The Grand River and Ionia State Recreation Area

The Grand River — Michigan’s longest river — winds right through Ionia County, past Portland, Ionia, and Saranac, and it’s a draw for paddling and fishing. Just southwest of the city, the Ionia State Recreation Area protects about 4,500 acres of rolling hills, woods, and wetlands along the river. At its center is Sessions Lake, good for fishing, paddling, and swimming, and the park has a modern campground, cabins, miles of hiking and mountain-bike trails, a 24-hole disc golf course, and the largest state-park horse-trail campground in Michigan.

You can also follow the Fred Meijer Grand River Valley Trail, a paved rail-trail that runs between Ionia and Saranac and crosses the Grand River along the way — part of the bigger Fred Meijer trail network across the region.

For a county this size, it’s a lot of outdoor space close to home. The Ionia State Recreation Area requires a Michigan Recreation Passport for entry.