The Importance of Local Nature

Here in Berrien County, finding a nice spot to relax and enjoy the environment isn’t too hard. There’s countless hiking trails—Grand Mere State Park, Warren Dunes State Park, Jean Klock Park, Sarett Nature Center, and Silver Beach, to name a few. Many of us take Berrien County for granted, but we’re very fortunate to have the natural amenities that we do.

Grand Mere State Park:

Grand Mere State Park is located in Stevensville, totaling 985 acres of land. It features half a mile of Lake Michigan shoreline, beautiful sand dunes, and two small inland lakes. Trails are also made accessible to hikers and runners, making it one of the most popular spots in Berrien County. 

Warren Dunes State Park:

Located in Sawyer, Michigan, Warren Dunes is continually categorized as one of the best State Parks in Michigan, and for good reason. Its 1,952 acres are commonly used for hiking, swimming, cross-country skiing, picnicking, sandboarding, and camping, with metal detecting and hunting also being permitted. 

Jean Klock Park:

Located near Harbor Shores Golf Club, Jean Klock features some of the most beautiful shoreline in Berrien County, and it’s also my personal favorite. Jean Klock is characterized by its half a mile of shoreline, their summer camp, and its well-known concession stand that just recently started operations again.

Sarett Nature Center:

Sarett Nature Center operates a nature center building, 1000 acres of land, eight miles of trails, and a tree top walkway in Benton Harbor, Michigan, along the Paw Paw river valley. It additionally hosts field trips for local schools, runs, walks, and other community activities. 

Silver Beach:

Silver Beach is one of the most well-known nature spots in Berrien County, located in downtown St. Joseph. Thousands of local citizens and other tourists flock to Silver Beach for its pristine beach, public swimming, and location near downtown. “Walking down the pier, seeing the waves, hearing the water…It’s something else. Indoors, you will never experience what you experience outside,” Declan Finnegan, 12 said.

These are just some of the best nature spots in Berrien County. There are more that I didn’t list, but please, go take a walk. 

Photo by Hailey Drew