The Land Conservancy’s work began five decades ago as a grassroots effort to save small parcels of land from urban sprawl. It has grown into a major land trust that manages dozens of public nature preserves. Its mission focuses on permanent protection — acquiring land through purchase or conservation easements to ensure that critical habitats, from fens to forests, remain undisturbed, according to its website.
Here’s what you need to know if you go:
- The event begins at the Gillette Visitor Center, with staggered pace groups departing between 8:30 a.m. and 10 a.m. April 18.
- Along the trail, the organization will provide aid stations to support hikers tackling the strenuous sandy terrain.
- Following the hike, an after-party will be at the Visitor Center to commemorate the 50-year milestone.
- The shoreline hike is the first of three outdoor events planned for the summer Explorathon series.
- Tickets for the event start at $25, with proceeds benefiting the Land Conservancy’s ongoing stewardship and land acquisition projects.
More information and tickets starting at $25 can be found here.
— Heather VanDyke covers northern Ottawa County for the Ottawa News Network. Contact her at hvandyke@ottawanewsnetwork.org.
