Fred Russ Forest

Great for trail running. Marked trails, plenty of tree cover, side trails that are less maintained. Ran 5mi and only saw same trail twice. Keep your feet up as there are lots of roots and fallen branches, but that’s part of the attraction? Would definitely wear knee high compression socks or running pants next time as I saw ivy growing. Second time I’ve ran this trail in two years and both times felt different. 10/10 for hiking & trail running in this area.

We have been riding horses in this park for over 20 years. It is a great place to take a beginner rider since the trails are easy, flat and has a creek you can wade the horses in. There is a picnic pavilion near by and a mounting area for easy mounting of your horse. There is a wide wooden bridge over the creek that you can take the horses over and it is a beautiful place for picture taking. I took my daughter here for her graduation pictures and they turned out perfectly. The morning and evening light is awesome for a backdrop.

Cons: trails can be muddy after days of rain, some people can be hiking with loose dogs which can freak out a novice horse (dogs are supposed to stay leashed at all times!) parking can be crowded in the horse staging area. Trails are not well marked but it is so small, you can’t possibly get lost.

Nice place to come and enjoy the outdoors. Plenty of shade and peaceful scenery. Can also cool off in the Dowagiac Creek.

Great for hiking, biking, horse back riding. Very peaceful, walk in the woods. Dowigac Creek is beautiful, with plent of brown trout. I highly recommend it up forrest trail. Very easy flat, well mark.

Lovely trails. A little muddy in spots, but such is Spring. The trails we walked were flat and easy going. Wonderful for relaxing hikes.

The trails are kept super clean and are easy to navigate. A beautiful, relaxing place to ride horses or hike!

Relaxing safe and clean place for a family hike. Forest fairly well maintained

Great trails, multi use. My horse and I had a great ride, there were bikers, hikers and those walking their dogs.

Have been coming here since I was a kid. Awesome place with big trees and a beautiful, clean stream. There's also lots of walking you can do, and horseback riders from all over come here. If you're a birder, theres tons of songbirds that breed out here.

The place is cozy and inviting. Really clean with a lot of different trails. It may not be the biggest forest, but it is a great place to get away for short hikes.

It's a nice place to go things to do for the kids nice trails to take walks on it's a nice place

A very nice place to go for a hike. If you go all the in, you feel like you are truly in a forest.

Love taking the kids here nice trails and the dogs love ot to

This is a free and well-maintained and friendly to the public nature area

Great place for family outings

Beautiful place

Very fun place

Always love this place

Wonderful place