Join the Harbor Country Hikers on our annual First Day Hike, led by HCH President Pat Fisher (AKA “Old Man Time”). We’ll be hiking a "twofer," again this year starting at Robinson Woods Preserve and finishing at Flynn Woods Preserve. First Day Hikes are part of a nationwide initiative to encourage people to get outdoors. Kids and adults all across the country will be participating in First Day Hikes, getting their hearts pumping and enjoying the beauty of the great outdoors.

Robinson Woods Preserve consists of a mature forest dominated by beech, maple, tulip poplar, and oak. Seasonal streams transit the property, eventually draining into bubbling Cherry Creek whose steep and scenic ravine sits at the northern edge of the property. Flynn Woods Preserve is a forested wetland complex located on the south side of East Road across from Robinson Woods Preserve. This property features a mix of oak-hickory and wetland forests, and together with Robinson Woods, creates a 115-acre protected area.

HCH has an All-Terrain Rollator which may be reserved for use on our hikes. Reservations are made on a first-come first-served basis by filling out the brief form at Request Rollator.

Wear long pants (preferably tucked-in), hat, sturdy shoes or boots, preferred pest controls, and bring plenty of water. Light precipitation and hot or cold weather don’t ordinarily lead us to call off hikes, but health-threatening temperature extremes and lightning can be causes for cancellation. In case of inclement weather, the day of the hike, check our website, harborcountryhikers.org, or our Facebook page for notice of cancellation or rescheduling.

• Theme: First Day Hike

• Venue: Robinson Woods & Flynn Woods Preserves

• When: Thursday, Jan 1, 2026 @ 1pm Eastern

• Estimated Presentation Time: 10 minutes

• Hike Leader: “Old Man Time”

• Estimated Time: 2 hours

• Hiking Distance: up to 2 miles

• Physical Difficulty: Moderate

• Location: 8016 East Road, Three Oaks, MI 49128

• Parking GPS: 41.849753, -86.647147 (DD)

  Directions: From Red Arrow Highway, turn east onto East Road, watch for the Robinson Woods Preserve on left, about one mile. Parking is also available across the road at Flynn Woods. Chikaming Township's "Good Neighbor Policy" specifically states that there should be no parking of tires in the traveled portion of the roadway.