Spending time outdoors is healthy for the body and the mind. Outdoor play increases bodily fitness, promotes environmental-based learning and provides adventure for the whole family.
Want to get outside this season? Well, you’re in luck! We’ve compiled some of the best hiking trails, animal reserves and recreational parks in southeast Michigan where you and your family can embark on scenic excursions close to home.
Read more: You Won’t Believe These Epic Playgrounds in Metro Detroit
Kid-friendly nature centers in metro Detroit
Addison Oaks Park (County)
- Address: 1480 W. Romeo Road, Leonard
Spanning 1,140 acres, this outdoor haven offers 15 miles of trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding, plus lakes for fishing and swimming. Enjoy disc golf, geocaching and picnicking, or explore more via the 2.5-mile Connector Trail to Addison Oaks East Park.
Crosswinds Marsh Park (County)
- Address: 27600 Haggerty Road, New Boston
Explore one of the nation’s largest manmade marshes in Wayne County with 1.4 miles of boardwalk and eight family-friendly trails. This 1,050-acre park is home to wildflowers, upland forests and 240+ bird species, plus mammals, reptiles and more.
Dexter-Huron Metropark
- Address: 6535 Huron River Drive, Dexter
Take in the sights and sounds at this 122-acre, woodland expanse, mere miles northwest of Ann Arbor. Fish, kayak or canoe down the gentle Huron River, then hike the scenic trails that wind through woodlands and keep your eyes peeled for purple cresses, false rue anemones, harbinger-of-springs and many more wildflowers.
Heritage Park
- Address: 24915 Farmington Road, Farmington Hills
Get up close and stay informed about natural ecosystems at this 211-acre park featuring 4.5 miles of trails dedicated to hiking and natural study. During the summer, bring the kiddies to the north end of the park, which features a splash pad and playground, right beside horseshoe pits, sand volleyball courts, an in-line hockey rink and grills at the picnic area for those who come to stay awhile.
Hudson Mills Metropark
- Address: 8801 N. Territorial Road, Dexter
Here, the Huron River’s gentle flow picks up the pace; the rapids make the park a popular canoe and kayak destination. For athletes looking to move, there are soccer fields, basketball, tennis and shuffleboard courts, and even cross-country skiing trails for when temps drop and the snow falls thick. You’ll also find a 3-mile paved hike-bike trail and a 5-mile connector trail to explore.
Independence Oaks Park (County)
- Address: 9501 Sashabaw Road, Clarkston
The largest Oakland County Park at 1,286 acres, Independence Oaks boasts more than 12 miles of natural and paved trails for hiking, a beach for swimming, volleyball courts, and a boat launch for non-motorized boats to keep the fun going out on Crooked Lake. The Wint Nature Center offers interactive exhibits and programs for youngsters, too.
Indian Springs Metropark
- Address: 5200 Indian Trail, White Lake
Explore 2,547 acres of swamplands, meadows and wetlands on six miles of trails, including a kid-friendly loop. Visit the Environmental Discovery Center, enjoy wildlife sounds in summer, fall colors and snowy hikes in winter. There’s something to discover every season!
Kensington Metropark
- Address: 4570 Huron River Parkway, Milford
From songbirds and Sandhill cranes to ducks, waterfowl and great blue herons that nest in spring to the tiny chickadees, this park’s teeming teaming with winged wildlife – and with 4,481 acres of wooded, hilly terrain surrounding Kent Lake, is it any wonder why? The park draws millions of visitors wanting to birdwatch, hike, visit the Nature and Farm centers (check ahead for hours), play disc-golf, and cool down in the splash pad each year.
Lake Erie Metropark
- Address: 32481 W. Jefferson Ave., Brownstown
Eye the freighters as they chug up and down the Detroit River while hiking the 1.25-mile Cherry Island Marsh Trail and take in amazing views of the riverfront, Lake Erie, Sugar Island, Grosse Ile and Celeron Island. Walk the 0.5-mile Big Turtle Shortcut and one-mile Trapper’s Run trails to view dense hawthorn thickets and the manmade features of the lowland landscape. Glance up to the sky now and then, for you’re likely to catch in flight at least one of 300 bird species.
Lake St. Clair Metropark
- Address: 31300 Metropolitan Parkway, Harrison Township
This popular outdoor destination offers beautiful views of Lake St. Clair from the one-mile boardwalk, nature trails that wind through meadows, marshland and groves of cottonwood trees. Bird watch near the wetlands and shore, for this park’s home to more than 230 commonly seen species. Water enthusiasts can windsurf, kiteboard, swim, and boat in Lake St. Clair. Two marinas and eight ramps provide easy access to the water.
Lyon Oaks County Park
- Address: 52221 Pontiac Trail, Wixom
800 acres of wetlands, a 13-acre fenced dog park, a picnic shelter, a playground for the kids, soccer and cricket fields, and an 18-hole golf course with a driving range make Lyon Oaks a hotspot for families. More than six miles of trails permit cross-country skiing in the winter, biking and hiking in the summer, and on-leash dog walking so your furry four-legged friends can exercise, too.
Macomb Orchard Trail
- Address: Richmond trailhead: intersection of Water and Parker streets; Shelby Township trailhead: a parking lot on the west side of Dequindre Road, south of 24 Mile and Parkdale roads
This 24-mile paved rail-trail in Macomb County connects to 180 miles of trails. Enjoy orchards, farms, and a scenic bridge over the Clinton River. Trailheads in Shelby Township and Richmond offer easy access, parking, restrooms and picnic spots.
Oakwoods Metropark
- Address: 32911 Willow Road, New Boston
Explore 1,756 acres of woodlands near Flat Rock with scenic river views, a pond, and turtle encounters at the Nature Center. Enjoy 15 miles of hike-bike trails, equestrian paths and canoe routes connecting multiple Metroparks—all the way to Lake Erie.
Orion Oaks County Park
- Address: 2301 W. Clarkston Road, Lake Orion
Orion Oaks features a 24-acre dog park, lake access, and 10 miles of wooded trails. Enjoy fishing from a wheelchair-accessible pier, paddling non-motorized boats or hiking the scenic boardwalk that links trail systems across 916 acres.
Park Lyndon (County)
- Address: 18801 N. Territorial Road, Chelsea
A hiker’s haven, this scenic park in Washtenaw County offers varied habitats, 500+ plant species, and stunning elevation changes. No bikes allowed. Explore glacial features, spot rare wildlife and access the Waterloo-Pinckney Trail’s 50-mile network. Best for older kids and experienced hikers due to steep terrain.
Proud Lake Recreation Area
- Address: 3500 N. Wixom Road, Commerce Township
With 20+ miles of trails, hike through woods, wildflowers, and wetlands or cross the Huron River by boardwalk. Ten miles are for cyclists and equestrians only. Stay overnight at the campground or lodge and launch a boat from the dock for even more outdoor adventure.
Stony Creek Metropark
- Address: 4300 Main Park Road, Shelby Township
Circle Stony Creek Lake on the eight-mile paved hike-bike trail or “rough it” on the six miles of natural paths that wind through groves, fields and wetlands. The 4,461-acre park spans both Macomb and Oakland counties and has a nature center.
William P. Holliday Forest & Wildlife Preserve (County)
- Address: 33175 Ann Arbor Trail, Westland; also entry points at Central City Parkway between Nankin Boulevard and Warren Avenue (Westland), and the south side of Koppernick Road, west of Hix Road (Canton)
Adventurous family? Strap on your hiking boots to explore the unique nature along this rugged 10-mile trail network in a 500-plus acre preserve. The Ellsworth entrance, near Nankin Mills Recreation Center in Westland, is a premier spot for an autumn or winter hike (it’s the site of the Tonquish Creek floodplain, so it’s a bit boggy in the summer).
This article was recently updated on March 7, 2024 by Metro Parent’s Audience Development Manager, Katina Beniaris. Questions? Please reach out to katina@metroparent.com.
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