I was in the mood for adventure last weekend. So I filled up the water bottle, put on the hiking shoes, and drove five minutes to arrive at Rose Lake to enjoy the peace and quiet. Just me, the birds, the relaxing sound of gently blowing leaves, and booming gunshots. Not at me (it wasn’t Detroit) – there is a shooting range across Peacock Road from the park.
Though I’ve lived in various towns on the east side of Lansing for over a decade, and Bath for a decade before that, Rose Lake is a recent addition to my regular list of hiking trails. I had mainly visited State parks as well as local trail systems like Lake Lansing, Riverbend, and Legg Park, but decided I need a little variety in my life.
And it is a good find. I’ve only visited twice, but I realized that the more trails I explored, the more trails I found. That is a great feeling for a hiker, especially since, with a 2-year old, long hiking trips are not on my typical itinerary anymore.
The best part, for me, is that there are enough trails and vegetation to hide the other hikers from view. Who doesn’t want to get away from everyone for just a while? That’s hard to do in the suburbs, even the relatively small one I live in, but Rose Lake provides a welcome respite.