St. Clair County Parks and Recreation Commission

09/17/2026

09/16/2026

🌿 WILDLIFE WEDNESDAY: When Nature Comes Knocking 👀

🚪 Knock, knock! We’re not sure who this little visitor was looking for, but this Walking Stick at Goodells County Park seemed pretty determined to get through the door!

Maybe it was heading somewhere important, or maybe it just wanted to see what was on the other side. Either way, it picked a door with some pretty strict access requirements! 😂

The Walking Stick, also known as the Northern Walkingstick (Diapheromera femorata), is one of nature’s best camouflage artists. With its long, slender body, twig-like legs and brown-to-green coloring, it can look remarkably like a small branch. Walking Sticks can grow to around 3–4 inches long, with females generally larger than males.

🌳 Walking Sticks are herbivores and feed on the leaves of trees and shrubs, with oak and hazelnut among their favorites. They are also wingless, so instead of flying away from predators, they rely on their incredible camouflage to avoid being noticed.

And apparently, that camouflage works pretty well… until you decide to show up on an AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY door! 😂

Security’s final decision: No badge, no entry. 🛑😅

Have you spotted some interesting wildlife at one of our parks? Send us your photos and sightings for a chance to be featured in a future Wildlife Wednesday!

09/10/2026

🎉 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗧𝗿𝗲𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗧-𝗦𝗵𝗶𝗿𝘁 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀! 🎉

A big congratulations to Jane Barden and Rick Kenny, this year’s lucky winners of the FREE Trek the Trestle T-shirts! 👕👏 We hope you enjoy showing off your Trek the Trestle spirit!

What a great turnout we had for this year’s walk! ☀️ The weather was perfect, and it was wonderful to see so many familiar faces along with plenty of new ones joining us for this Labor Day tradition.

Thank you to everyone who came out, walked the trail, crossed the trestle, and helped make this year’s Trek the Trestle another great one. We hope everyone had a fantastic walk and an even better Labor Day!

We’ll see you on the trail again next year! 🥾🌉

09/09/2026

🦋 𝗪𝗜𝗟𝗗𝗟𝗜𝗙𝗘 𝗪𝗘𝗗𝗡𝗘𝗦𝗗𝗔𝗬: 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗖𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗽𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗿 🌿

This week’s Wildlife Wednesday is all about one of Michigan’s most recognizable butterflies, but before a monarch takes flight, it starts as a tiny caterpillar! 🐛

This beautiful Monarch caterpillar was spotted feeding on milkweed by a volunteer while working at the Blue Water River Walk. 🌱

Milkweed is essential to monarchs because it is the only plant monarch caterpillars eat. As they feed and grow throughout the summer, these caterpillars are preparing for one of nature’s most incredible journeys. The late-summer generation will transform into monarch butterflies and begin their fall migration south.

The caterpillar’s distinctive black, white and yellow stripes also serve as a warning to predators that monarch caterpillars can be toxic.

The next time you see milkweed growing in a park, trail area or even your own backyard, take a closer look, you may discover a monarch caterpillar preparing for its journey into the sky! 🦋

📸 Thank you to our volunteer for capturing and sharing these photos from the Blue Water River Walk!

09/07/2026

HAPPY LABOR DAY FROM ST. CLAIR COUNTY PARKS!

What better way to celebrate Labor Day than getting outside and enjoying the great outdoors? 🌳🥾

Join us this morning at 9:00 a.m. for our annual Trek the Trestle Community Walk on the Wadhams to Avoca Trail! Meet us at the Avoca Trailhead for a 5-mile round-trip walk across the historic trestle.

Can’t make it to Trek the Trestle? No worries! Make your own Labor Day adventure by hitting the trails, exploring a new place, enjoying the water, or simply finding a peaceful spot to relax at one of our St. Clair County Parks. As a reminder, our office will be closed in observance of the holiday, but our parks and their facilities will remain open during regular business hours. ☀️🌲

However you spend the day, we hope you have a safe, happy and relaxing Labor Day! ❤️🤍💙

09/06/2026

🚨 TOMORROW! TREK THE TRESTLE 2026! 🚨

Labor Day tradition is almost here! Join St. Clair County Parks tomorrow, Monday, September 7, for the annual Trek the Trestle Community Walk!

📅 Monday, September 7 (Labor Day)
⏰ 9:00 a.m.
📍 Avoca Road Trailhead (M-136) in Avoca
🥾 5-mile walk — 2.5 miles each way

Come enjoy the beautiful Wadhams to Avoca Trail, cross the historic trestle, and celebrate the holiday with friends, family and fellow trail enthusiasts!

Michigan-made food products will be available, with proceeds benefiting the United Way of St. Clair County.

Gather your crew, lace up your shoes and Trek the Trestle with us tomorrow! We’ll see you on the trail! 🧡🌳

09/02/2026

🐝🦋 Wildlife Wednesday: Hummingbird Moth! 🌸

You might do a double take when you see one of these buzzing around the garden! A St. Clair County Parks staff member recently spotted this Hummingbird Moth fluttering among the flowers in the garden in front of the County Parks Office.

Despite its name, and its uncanny resemblance to a tiny hummingbird, this fascinating creature is actually a moth! Hummingbird moths hover in place as they feed on nectar, using their long proboscis to reach deep into flowers. They are also important pollinators, helping plants reproduce as they move from flower to flower. 🌼

Their quick movements and humming sound make them easy to mistake for a hummingbird, especially when they appear among colorful blooms. Keep an eye out, you may spot one visiting a garden or flower-filled area near you!

🎥📸 Check out the video and photos below!

Have you ever mistaken a Hummingbird Moth for a hummingbird? Let us know in the comments! 👇

09/01/2026

The September County Parks newsletter is out! Be sure to sign up to get news, events and more delivered right to your inbox 📩📰

Work is underway on the Wadhams to Avoca Trail as St. Clair County Parks prepares for the annual Labor Day Trek the Trestle Walk on Monday, September 7th.