First time here, and it was beautiful. Hilly trail with packed dirt, paved, wood stairs, and boardwalk sections. Be aware that there are many roots and rocks on the trail so keep your eye out for tripping hazards especially with the fall leaves. The Rouge River runs through the grounds so there are little pockets of flowing water. I saw at least 7 deer, including a young buck with a small rack hiding in the brush. There were many different birds including a few woodpeckers, cardinals and blue jays. I'm pretty sure I saw a falcon too. I'll be back to enjoy the trails and wildlife again read more

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Stage Nature Center offers relaxing hikes through some well-marked wood chip and boardwalk trails. The trails are beautiful and even for not being that large, you could enjoy it for hours. Rouge River runs through for a nice natural water source. There are plenty of benches along the trails so you're never without the option to sit for too long. There is plenty of wildlife. I always see tons of deer wandering about. There is a resident racoon family, rescued owls, mallard ducks, and even the wild turkeys!! Plenty to see that will entertain young and old. read more

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Not sure how I've never been to this hidden gem in Troy! Today was a gorgeous day for a stroll on their trails! I think their longest trail is under a mile, and it being Michigan--it's relatively flat--but it's a great little nature area for time outside to enjoy the beautiful flora and fauna. I spotted some Trilliums, deer grazing in the woods, and of course, the resident turkeys strutting around outside the Nature Center. Highly recommend this spot, if you need a quiet place to see something growing and green! Will definitely go back. read more

A beautiful, peaceful place to hike to get away the noise of the city and the hustle and bustle. Best of all admission is free and the trails are open everyday from dawn to dusk. There are 4 small trails totally about 1.5 miles. Lots of animals can be spotted: white-tailed deer, chipmunks, garner sneakers, birds, and box turtles. Note that bathrooms are located in the visitor center, and not open after building hours. Also, no running is allowed on the trails and no dogs. The indoor exhibit center has live reptile and amphibians, a beehive observation, a research library with many children books. The Mastodon Dig site is a favorite for the kiddos where they can dig for bones and fossils. Many programs and activities are offered throughout the year for all ages such as live owl encounters, Maple-Syrup Time, Mindfulness workshops, yoga, and an annual Native Plant Sale. I highly recommend the Owl Encounters. An Owlsome learning experience for all!! read more

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Such a cool spot! Went on the owl tour and tons of nature abounded on the day we went. Turkeys, deer and the owls that they have been rehabilitating. Enjoyed the naturalist who gave us information about the owls that they help and brought out a screech owl fir us to see up close and personal. It was a bit cold out and it may have also snowed lol! Will definitely come back to check out more stuff. read more

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Beautiful area that is home to some lovely shaded trails winding over and around the Rouge River. Plenty of parking. Educational center. Home to several owls that are being rehabilitated, but cannot be released back into the wild. I dropped a star from five to four due to posted signs all over the trails saying no running (emphasized/underlined over all other sports one wouldn't think of doing on the trails such as snow skiing and ATV riding). If the trails are empty, I think one should be allowed to jog through and not disturb others or wildlife. A single jogger staying to one side of the trail, appreciating the scenery takes up far less real estate than a family of three or four consuming the entire path. Regardless of your exploration method, this is a great place to visit in Troy. read more

Nice small park. If you show up at right time all kinds of local wildlife's are expected to see. read more

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Very nice . Easy walking trails and tons of wildlife. Worth the trip. I will visit again.

What a perfect indoor and outdoor place for a relaxing and educational time of play and nature! It was warm but drizzling outside, but I really wanted to get me and my son out of the house. My trip to Stage Nature Center was kind of impromptu, but I'm so glad we went there! Easy parking, completely free experience, super engaging indoor nature center with tons of fun, interactive activities for younger students and toddlers. The staff was incredibly sweet and welcoming, and we loved seeing various types of real owls, the duck pond, and enjoying the forest and various trails. We even saw two wild turkeys in all their glory! A perfect place for my son to play and explore! . We will definitely be back there soon! read more

Stage Nature Center - Stage Nature Center - Hiking Near Me - Troy, Michigan

Lovely place to walk. Lots of shade, boardwalks, bridges and sightings of deer, birds & other creatures. Trails are open dawn to dusk 365 days a year. Check the website for nature center building hours. It's cute and has nice restrooms. read more

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This is almost certainly one of the best nature walks in the area. Some of the reviews mentioned yoga and rated the nature center itself, but the best thing to do in a heavily forested area with a trail is take a walk. However, if you have kids there are activities for them and they are always in need of volunteers to help clear the trails. The trails are really well-kept and there are a variety of animals: white-tailed deer, snapping turtles, box turtles, skunks, foxes, garter snakes (I've never seen a massausaga here, which is another plus for the trail) and it's a great place to bird watch (lots of woodpeckers, owls, and hawks). I try to walk here a few times each week, and aside from some noisiness on the weekend and the occasional teenager emerging from the forest reeking of a plant that I don't believe grows here, it's usually pretty quiet and calm. If you live in the area, you should visit! read more

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I took my kids to the nature center for the first time and they loved it. The actual center had plenty to keep them entertained for awhile and the trails were short enough that they weren't complaining about being tired by the end of our hike. The trails were very quiet and well maintained; it was a great way to spend a couple hours in the woods. We didn't look at a map before we left but everything was well marked so it wasn't a problem. read more

Stage Nature Center - Mastodon dog site for the kids - Hiking Near Me - Troy, Michigan

The nature center itself has seen its better days but the trails are a nice escape from the bustling city life. You will find plenty of deer in the park all year long. read more

My mom took me here just to go on a walk a couple months ago, and it was lovely. They have two or three trails through the woods, and while we were walking, we saw a family of deer. The big daddy deer, the mom and the baby, who had the little white fluff of a tail and the white spots -- just like Bambi. We also heard and saw quite a few birds. I think if you hike all the trails, it's about two miles, but we just hiked one, so we only went about a mile (which is good for kids or older people). There is even this little observatory deck that you can walk up to and look over the whole park. They've got some cool, real-looking rock formations in the front that kids love to play on. And when I went there for yoga this past Sunday, there were a bunch of kids playing in this faux mastodon dig site -- it seemed pretty darn cool for the under-12 set. I also noticed that there is a neat, lodge-esque reading room, and adirondack chairs in the back to sit and read, or just chill. About the yoga. My mom signed up for it, but wanted to go to an art lecture this Sunday instead, so she asked the instructor if I could take her place. Most of the people were my parents' age, but that wasn't a problem. I just wish it had been a little warmer, because my mom said during the summer the class was held outside and it made for a very serene and relaxing practice. Sort of a communing-with-nature-type thing. The instructor was a little too new age-y for me, asking us to send out our gratitude to the others in the room, and stuff like that. But I'm really skeptical about all that stuff, so to be honest, it was actually pretty minimal, which is simply more new age crunch than I prefer. The yoga itself was a little pieced together. I tend to prefer sun salutations and flowing sets of movements, while this was more one thing at a time. Everyone in the class seemed to enjoy it, however, and made me feel like a part of the group. And actually, we did get to go outside for about 20 minutes of meditation after the yoga practice, and even though the instructor didn't say much as far as guiding our meditation, except for a short introduction, it was very calming. In fact, maybe it's because she didn't say much that I enjoyed it so much. I just didn't think I could stay still and silent for that long, without a few reminders to picture a flame or imagine our worries flowing out with each exhale. I did, though, and it felt great to be out in the sun and the elements, meditating. It was exactly what I needed -- I've been a little jumpy lately. But no more. read more

Love seeing all the nature and animals and my backyard d is attached so the animals including fox and deer always are coming through! I love it!!! read more

Great winter hike! So many deer we lost count. The nature center seemed great and the staff was extremely friendly. My family and I will definitely be back and will also look into signing our son up for their spring/summer programs read more

5 stars all the way for a family activity. It's fun and FREE. Took my 3 year old and we just leisurely strolled along the trail together as we spotted deer, bluebirds, and squirrels. We caught a toad as it hopped in front of us, right across the path; and then later nearly caught a garter snake as IT too crossed the path right in front is us! The indoor center is cool too, with numerous taxidermy, a few live animals, a "dinosaur dig" for the kids to uncover "fossils," and various other nature themed toys and activities. It's an all-round great way to spend a few hours with your little one(s). read more