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For the past six months, volunteers have gathered every Thursday evening with the same goal in mind: The construction of the hiking trail network in the Bundy Hill Preserve.
Volunteers outfitted with little more than hand tools have constructed a two-mile long hiking trail throughout the preserve. The Mt. Pleasant Chamber of Commerce is celebrating the achievement with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Thursday, Sept. 27 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the preserve.
"We’re estimating that more than 50 volunteers contributed over 700 hours while giving up 21 Thursday evenings to support the construction of this incredible hiking trail network," says Jon Breithaupt, executive director of the Chippewa Watershed Conservancy.
The Chippewa Watershed Conservancy owns and manages the preserve, which is a 100-acre permanently protected nature sanctuary. It was purchased in 2016 following a nearly $250,000 capital campaign.
Bundy Hill is of particular note for its height, the tallest geologic point of Isabella County. Bundy’s summit is 1,270 ft., nearly 500 vertical feet taller than the city center of Mt. Pleasant, which comes in at 771 ft. tall.
The trail is being billed as one of the most scenic non-motorized trails in central Michigan. The two-mile long trail network features a range of difficulty levels for beginners to veterans.
"The trail network traverse mature hardwood forest, fascinating geology and offers many scenic vistas for hikers. We encourage folks to explore the new trails on the preserve," Breithaupt says.
"Bundy Hill Preserve is a unique gem open to the public for passive recreation such as hiking, wildlife watching, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing."
The entrance to Bundy Hill Preserve is located on River Road in Broomfield Township.
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