HIKING

Michigan has more than 13,000 miles of state-designated trails and many of them are built on abandoned railroad corridors, according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

Here's a roundup of our favorite places to go for a stroll in Tree Town.

Everybody has been under a lot of stress lately. The changes we’ve all been going through really built up -- and they can take a toll on your mental health.

Warning: Cicadas pee a lot.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Looking to get out of the house but don’t quite know what to do? Every Saturday in March., the organization is hosting organized walks at parks and nature areas around Tree Town. Throughout March, featured walks will be held on:Participants can win Visit Every Park prizes from Parks & Rec, including frisbees, a walking club patch and a T-shirt, for walking at different numbers of parks. Masks should be worn and community members are encouraged to stay six feet away from those not in their own household. After completing their walk, community members can take this survey and give feedback about the program.

Go on a socially distanced walk with Ann Arbor Parks & Rec. Happening weekly, the A2ParkWalks will happen at different parks and nature areas around Tree Town. Natural areas and paths are not cleared or salted so participants should consider carrying walking sticks/or poles, according to the A2ParkWalks website. Masks should be worn and community members are encouraged to stay six feet away from those not their own household. AdWalkers are encouraged to take this survey after each walk and tag #a2parkwalks on their social media posts.

ANN ARBOR – Having just completed the Allen Creek Railroad Berm Project, the city of Ann Arbor is now setting its sights on the creation of a new pedestrian tunnel beneath the railroad near Bandemer Park. City officials and Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission staff will hold a public online meeting Wednesday, Dec. 2 to share project goals, refined design based on feedback from residents and the feasibility study recommendations. They will also open up the meeting for public comment after their presentation. City and county officials will also share a proposal to extend the Border-to-Border Trail through Barton Nature Area. For more information about the project, click here.

The Leslie Science & Nature Center has some nighttime activities for you. The following week on Friday, Nov. 20, LSNC will host an owl prowl through the woods. The owl prowl hikes will begin at 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., respectively. Attendees will learn how the birds hunt and enjoy a walk through the LSNC raptor loop with a raptor expert. The Leslie Science & Nature Center is at 1831 Traver Rd.

You can road trip to an adventure right here in Michigan. Theres something new near the shores of Lake Michigan that will have you enjoying wine and wandering. Jenn Piotrowski with the Moersch Hospitality Group joined host Tati Amare to talk about their Wine And Wander activity on trails through the woods. The trails are approximately 3.6 miles in total but there are short cuts if you wish to go a shorter distance. Wine tastings are available at the Round Barn Estate Monday-Friday.

Whether you are looking for a short trail or a long treacherous hike, here are some of the places to go hiking in Metro Detroit. It runs from Rochester to Lake Orion, and there are a variety of places to park to access the trail. Maybury State Park in Northville has many options for recreation and it offers a hiking trail that runs for 6 miles. You may see some horses during your hike as the park also offers an equestrian trail. It offers an easy paved hiking trail where you can enjoy the views of the forest or the Downtown skyline.

Paved or mountain, it doesn’t matter – the Petoskey area has got them and there are even more trails being worked on. Getting out on the water is easy in the Petoskey area. Splash with a buddy or someone you love in the sparkling waters of Lake Charlevoix, Little Traverse Bay or Crooked Lake. Play a round of golf in the Petoskey area and you may just decide to stay an extra few days. Once you’ve decided where to stay in Bay Harbor, Alanson, Petoskey, Boyne City/Boyne Falls or Harbor Springs, start narrowing down your plans for a great getaway.

Sugar maples have dark gray bark with furrowed ridges, not as easily identifiable compared to other Michigan tree species. More on Sugar maples here from the Michigan DNRBeechIn southern Michigan, American beech trees grow in beech-maple forests. It is an ashy gray color and, compared to some Michigan species, is easier to identify due to its blocky bark. When comparing the white oak leaf to the red oak, it is easy to tell the difference because the red oak has pointed leaf tips. Jack pine needles are much shorter than red pine needles at a length of to 2 long.

Hiking inside the San Andreas Fault In California, when you think of tourist attractions, the San Andreas Fault is certainly not one of them. But there's an unknown area where you can actually hike inside the fault zone. David Begnaud reports.