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Trails, Parks, Attractions, and More in Grand Ledge, Michigan





Grand Ledge is a town rich in history. Settlers first came to the area that Native Americans called "Big Rocks" in the 1840s. After Grand Ledge became a village in 1850, the town grew to become a resort community, with Seven Islands Resort attracting almost 70,000 visitors per year during the 1880s. The land near the Seven Islands Resort area became a summer campground in the 1890s for the Grand Ledge Spiritualist Camp Association and was purchased in 1919 for a park by the City of Grand Ledge, later named Fitzgerald County Park.

Area Parks

  • Fitzgerald County Park is a large, beautiful park on the Grand River has a nature center, trails, picnic facilities, baseball diamonds, playgrounds, a sledding hill, and a skate park.

    Fitzgerald Park is located next to the Fitzgerald Dam and its adjacent fishladder. The Grand River, south of the dam, is a popular spot for fly-fishermen who try to catch walleye and other resident fish between May and September.

    A motor vehicle entry fee is required to enter Fitzgerald Park between April and October, and picnic shelters can be rented at the park for a fee. For reservation details, see the Eaton County Parks web site.

  • West of the Grand River bridge in downtown Grand Ledge, you'll find Island Park, a narrow strip of land tethered to shore by a walking bridge. The park has a paved trail for leisurely strolls and a large shelter for picnicking. The park is a great place to spend a relaxing day, watching boats on the Grand River. Fishing from or near Island Park is popular with anglers of all ages. Adjacent to the parking lot for Island Park is Fitzgerald Field, a baseball diamond used for Pony League baseball.



  • Jaycee Community Park

    On the east side of Grand Ledge, Jaycee Community Park includes a basketball court, volleyball court, picnic shelter, and boat launch. The park also hosts the Grand Ledge Senior Citizen Center.

  • Oak Park

    A serene setting with tall shade trees makes Oak Park an excellent place for quiet picnics. The park is also home to sandstone ledges that attract area rock climbers from all over.

Trails and Bike Lanes

Fitzgerald County Park has nature trails for hiking, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Bikes and off-road vehicles are prohibited on Fitzgerald County Park's trails, which snake through the woods and provide ever-changing scenery throughout the year. Wildflowers can be found near trails during the summer, and when the leaves change during the fall, the trails provide a relaxing, colorful getaway. Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are permitted at Fitzgerald County Park during the winter months.

A trail for walking and jogging connects Island Park, Fitzgerald Field and Jaycee Community Park. The short, scenic trail goes under the Bridge Street bridge, along the Grand River.

On the north side of M-43, there is a paved trail/wide sidewalk that can be used for walking, jogging and biking.

There are bike lanes on Jefferson Street, between M-43 and Perry Street. The bike lanes lead to Fitzgerald County Park.

Canoeing/Kayaking

The Grand River is an ideal spot to paddle the day away. Near downtown, you can launch a canoe or kayak north of the parking lot for Island Park. Jaycee Community Park has a recreational boat launch on the west side of the park.

At Fitzgerald County Park, west of Island Park, there is a large dam on the Grand River.

More About Grand Ledge

Grand Ledge's downtown shopping district features several historic buildings with local businesses, stores and eateries. Chain restaurants and larger stores, such as Meijer, are located south of downtown near M-43.

The Grand Ledge Area Historical Society's Museum is located on W Lincoln Street in a cottage built in 1880 by Byron S. Pratt, a local minister. The Museum features exhibits that help tell the story of Grand Ledge and is open on Sunday afternoon, festival weekends, and by appointment.

There are many historic locations in Grand Ledge. Along Jefferson Street/M-100, the River Ledge Historic District features many beautiful old houses. On Bridge Street/M-100, the restored Opera House was originally built in 1884. On Adams Street is the former home of Governor Frank D. Fitzgerald.

For eateries, Grand Ledge has several choices near or on Bridge Street/M-100 in downtown and along Clinton Street/M-100 and M-43 on the south side of town.








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