Exploring The Ledges in Grand Ledge Michigan

Posted on September 28, 2020 by Erica

If there is one thing you have learned about me this year, it\’s that I am a gal who loves spending time in nature. A couple of years about I heard about \”The Ledges\” of Grand Ledge. Up until this year I had never had time to visit, however every year I put it on my list of things to do. With the world turned upside down this year, and all my travel plans canceled it presented the perfect opportunity for me to hit the road and finally visit \”The Ledges.\”

For those geographically challenged (like myself), Grand Ledge is a mid-size town located near Lansing. Through the middle of the city flowers the Grand River, complete with trails, stunning rock formations, a few bridges, and a dam. A nature lovers dream, really.

The Ledges are located within Fitzgerald Park. The 78-acre park offers three miles of nature and hiking trails, a beautiful picnic area, a disc golf course, a playground, and more. For those looking for something in the winter, there is a steep sledding hill and two miles of cross-country ski trails (I highly recommend doing this if you\’ve never tried it before). For a small fee, you can enter Fitzgerald Park and experience The Ledges.

Once you park, walk through the picnic area until you reach the stairs that will lead you down to The Ledges. Fitzgerald Park offers an up-close look at the ancient sedimentary rock lining the shores of the Grand River, and let me tell you it is absolutely gorgeous. These rock formations reminded me of Picture Rocks located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, on a smaller scale of course. If you can\’t make it to Da Yoop (Michigan\’s Upper Peninsula), be sure to head on over to Grand Ledge so you can at least experience The Ledges.

While on The Ledges trail you will also come across an old railroad bridge. Which, if you know me you know I absolutely love railroads and bridges. The railroad bridge looked like it would be a great place to take photos once the leaves changed. You can climb up to see the bridge from above, however, I did not do that. It had rained the night before, I was on the trail solo and it was extremely muddy. I figured I could easily get up, but coming down would have caused some issues.

The views of The Ledges were absolutely beautiful, and some of the best I have seen in the lower peninsula. In fact, I learn it is the only place in southern Michigan where you can rock climb, too. I will definitely be going back to climb.

If you follow the road all the way you will come to the back of the park, where you will find a dam. You can also reach this area by walking through the woods, which is how I located it. I actually walked the trails they had for hours, and absolutely adored the scenery. I cannot wait to head back again.

The Ledges located in Grand Ledge, Michigan are such a hidden gem. If you are looking for a day trip, and love the outdoors, this is one trip I highly recommend.