Outdoor Activities
One of the best reasons to visit Harbor Country is our many outdoor activities. Here are some fun things to do to get you started
Harbor Country has dozens of beautiful hiking trails for you to enjoy during your time in the area. There is Union Pier Hiking as well as Hiking in New Buffalo and throughout the surrounding areas.
| Located in New Buffalo just north of the NBAS High/Middle School grounds. It contains a pavilion/restroom building, a sledding hill, two baseball fields, one softball field and one softball flex-use field adjoining the soccer field. |
| Location: |
601 E Indiana St, New Buffalo, MI 49117 |
| Phone: |
(269) 469-3574 |
| Per City Ordinance 180, animals are not allowed on the City beach or City parks.
Parking fees begin Memorial Day weekend. Sunsets and sunrises are still free.
Pay to Park is enforced between 8:00 AM and 8:00 PM.
Parking fees are $5 for 3 hours, $12 for the day.
Pay with a credit card at one of the two kiosks located at the entrance or near the beach warning flags. The Passport Parking app is available at Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
The website is www.passportparking.com |
| Location: |
200 Marquette Dr, New Buffalo, MI 49117 |
| Phone: |
(269) 469-1522 |
| In 2001, the Berrien County Parks Commission acquired 86 acres in New Buffalo Township to establish the Galien River County Park. This undeveloped property included a mix of upland and wetland habitats along the Galien River. The wetland area is particularly significant in that it is a part of the larger "New Buffalo Marsh," a Great Lakes marsh that formed along the Galien River just upstream from the river`s mouth at Lake Michigan.
With the generous assistance of the Pokagon Fund and the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund, Phase 1 improvements were completed in 2014. Highlights of these improvements include a 300` Canopy Walkway that leads to a 60` high Marsh Overlook Tower and a 600` long Marsh Boardwalk that leads to River Viewing and Fishing Platform. Both of these major features are accessible via hard surfaced, barrier free hiking trails. Galien River County Park is a great location for casual hiking with frequent stops to enjoy the views. For the best wildlife viewing opportunities, visit the park in the early morning or evening. |
| Location: |
17424 Red Arrow Hwy, New Buffalo, MI 49117 |
| Playground, trails, pavilion, splash pad, and basketball court. |
| Location: |
17425 Red Arrow Highway, New Buffalo, MI 49117 |
| Phone: |
269-469-1011, ext. 113 |
| Glassman Park consists of 47 acres of property that stretch along the side of the Galien River. The park features a kayak launch, walking trail, zen labyrinth, and river look out points. The Glassman Park entrance is found at the end of Glassman Rd on the Northwest side of the road. |
| Phone: |
269-469-1011, ext. 113 |
| Welcome to Friendship Botanic Gardens, where forested woodlands, sprawling open spaces, and cultivated gardens spill over 105 acres of land that have been a tourist destination since 1936! Gardens are tucked throughout the beautiful valley of Trail Creek. |
| Location: |
2055 East, US-12, Michigan City, IN 46360 |
| Phone: |
(219) 878-9885 |
| Charming parkland & preserve featuring 52-acres of forested trails for hiking & bird watching. |
| Location: |
8559 W Forest Lawn Rd, Three Oaks, MI 49128 |
| Phone: |
(269) 324-1600 |
| Warren Dunes State Park is a 1,952-acre Michigan state park, located along the eastern shore of Lake Michigan in Berrien County. The park`s large sand dunes and lakeshore beaches make it one of the most popular of Michigan`s state parks with an average of about one million visitors annually. |
| Location: |
12032 Red Arrow Hwy, Sawyer, MI 49125 |
| Phone: |
(269) 426-4013 |
| The 263-acre Chikaming Township Park and Preserve is located on Warren Woods Road between I-94 and Lakewood Estates. Its natural features are diverse and include uplands, wooded floodplains, 2,800-feet of frontage on the Galien River and a 5.3-acre lake. The park features walking and cross-country ski trails, viewing platforms, a fishing pier, picnic area, a community garden, a new mountain bike trail and restrooms. The Park and Preserve is open from sunrise to sunset for your enjoyment. Again, no hunting or off-road vehicles are allowed. chikamingtownship.org |
| Location: |
Warren Woods Rd, Three Oaks, MI 49128 |
| Warren Woods State Park is a 311-acre nature preserve and public recreation area in Berrien County, Michigan, near the town of Three Oaks. |
| Location: |
Elm Valley Rd, Three Oaks, MI 49128 |
| Phone: |
269-426-4013 |
| This is an excellent place for a family picnic. There is a pavilion with two grills and 12 picnic tables. For the children there are four swings, a slide, a climber and a fishing pond. Also includes the Harbert Dog Park! Also available is a regulation size Little League Baseball Field with bleachers and a concession stand. |
| Location: |
13495-13535 Red Arrow Hwy, Sawyer, MI 49125 |
| Weko Beach Park & Campground has 900 ft. of Lake Michigan beach, 43 developed sites, 22 primitive sites, six log camping cabins, bathhouse, restrooms, dump station, swimming, picnic area & playground. |
| Location: |
5239 Lake St, Bridgman, MI 49106 |
| Phone: |
(269) 465-3406 |
| This unique nature center, located in southwestern Michigan`s Berrien County, has eight miles of trails meandering through its 1000 acres. Our trail system includes boardwalks, observation platforms, and an easily accessible barrier-free walkway. Trails running along the Paw Paw River bluffs provide great views of the river valley below. Boardwalks and observation platforms in the flood plain give you an up-close look at wetland wildlife and habitats including wet forests, cattail marshes, shrub carrs, and even a unique alkaline wetland called a fen. The best part is that you can see it all without even getting your feet wet! |
| Location: |
2300 N Benton Center Rd, Benton Harbor, MI 49022 |
| Phone: |
(269) 927-4832 |
| Silver Beach County Park is located in St. Joseph, Michigan at the mouth of the St. Joseph River. Silver Beach County Park features a clean, wide beach on Lake Michigan and public access to the South Pier. Of the Park`s 2,450 feet of Lake Michigan frontage, approx. 1,600 feet are dedicated for a public swimming area in the summer months. Silver Beach became a Berrien County Park in the early 1990s, and many improvements have been made over the years to make it a premier tourist destination in Southwest Michigan. |
| Location: |
101 Broad Street St. Joseph, MI 49085 |
| Phone: |
269-982-0533 |
| The largest "living" dune in the National Park, Mount Baldy moves about four feet every year, burying everything in its path, including trees. While the beach is open year-round, all hikes to the summit must be led by authorized rangers.
Amenities: Beach, On/Near Lake, Family Friendly, Fishing, Public Restrooms, Group Friendly (20+), Swimming, Pet Friendly (on leash), Picnicking, Swimming Beach, Birdwatching, Hiking, Information, Paddling, Wildflowers, Wildlife Watching |
| Location: |
101 Rice St. (US Hwy 12), Michigan City, IN 46360 |
| Phone: |
(219) 395-1882 |
