A sign posted in the Barkhausen visitors center states that on this shore “lies the largest coastal wetland on Lake Michigan, spanning two states and over one hundred miles in length. It is a major spawning area for fish and supports countless numbers of shorebirds, waterfowl, and other animals.” This hike takes you along the Meadow Ridge Trail, which winds its way past several ponds and prairies and into a wooded area as it sweeps along nearly the entire perimeter of the preserve. It is a very easy hike in terms of terrain, but the grass can be rather high, and on hot days the sun-exposed trails can make the hike taxing.