Our Best Nature Hikes Near Ann Arbor, MI

These are some of our favorite nature hikes near Ann Arbor.
If you’re an avid hiker or just want to go for a walk and enjoy the scenery, consider one of these local trails.

Two boats rowing on the Huron River in Autumn
Parks

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.

Fox Science Preserve Sign Entrance Sign
Preserves

Exploring the Past at Fox Science Preserve

Fox Science Preserve sits between Ann Arbor and Dexter in an old gravel quarry. The machines that dug deep into the soil are now gone, leaving behind a scene not too different from the glacial moraines of 12,000 years ago. This rocky and barren surface soon was recognized as a natural classroom for the study of biological succession. Teachers, students, and parents began exploring the boulders and limestone surfaces, observing as nature begins its transformation of the empty quarry into a fully functioning ecosystem.