Our Best Birding Walks in the Washtenaw County
These are some of our favorite birding areas.
If you’re an avid birder or just want to go for a walk and hear the natural sounds, consider one of these local walks.
Fall Color Trek in The Bird Hills Nature Area
Beautiful birdsong and glorious fall colors combine to make a visit to Ann Arbor’s Bird Hills Nature Area a walk to remember. The Bird Hills Nature Area rises above a great bend in the Huron River west of Ann Arbor. Encompassing 146 acres, it is the largest natural area in the city’s park system. With a variety of pathways, hikers will find a sanctuary in this hilly woodland.
A Beautiful Forest on the Edge of Ann Arbor – Scio Woods Preserve
There is nothing more enjoyable on the mind than wandering through a pristine woodland preserve. Scio Woods Preserve certainly is one of the places to go when your soul needs finding.
Lillie Park – Pittsfield, MI
Lillie Park sits in 124 acres of restored land in Pittsfield Township. Once a gravel pit, the area has been transformed into play areas and beautiful walking trails.
Riverbend Preserve – Clinton, MI
A peaceful walk to the River Raisin through a wetland habitat.
Joan Rodman Memorial Plant Preserve – Saline, MI
Joan Rodman loved this land and wanted others to enjoy it as much as she did.
Baker Woods Preserve – Chelsea, MI
Today I explored a new find, Baker Woods Preserve. The preserve covers 70 acres of old forest, open grasslands, and rolling hills and features well-maintained a trail system. Its varied ecosystem supports a large variety of birds and animals.
The Lively Lagoon at North Bay Park
North Bay Park is a hidden treasure. The park features a network of trails, a raised boardwalk, an observation tower, fishing platforms and a fitness trail. These are all built around a central lagoon that is abounding with waterfowl, turtles and lotus flowers. It is absolutely one of the prettiest parks in the county.
Sharon Hills Nature Preserve – Manchester, MI
Located on the western side of the county, this 67-acre preserve is a pocket remnant of what Michigan looked like before farming cleared most of Washtenaw County.
A Special Place in Sharon Hollow – Nan Weston Preserve
In an area highly altered by agriculture, logging and development. The Nan Weston Preserve serves to protect the remaining native ecosystems and provide stopover habitat for migrating birds.