Grand Ravines North County Park, 9920 42nd Ave, Jenison ~ 12/9/20

This is a spectacular park that takes you along the Grand River, deep into ravines, and high up for all the views. It also comes with its own covered bridge 😊

We took a dead end path because it went along the river, and we found an eagle's nest sign, the nest, and heard an eagle. More on the eagle later.

We then had to backtrack or commit trespassing.

We found ourselves getting deeper and deeper into the woods, went down into a ravine, and discovered another warning sign about private ownership. Whatever.

The staircases were both foreboding and welcome (here is the 1st flight, after we climbed it).

The 2nd flight was shorter and got us back up out of the ravine.

Looking back down into the ravine.

This sign was not necessary for us but I'm sure there are other more adventurous souls who might like a spin down that trail.

Winding our way towards the famed suspension bridge, we suddenly saw it, all 275 feet of it, complete with ladies looking over the side into the ravine.

Rising 70 feet up from the forest floor, the bridge has a definite wobble when multiple people are traversing at the same time ~ it's a very weird feeling. It's difficult to get a good perspective of the height from the bridge but here are a couple of photos.

Not wanting to walk near the road or the dog park, we went back over the bridge to follow another trail.

The trails in this park are beautifully, clearly, and regularly marked, which is a wonderful thing.

After we crossed a small bridge, we were on a grassy trail back to the parking lot.

An observation platform held some interesting information that we stopped to absorb, and we spent a few minutes identifying the indicated trees.

And it's always good to know where you are.

As we made the last loop before the parking lot, we ran into two walking sheriffs and we asked if something was amiss but they were just getting exercise and complaining about getting old. Right behind them, a grizzled old hippie stopped us and pointed out a bald eagle sitting high in a nearby tree along the river. What a treat!  Not having the big camera lens with us, we improvised using Roy's shoulder as a tripod and me pushing my small camera zoom to its limit.

With that, we were finished but wanted to check out the south entrance. If you are not there to walk your dog in the free range run fence thing, do not use this entrance. Unlike the north entrance parking lots, this one was packed with cars and co-mingling dogs and people. If you're there with your dog, go for it. But we will definitely return to this grand park, north entrance.

3.5 miles walked; can't get much more without repeating loops.