Kid's Creek

Loreen Niewenhuis is an author, adventurer, and dynamic speaker. 

She has completed a trilogy of 1,000-mile journeys exploring the Great Lakes and has authored three books about these adventures. 

To learn more about her work, or to engage her as a speaker, go to 

http://www.laketrek.com/great-lakes-speaker/

I am continuing to explore the hiking trails in and around Traverse City. Grand Traverse Conservation District works to preserve wild areas tucked amongst developed land. I've hiked several of these preserves, and this week I made it to Kids Creek Park. 


It's just a little loop, but the paved TART Trail connects to it. I ended up hiking onto the TART Trail and emerging behind Panera Bread before looping back to Kids Creek. There is signage along the trail pointing out the importance of healthy creeks and streams. 

It was a snowy day, brisk and pretty. 

The snow revealed the travels of small animals.

A small creek runs through the preserve. The ducks were enjoying the open water.

The trail is well marked. It is situated between the Great Wolf Lodge and Kohl's. 

There used to be a water mill here. It generated power for the farm that used to be here. The ruins of the mill are still on the property.

Ruins of the Old Franke Mill (the structure in foreground)