Kalamazoo Between Trails, Parks, and Culture

Destinations to visit include parks in Kalamazoo County as well as attractions in Kalamazoo and Comstock.

Trails and Landscapes

Kalamazoo County’s parks offer trails for hiking, walking, and jogging. A longer route is the Kalamazoo River Valley Trail: this 10-foot-wide, paved trail is free to use and designated for non-motorized traffic and recreation. It currently stretches 24 miles through Kalamazoo County. One section runs from Galesburg through River Oaks County Park and Markin Glen County Park to the Kalamazoo Nature Center.

The Kalamazoo Nature Center has more than 14 miles of trails through forests, wetlands, and prairies. Markin Glen Park is also home to the Maple Hill Trail, a dedicated mountain biking trail with nearly five miles of mostly machine-built singletrack. The two trail offerings therefore differ in surface and character: the River Valley Trail is paved, while Maple Hill is designed as a mountain biking singletrack. Since trail conditions can change, check the latest information before your visit.

The area’s waterways offer a variety of scenery, too. Cold Brook County Park, at 276 acres, consists mostly of water and includes three lakes and distinctive wetlands. Prairie View Park sits on the shores of Gourdneck Lake and Hogsett Lake. At Fort Custer State Recreation Area, three lakes and the Kalamazoo River connect with more than 40 miles of trails, second-growth forests, and remaining prairie areas; the site covers 3,033 acres.

Art, Regional History, and Exhibits

The Kalamazoo Institute of Arts has a permanent collection of nearly 5,000 works of art. Collection and changing exhibitions are presented in ten galleries. The institute also offers museum tours, exhibitions, and classes. Depending on your interests, you can focus your visit on the collection, a changing exhibition theme, or a class offering.

At the Kalamazoo Valley Museum, the “Kalamazoo Direct to You” exhibition explores products that have made Kalamazoo famous. It also invites visitors to see Gibson instruments and learn more about how they are made. Since exhibition content may be updated, it’s a good idea to check the latest exhibition information before your visit.

The 33.5-mile Kal-Haven Trail State Park runs between Kalamazoo and South Haven along an abandoned railroad corridor built in 1871. The Kal-Haven Heritage Trail project includes 31 interpretive panels on the region’s natural and cultural history. Scotts Mill County Park offers another connection to the past: it includes a historic mill and gives visitors the opportunity to experience agricultural and natural history in a distinctive way.

Local Products and Special Reasons to Visit

Bell’s Brewery offers tours of its downtown Kalamazoo facility and its larger brewing operation in Comstock. Both tours include complimentary beer samples. If you’re planning to take a tour, check which dates are available during your visit. The Kalamazoo Farmers Market sells fresh food and handmade goods from more than 120 local farmers, food businesses, and artisans. DeLano Farm at the Kalamazoo Nature Center also offers a pick-your-own garden.

Sports and events are part of the area’s offerings as well. River Oaks County Park has 15 soccer fields that regularly host youth and adult leagues as well as regional tournaments. The Kalamazoo County Expo Center & Fairgrounds hosts the Kalamazoo County Fair, featuring agriculture, family entertainment, live music and other entertainment, local food, and exhibits. If you’d like to include the fair in your stay, check the dates for your travel period.

At the Air Zoo, general admission includes exhibits, interactive experiences, indoor rides, and full-motion flight simulators. Since what’s included may change, check the latest admission information before your visit.

Traveling by Train

Kalamazoo Station is served by Amtrak’s Wolverine and Blue Water services, with four round trips daily. For specific travel plans, check the schedule for your desired date.

Explore more destinations: Kalamazoo, Portage, Charlevoix County, Berrien, Wayne, Van Buren County, Oakland, Presque Isle County.

For the overview of destinations across the state: Michigan.