Autumn is in the air in Livingston County, and our real estate agents are excited to welcome the colorful fall foliage back to Howell and the surrounding areas. This is a great time of year to enjoy some much-needed time in nature, and these local hikes offer some of the best opportunities to experience the changing leaves in all their glory!

• Penosha Trail - 7050 Bishop Lake Rd, Brighton, MI 48116
  Offering 4.9 miles of rolling, densely wooded hills, the Penosha Trail is a charming loop that circles through Brighton Recreation Area. The trail starts and ends at Bishop Lake Complex parking area, near the east end of Bishop Lake, and offers lovely fall foliage from start to finish. Multiple side trails branch off the Penosha Trail, offering ample opportunities to extend your hike. Brighton Recreation Area also offers camping, boating, and more than 35 miles of trails for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding. 
  
  
• Potawatomi Trail - 8555 Silver Hill Rd, Pinckney, MI 48169
  Less than a 30-minute drive south of Howell, the Potawatomi Trail is the longest trail in the 11,000-acre Pickney Recreation Area. The Potawatomi Trail forms a 17.4-mile loop through varied terrain, including dense woodlands and lakeside wetlands, skirting the shorelines of several large lakes and ponds. The scenery is phenomenal, especially in the fall. Parts of the trail include strenuous climbs and challenging terrain, and some hikers choose to hike only a portion of the Potawatomi Trail as an out-and-back hike rather than completing the loop.
  
  
• Hinton Trail - 7075 McClements Rd, Brighton, MI 48114
  The 2.8-mile Hinton Trail in Fillmore County Park, is a quick, easy loop that provides a perfect day hike on a crisp fall morning. Typically completed in under an hour, the trail winds through forests and fields with exceptionally lovely autumn scenery. Highlights of the trail include two park benches nestled beneath the canopies of sprawling landmark oak trees. 
  
  
• Island Lake Yellow Loop - 11879 Grand River Ave, Brighton, MI 48116
  Located in southeastern Livingston County, Island Lake Recreation Area encompasses 4,000 acres and includes an interconnected network of color-coded hiking trails. The 5.5-mile Yellow Loop is a perennial favorite, meandering through hilly woodlands and crossing the Huron River twice on a pair of picturesque foot bridges. The scenery is especially ravishing in fall, when the trees alongside the river are vibrant with red and gold. The trail is open to mountain biking as well. 
  
  
• Boutel Trail - 755 E Jones Rd, Howell, MI 48855
  Offering a 1.9-mile out-and-back hike through mature woodlands, the Boutel Trail is located just outside the village of Howell in Oak Grove State Game Area. This relatively underutilized trail offers tranquil scenery and easy terrain. Be advised that hunting is permitted within Oak Grove State Game Area during legal hunting seasons, so be sure to wear blaze orange and leave dogs at home.
  
  
• Lakelands Trail - 8555 Silver Hill Rd, Pinckney, MI, 48169
  The 33-mile Mike Levine Lakelands Trail is a link in the extensive Lake-to-Lake Trail, which stretches all the way from South Haven to Port Huron. Passing through the communities of Pinckney and Lakeland, the Lakelands Trail is a linear state park that follows the course of a former railroad line. The terrain is mostly flat, and the trail is well-suited to hiking, biking, and equestrian use. Users can expect an abundance of beautiful fall scenery as they trek through forests, farmlands, and small towns. 

Contact us today to learn more about life in Livingston County. In addition to beautiful scenery, fall also offers some of the year's best opportunities to find your dream home in Howell, Brighton, Fowlerville, and the surrounding areas.