In this issue:

• Date ideas in the great outdoors
• Get fit in MI Big Green Gym
• DNR announces name for statewide trail: Michigan's Iron Belle Trail
• Show your support for Michigan state parks by joining a Friends Group

Date ideas in the great outdoors

Getting outdoors is a great way to spend time with loved ones, and Michigan's state parks have plenty of opportunities to do just that. Bundle up and venture out to enjoy the winter scenery at fun events like Owl Prowls, guided snowshoe hikes, candlelit ski nights, dog sled rides and more. Click here for a full list of outdoor events this February. Back to Top

Get fit in MI Big Green Gym

How are your fitness resolutions holding up? Switch up your fitness routine with a variety of fun outdoor programs in Michigan's BIGGEST gym--the great outdoors! State parks and trails provide both fun and fitness with both planned activities and plenty of space to get active on your own or with a friend. Visit www.michigan.gov/freshfit for upcoming fitness events and a list of campgrounds that plow their campgrounds for winter walking and/or running. Back to Top

DNR announces name for statewide trail: Michigan's Iron Belle Trail

Did you hear the news? The new trail from Belle Isle to Ironwood has been named Michigan's Iron Belle Trail! The name was chosen from one of nearly 9,000 entries in the DNR's trail naming contest. This amazing trail will provide hiking and bicycling opportunities in two distinct routes on either side of the state. That includes 1,259 miles of hiking and 774 miles of bicycling! Click here to learn more about this extensive trail.

Show your support for Michigan state parks by joining a Friends Group

Friends groups are nonprofit organizations that play an invaluable role in helping to preserve Michigan state parks and recreation areas. Members can support the parks in a variety of ways, including fundraising, recruiting volunteers, leading restoration projects and providing educational programming for the public. Everyone who has an interest in supporting Michigan state parks is welcome to join or start a friends group. Learn more at www.michigan.gov/dnrfriends. Back to Top

Quick Links

• Campground & Harbor Reservations
• General camping information
• Snowmobiling
• Camping Prices
• ORV/ATV Riding
• Trails
• Cabins, Modern Lodges, Tepees & Yurts
• Event Calendar
• Volunteer Stewardship Workdays
• Michigan Historical Museums

History Corner

When the Belle Isle Aquarium opened on August 18, 1904, it was the 3rd-largest aquarium in the world. Many of the tanks contained water directly from the ocean, and the building was designed by world-renowned Architect Albert Kahn. In 2005, the aquarium was closed due to financial hardship, but thanks to volunteer efforts led by the Belle Isle Conservancy, the aquarium was reopened in September 2012. Friends of the Belle Isle Aquarium and Friends of Belle Isle have also played an important role, and the facility now stands as the only volunteer-operated aquarium in the U.S., providing fun and memories for families every Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Learn more at www.belleislepark.org.

Photo courtesy of John Vavrek. History courtesy of Belle Isle Conservancy Historical Committee