Cooperrider-Kent Bog State Nature Preserve

If you are into plants and wetlands (or want to pretend you are😉), this place is a treasure-trove of bog loving plants and trees! Remember, this bog is a senstive and irreplaceable habitat 🌿, so you should follow all of the rules and regulations. Strictly stay on the boardwalk 🚶‍♀️🚶🏾‍♂️ and toss your trash in a can - never in the bog itself🚯. Avoid picking the leaves or fruits from any plants or trees; they're fragil and taking pieces of them damages the species and overall quality of the bog🌱💔. Even small distrubances can affect the overall health of the bog. Treat this incredible and rare place with care so it can stay magical for generations to come ✨️ As you wander, keep an eye for for the tiny but mightly small cranberries (Vaccinium oxycoccos)🍒, tall, shrubby highbush blueberries (Vaccinium corybosum)🫐, beautiful winter berry (Ilex verticillata) 🍒, thickets of leather leaf (Chamaedphne calyculata) 🍃, the elegant few-seeded sedges (Carex oligosperma)🌾, the tawny cotton-grasses (Eriophorum virginicum)☁️, graceful gray birches (Betula populifola)🌳, and the towering Eastern Larches (Larix laricina)🌲, along with the many more fascinating plants that thrive in this unique ecosystem!

We were looking for a place to hike nearby and saw this park on the maps. We have seen the signs for the park on the road, but never visited. Very nice short hiking trail through a bog that was formed during the glacial times. The trail is very level and it's completely on a boardwalk. So it is wheelchair and stroller friendly. There are plenty of benches provided to sit and listen. We went during the winter and even though the trail was completely covered in snow, we were able to hike around. Plenty of signs to read for those of us that are not familiar with the plants. The tail is almost entirely in the woods, so it would be a shaded hike... but I can only guess how mad the bugs would be with all the water. The parking lot is gravel and there are no restrooms or water. So be prepared. We are planning to come back to see the place in the spring or summer when the plants have leaves. Stop on by if you are near and want a short escape into nature.

Always a beautiful, peaceful walk. We saw many tadpoles this time as well as a few friendly, harmless garter snakes. And had a thirsty bee stop at a bench we were sitting on and get a drink of water out of one of the screw indents, my grandaughter thought that was the neatest thing before he took off to do his bee business. We really enjoy all the wonderful parks that Portage County has to offer.

This is a great walk if you're looking for something short & shaded but also paved. The trail is all boardwalk around the bog. Lots of birds to listen for & tons of bugs so bug spray may be necessary. Many benches along the way & the boardwalk is perfect for strollers or wheelchairs.

A well preserved ecosystem primarily for those with an interest and knowledge of plants. This kettle lake formed by a glacier is home to bog plants with a large stand of Larch that were just starting to get their yellow fall color before dropping their needles. Don't forget to look down at all the little details growing at the boardwalk's edge. Good signage for those who want to learn more about how it was formed and the plants that thrive in a bog. Small lot, no toilet facilities.

I visit each season. Winter is a beautiful time to stop. They have signs that explain about the big as you walk through. It’s a well maintained big round trail that starts at the parking lot and takes you right back there. It’s wheelchair and stroller friendly and offers handicap parking spot as well. The entire trail is flat and wood so you won’t get muddy it can become slippery in the winter so use caution if it’s icy. You will be treated to the largest southernmost tamarack trees in the continental United States. The trail is only about half a mile so it’s perfect for everyone!

Beautiful! Especially right now, early July. The blue berries and mushrooms make you feel like you’re touring a land straight out of a fairytale. The path isn’t very long at all! I highly recommend taking little ones (path is definitely wide and smooth enough for strollers). Anyone who loves nature photography will find great inspiration all around!

An absolutely gorgeous nature reserve that allows a view back in time and that the area wouldn't normally get to see. Lots of unique fauna and flora, and while the walk wasn't strenuous it had great sights.

This is a great place to take any curious child or nature loving adult who likes to learn as they go. The bog offers a boardwalk that winds its way through an amazing display of vegetation (the best moss collection; ever!) and hidden tunnels cleared by the adorable turtles that live here. As you move along the path you can truly appreciate its peacefulness as it is very secluded from the clutter that is Kent. There are plenty of interesting plaques to educate you on local wildlife, plants and the surrounding area. There are also plenty of benches available for those of you who have difficulty getting about or just want to enjoy this hidden slice of green blissfulness. The bog is extremely clean, probably due to it not being pet friendly, there are no picnic areas or playgrounds...but if your child loves the mysterious land of gnomes & faeries this is the perfect place to search for them.