It’s no secret that I love animals. I’ll take just about any chance to visit a farm experience, petting zoo, aquarium, or safari–especially if I get to interact with them! So, of course, I had to check out Deer Tracks Junction when I was in Michigan this summer. I mean, a drive-thru safari and an adventure park? That was too much to resist!
We were actually on our way to a different experience when I found this on Google, so we made an immediate U-turn and headed over to Cedar Springs, Michigan, to check it out.
Now, I’ve been to a few different animal experiences in Michigan, and I haven’t found one I have disliked yet. It always makes me smile to see someone renovating the family farm and turning it into a petting zoo or sanctuary for injured creatures instead of growing crops. While these tend to be a lot more casual than a state zoo, they also have a more intimate feel, and it seems like the animals get more love and attention, which is always a plus.
And since I’m always looking for unique and hidden experiences, Deer Tracks Junction seemed right up that alley.
The location has two different parts: Site 57 Safari and the Adventure Park. If you haven’t read my blog on Site 57 Safari, be sure to check it out! It was an incredible drive-thru safari experience with all sorts of animals, including bison, ostriches, camels, llamas, deer, and yaks.
Today, I want to tell you about the other half of the experience, which is part bear sanctuary and part the largest petting zoo I’ve ever been to! I’m smiling just thinking about all the fluffy and adorable animals we got to pet. And once you see the pics, you’ll be smiling, too!
Here we go!
A Little About the Deer Tracks Junction Adventure Park
Deer Tracks Junction is located at 7850 14 Mile Road NE, Cedar Springs, MI 49319-8012. That’s about 20 miles north of Grand Rapids, so it’s pretty accessible if you’re in the area.
While the Site 57 Safari is a drive-thru-only experience, the Adventure Park lets you interact on a more personal level with the fluffy creatures, including petting, feeding, and even holding a few! Additionally, this area features the second part of the bear sanctuary and some fun adult-sized playgrounds.
What Kind of Animals are in the Adventure Park?
The Adventure Park has a fantastic variety of creatures, from standard farm animals like goats and pigs to more exotic additions like emus and camels. If you go through the safari, this won’t be your only encounter with these animals, but I particularly enjoyed feeding them by hand on this side of things. They also have several kinds of critters that you can buy and take home, including bunnies, guinea pigs, and piglets! I also highly recommend visiting in spring and summer to see all the babies!
What Can I Do at the Adventure Park?
In addition to petting the animals, you can feed quite a few. Some baby animals require bottle feedings, which you can sign up to help with (for a price) at limited times during the day. However, most animals can be fed with standard food you buy by the bucket.
You should also:
- Hold a baby bunny
- Watch the bear cubs playing at the sanctuary
- Visit the Parakeet Pavilion
- Play on the playgrounds
- Have a rubber duck race
Quick Summary of the Deer Tracks Junction Adventure Park
Play Areas
The Deer Tracks Junction Adventure Park has several excellent play areas that kids and adults alike can enjoy! You’ll find the Fort & Train Play Area near the front entrance. A little further down the path, there’s a Playhouse, Fun Barn, and rubber duck races! There are two toddler play areas, including one next to some of the most adorable piggies you’ll ever see. And finally, beside the Parakeet Pavilion is the Giant Mine Play area, complete with “coal chute” slides!
Bottle Feedings
If you want extra baby animal time, sign up for a bottle feeding! Some of the young animals, like kids (baby goats), can’t handle the standard feed. Instead, they need some extra attention and a bottle! However, times for bottle feedings are limited, so be sure to arrive earlier in the day if you want to give it a go! You can purchase a bottle feeding at the Milk Parlor, along with regular feed buckets.
Bunny Barn
Next up is the Bunny Barn, which is precisely what it sounds like! Here, you can snuggle some adorable bunnies in several varieties and colors. Baby bunnies are also available for sale, and you’re welcome to hold them (under supervision). Yes, please!
Hog Heaven
I have never really thought of pigs as being cute, but the piglets at Hog Heaven were instantly lovable! There were quite a few pigs and piglets in the fenced-in pasture that you could drop some food for, but there were also some “free-range” piglets running around searching for a snack. These little guys were so sweet and fun to pet! If I remember correctly, these guys were also for sale.
Parakeet Pavilion
Down the path, you’ll find the Parakeet Pavilion, home to a colorful flock of budgies. It’s a small walking area, but you can interact with the birds from a platform. They’re pretty cute, but keep in mind that they’re mostly interested in parakeet feed. And don’t forget to watch where you walk!
90-Acre Wood
One of my favorite parts of the Deer Tracks Junction Adventure Park was the 90-Acre Wood. This is the owner’s passion project–a sanctuary for bears that cannot be released back into the wild. During our visit, they had a full-grown bear and a set of 3 cubs in this section. The cubs were absolutely hilarious to watch as they played together!
They have quite a few more bears under their care, which you can see on the Site 57 Safari.
The 90-Acre Wood is also home to a skunk or two and the Guinea Pig Garden, where you can buy pet guinea pigs.
Other Animals
Aside from these named locations, the path will lead you to several pastures where you can interact with all sorts of animals! There are emus, horses, miniature donkeys, cows, deer, camels, goats, turkeys, and yaks! And just about all of them are eager for some attention (and a snack, of course!)
Closing Thoughts on Deer Tracks Junction
If you’re in the central Michigan area, I know that “big attractions” can be few and far between farms. So if you’re looking for something to do in this area, definitely add this to the list! We were both surprised at how much fun we had here as two adults! It definitely helped that they had some unique petting zoo additions, like the camels and emus.
I also highly recommend that you go ahead and get the combo pass when you visit. It’s only $22 per person for admission to the Adventure Park and Site 57 Safari. In my opinion, it’s well worth it for the two to three hours of fun you’ll have.
Be sure to check out my full post on Site 57 Safari before you go. And if you’re not subscribed to the blog, it’s a great time to get on the A-list for the latest adventures and travel deals!
Sign Up for Updates from Carried Away Travels
Thanks so much for stopping by, and I wish you the happiest of holidays and many wonderful adventures ahead!
Ready for More? Check Out These Recent Posts!
- How to Spend 3 Days in Dublin & Northern Ireland
- 11 Essential Things to Know Before Visiting Iceland
- My Top 12 Travel Tools For Saving Time & Money
- Dublin Exploration Hack: Big Bus Tours
- The Best 5-Day Colorado Itinerary
- How to Maximize Your Next Workcation: Top Tips
Make Vacation Planning Easier
Download my Vacation Planner or Travel Blogger’s Planner today!