Metro Parks - Kensington

PARK AMENITIES With more than two and a half million visitors each year, Kensington Metropark is a 4,481- acre first- class recreational facility. Its wooded hilly terrain surrounds beautiful Kent Lake. The park features an 18-hole regulation golf course, a disc golf course, a nature center, a farm learning center, picnic areas, beaches, boat rentals and a paved hike-bike trail.
Vehicle Entry Permit
Annual	$20
Seniors	$12
Daily	$4
Joint Annual Permit - HCMA, Oakland County Parks	$46

BIKING A paved, eight and one-half mile trail, with rolling terrain and a few steep hills, circles Kent Lake. Helmet use is required by local ordinance for cyclists, in-line skaters and anyone using a wheeled device on the paved hike/bike trail. Skateboards and mountainboards are not permitted in the park.

BIRDING
Walk along the boardwalk on Wildwing Lake in the spring to see great blue herons nesting in the rookery. Nature interpreters maintain a park bird species list. A variety of birding programs are held throughout the year to help people interested in watching birds. Volunteers help maintain bluebird nest boxes throughout the park. Spring, fall and winter bird counts are held to assess the birds in the park.

BOATING AND LAUNCHING Ten ramps at the East Boat Launch, and six ramps at the West Boat Launch give quick access to Kent Lake, which has a 10 m.p.h. speed limit. Metropark Boat Launch Permit required. 93 slips for rent by season. No boats permitted on Wildwing Lake or Kingfisher Lagoon.
Boat launch permit
Annual	$24
Seniors	$12
Daily	$4

Boat slip rental - space per season
Class A 78-96" width, length up to 24'	$400
Class B 66-77" width, length up to 20'	$350
Class C 54-65" width, length up to 18'	$300

BOAT EXCURSION "Island Queen II," a 37-passenger pontoon boat makes hourly trips, from noon until 6 p.m. daily during summer months from Boat Rental Area. Special rates for seniors and children 12 and under. Group charters may be arranged during unscheduled hours by contacting the Park Office.
Tours / noon to 6 pm daily
Children ages 3-12 and Seniors	$3/person
Adults	$4/person
Children two years and under	Free

Morning charter-maximum 37 passengers
First 25 passengers	$60/hour
Each passenger after first 25	$1/hour

Evening charter-maximum 37 passengers
First 25 passengers	$90/hour
Each passenger after first 25	$2/hour

BOAT RENTAL Paddleboats, kayaks and rowboats are available at the Boat Rental Building near Maple Beach. Special senior rates (weekdays only except holidays). Life jackets provided. $20 deposit and driver's license required for rentals.
Boat Rental Fees
Kayak
$5/hour - one person	$7/hour - two person

Rowboat	$5/hour (maximum $20)
Senior rate - Weekdays (M-F)	$4/hour (maximum $15)

Maximum 6 horsepower motor allowed on 12' boat Maximum 10 horsepower motor allowed on 14' boat

Paddleboats 4 passenger	$10/hour

Cushions/life jackets	$1
Cushions/life jackets Deposit	$5

CANOEING Canoe maps for trips along the Huron River available at the Park Office. Canoe campsites available for overnight trips by advance reservation only. Contact the Park Office for reservations. No canoe rentals.
Canoe campsite fee - overnight	$2/canoe (up to five canoes)

CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING More than 12 miles of groomed trails suitable for novice, intermediate and advanced skiers on scenic, hilly terrain, and through wooded areas. The Ski Touring Center (Golf Starter Building), open weekends and holidays, features restrooms and food service. Special equipment rental rates are available for organized groups on weekdays. Ski maps available at Ski Touring Center or Park Office Beginner-level trails are on the golf course; more advanced trails are located throughout the park.
Cross country ski rental
1/2 day full equipment pkg.	$8
Skis only	$3
Boots only	$3
Poles only	$2
Group Rate (M-F)	$4.50/person
(minimum 12 people)

DISC GOLF The 24-hole disc golf course, located at the north end of the Martindale Beach parking lot, is open daily thru the year during park hours. Free.

FARM LEARNING CENTER Walk down the farm lanes and get a feel of farm life. Meet the animals, including horses, cows, ducks, sheep and pigs, and tour the barns, including a 150-year old restored horse barn and a poultry house. Hayrides/sleighrides on weekends. Group charters available. Food bar at the Farm Center.
Hayrides/sleighrides / noon-4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays
Children 2 years old and under	FREE
Children 3-12 years	$3
Seniors	$3
Adults	$5

Reservations 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Rates for one hour	$150
Rate for two hours	$250
Bonfire	$50

Day charter reservations 10 am-4:30 pm
Group rate 1/2 hour Wed. and Thurs.	$50

FISHING
Summer catches include bass (large and smallmouth), walleye, northern pike, bluegills, perch and crappies. Winter catches include pike, bluegills and crappies. Shorefishing sites near parking; several handicap-accessible fishing piers on Kent Lake, located near the West Boat Launch. Michigan Fishing or Sportsperson's license required. Water depth maps are available at Boat Rental or Park Office. No fishing on Kingfisher Lagoon or at posted areas of Wildwing Lake.

FITNESS TRAIL A 20-station exercise trail is designed to provide a well-balanced routine of physical activity and fun for all ages. Trail located in Playfield Picnic Area.

GOLF Kensington's 6,378-yard 18-hole, par-71 course is one of the 10 best publicly owned courses in Michigan. Special rates for Seniors (62 and older) and Juniors (17 and younger) weekdays only except holidays. Beer and wine sold at the starter building; no coolers allowed. Phone 248-685-9332 or 1-800-234-6534 for reservations and information.
Men's Course	Rating	Slope
Blue	71.6	117
White	70.8	115
Red	69.8	104
Women's Course	Rating	Slope
White	76.6	124
Red	69.8	112

Open year round, course conditions permitting.

Golf Fees	18 holes	9 holes
Weekends & Holidays	$26	$17
Monday - Friday	$22	$14
Seniors & Juniors	$15*	$11*
	* weekdays except holidays

Motorized Carts	$13	$8.50
Motorized Carts (Seniors)	$10	$7
	(1/2 cart charge)

Hand carts	$2
Walker Fee	$6

GROUP CAMPING Year around site available for overnight and day camping for organized youth groups. Full details for camping available at Park Office. Camping permit required.
Group campsite (youth groups only)
Permit	$30
Camporees/Jamborees	$30 per group, per site

HIKING At the park's nature center, more than eight and one-half miles of trails varying in length from a half mile to two and a half miles take hikers through a variety of habitats including a tamarack bog, woodlands, abandoned fields and open wetlands. The observant hiker is often rewarded with sightings of deer, birds, squirrels, raccoons and other wildlife along the trails. A boardwalk over Wildwing Lake affords close up views of the lake's inhabitants including a heron rookery that is located on an island in the lake. Interpretive labels along most of the trails explain some of the natural and cultural history of the area. Varied terrain. In addition to these trails, a one and one-half mile trail is located at the Spring Hill Picnic Area. The park's eight and one-half miles of paved hike-bike trail circles Kent Lake.

HORSEBACK RIDING Individuals with their own horses may use 10 miles of marked equestrian trails; the staging area is located off Dawson Road on Martindale Road. Release waiver and bridle tag required in advance. Contact Park Office for details. Dogs are not allowed on the trails.

ICE SKATING Ice skating rinks, for skating and hockey, are located on Kent Lake near the Boat Rental Building. The rinks are lighted during the evening. Heated building with fireplace and food bar. The building is heated. No skate rentals. Please call ahead for rink conditions.

ICE FISHING Ice fishing on Kent and Wildwing lakes; shanties must be removed before ice becomes unsafe or by March 1st.

NATURE CENTER Exhibits relating to the wildlife of the park may be viewed in the nature center. Some exhibits feature live animals such as fish, snakes and honeybees. Self guided nature trails radiate from the building into adjacent woods, fields and marshes. Maps and information on services available at the Center and at the Park Office. Dogs, pets, bicycles, skiing and jogging are not allowed on trails. Wildlife feeding prohibited throughout the park.

PICNICKING Picnic areas are located throughout Kensington, and include, 15 reservable picnic shelters, playgrounds and ball diamonds. All groups, regardless of size, are encouraged to register with the Park Office. Groups of 50 or more, those bringing in special equipment, and/or having a special event, must register with the Park Office. Picnic shelters available for rent. Picnic catering through Crank's Catering.
Picnic shelter reservation fee	$125

SPLASH 'n' BLAST The Splash 'n' Blast offers two, 250-foot twisted waterslides, and a water spray area with cannons, palm trees and serpents that spray water to cool off on a hot day. Irrigated with pool-quality water, the Splash 'n' Blast requires waterslide riders to be 48" high, and is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily through late summer. Admission is:
Adults	$4
Children (15 and under) & seniors	$3

Twilight rate (5 p.m. till closing)
Adults	$3
Children (15 and under) & seniors	$2

After Hours Group Rate (75 people or less)	$200 per hour

SWIMMING Maple Beach (no lifeguards on duty) is open daily 10 am - 6 pm, weather permitting, May 1 thru mid-September. Memorial Day thru Labor Day, Maple is open 10 am - 8 pm. Martindale Beach, lifeguarded, open daily Memorial Day thru Labor Day, contact the Park Office for hours of operation. Bathhouses, food bars and first aid facilities are available. Alcohol, grills and pets are prohibited in the beach areas.

SLEDDING The slopes at the winter sports area in the Orchard picnic area are ideal for sledding and offer beginning, intermediate and advanced sledding hills. A special bunny hill is designated for young children. Snowboards are prohibited. Saucers and inflatables are prohibited on the advanced hills. A nearby shelter has picnic tables and grills. Hours are 11 am to dusk weekdays and 10 am to dusk weekends, weather permitting. Contact the Park Office for hill conditions.

TOBOGGANNING The winter sports area in the Orchard picnic area also offers two toboggan runs. Sleds and snowboards are prohibited on the toboggan runs. Toboggans must be standard toboggans with attached padding on the seat. Hours are 11 am to dusk weekdays and 10 am to dusk weekends, weather permitting. Contact the Park Office for hill conditions.