Summertime Activities at Lake Baw Beese in Hillsdale, Michigan

Hillsdale, a southern Michigan small town and home to one of the best liberal arts colleges in the world, offers a variety of wonderful summertime activities for those who know where to look. One of the most beautiful places in Hillsdale is Lake Baw Beese, located on the southern edge of the town. If you find yourself in Hillsdale, MI, this summer, a visit to Lake Baw Beese will offer you a magnificent panoramic view and a refreshing, restful experience.

The Lake Baw Beese Trail stretches for about two and a half miles from downtown Hillsdale, into the woods separating the lake from the residential areas of the town, and along the northern shore of Lake Baw Beese. Funded by a group of extremely generous private donors, the Lake Baw Beese Trail will soon be extended to merge with the nearby Jonesville Bike Path, thereby allowing walkers, runners, and bicyclists in the Hillsdale/Jonesville area to go on long trips between the two towns, traveling on foot or by bike.

The trail, paved with asphalt, makes a wonderfully smooth path where I regularly run, walk, and ride my bicycle. Along the trail is an extensive variety of Michigan vegetation, sometimes marked with informative signs. Numerous animals inhabit the area, including gray and black squirrels, songbirds of a wide array of species, deer, and geese. During the late spring and summer, large flocks of goslings appear frequently by the lake; watching and feeding them is sure to delight children and adults alike!

At the end of the Baw Beese trail is Sandy Beach, a small area for swimming and picnicking. Benches and tables are in ready supply, along with places to organize a barbecue. Parking is plentiful throughout the north shore of Lake Baw Beese; you will always be able to find a space, virtually anywhere along the trail's length. The lake attracts a steady stream of fishing and boating enthusiasts, and the ample fields between the trail and the water offer a wonderful place for organizing sporting events with friends.