Address: 2104 S Briggs Rd, Middleville, MI 49333
Countie(s) trail is located in: Barry
Trail Type(s): Camping <> Cross Country Skiing <> Fishing <> Hiking <> Horseback/Equestrian <> Mountain Biking <> Snowmobile <> Snowshoe <> Swimming <> Canoe/Kayak
Trail Measurement: 5,200 Acres
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Recreation Passport Required: Yes
Approximate Size: 5200 (Acres)
Three special points of interest in Yankee Springs are Devil’s Soup Bowl, a glacially carved kettle formation, Graves Hill Overlook, and The Pines. The park has mountain biking, horseback riding trails, fishing piers, beaches, and nine lakes for fishing, and lots of winter activities.
Yankee Springs Recreation Area was once the hunting grounds of the Algonquin Indians and the famous Chieftain, Chief Noonday. The site was established in 1835 and the village was made famous by Yankee Bill Lewis who owned and operated a hotel along the stagecoach run from Kalamazoo to Grand Rapids. The rugged terrain, the bogs and marshes, the lakes and streams, and the unique beauty of the park’s 5,200 acres lend themselves to many forms of recreation.
A modern campground is located on the shores of beautiful Gun Lake while rustic camping is available at Deep Lake. An equestrian campground and a youth organization campground also are available. Nine lakes are located within the park boundaries providing excellent fishing and water sports of all kinds.
As a year-round park, cross-country skiing on its more than 10 acres of Nordic ski trails, snowmobiling, snowshoeing and ice fishing are all popular winter activities. Three special points of interest in the park are Devil’s Soup Bowl, a glacially carved kettle formation, Graves Hill Overlook, and The Pines, accessible from the extensive trail systems.
Favorite fairweather activities include 30 miles of hiking trails, 12 miles of challenging mountain bike trails, 9 miles of horseback trails, as well as two public beaches, picnic shelters, and two universally accessible fishing piers one at Gun Lake and one at Deep Lake.
Trails
Yankee Springs-Chief Noonday Trail
Trail Length in Miles: 4.00 (Miles)
Cross Country Skiing, Hiking
Yankee Springs-Gun Lake Trail
Trail Length in Miles: 0.50 (Miles)
Cross Country Skiing, Hiking
Yankee Springs-Hall Lake Trail
Trail Length in Miles: 2.00 (Miles)
Cross Country Skiing, Hiking
Yankee Springs-Long Lake Trail
Trail Length in Miles: 5.00 (Miles)
Cross Country Skiing, Hiking
Yankee Springs-Mountain Bike Trail
Trail Length in Miles: 12.00 (Miles)
Cross Country Skiing, Hiking, Mountain Biking
Yankee Springs-Sassafras Nature Trail
Trail Length in Miles: 1.00 (Miles)
Cross Country Skiing, Hiking
Yankee-Springs-Deep Lake Trail
Trail Length in Miles: 4.00 (Miles)
Cross Country Skiing, Hiking, Mountain Biking
Campgrounds
Yankee Springs Deep Lake-Rustic
120 site(s)
Rustic Site, Vault Toilet
Yankee Springs Gun Lake-Modern
200 site(s)
Boat Launch, Electrical Service, Modern Restrooms
Yankee Springs-Crane House Cabin
1 site(s)
Yankee Springs-Deer Lodge
1 site(s)
Yankee Springs-Equestrian
25 site(s)
Equestrian Camping, Rustic Site, Vault Toilet
Yankee Springs-Group Use Area
0 site(s)
Rustic Site, Vault Toilet
The park is 5,200 acres (21 km2) in the area. It has 120 rustic, 200 modern, and 25 equestrian camping sites, plus two cabins. There are 30 miles (48 km) of cross-country ski/hiking trails, 12 miles (19 km) of mountain biking trails, and 9 miles (14 km) of equestrian trails. 6 miles (9.7 km) of the North Country Trail pass through the park. 30 miles (48 km) or more of seasonal two-lane roads open to any road-legal vehicles and is a popular destination for Enduro Riders. Nine lakes, Gun Lake is the largest, provide fishing, boating and swimming.
Points of interest in the park include the Devil’s Soup Bowl, a glacially carved kettle formation, Graves Hill Scenic Overlook, The Pines, and Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) era buildings.
The park hosted the annual Barry-Roubaix cycling race for several years, prior to the event moving to Hastings, MI to accommodate a larger number of participants; the racecourse still traverses parts of the recreation area.
History
In the 1830s, the Yankee Springs area was opened up for homesteading. By the 1930s the land was eroded and depleted from farming. The federal government acquired the land and the CCC began reforesting the area. In 1943 the land was turned over to the State of Michigan and became a park in the state park system.
Facilities and activities
Facilities and activities include a beach area, fishing, boating, hiking, camping, equestrian, permanent orienteering course, mountain bike trails, and in winter, cross country ski trails, snowshoeing, and groomed fatbike trails.
If you have information about this trail please fill out the Add/Edit Trail form.
References and More Info
- Compass Latitude: 42°36’51.8″N
- Compass Longitude: 85°29’19.5″W
- Numeric Latitude: 42.614381
- Numeric Longitude: ‘-85.488739
- Elevation in Feet:
- Elevation in Meters:
- Trail Measurement: 5,200 Acres
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