What better way to reawaken your senses after months of winter than a spring walk in the woods? Woldumar Nature Center, located just 15 minutes from English Inn, offers more than 180 acres of woodlands, wetlands, and wildlife to explore along the Grand River.
The English Inn Restaurant & Pub is also nestled along the Grand River, here in Eaton Rapids, MI. The historic grounds of the estate that our Eaton Rapids inn calls home includes sixteen acres of manicured gardens and walking trails that you can explore during your stay or visit.
For a more in-depth dip into the natural world, however, it’s hard to beat Woldumar Nature Center.
Trails and Wildlife
First time visitors to Woldumar should make the Visitor Center their first stop for information about the trails and center.
The grounds contain more than 180 acres of wetlands, prairie, old orchards, and forests of maple, beech, and pine. There is even a lagoon and river shoreline to explore. All of it easily accessible via the more than five miles of easy, well maintained hiking trails that meander through the property.
Trails at Woldumar Nature Center
Trails at Woldumar Nature Center[/caption]This diverse ecosystem is home to a great variety of wildlife, including white-tailed deer, fox, coyote, beaver, muskrat, turtles, frogs, snakes, and more. Ducks, geese, blue heron, and nearly 150 other kinds of birds also live here for at least part of the year, if not full time.
Visitors should keep a sharp eye out, as you never know who you’ll spot when out on the trails!
Woldumar trails are open dawn to dusk, 365 days a year. During the winter, the center trails make for excellent snow-shoeing and x-country skiing. None of the trails exceeds 1.6 miles (2.57495 km) in length.
History at the Center
Other attractions at Woldumar include the previously mentioned Visitor Center, R.E. Olds Anderson Rotary Barn, and the Moon Log Cabin.
The R.E. Olds Anderson Rotary Barn serves as the center’s event space. Woldumar Nature Center was formed when Gladys Olds Anderson, daughter of Ransom Eli Olds, donated land to The Woldumar Nature Association. The barn was remodeled in the early 2000’s and is only open to the public during special events.
The Moon Log Cabin is one of the oldest homes still standing in Eaton County. The historic log house was built between 1860 and 1862 and is the only one of its kind in the area. The cabin nearby blacksmith shop are open for special events and demonstrations. Plantings in the adjacent herb garden replicate those one may have found here in the 1870s.
Woldumar Nature Center
5739 Old Lansing Rd, Lansing, MI 48917
Visit the Woldumar website for upcoming events, directions, and more information.