With summer just around the corner and the thermometer outside reaching 80 degrees Fahrenheit, it's time to get outdoors and get active.
"Nature heals. It's a great time to get yourself away from the screen," says Patti Luther, director of community impact at the Howell Nature Center."
Many people work remotely at their computers all day, she says, and they miss the opportunity to stay outdoors. In addition to naturally helping with positive thinking, it can strengthen relationships with friends and family.
Livingston County has many trails for hiking, and here are some to check out on your own or with family and friends this summer:
Brighton Recreation Area
Brighton Recreation Area is located at 6360 Chilson Road and has a variety of trails for hiking. The recreation area is also home to Michigan's first outdoor inflatable water park, which is located on Bishop Lake.
The Bishop Lake hiking trail is 1 mile long.
The Drychin Trail is 2 miles in length and begins at the Bishop Lake Day Use Area.
The Lake Murray Trail is a 3.4-mile loop that is suitable for most skill levels. The trailhead is near the Lake Murray Campground.
Highlands Recreation Area
The Highlands Recreation Area, located at 5200 Highlands Road, has hills, marshes and lakes with a hiking trail. The Cedar Creek Trail is a 2.75-mile moderate trail that begins at the Haven Hill Gatehouse and ends at the other end at Teeple Lake.
Howell Nature Center
The Howell Nature Center features the Ambassador Trail, a trail that circles Wild Wonders Wildlife Park for approximately 0.75 miles. The park houses more than 70 injured native Michigan species that cannot be released into the wild. The trail is family friendly, but not stroller friendly. The center is located at 1005 Triangle Lake Road.
Huron Meadows Vistas
Huron Meadows Vistas, located at 8765 Hamel Road, offers a variety of rustic trails for hikers. Rustic means the trail is not always well groomed or paved. Here are the main trails:
Hidden Lake Cove Trail is 0.75 miles long and the trailhead is near the Cedar Ridge picnic site.
Cedar Trace is 1.75 miles long and runs through the golf course and ski center at the trailhead.
The Maltby Vista Trail is also 1.75 miles long, and the trailhead is also across from the golf course and ski center
The Moraine Marsh Trail is 1.25 miles long and the trailhead is near the Cedar Ridge Picnic Shelter.
The Beach Lane trail is 2 miles long and the trailhead is near the Cedar Ridge Picnic Shelter
The Oak Hill Trail is 2.25 miles long and the trailhead is near the Cedar Ridge Picnic Shelter.