Fort Custer Recreation Area: Blue Trail (Blog Hike #972)

Trail: Blue Trail
Hike Location: Fort Custer Recreation Area
Geographic Location: between Battle Creek, MI and Kalamazoo, MI (42.31123, -85.36183)
Length: 3.4 miles
Difficulty: 4/10 (Easy/Moderate)
Date Hiked: October 2023
Overview: A loop hike around Whitford & Lawler and Jackson Hole Lakes.
Park Information: https://www2.dnr.state.mi.us/parksandtrails/details.aspx?id=448&type=SPRK
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=949309
Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming July 19)

Directions to the trailhead: Between Battle Creek and Kalamazoo, take I-94 to 40th Street (exit 88).  Exit, go north on 40th St., then almost immediately turn left on Michigan Avenue.  Drive Michigan Ave. west 1.6 miles to McCollum Street and turn right on McCollum St.  When McCollum St. ends in 0.5 miles, turn right on SR 96.  Drive SR 96 east 4.7 miles to the park entrance on the right.  Turn right to enter the park, pay the entrance fee, then turn right at the first intersection past the gatehouse.  Drive this road to its end at the parking lot for Whitford & Lawler Lake, where this hike begins.

The hike: The name Fort Custer Recreation Area correctly implies that this land has military history, but in fact there has never been a fort here.  The federal government acquired the land in 1917, and the United States military operated several induction and training centers here over the next several decades.  Known as Camp Custer, over 100,000 troops trained here during World War I, the Officer Reserve Corps and Civilian Conservation Corps trained here in the 1920's and 1930's, more than 300,000 troops trained here during World War II, and Navy Reserves and Marine Corps Reserves trained here during the Cold War.  The name was officially changed to Fort Custer in 1940, and in 1968 the facility was turned over to the State of Michigan.

            The eastern part of the former Fort Custer is still used by the Michigan National Guard and other branches of the armed forces, but the western 3033 acres were developed into a park called Fort Custer Recreation Area.  The Michigan Department of Natural Resources acquired the land in 1971, and today it offers many fine amenities.  On point, the park offers a 219-site developed campground, fishing on several lakes and the Kalamazoo River, and more than 40 miles of trails including bridle and mountain bike trails.  The hike described here follows the Blue Trail around two of the park's larger lakes, thus providing a good overview of the scenery this park has to offer.

Whitford Lake Trailhead

            This hike forms a true loop, so you can go either direction from the parking lot for Whitford & Lawler Lake.  This description starts at the right (south) side of the parking lot, which is marked by post B1.  As in most Michigan state parks, major intersections in this trail system are marked by numbered posts; this hike passes posts B1 through B10 in increasing order.  A sign that says "Whitford Lake Hiking Trail" and an information board that contains a trail map stand near post B1.  The B in the post numbers stands for "Blue" from the Blue Trail.

Hiking along the prairie edge

            The trail heads southeast along the edge of a tallgrass prairie with Whitford & Lawler Lake out of sight through the trees to the left.  Black walnut and oak trees are the most common trees in this lakeside forest.  After 0.6 miles of very flat hiking, you reach an old concrete silo, a remnant of this land's agricultural days before it was a military center or a park.

Old concrete silo

            Next the trail climbs to top a low and broad ridge before descending to cross the main feeder stream for Whitford & Lawler Lake.  At 1.5 miles, you reach a primitive cabin.  This cabin sits near the east end of Whitford & Lawler Lake, and while I have read that excellent sunset views can be had from behind this cabin, I did not wait around to confirm that fact when I came here on a chilly Wednesday morning.  Continue straight at posts B3 and B4, which are passed in quick order.  Some dying red cedars live in this area, and honeysuckle seems to grow everywhere.

Water source for primitive cabin

            1.7 miles into the hike, you reach post B5, where you need to make a decision.  The trail going left goes between Whitford & Lawler and Jackson Hole Lakes, and it provides a short-cut back to the parking area.  To also go around Jackson Hole Lake, angle right to top another low ridge.  Next the trail descends to cross the main feeder stream for Jackson Hole Lake near post B6.  A balance beam type bridge will get you across the creek with dry feet if water levels are normal.

Crossing a feeder stream

            At the next couple of unmarked intersections, angle left where spur trails exit right and head for the equestrian trailhead.  Now on the north side of Jackson Hole Lake, continue straight at posts B7 and B8 where spur trails exit right to reach the main campground.  A couple of spur trails go left to the shore of Jackson Hole Lake, but better lake views lie ahead.

Canada geese

Jackson Hole Lake

            At 2.8 miles, you reach an open grassy area with spectacular views across Jackson Hole Lake.  I saw some Canada geese and other birds here, and benches encourage you to sit, rest, and do some bird watching.  When you reach post B9, turn left to head for a small parking area, which is an alternate starting point for this hike.  The short-cut trail you passed earlier comes into this parking area from the left, so you want to angle right at post B10 to begin the final segment of this hike.  A little more hiking along the lake returns you to the main parking area to complete the hike.