Bald Mountain Recreation Area is a 4637 acres (1,876.5 ha) state park

State park

State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the federated state level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational...

 located near Lake Orion, Michigan

Lake Orion, Michigan

Lake Orion is a village in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,973 at the 2010 census. "Lake Orion" is often used to describe both the village and the much larger Orion Township, of which the village is a part....

 off M-24

M-24 (Michigan highway)

M-24 is a state trunkline highway in the U.S. state of Michigan that extends through Southeast Michigan, from northeast Auburn Hills to Unionville. It starts at an interchange with Interstate 75 and ends where it merges with M-25...

. It consists of some of most the rugged terrain in southeastern Michigan.

It is a popular recreation area for day users, hunters, and fishermen. Hunting includes deer, rabbit

Rabbit

Rabbits are small mammals in the family Leporidae of the order Lagomorpha, found in several parts of the world...

, squirrel

Squirrel

Squirrels belong to a large family of small or medium-sized rodents called the Sciuridae. The family includes tree squirrels, ground squirrels, chipmunks, marmots , flying squirrels, and prairie dogs. Squirrels are indigenous to the Americas, Eurasia, and Africa and have been introduced to Australia...

, Canada goose

Canada Goose

The Canada Goose is a wild goose belonging to the genus Branta, which is native to arctic and temperate regions of North America, having a black head and neck, white patches on the face, and a brownish-gray body....

, woodchuck, duck

Duck

Duck is the common name for a large number of species in the Anatidae family of birds, which also includes swans and geese. The ducks are divided among several subfamilies in the Anatidae family; they do not represent a monophyletic group but a form taxon, since swans and geese are not considered...

, raccoon

Raccoon

Procyon is a genus of nocturnal mammals, comprising three species commonly known as raccoons, in the family Procyonidae. The most familiar species, the common raccoon , is often known simply as "the" raccoon, as the two other raccoon species in the genus are native only to the tropics and are...

, and woodcock

Woodcock

The woodcocks are a group of seven or eight very similar living species of wading birds in the genus Scolopax. Only two woodcocks are widespread, the others being localized island endemics. Most are found in the Northern Hemisphere but a few range into Wallacea...

. Fishing includes bass, pike, panfish, and trout. The park also includes a rifle and a sporting clays range.

Bald Mountain gained widespread attention when it was the location of two assisted suicide

Assisted suicide

Assisted suicide is the common term for actions by which an individual helps another person voluntarily bring about his or her own death. "Assistance" may mean providing one with the means to end one's own life, but may extend to other actions. It differs to euthanasia where another person ends...

s performed by Dr. Jack Kevorkian in 1991.

Bald Mountain is adjacent to the grounds of Lake Orion High School

Lake Orion High School

Lake Orion High School is a public secondary institution located in Orion Township, Michigan. It is a part of Lake Orion Community Schools.The large campus features a centralized commons area, which serves as a distribution center to the wings. The commons area features the cafeteria and student...

.

Land that is now part of Bald Mountain had previously been a part of the Scripps Mansion

Scripps Mansion

The Scripps Mansion is a Tudor style mansion located in Lake Orion, Michigan. The buildings and surrounding land are known collectively as The William E. Scripps Estate.-History:...

.

Facilities and activities

• Hunting
  Hunting
  Hunting is the practice of pursuing any living thing, usually wildlife, for food, recreation, or trade. In present-day use, the term refers to lawful hunting, as distinguished from poaching, which is the killing, trapping or capture of the hunted species contrary to applicable law...
  
  : The park is open to hunting from September 15 to March 31.
• Shooting
  Shooting
  Shooting is the act or process of firing rifles, shotguns or other projectile weapons such as bows or crossbows. Even the firing of artillery, rockets and missiles can be called shooting. A person who specializes in shooting is a marksman...
  
  /Archery
  Archery
  Archery is the art, practice, or skill of propelling arrows with the use of a bow, from Latin arcus. Archery has historically been used for hunting and combat; in modern times, however, its main use is that of a recreational activity...
  
   range
• Swimming: There's sandy beach on Lower Trout Lake.
• Canoeing
  Canoeing
  Canoeing is an outdoor activity that involves a special kind of canoe.Open canoes may be 'poled' , sailed, 'lined and tracked' or even 'gunnel-bobbed'....
  
  
• Playground
  Playground
  A playground or play area is a place with a specific design for children be able to play there. It may be indoors but is typically outdoors...
  
  
• Hiking
  Hiking
  Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
  
  : There are 15 miles of marked trails, some rugged.
• Mountain biking
  Mountain biking
  Mountain biking is a sport which consists of riding bicycles off-road, often over rough terrain, using specially adapted mountain bikes. Mountain bikes share similarities with other bikes, but incorporate features designed to enhance durability and performance in rough terrain.Mountain biking can...
  
  
• Cross-country skiing
  Cross-country skiing
  Cross-country skiing is a winter sport in which participants propel themselves across snow-covered terrain using skis and poles...
  
  : Eight miles of trails are groomed.
• Snowmobiling: The park's southern trails (seven miles' worth) are open to snowmobiling.
• Boating
  Boating
  Boating is the leisurely activity of travelling by boat, or the recreational use of a boat whether powerboats, sailboats, or man-powered vessels , focused on the travel itself, as well as sports activities, such as fishing or water skiing...
  
  
• Fishing
  Fishing
  Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
  
  : Trout Creek
  Trout Creek (Michigan)
  Trout Creek is a tributary of Paint Creek in Oakland County, Michigan, in the United States. Via Paint Creek and the Clinton River, it is a tributary of Lake St. Clair....
  
   and Paint Creek
  Paint Creek (Michigan)
  Paint Creek is a stream in the U.S. state of Michigan, located in northern Oakland County and rising in Brandon Township in the northern part of the county. The creek drains through a series of lakes that lead into Lake Orion. Paint Creek continues as the outflow from the east end of Lake Orion in...
  
   are designated trout streams. Graham Lake and other area lakes have largemouth bass and northern pike.
• Picnicking
  • Picnic Area
  • Picnic Shelter
• Camping
  Camping
  Camping is an outdoor recreational activity. The participants leave urban areas, their home region, or civilization and enjoy nature while spending one or several nights outdoors, usually at a campsite. Camping may involve the use of a tent, caravan, motorhome, cabin, a primitive structure, or no...
  
  : Camping options are limited to two rustic cabins.
• Metal Detecting
  Metal detector
  A metal detector is a device which responds to metal that may not be readily apparent.The simplest form of a metal detector consists of an oscillator producing an alternating current that passes through a coil producing an alternating magnetic field...
  
  : Metal detecting is permitted in designated areas of the park. Found items are subject to review by park staff and may be retained pending further investigation.

External links

• Bald Mountain Recreation Area Michigan Department of Natural Resources
  Michigan Department of Natural Resources
  The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is the agency of the state of Michigan charged with maintaining natural resources such as state parks, state forests, and recreation areas. It is governed by a director appointed by the Governor and accepted by the Natural Resources Commission...
  
  
• Bald Mountain Recreation Area Metal Detecting Map Michigan DNR
• Bald Mountain Recreation Area Protected Planet (World Database on Protected Areas)