Fort Custer Recreation Area

Fort Custer Recreation Area spreads across some 3,000 acres of forest, lakes, prairie and the Kalamazoo River between Battle Creek and Kalamazoo in southwest Michigan, on land that once served as a U.S. Army training post. Today this varied landscape is one of the region’s most popular outdoor destinations, especially celebrated for its trails.

Fort Custer is renowned for its mountain-biking trail system — among the best in southern Michigan — alongside extensive hiking, equestrian and skiing trails winding through woods and over the area’s rolling terrain. Three lakes (Eagle, Jackson and Lawler) and a stretch of the Kalamazoo River offer swimming, paddling and fishing, and a campground serves overnight visitors. With its trails, lakes and easy access between two cities, Fort Custer is a beloved recreation hub for southwest Michigan.

Fort Custer is a trail destination first — its renowned mountain-biking system draws riders from across the region, complemented by miles of hiking, equestrian and cross-country-ski trails. Three lakes (Eagle, Jackson and Lawler) and the Kalamazoo River add swimming, paddling, kayaking and fishing, and a campground serves overnight visitors. The mix of excellent trails, water and easy access makes it a versatile, heavily used recreation area.

Spring through fall is prime for mountain biking and hiking, with fall color through the woods especially fine. Summer brings warm lakes for swimming and paddling and full use of the campground — reserve early. Winter opens cross-country-ski and snow trails. The mountain-bike trails draw riders across the warmer seasons, while the lakes anchor summer recreation. Trails can be muddy in early spring.

The land was part of Fort Custer, a U.S. Army training post established during World War I and active through World War II and beyond, named for General George Custer, a Michigan figure. A portion of the former military land became the state recreation area, preserving its woods, lakes and river for public recreation. The site’s military history is reflected in the surrounding area, including a national cemetery nearby.

Fort Custer’s rolling terrain, lakes and the Kalamazoo River valley were shaped by the glaciers of the last Ice Age, which left the moraines, outwash and kettle depressions that hold the area’s three lakes. The varied glacial topography — hills, flats and water — gives the mountain-bike and hiking trails their character, and the sandy glacial soils support the area’s oak woods and prairie remnants.

The woods, prairie, wetlands, lakes and river of Fort Custer host white-tailed deer, wild turkey, fox and a rich community of birds, with waterfowl, herons and songbirds around the water and grassland birds in the prairie areas. The Kalamazoo River corridor and the lakes add productive habitat. The varied landscape makes the area good for wildlife watching while hiking, biking or paddling.

Fort Custer protects a varied southern-Michigan landscape of oak forest, prairie and savanna remnants, wetlands, three lakes and the Kalamazoo River. Restored and remnant prairie and oak-savanna areas support grassland and savanna species increasingly rare in the region, while the lakes, river and wetlands add aquatic and wetland habitat. Trail use is managed to protect the terrain and these varied habitats.

From its military origins to its modern fame among mountain bikers, Fort Custer is woven into the outdoor culture of southwest Michigan. Its renowned trail system has made it a beloved destination for the cycling community of Kalamazoo, Battle Creek and beyond, and its lakes, river and campground anchor generations of family recreation between the two cities.

Fort Custer Recreation Area lies along the Kalamazoo River between Battle Creek and Kalamazoo, reached via Augusta and M-96 off I-94 in Kalamazoo County. A Michigan Recreation Passport is required. The campground, trailheads, lake access points and day-use areas are spread across the recreation area; consult a park map for the mountain-bike trail system and other trails. The area is easily reached from both Kalamazoo and Battle Creek.

The DNR manages Fort Custer to protect its woods, prairie remnants, lakes and the Kalamazoo River while supporting heavy trail and lake recreation. Visitors help by staying on designated trails to protect the terrain and habitats, cleaning and draining boats to prevent aquatic invasive species, respecting the prairie and savanna restoration areas, and packing out litter. Habitat-restoration efforts help sustain the area’s rare grassland and savanna species.

The mountain-bike trails range from beginner to technical — ride within your ability, wear a helmet, and watch for other trail users on the multi-use routes. The lakes have cold water below the surface; supervise swimmers. Bring insect protection and watch for ticks in grassy areas in warm months. Tell someone your route on the trails, and in winter dress for conditions on the ski trails.

A Recreation Passport is required. Stay on designated trails and respect trail-use designations for biking, hiking, riding and skiing. Follow Michigan DNR fishing regulations on the lakes and river, and boaters must clean, drain and dry to prevent invasive species. Pets must be leashed. Camp only in reserved, designated sites. Check the DNR for trail maps and current conditions.

The cities of Battle Creek — the ‘Cereal City’ — and Kalamazoo lie on either side, with the Kalamazoo River, the lakes and breweries of southwest Michigan, and Gull Lake to the north all within reach. The Fort Custer National Cemetery and the region’s trails and recreation areas surround the park, making it a hub of southwest-Michigan outdoor recreation between two cities.

Ride the renowned mountain-bike trails — check the maps for routes matching your skill — or hike and paddle the lakes and river for a quieter visit. Reserve campsites early for summer, and wear a helmet on the bike trails. Clean and drain your boat on the lakes. Visit spring through fall for the best trail conditions, and base in Kalamazoo or Battle Creek for services.