Hickory Ridge Pines
Rate this placeLast Updated: December 5, 2025
Hickory Ridge Pines is a beautiful recreational area located in the state of Michigan that offers a range of outdoor activities for visitors of all ages and interests.
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Summary
The area is known for its natural beauty, including tall pine trees, rolling hills, and shimmering lakes.
Some good reasons to visit Hickory Ridge Pines include hiking, camping, fishing, hunting, and bird watching. The area is home to a variety of wildlife, including deer, foxes, and birds of prey. Visitors can also enjoy boating and swimming in the nearby lakes.
One of the most popular points of interest in Hickory Ridge Pines is the Michigan Audubon Society's Pine River Nature Center, which features exhibits on local ecology and wildlife. Other notable attractions include the Lake Isabella State Park, which offers a wide range of recreational activities, and the Chippewa Nature Center, which features hiking trails and educational exhibits.
Interesting facts about the area include its rich history, which dates back to the early settlers who used the land for farming and logging. The area is also home to several historic sites, including the Meridian-Baseline State Park and the Pere Marquette State Forest.
The best time of year to visit Hickory Ridge Pines is during the summer months, when the weather is warm and sunny. However, visitors can also enjoy the area's natural beauty during the fall and winter months, when the leaves change color and the snow falls. Overall, Hickory Ridge Pines is a must-visit destination for anyone who loves the great outdoors and wants to experience all that Michigan has to offer.
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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
Area Campgrounds
| Location | Reservations | Toilets |
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Highland State Rec Area
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Camp Dearborn
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Group Camp 9
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Group Camp 8
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Group Camp 4
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Group Camp 3
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Rose Oaks County Park
Highland Recreation Area
Camp Dearborn Park
Hubbell Pond Park
Indian Springs Metro Park