Fort Custer Recreation Area

Infobox_protected_area | name = Fort Custer Recreation Area
iucn_category =


caption =
base_width = 250px
locator_x =
locator_y =
location = Michigan, USA
nearest_city = Kalamazoo, Michigan
lat_degrees =
lat_minutes =
lat_direction = N
long_degrees =
long_minutes =
long_direction = W
area = 3,003 acres ( km²)
established = 1971
visitation_num =
visitation_year =
governing_body = Michigan Department of Natural Resources

Fort Custer Recreation Area is a convert|3003|acre|km2|0|sing=on state park located between Battle Creek and Kalamazoo, Michigan. The area features lakes, the Kalamazoo River, over 25 miles of multi-use trails, second growth oak barrens and dry-mesic southern (oak-hickory) forests.

The land was acquired in 1917 by the Federal Government and used as an induction and military training center for the US Army. Despite the history of military use that has taken place on and around the property, there was never a fort on the land. During World War II, the property was named Camp Custer. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources acquired the land in 1971 as part of the Nixon administration's Legacy of parks program. Today, the Fort Custer Reserve Forces Training Site of the United States National Guard borders the recreation area.

A mountain bike trail system was established in 1996 by the Michigan Mountain Biking Association (MMBA).

Facilities and Activities

Fort Custer is a popular destination for hunting, mountain biking, camping, horseback riding, hiking, fishing, and dog mushing. The park has developed a set of trails covering the majority of the area, designed for mountain biking, horseback riding and hiking alike. They surround each of the lakes; Eagle, Whitford, Lawler and Jackson. The trails also connect to a camping area adjacent to Jackson Hole, with 219 lots, both grassy and paved. In the summer of 2008, a disc golf course in the Eagle Lake area was added, though still currently under construction.

The Fort Custer mountain bike trails are divided into three levels of varied difficulty: blue or yellow being easy, green being intermediate, and red being difficult.

Wildlife

Here is a short list of some of the species found at Fort Custer.

References

[http://bugguide.net/node/view/15740 Bug Guide]

External links

* [http://www.michigandnr.com/parksandtrails/Details.aspx?id=448&type=SPRK Fort Custer Recreation Area ]

* [http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-10365_31399-132559--,00.html DNR History and Details of Fort Custer Recreation Area]

* [http://www.mmba.org/trails.php?trail=10 Michigan Mountain Bike Association Fort Custer Page] (MMBA)