As we head into fall with the weather getting cooler, thousands of birds are flying south for the winter. In fact, September through November is known as raptor season because this is the time of year in Michigan when you can see many birds of prey high in the sky.

Michigan is filled with lots of natural beauty which gives you the opportunity to hike and experience it all. Here are some of the best places to go hiking in the state:Stretching 1,250 miles by foot, Michigans Iron Belle Trail is one of the longest designated state trail in the U.S. when its completed. The 1,800-acre Negwegon State Park sits along the Lake Huron shore and offers natural beauty on your hike. The TART trails are known for your ability to over look and see the views of parts of Lake Michigan and Silver Lake. These are just to name a few, you can find a full list of places to hike around the state here.

Lake Erie Metropark is experiencing high water levels, forcing parks of the site to be shut downCopyright 2019 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved.

A three-year project to naturalize and restore a large portion of shoreline at Lake Erie Metropark will begin soon. The project is funded by a $1.5 million grant from The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. The Metroparks Natural Resources Department will partner with NOAA and The Great Lakes Commission to begin work to naturalize and restore nearly 1,183 feet of hardened shoreline and improve 1.7 acres of coastal wetland at Lake Erie Metropark. Were always focused on identifying new opportunities to protect and enhance our parks natural environments, while also creating new experiences for visitors. Visitors will start seeing equipment mobilized in the area soon.