If the sight of snow on the ground has you hankering to get your skis on, you’re in luck. The Eaton Rapids area is home to a number of excellent cross-country ski and snowshoe opportunities at wonderful places like Woldumar Nature Center, Fitzgerald Park, and more.
The English Inn’s convenient location, just south of Lansing, MI in Eaton Rapids, puts us within easy distance of just about anything you could want to do. Shopping, dining, live entertainment, museums, hiking, boating, touring, and so much more.
What you may not have realized is that you can add skiing and snowshoeing to that list, as well. While the nearest ski resort, https://www.mtbrighton.com/Mt. Brighton, is an hour away, opportunities for cross-country skiing are much closer.
You say you left your skis or snowshoes at home? Not a problem! Many of the destinations below offer equipment rentals and there are a number of outfitters in the area that can help get you on your way. Just let us know what it is you’re wanting to do and we’ll help point you in the right direction.
We love sharing Michigan with our guests!
Woldumar Nature Center
Woldumar Nature Center is just 15 minutes from English Inn with more than 5 miles of trails on over 180 acres to explore. The property is lush and gorgeous with prairie, wetlands, woods, and lots of wildlife along the Grand River.
Woldumar Nature Center is located at 5739 Old Lansing Road in Lansing, MI. Woldumar’s trails are open 365 days a year, dawn and dusk. Visit woldumar.org for more info.
Burchfield Park
Burchfield Park is also just minutes away from The English Inn at 881 Grovenburg Road, in Holt, MI.
This lovely park is Ingham County’s largest with 540 acres of woods, trails, and beach, to explore. Come winter, the park is a winter sports hotspot with cross country skiing trails and equipment rentals, sledding hills, a winter snack bar, and warming lodge.
Open sunrise to sunset, year ’round. Learn more at parks.ingham.org.
Fox Memorial Park
Fox Memorial Park is another nearby park open for skiing and snowshoeing during wintertime. The 100 acre park is located at 3981 E. Gresham Hwy. in Potterville, MI and also offers a wonderful little lake for ice skating!
Visit www.eatoncounty.org for more details.
Fitzgerald Park and The Ledges
Fitzgerald Park is a 78-acre, day use facility with a nature center, trails, picnicking, and canoe/kayak access to the Grand River. Come winter, the park offers two miles of cross country ski trails, snowshoeing, and a fun sledding hill.
Even better, Fitzgerald Park also offers cross country ski and snowshoe rentals! Cross country ski rentals include skis, boots, and poles. Snowshoe rentals include snowshoes and options of poles. Both children and adult sizes are available.
The park is located at 133 Fitzgerald Park Drive in Grand Ledge, MI about 30 minutes from The English Inn. Visit www.cityofgrandledge.com for more information.
Harris Nature Center
Harris Nature Center offers 5 miles of nature trails on 48 acres along the banks of the Red Cedar River at 3998 Van Atta Road, in Okemos, MI. Just under 30 minutes from our Lansing area bed and breakfast.
Trails at the HNC take you through the connected forests, meadows, and along the Red Cedar River. In winter, these same trails become a popular cross-country skiing and snowshoeing destination, with equipment rentals available at the Center.
Nature center trails are multi-use and open every day from dawn until dusk. Snowshoe rentals are available at the center. Visit www.meridian.mi.us.
Then Home Again, Jiggety-Jig
Spend the day out in the snow, enjoying mother nature’s endless beauty, then head back to the comforts of your room at The English Inn.
Visit our English Pub to warm up over something yummy, then replace those lost calories with a delicious dinner at our in-house restaurant.
Perfect.