Kenneth J. Lehman Nature Trails
Where Every Trail Leads to Fun.
The Kenneth J. Lehman Nature Trails are located on MCC’s Sidney campus. They are open to the public from dawn until dusk, 365 days a year. More than four miles of trails are marked with numbered trail posts, and maps are available at most major trail heads. There is no charge to visit these beautiful trails, which wind through forests, grasslands and wetlands. In addition, a disc golf course is open and free to use.
The MCC Nature Trails Committee welcomes new members. The committee meets four to six times per year and provides direction on upcoming projects.
Maps & Trail Information
MCC's Kenneth J. Lehman Nature Trails offer more than 4 miles of trails through more than 100 acres. You can walk the entire 4 miles or one of the four smaller hikes that have been plotted out.
There are more than four miles of maintained hiking and cross-country skiing trails, which span more 100 acres on the college’s Sidney campus and the Stanton State Game Area.
The trails offer a variety of hikes, which take 20 to 45 minutes to complete.
There are self-guided tour maps at trail entrances, which include descriptions of trees, flowers, wildlife and other vegetation found along the trails.
There are more than 100 numbered markers to guide visitors.
The trails include over 30 bluebird, duck, and bat houses.
Fourteen benches are located on five different trails for peaceful resting and viewing spots. See map for location.
Wetlands and two freshwater lakes – North Twin Lake and South Twin Lake – offer habitat for a variety of animals.
A dock on South Twin Lake offers visitors a place to enjoy the scenery.
A vernal pond along the White Tail Trail offers breeding habitats for many invertebrates and several vertebrates in the spring, including spring peepers, wood frogs and blue spotted salamanders.
White-tail deer, birds, and other wildlife frequent the trails and surrounding area.
An outdoor classroom is available. Use of the outdoor classroom is free, but should be scheduled two weeks in advance. Please contact Administrative Services Assistant Julie Stockwell at reservations@montcalm.edu or 989-328-1222.
Trail Numbers | Name and Color of Markers | Level of Difficulty & Distance |
1-7 | Meadow Loop (Green) | Easy - 0.33 miles |
8-13 & 51-55 | Witch Hazel (Blue) | Medium - 0.38 miles |
14-17 | Swamp Walkway (Yellow) | Easy - 0.09 miles |
18-27 | White Tail & Broken Pine Loop (Red) | Medium - 0.25 miles |
28-34 | Brown Road (Black) | Easy - 0.40 miles |
35-48 | Forest Ridge, Hemlock Loop & Spruce Grove Loop (Orange) | Medium - 0.27 miles |
49-50 | Ginger's Way (Yellow) | Easy - 0.20 miles |
56-65 | Tree Swallow Loop (Green) | Easy - 0.40 miles |
66-72 | Wetland Way (Black) | Hard - 0.12 miles |
73-80 | Forest Heritage (Red) | Easy - 0.25 miles |
81-93 | White Pine & Sugar Maple Loop (Yellow) | Medium - 0.56 miles |
94-98 | Lichen Lane (Blue) | Easy - 0.17 miles |
99-102 | Wood Duck (Orange) | Hard - 0.18 miles |
Self Guided Trail Map: View a self-guiding map of the Kenneth J. Lehman Nature Trails with color coded trail markers to help guide your hike.
Aviary Amble
Route: Head north/northeast to the circle drive, take the Tree Swallow Loop around to meet the Wood Duck Trail (just after the branch off for the Twin Lakes Trail), to the White Pine Trail south to take the Meadow Trail back.
Length: 1 mile (about 30 minutes)
Witch Hazel Wandering
Route: Starting at the Administration/Library Building, go through the connector between the Beatrice E. Doser and Activities buildings to the Kenneth J. Lehman Nature Trails sign, across the Swamp Bridge to the White Tail Trail, north on Brown Road, west on the Forest Ridge Trail, south on the Witch Hazel Trail, and back across the Swamp Bridge.
Length: 1.5 miles (45 minutes)
Heritage Hike
Route: Starting at MCC’s Administration/Library Building, take Forest Heritage Trail to the outdoor classroom to the White Pine Trail to the Meadow Trail to College Drive.
Length: 1 mile (about 30 minutes)
Savanna Sojourn
Route: Starting at the sidewalk behind the Administration/Library Building, go past the tennis courts, around the Savanna Loop and back.
Length: 2/3 of a mile (about 20 minutes)
Nature Trails Photo Contest
The Kenneth J. Lehman Nature Trails Photo Contest happens annually with submissions due in the spring each year. Photos of animals, plants, landscapes, over-time/time-lapse, or anything else you've photographed from the Kenneth J. Lehman Nature Trails are accepted. Click the link above to submit your photos and view past winners.
Nature Trails Activities
Bramble Ramble 5K Walk/Run
The annual Bramble Ramble 5k run/walk and Michael J. Seaman Memorial 10k run showcase the variety and beauty of Montcalm Community College’s Kenneth J. Lehman Nature Trails.
Support the Trails
Volunteer
The Kenneth Lehman Nature Trails are maintained entirely by volunteers, with the occasional help of the Montcalm Community College Maintenance Department. Workdays are typically held in April and September. Groups (scouts, youth groups, etc.) that would like to volunteer are encouraged to participate. If you would like to volunteer, please contact Heather Wesp at 989-328-1270 or email naturetrails@montcalm.edu for more information.
Funding Sources
Trail activities, maps and brochures, and maintenance are funded by a combination of low-cost events (like the Bramble Ramble 5k) and contributions from Montcalm Community College and the MCC Foundation. In the past, we have sold note cards and envelopes with pictures from the trails as well as dedication/memory benches. If you would like to purchase notecards or a bench, please contact Heather Wesp at 989-328-1270 or email naturetrails@montcalm.edu for more information.