Saugatuck, MI Best Walks: Crow’s Nest Trail

If you are visiting the Saugatuck, Michigan, area and want a peaceful hike in nature, with excellent views and few crowds, carve out an hour or two to walk the Crow’s Nest Trail in Tallmadge Woods. The 2.6-mile (or 1.5-mile) path offers a moderate walk on a sandy forest trail atop a dune, with two incredible overlooks of Ox-Bow Lake and Lake Michigan. We hiked this trail on an early October afternoon. However, barring snow cover, you can hike it nearly any time of year. And if you wait until later in the day, its viewpoints offer the perfect places to catch a gorgeous sunset.

In this mini guide, I share everything you need to know, like its two trailhead locations, where to park, what to expect, and where else to walk and stay to make the most of your outdoor Saugatuck experiences.

Table of contents. hide

Where to start this trail & park.

Why hike the Crow’s Nest Trail?

What to expect.

Who should hike this trail?

Best times to hike.

More hikes & things to do to do in the area.

Quick facts.

Where to stay.

Related reading.

Where to start this trail & park.

Find this hike on the eastern edge of the peninsular dune headland separating the town of Saugatuck and the Kalamazoo River from Lake Michigan. Start this trail in one of two places, and see explanations for both trailhead locations below.

1. Start from the Mount Baldhead Park parking lot.

For most walkers doing the 2.6-mile route, the trailhead unofficially begins a ten-minute drive from Saugatuck in the public parking lot at Mount Baldhead Park. From here, walkers follow northeast along quiet and residential Park Street for a ½ mile, adjacent to the Kalamazoo River, to reach the trailhead. The trailhead will be on the right after the road curves up the dune, narrowing to one lane. Here, the road becomes gravel and heads a short distance north and west into the private grounds of the Ox-Bow Artists Residency.

2. Start from the Ox-Bow parking lot (& reasons why you might not want to).

Alternatively, according to the Saugatuck Visitor’s Bureau website, Crow’s Nest hikers can skip this extra walk along Park Street and park at the Ox-Bow gravel lot just west of the trailhead. We parked at this lot when we hiked the trail, shaving nearly a full mile off the walk.

However, it is understandable why many hikers do not park at the Ox-Bow lot. First, signage at the entrance to Park Street just past the public parking lot at Mount Baldhead Park says the dead-end road is for local traffic only. Since we were using a local trail, I decided this was an acceptable reason to drive the road. Other drivers might see this as a deterrent.

Then, a half mile past Mount Baldhead Park, Park Street curves and gains height as it climbs the dune. At this point, the road narrows to one lane, giving downhill drivers the right of way, meaning uphill drivers must reverse down the curvy slope to allow downhill vehicles to pass. However, because there is little traffic and the one-lane section is quick—only about 20 to 30 seconds of driving—you might not find this much of an obstacle, as we did not.

Finally, once up the hill, passing the trailhead on the right, complete with its colorful and reassuring “Parking in the lot” signage pointing left and to the Ox-Bow parking lot, you will come to a gravel parking area plastered with signs that say parking is for guests only and violators will be towed. 

Although seeing these signs made me nervous about getting towed, we decided to chance it—figuring the trailhead sign and the information on the Visitor’s Bureau site gave us the right to use the lot. Once parked, we walked uphill a short distance to the trailhead for a delightful hike. And happily, post-hike, our car was exactly where we left it.  

Along the way, you will experience: 

1. A serene forest walk. The Crow’s Nest Trail begins with a gentle stroll through Tallmadge Woods. The tree canopy provides a shady and cool environment, even on warmer days. The trail and Tallmadge Woods are part of the 110-acre Ox-Bow area, a protected conservation easement with the Land Conservancy of West Michigan.
While hiking, look for wildlife like deer, squirrels, and various bird species. This top part of the loop is relatively flat and easy to navigate.

3. Scenic overlooks. The highlights of the Crow’s Nest Trail are the scenic overlooks just past the halfway point (~1 mile from the trailhead). Once there, enjoy expansive views of Ox-Bow Lake, rolling dunes, and Lake Michigan stretching to the horizon. Once you come to the first overlook, continue right, following up the dune grass trail to a second, slightly higher viewpoint. Both offer fantastic spots to pause, take photos, and soak in the view.

Who should hike this trail?

We are middle-aged, fit, experienced hikers who found this trail easy and comfortable wearing sneakers and sports sandals. It would be ideal for kids and great for dogs—they are allowed on the trail when leashed. However, given some steeper sections, we would not have had our upper 70s and early 80s parents, who are in good health and relatively fit but require more stable footing, to join us. 

Best times to hike.

While you can hike the Crow’s Nest Trail year-round, the best times to enjoy it are spring through fall. During the late spring, the woods come alive with fresh greenery and wildflowers. In the summer, even on hot days, you will stay cooler, benefitting from Lake Michigan breezes and generous shade from thick tree cover. In the fall, hike this trail to experience a beautiful display of changing leaves. 

More hikes & things to do to do in the area. 

Try pairing this trail with a trek up nearby Mount Baldhead for more hiking. Mount Baldhead offers a quick yet satisfying one-mile out-and-back route with 303 wooden steps, connecting the Kalamazoo River to award-winning Oval Beach and Lake Michigan. At its summit observation deck, you get a peek-a-boo view of Saugatuck and Lake Kalamazoo and a close-up look at a Cold War-era radar station.