Highland Recreation Area

Highland Recreation Area offers 5,900 acres of forest, marshes and lakes in the rolling hills of Southern Michigan with 45 miles of trails to accommodate equestrian riders, mountain bikers, hikers and skiers. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR), which owns and operates Highland, describes the recreation area as a parcel of forest, wetland, and kettle lakes primarily operated for light camping and drive-in/drive-out recreational day use. The 721-acre Haven Hill Natural Area and National Natural Landmark is an area within the park that, according to MDNR, contains "all of southern Michigan's principal forest types within one small area, including swamp forest of tamarack, cedar, beech-maple forest, oak-hickory forest, and mixed hardwood forest." Haven Hill was the estate of auto magnate Edsel Ford, who preserved it as a natural area until his death in 1943 when MDNR took over.