My mother in law found out there was a nature preserve near my mom's house. We always drive past it…read moreand never noticed it because the sign is kinda small and the road is narrow and rocky. We pulled in and there wad a building on the right and one of the left. When we pulled to the left we saw two gentleman with trucks and spoke with them. They told us it is a 38 acre property but the trail is about a quarter mile. They also mentioned that the building we saw use to be an equestrian farm. We pulled to the side and parked on a rocky road. It was a little rough to push the wagon at first because of the big rocks. We walked along the trail and it was mostly covered by tons of trees. The path was mostly grassy and I didn't see any dirt or rocks. We saw a pond with a little shack on it. We also saw the back of the pond with tall grasses. It was very beautiful but it was a very quick walk. If you enjoy nature this is a spot to come to because it is very secluded and quiet. You could hear the birds and there was tons of wildflowers to look at as well.

August, 2020. This is a newly opened nature preserve in…read moreour area on 26 Mile, east of Card Rd. If you want a quiet, relaxing walk where you can enjoy the rustic beauty that nature has to offer, this is a nice place to do it. It's 38 acres of trees, a dirt walking path and lots of wildlife to seek out from birds, to insects to squirrels, deer and other animals. The trail isn't too long and it's a quick circular walk if you're short on time. Along the pathway, you'll also see wildflowers and a couple of ponds. There's not much to the ponds... they're just natural looking ponds. Also, look for the old rustic cabin that sits next to the pond while you're walking. It's worth a quick look and adds to the beauty of the area. Although this nature preserve sits in the middle of the township, when you're on the trail, you'd never know that because you can't hear the traffic. You can easily enjoy the solitude and peacefulness of your short journey around the loop. A couple of tips....There's a porta john on site 'just in case'. Also, wear walking shoes since it's a dirt trail, especially if the dirt is wet. There's plenty of parking, although I don't think you'll be searching for an available parking space since as of right now, there's not much to do here besides walk the short trail and take in the scenery. So if you want to feel close to nature in some quiet solitude, come visit our newest nature preserve in Macomb. Look for the wooden sign at the driveway entrance. I posted a picture of it. Don't blink or you'll miss where to turn in!

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......

Beautiful walk, perfect for a quick afternoon stroll. Some areas are nice and shaded and others are…read moresunny!

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.

An amazing place to walk and enjoy yourself the sights are breathtaking very good Area to be would…read morehighly recommend to anyone who's wanting a quite peaceful place to think

Many years ago I hosted a bridal shower here but recently I have visited to walk around the pond…read moreand explore the woods. The location is great! Right by I-75 but still wooded and the comfort of being outside. Clean bathrooms, with diaper changing table. No swimming or fishing allowed. It doesn't offer as much as other nature centers but if you know what you're getting into, it's still nice. I'm looking forward to renting the cabins in the fall.

I wanted to try a new place for hiking around me one day because I felt like I had been everywhere…read morenearby when I found Hawk Woods! It feels so close to the highway, yet also completely secluded from it as well. There was only one part of the hike where I felt like I could hear the highway sounds, but otherwise, it felt like a cool little sojourn into nature. The overall size of the park is very small, I believe the outer loop was about one mile MAX, so definitely a very quick, very easy hike you can do! You can honestly do the loop a few times if you so please as well. Very little elevation gain, perfect for all skill-levels, some variance in scenery as you go about the hike, dog-friendly, and filled with little nature, educational signs throughout. A delight and a perfect way to do a quick little getaway into nature!

Great paved walking trails. Lots of wooded area. Perfect place to take your dog. Poop bags are…read moreavailable on location.

It's no Stony Creek, River Bends or Polly Ann Trail but then I guess it's no joke like Harrington…read moreTrails Park either. A heavily wooded, overgrown plot of land I'd driven by a couple times and vaguely noticed as some sort of nature park, I then saw Wilcox-Warnes reviewed right here on Yelp and made it a point to turn into its little blink-and-you-miss-it lot. I was kind of up that way for my cousin's graduation party anyway. I had to duck under some low hanging branches, likely from a tree felled in one of the intense storms we've had here in Michigan this summer. The planks which alternated with plain ol dirt for the trail came in handy but in a few places the path was very nearly lost in foliage. But with no machete I still managed to make my way through. It really was like a whole little other world as soon as I crossed that first trail blockage. The trails here aren't the longest but I wasn't really expecting them to be either. I got in a nice little hike right before the sunset with the only other nature goers leaving just as I set off. These woods seem like they'd be loaded with mosquitoes but i just roll with a bottle of Off! in my glove compartment these days so I emerged from my trail walk bite free. There's a little bridge in one place but what looked to be a creek bed was nothing but mud. Odd since we've gotten loads of rain recently in southeast Michigan. Someone build a dam near here or something? The laminated sign reading TRAIL ENDS was also odd in a way that was both hilarious and disappointing. There's room here to just have a trail that loops around instead of just abruptly ceasing so you have to double back but whatever I guess. There's one nice little meadow but other than that Wilcox-Warnes is heavily wooded. And you can hear noise from the road in places but it is a nice little respite from outer suburbia. Truthfully, it's nothing too special and I wouldn't go too far out of my way for this nature reserve with the superior options listed at the beginning of the review but Wilcox-Warnes does offer something pretty rustic if basic. I thought about three stars, but given that this land could easily be eaten up by brown and beige McMansions, condos, strip malls or other insidious, encroaching developments, I'll give WW a four.

A true gem. So special "as is" that we're hesitant to fill this review will our all our lauding…read moreremarks and don't want to overpopulate the visitor traffic Stop by visitors center first for some outdoor posted info, their packed pollinators garden, and most importantly a quick check with ranger to see if driving trail is open. If unable to drive through, highly recommend their nice hiking trails (easy terrain). Plenty of water fowl and flora to view. Quiet, serene setting truly transports one away from the hustle and bustle. We needed the break from tourist-filled Frankenmuth and we're surprised refuge was just a 20-minute drive away. Ahhhhh...great respite. Would have appreciated a few more benches to be able to sit and soak in the ambience. Plus a handout map....digital was great but cell service can be spotty. Add a list with pics of some wildlife to view would be helpful as well. Appreciate the park rangers hard work in keeping such a safe haven for wildlife. Expect to need a car wash afterwards...dirt road. But we'll worth it! Free admission (thanks). Donor box? We'd gladly support your cause

Awesome little auto loop. They have great hiking trails…read morealso. I saw a lot of cool little fuzzy caterpillars, a snake, different kinds of birds, an eagle's nest...It's not open year round but you can hike year round. Beautiful little treasure tucked away...

Beautiful walk - 8.9 miles if you walk the full trail according to the signage. Construction is…read morehappening now but there are detour signs along the way.

There's no greater slice of heaven on Earth than the Paint Creek Trail. I still remember the first…read moretime my boyfriend and I walked down it 4 years ago--it was mid-October and the leaves were turning golden reds and browns. We walked about a mile and a half into downtown Rochester Hills, passing by a police horse, a family of seven deer, and many bikers, runners, and walkers like us along the way. The path was clean, the nature was beautiful, and everyone we passed was just as happy to be enjoying this trail as we were. It's just as magical today as it was then. This trail is, in short, an absolute gem. If there was a list for best casual walking trails near a downtown in the US, this would top it. We've easily put thousands of miles of walking into that trail--which has its unique history of its own as a former railroad line. Through every season, from rain to sun to snow, we've been blessed to watch its beautiful trees and flora evolve throughout the years. The best part, however, is that everyone respects the beauty of it. There are trash cans spread out, but you'll never find a candy wrapper or doggy bag left in a stray bush. Bikers make themselves well heard before safely passing around a group of idle walkers. It's rare to hear runners blaring loud music, and I swear children are visibly calmer when walking through Dinosaur Hill with their parents. I genuinely believe every city in America's overall happiness levels would skyrocket if they had a trail like this. But that's what makes the Paint Creek Trail special--it's uniquely one of a kind in its simplicity and beauty.

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.

The park is nice with decent trails that runs along the river. There were lot of mosquitoes and…read morebugs. There were signs that mentioned about ticks, so beware. We had to leave in few minutes due to this. I would recommend using a strong insect repellent if you are going with kids.

Great year-round trail for biking, hiking, leisure walks, XC skiing, and snowshoeing. There are…read moresingle tracks off the main trail for MTB & foot paths. Depending on weather and time of year areas of the main trail can range from dry to flooded or require use of mosquito repellent... Nature, enjoy it. The main trail heading East connects to the ITC trail, before Lilley Rd., that heads North and to the I-275 bike/hide trail past Haggerty Rd. Eventually the main trail is supposed to be extended past the I-275 trail intersect to Hannan Rd.