If you’re looking to take full advantage of the fleeting weeks of summer, there’s no shortage of day-trip options in Livingston County.
That includes spring-fed swimming, wooded trail systems — and even skydiving. For your planning pleasure, here’s five of our best recommendations for exploration:
Spring Mill Pond
Spring Mill Pond is located inside Island Lake Recreation Area at 6301 Kensington Road in Brighton. The pond is a cool, clear swimming spot fed by natural springs, according to Explore Brighton Howell Area. Families can spend the day swimming, grilling or relaxing at picnic tables. The site also includes sand volleyball courts, vending machines and restrooms.
Interesting in fishing? The pond is stocked with brown and rainbow trout. There’s also nearby trails for hiking.
Deerfield Hills Nature Area
Deerfield Hills Nature Area is located at the corner of Green Road and Cohoctah Road and includes 365 acres of natural space, according to Deerfield Township.
The park has gorgeous nature trails and an accessible dock on Howe Lake. The site’s recent improvements include trail maintenance, an expanded parking lot, bathrooms and educational signage highlighting plants and wildlife.
Scofield Park
Scofield Park is located at Thompson Street and Barnard Street in Howell, nestled along the shoreline of Thompson Lake. The site was recently renamed to honor Bill, Joy and Rick Scofield.
The park includes a playground, picnic areas and restrooms, along with access to Thompson Lake Beach. Learn more about daily and annual passes at cityofhowell.com.
Capital City Skydiving
Thrill-seekers might enjoy a more adrenaline-fueled outing with Capital City Skydiving, based at 7080 W. Sherwood Road in Fowlerville. The business offers tandem jumps and training for solo skydiving, according to Explore Brighton Howell Area. Learn more about rates and experiences at capitalcityskydiving.com.
Pinckney State Recreation Area
The Pinckney State Recreation Area at 8555 Silver Hill Road spans about 11,000 acres, with more than 40 miles of multi-use trails, camping opportunities and a range of recreation options, according to Explore Brighton Howell Area.
You’ll find space for swimming, boating and picnicking at day-use areas at Silver Lake and Halfmoon Lake. The land is also located near the Huron River Chain of Lakes, an eight-mile system connecting Big Portage, Little Portage, Baseline, Zukey, Strawberry, Whitewood, Gallagher, Ore and Tamarack.
— Contact reporter Evan Sasiela at esasiela@livingstondaily.com. Follow him on X @SalsaEvan.
This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: Five day-trip destinations to explore before summer ends in Livingston
Reporting by Evan Sasiela, Livingston Daily / Livingston Daily
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By Evan Sasiela, Livingston Daily | USA TODAY Network
