With everything going on, we just needed to get away & unplug! The Nan Weston Preserve was perfect…read more It was a nice & easy drive to get to this beautiful preserve. For my fellow SoCal folks -- this is NOT a Los Angeles hike. You can tell where the trail is, but wear some hiking shoes (was a little muddy) and.BRING SO MUCH BUG SPRAY. I REPEAT, bring/wear/lather. alllllll. the. bug. spray. Some of the trail has a raised wooden planks, but other parts are just dirt (but still easy to see the path) & through some grassy terrain. So...wear pants! It was so lush and beautiful, but it got warm rather quickly! I didn't see any wildlife though - just lots of bugs! But I'd imagine that this place is teeming with wildlife when there isn't a human making lots of noise /flailing around to avoid the flying bugs! Ha.

I like coming here because its has relatively convenient parking. The paths aren't usually too…read morebusy. I have had many enjoyable experiences traversing the preserve.

featuring wooded trails, wetlands, a lake, boardwalk areas, and unique rock formations that make it…read morefeel like you're much farther away from the city. It's a perfect spot for a peaceful walk, nature photos, and a little outdoor adventure without leaving Metro Detroit.

Nice walking trails - I think it's about 1.3 miles around the trail one time. Little benches to sit…read moreon and reflect on the world's problems or to just be in nature. Lake is pretty and calming. I saw a couple deer and some little furry friends while on my walk. Not sure if you should stay on the trails but some others who were walking were not......

**During Covid**…read more This was my first time exploring this trail and I must stay - it was not an easy one but it was a GOOD one. Getting there the road is all gravel and they're also some safety ridges near resident area so you literally only can go 10 mph. The location has 2 areas for parking in case it filled which I don't see it happening but plenty of room and there's 3 picnic tables available. Unfortunately I do not recall any restroom but there was hand sanitizer available not sure if the park put it out or if someone volunteered and place it out. The trail is very rocky and it also weaves through - also one may say it's hilly as well so if you have knee issues this would not be the trail for you or bring you some good walking sticks. I'm glad I did use my hiking boots because I feel shoes will probably have you sliding - highly suggest to avoid this part if it rained previously. Other than that it's very shady and make sure you bring bug spray as well so you can reapply but the trail was very clear and markings every half a mile. There's three types of trails so make sure you follow the marker assigned for the specific trail you're trying to explore. since this is one of the better trails please be cautious there are mountain bikers and I advise any hikers or runners not to run with any music so you can hear others. Last but not least there were only two benches available during the eight mile hike PS - please review the path scheduling so you're walking in the correct direction for that day. Happy hiking!!!

On a gorgeous fall day, few things are better than a walk in the woods. Wanting to get out and…read morestretch our legs some, a friend and I made the short trek to Chelsea on a recent weekend to check out the newly-opened DTE Trail. Located just outside of Chelsea and in its first Season, the DTE trail provides a tranquil spot to get some fresh air and enjoy some beautiful changing colors. After parking in the decent-sized lot, we decided on the Greek Lake trail to get started. In a loop around Green Lake, it meanders gently through the woods. As a hiker, you'll share the trail with mountain bikers, so be sure to watch for which direction you're supposed to walk in each day (it alternates), and listen for them as they come through. Our hike ended up being about 5 miles and was a perfect way to get outside and discover a new place. And with another loop in the other direction, we've already got our destination for the next beautiful fall day.

What an absolutely wonderful nature center! There are so many nooks & crannies to this space and…read morejust so much educational learning to be had here. I came here in the winter and really loved walking the trails throughout the center. It helped that one of my friends, Dan, manages the programs here and would point out all the cool trees, plants, and general history as we walked along. He truly made my first time at Woldumar so memorable and his passion for this nature center truly shines through in everything he does - even when he's off the clock just showing boring ol' me around! I've heard so much of all the work Dan has put into this place over the years and he truly makes Woldumar shine bright for all those who come and visit, whether for an afternoon or for a summer-long program! I imagine this place overrun with kids and adults alike when the weather is great and can only imagine how much fun it would be to experience this place in the summertime. There is truly something for everyone here and definitely recommend this if you're looking for a low-key place where not a ton of people will be with some majorly high-key fun and exploration!

Well aside from the time I was stalked by the headless child-bride of Woldumar, I must say that…read moreI've had wonderful experiences here at every season of the year. Nah, I'm just pulling your chain. No headless spirits in these woods, but it got your attention, didn't it? Now for some facts: miles of enjoyable, non-challenging trails through a surprising variety of landscapes. Decent visitors center with restrooms. Free; donations accepted. Fair chance for sighting small wildlife, especially waterfowl. Occasional music or craft events may require a fee.

This County Park is a hidden gem! Well maintained, great trails and play structures, lovely beach…read more A great outdoor experience including easy access to the Blue Heron water park and Independence Lake boat/canoe launch. A true GEM!

Check the county website or facebook page before you go!! Recently, the beach at Independence Lake…read morehas had to be shut down several times for high e coli levels. One of the posts said that this is because of the amount of geese that have been frequenting the lake this year or because of runoff from rain. We went once before we knew about the e coli issues and actually had a great time. The beach (we thought) appeared clean and the water was the perfect cool temperature on a hot summer day. The swimming area went deep enough that we could float away from the littles on the shoreline. There were two life guards on duty. They have really amazing facilities where a get together was being held under the pavilion. They have a snack station, but we brought our own chips and sodas. They also have a splash pad with water slides. This area was closed when we went, and you have to pay a little more to access this area. They also have some cool trails and a frisbee golf course. You can bring dogs, but not to the designated swimming area. I hope they figure out the e coli issues because we would love to go back.

Went for a quick walk on the Clinton River Trail before work and it ended up being a really nice…read morestart to the day. It was quiet, open, and had that calm morning feel. I walked to the bridge and back -- just enough to stretch my legs and get moving without turning it into a full workout. Simple, peaceful, and a good spot if you just want to clear your head for a bit.

This is a fairly long trail (16 miles that goes through a few cities). The website with the trail…read moremap was very helpful in locating places to park and trail heads. I was able to park at Beaudette Park and the trail was well marked so it was easy to find and also follow. I bought my dog (and saw lots of other dogs) and was able to walk towards sylvan. This trail connects to the West Bloomfield Trail seamlessly. I do feel there were a lack of garbage cans in certain areas but overall, the path was wide, well traveled, fairly flat, and clean. Perfect for a nice stroll!

This park/nature area is made for hiking. I wouldn't start here if you're a beginner hiker because…read morealthough the area is relatively small, the trails are steep and narrow! Great for a workout, especially if you live nearby. Speaking of living nearby, I wish there was a better-drawn map of the trails. There is a map on the A2 Parks and Rec website, but sometimes, the trails led you to the nearby culdesac. One trail also leads you to the basketball court.

Awesome hiking area. Saw the best views and the terrain was definitely a wonderful challenge. Went…read moreas a group but was able to break off on an individual hike and was definitely worth it to burn more calories and increase my pace. Love all of the hidden gyms in Michigan and this one is definitely one of them. I took mostly videos so the pic I have isn't that great

Large beach in a large park…read more Great place to meet up with a large group of friends or family! In the summer months (pre-Labor Day) they have an inflatable obstacle course courtesy of Warrior Island great for teens and adults I have seen dogs on this beach (and in the water) multiple times so clearly the NO ANIMALS sign is often ignored The changing rooms are interesting... no doors necessary since they're around a corner The singular outdoor shower is not private There's goose poop everywhere Biggest perk is how far you can go while it's still shallow

Indian Springs is one of my favorite Metro Parks. The Discovery Center has plenty of exploration…read moreopportunities, including a fun indoor scavenger hunt. The lower level takes you underground to get a fish eye view of the pond where we were greeted by a bluegill. You can rent event space inside the Discovery Center or one of the pavilions throughout the park. Visit during the summer to enjoy the splash park. Visit year-round to slow down and enjoy nature!

I recently paid my second visit to Indian Springs, the most far flung Metropark from my Detroit…read moreNorth End home. On my inaugural trip I biked the buttery smooth cycling trail taking a loop through beautiful woods, a circuit just long enough for some scenery and exercise but without any what-did-I-get-myself-into exhaustion. They have an absolutely lovely bike trail out here in White Lake, one that I'd judge to be second best in the 13 park Huron-Clinton Metropark chain, trailing only the magnificent Kensington which makes a full circuit of Kent Lake. I was a bit bummed on my maiden voyage here that I couldn't make my way into the Discovery Center as it was booked for a wedding that day. I really wanted to see the pond dome, a basement aquarium that's just a big observation bubble beneath the surface of a pond. Them's the breaks; they gotta pay the bills and it did sound like an intriguing place to get hitched. Last week I made the drive back out here to get my pond doming in. It was really cool, but also slightly underwhelming. Not a whole lot of fish or much variety of fish and no frogs or other reptiles to be found. The dome was pretty sludgy in places but I could still see over 20 feet into the pond as demonstrated by a series of targets with labels showing how far away they were. Other reviewers have complained about not being able to see far which makes me wonder how often it's cleaned. It's really gotta be a serious pain to keep this dome free of algae and pond scum and what not. At any rate it was in reasonable shape on the day I went. And I wonder if the time of year figures into how few fish I saw. Maybe I'm spoiled by aquariums that stock aquatic life rather than this honest to goodness look into actual nature. Like I said it is really cool but it also didn't quite live up to the initial thrill and jolt of wonder I got from first walking into it. I didn't see a whole lot else in the Discovery Center either but the taxidermied wolf near the entrance is something else! I also walked a shorter nature trail on my second visit here. It was a loop around a hill with tall grass. There was another pond to look at but really the views weren't that great. I also wasn't far from the park's main access road - not do naturey. I posted one pic on Instagram of the overcast gray October sky above the tall swaying grass that I thought looked like could have been the moody inspiration for a Van Gogh painting and it only got four likes. So I don't think the trails that navigate fields here are so great. The longer hiking trails that wind back through the woods look a lot more appealing. Perhaps if I manage a third trip out this way I can tackle one of those. All in all, this is a fine Metropark but doesn't have nearly the amount of attractions as some of the other larger parks in the chain. Maybe cause it's out in the boonies. There's a kids splash pad but no place where I as an adult would feel comfortable cooling off with some water. There's golf but no disc golf for us frisbee throwers. All my grousing about this and that on here is mostly nitpicking. This is a good park and I'd probably have it at five stars if I lived nearby. But I don't so four stars it is.