Want to experience one of Michigan’s most scenic and challenging trails? Before you ever lace up the hiking boots or check the tire pressure on your bike, check out the DTE Energy Foundation Trail through a new 360-degree video that captures the views, the terrain, the speed and more.

A single-track, cutting-edge, sustainable trail located in the eastern portion of Waterloo Recreation Area – about halfway between Jackson and Ann Arbor – the DTE Energy Foundation Trail is designed for mountain biking, but welcomes running, hiking and cross-country skiing, too. Known as a "flow trail,” the surface of the trail is mechanically cut to create highly structured grades and outslopes.

With the recently opened 4-mile “Sugar Loop” segment, the trail’s full length sits at just over 22 miles.

Questions? Contact Dakota Hewlett, 517-284-6082.

When it comes to autumn in the state’s great outdoors, where do you like to go and what do you like to do? The DNR and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan want to hear from you. Join us at 11 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 26, for a Twitter chat.

Share your favorite place to camp and tell us about your best camping tips or hacks. Where do you find the most beautiful fall foliage? What’s on your fall bucket list? Do you have a favorite state park memory? We want to hear about all of that and more.

During the chat, we’ll tell you about some great things coming up this season and introduce you to some interesting places you can visit to stay active and healthy. Search #MiStateParks100 on Twitter to follow the conversation, and add the hashtag to your tweets.

Questions? Contact Stephanie Yancer, 989-274-6182

This weekend marks the start of the waterfowl hunting season for ducks, coots and mergansers in the North Zone (Upper Peninsula). The season runs Sept. 28 through Nov. 24, with an additional weekend hunt Nov. 30-Dec. 1. Goose season in the North Zone opened earlier this month and continues through Dec. 16.

Anyone 16 or older who is interested in waterfowl hunting needs a base license, a waterfowl hunting license and the federal migratory bird hunting stamp. Hunters coming from other states can purchase a seven-day or three-day small game license, which allows purchase of a waterfowl license without needing to get a base license. For more details on license and waterfowl stamp requirements see pages 22-24 of the 2019 Waterfowl Hunting Digest.

Duck, coot and merganser hunting for the Middle Zone opens Oct. 5. This zone includes the top half of the Lower Peninsula, with a southern boundary running through Arenac, Bay, Midland, Isabella, Mecosta, Newaygo and Oceana counties. Those same seasons open for the remainder of the state (the South Zone) Oct. 12. For bag limits, season dates and other waterfowl hunting regulations, visit Michigan.gov/Waterfowl.

Waterfowl enthusiasts also can get the latest collector’s-edition waterfowl stamps and prints. The 2019 Michigan duck stamp print, by wildlife artist Paul Bridgford, features a pair of northern pintails.

To learn more about the waterfowl stamp program – and how the purchase of stamps and prints supports conservation efforts in Michigan – visit the Michigan Waterfowl Stamp Program webpage. The stamp is a voluntary purchase and does not replace the state waterfowl hunting license.

Questions? Contact DNR Wildlife Division at 517-284-9453.