Coldbrook Park
Rate this placeLast Updated: December 5, 2025
Coldbrook Park is a popular recreational area located in the state of Michigan.
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Summary
The park covers 230 acres and offers visitors a range of outdoor activities, including hiking, fishing, picnic areas, and camping. The park is particularly known for its stunning natural beauty, with its rolling hills, wooded areas, and pristine lakes attracting nature enthusiasts from across the region.
There are several interesting points of interest to see in Coldbrook Park, including the Coldbrook Dam, which was originally constructed in the 1940s to supply water to the nearby city of Kalamazoo. Other popular attractions include the park's many hiking trails, which offer visitors stunning vistas of the surrounding landscape, as well as the park's many fishing spots, which are well stocked with trout, bass, and other fish.
In addition to its natural beauty, Coldbrook Park has a rich history and several interesting facts to explore. For example, the park was once home to a thriving logging industry, with many of the area's old-growth forests harvested for timber in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Today, the park is managed by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts of all ages.
The best time of year to visit Coldbrook Park depends on the visitor's interests. For those who enjoy hiking and exploring the park's many trails, the spring and fall months are ideal, as the weather is mild and the foliage is at its most vibrant. For those who enjoy fishing and other outdoor activities, the summer months are best, as the lakes and streams are warm and inviting. Regardless of when visitors choose to visit, they are sure to find something to enjoy in this beautiful and historic park.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
Related References
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Improved Campground
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Cold Brook County Park
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Fort Custer State Rec Area
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Fort Custer Recreation Area
Ike Payne Park
River Oaks County Park
Robert Morris Park
Kindleberger Park