Join us in celebrating National Wildlife Refuge Week by participating in Walk for the Wild! Friends of Seney National Wildlife Refuge and friends groups around the country will be celebrating National Wildlife Refuge Week the week of October 7-14, 2023. Our Friends of Seney Team will be hosting a 5K walk (3.1 miles) at the refuge on October 14th. The walk will begin at 10:00 am.
This is a great way to see part of the refuge and enjoy the fall colors that are sure to be there. Of course, we're in Michigan, so we don't know what the weather will be, but the walk is on, no matter what.
The Walk for the Wild is a national event of the America's Wildlife Refuge initiative, and is coordinated by the Public Lands Alliance. This year there are 46 teams, from 26 states, representing over 70 national wildlife refuges. The event demonstrates our commitment to deepening human connections with nature and to protecting the thriving ecosystems we depend on.
To participate, go to americaswildliferefuges.org/walk-for-the-wild/ and follow the step-by-step instructions. Registration and donations are handled nationally at this centralized site.
- Choose a team to support (we hope you pick Team Friends of Seney!)
- Register for our event using their online system. The event is free.
- Donations are optional and can also be made on this site. Team Seney has set a goal of raising $1,500 for a youth cultural and career camp next summer. Participants can donate but so can anyone! You can encourage your friends and family to donate too, whether or not they join the walk. Any amount is gratefully accepted.
- Show up and move! The walk is for fun and we will have activities along the routes that make it informative as well. You can even earn your Junior Ranger badge, no matter how old you are!
- Document your achievement. We'd love to see any photos you take on your walk. Tag @AmericasWildlifeRefuges and celebrate on social media with the hashtags #WalkForTheWild and #BeSeenAtSeney
- Increase awareness and spread the word about the importance of national wildlife refuges and how much fun you can have, and how much you can learn, by visiting refuges like Seney National Wildlife Refuge.
The walk will be on the refuge and is open to everyone. We will have two 5k routes, both will start at Robinson Rd. There will be a 5K loop, the Northern Hardwoods Trail, and also a 5K out-and-back route on Otter Run. The Otter Run route will be more accessible for strollers, wagons and other wheeled devices.
The ground will be a little uneven on both routes but there is no hurry to complete the walk. The event will not be timed. There will be volunteers along the walk to answer questions and to be of help.
Parking will be available by the trailhead and along the road. An accessible porta-john will also be available.
Dress for the weather...could be shorts or snowshoes! There will be treats at the end of the race but you might want to bring your own water bottle for use during the walk.
For those of you who can't join us at the refuge in person on October 14th, you can participate anytime during the week either on one of our courses or on your trail of choice at a time of your choosing. Our virtual walk will be open for that entire week, October 7-14, 2023.
No matter where you "walk for the wild" we'd love to see your photos on social media with the hashtags #BeSeenAtSeney #WalkForTheWild.
Watch our Facebook page and website for additional information and any last minute updates: www.facebook.com/friendsofseney or www.friendsofseney.org.
Walk For the Wild Loop
Primitive Trail Option
- Location: Access from the Robinson Road parking lot and gate.
- Length: 5K or 3.1 miles
- Surface: Firm
- Surface Type: Dirt, mowed vegetation, and packed gravel road.
- Grade: Average 8%
- Cross Slope: Average 3%
- Trail Width: Minimum 60 inches, Average 96 inches
- Obstacles: Possible downed trees.
Information: This route takes people on portions of Bear Hollow, Cub Hollow, Smit Farm and Manistique River Run Trails. Watch for the signs to remain on the path. These trails winds up and down through northern hardwoods, mixed pine, and hemlock forests dotted with vernal pools. In autumn this is a great place to view fall colors and look for fall fungi. The forest is dotted by interesting mushrooms like waxcaps, puffballs, dead man’s fingers, golden spindles and more.
Dog friendly and kid friendly
Walk For the Wild Out-and-Back
For families with strollers, bikes, other wheeled devices (no ORVs please) or those seeking areas to walk in groups
- Length: 5K or 3.1 miles
- Surface: Firm.
- Surface Type: Two-track road.
- Grade: Average 3%
- Cross Slope: Average 3%
- Trail Width: Average 144 inches
- Obstacles: Possible downed trees.
Information: There is one fairly substantial hill about 0.5 miles down the trail. This trail follows Pine Creek Road crossing a bridge over Upper Goose Pen then alongside the west edge of A Pool and over the bridge that empties A Pool to Gray's Creek. Sights include beautiful vistas, inlets that hide migratory waterfowl and forest scenes. Possible sightings include river otter, beaver, muskrat, common loons, sandhill cranes, wood and ring-necked ducks and Canada geese.