Our Best Nature Hikes in Washtenaw County
These are some of our favorite natural areas in the county.
If you’re an avid hiker or just want to go for a walk and enjoy the scenery, consider one of these local trails.
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.
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.
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 Ramble Through Beautiful Brauer Preserve
Brauer Preserve, a 226-acre tract that protects diverse habitat types, from sandy knolls and upland oak/hickory forests to rich wetlands.
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.
Pittsfield Preserve – Early Spring, Squishy Walk
Twenty-some years ago, in 1999, there was a plan to build 1200 homes, retail spaces, and soccer fields in the center of Pittsfield Township. This plan included using a fleet of bulldozers and earthmovers to flatten, fill, and mow down a unique wetland area changing the township’s rural feel. Instead, the township purchased the land and created the Pittsfield Preserve that has become the pride of the area.