Wildflower Walk at Sanctuary Woods welcomes spring

Free event on Thursday, April 30, hosted by Outdoor Discovery Center, sponsored by parks commission.

Jennifer LaForest, naturalist at the Outdoor Discovery Center, points out trillium at Sanctuary Woods Park, 4750 66th St., on Tuesday, April 30, 2024, during the Woodland Wildflower Walk.

Welcome spring with a free guided walk through the lower loop of Laketown Township’s Sanctuary Woods Park, 4750 66th St., from 5-6 p.m. Thursday, April 30, 2026.

This free Woodland Wildflower Walk on gravel trails and over several bridges spanning a creek kicks off the Outdoor Discovery Center programs sponsored by the Laketown Township Parks and Recreation Commission.

For a complete list of programs, visit here.

On Thursday, participants will explore the sights and sounds of spring — migrating birds, beautiful wildflowers, and active mammals. Hike the lower loop of this dune ecosystem to see what animals and plants are ready for spring.

The event is for people aged 8 and up. Guardians stay with the group.

Registration is not required but appreciated here.

Sanctuary Woods is a 40-acre park with a lower and upper loop linked by 170 wooden steps. The upper loop offers views of Lake Macatawa and Lake Michigan.

Besides the trails and creek on the lower loop, there are also the remnants of a more than 100-year-old Interurban railroad bridge.

The township and Outdoor Discovery Center have been working together since 2006. The Outdoor Discovery Center Network, 4214 56th St., is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that strives to advance outdoor education and conservation in West Michigan. 

The next free program is Tuesday, May 19, from 9-10:30 a.m. with Migratory Birds at Wolters Woods Park, 6281 147th Ave. Explore the trails with a naturalist and learn to recognize birds as spring migrants return. Binoculars and field guides are available for use during the program. For ages 10 and up. Guardians stay with the class. For more information, click here.