Nature Preserves

Baker Woods Preserve

The Baker Woods Preserve has a mixture of upland woods (the predominant feature of the property) and some open meadows.

Brauer Preserve

Purchased in 2003, the 226-acre Brauer Preserve protects a diversity of habitat types. Upland habitat communities include dry-mesic forest and dry Southern forest; wetland community types include Southern swamp, marsh, and open water.

Burns-Stokes Preserve

While only 29 acres in size the long narrow shape of this preserve sandwiched between the Huron River and the railroad makes it feel like a much larger area.

Clark & Avis Spike Preserve

Located in the picturesque Sharon Short Hills, the Clark & Avis Spike Preserve is characterized by rolling terrain and various ecosystems. A large wetland complex, containing an emergent marsh, a wet meadow, and a shrub area, is located in the eastern portion of the property.

DeVine Preserve

This 137-acre natural area on West Liberty Road was the first property purchased through NAPP in 2003. Wetlands, which make up the majority of the site, surround a small upland woodland in the southernmost portion of the site along Liberty.

Dominican Meadows Preserve

Dominican Meadows Preserve contains forests, wetlands, and grasslands along nearly two miles of Fleming Creek, a major tributary to the Huron River. The natural areas contain varying habitats with notable older-growth forests and wet meadows. WCPARC also owns a conservation easement adjacent to Fleming Creek, which protects valuable riparian habitat from further development.

Draper-Houston Meadows Preserve

Just west of the city of Milan, the Draper-Houston Meadows Preserve protects over one-half mile of Saline River shoreline. At the preserve, you will encounter high-quality floodplain forest habitat with oak, walnut, butternut, and sycamore trees.

Ervin-Stucki Preserve

The 126-acre Ervin-Stucki Preserve in Bridgewater Township contributes to the protection of the second largest watershed in the County (River Raisin), including over 1.2 miles of River Raisin shoreline on both sides of the river.

Fox Science Preserve

The Fox Science Preserve - a former gravel pit - offers a rare opportunity to explore the geology of the region. Ancient table-sized glacial boulders of granite, tillite, gneiss, and limestone are scattered around the base of the former pit. Keep your eye out for fossils in the limestone boulders.

Harwood Heritage Preserve

The Harwood Heritage Preserve has significant frontage along Michigan Avenue. The Preserve is part of the larger woods that comprises much of Pittsfield Preserve, a large public natural area owned and managed by Pittsfield Township.

Herman Koenn Preserve

Welcome to the Herman S Koenn Preserve, a 90 acre property owned and cared for by Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission (WCPARC) through the Natural Areas Preservation Program.

Kosch Headwaters Preserve

Leonard Preserve

The Leonard Preserve is the largest natural area in the County's system of NAPP preserves, 259 acres that protect nearly one mile of River Raisin shoreline. Located just northwest of the Village of Manchester, this rich and diverse landscape includes rolling hills, woodlands, wetlands, prairie and former pasture land.

Meyer Preserve

The Meyer Preserve is part of the Prospect Road corridor called the Superior Greenway. The preserve consists of two different parcels on the southwest and northeast corners of   Vreeland and Prospect Roads.

Miller-Smith Preserve

The 29-acre Albert J. Miller and Robert & Nancy Smith Preserve is located one mile southwest of the Village of Dexter. For such a compact area, the site contains a wide variety of high-quality habitats.

Northfield Woods & Arbor Woods Preserves

Look for Northfield Woods Preserve when driving north of   Ann Arbor on U.S.-23. Here you will experience a high-quality woodlot, wooded wetlands, about 10 acres of active farmland, and an area in transition from former farm fields to woods.

Osborne Mill Preserve

This land was deeded by the Nature Conservancy to the County Parks system and is kept as a natural area. There are no services. Occasionally, nature walks are led by the Parks Commission nature and interpretive services staff.

Park Lyndon

Located in the hilly northwestern corner of the county, Park Lyndon contains one of southern Michigan's finest natural area preserves. Over 500 species of plants are found in a wide variety of habitats including fens, marshes, bogs, ponds, forest, and prairie.

Raymond F. Goodrich Preserve

For a good hiking opportunity close to the city of Ann Arbor, the Goodrich Preserve is the perfect spot. Adjacent to the University of Michigan's Horner-McLaughlin Woods, together these properties make up 125 acres of protected land.

Riverbend Preserve

The Riverbend Preserve spans both banks of the River Raisin. In this wide, flat, slow moving section of the Raisin, where the river meanders, the property is approximately three-quarters wetlands and includes over 1,100 feet of river shoreline.

Kidder-McKeachie Scio Woods Preserve

Over two miles of trails wind through this wooded preserve. Here you will encounter varying types of woodlands - oak and hickory trees are found in locations with drier soils and the wetter woods are dominated by sugar maple and beech trees.

Sharon Short Hills Preserve

This preserve features rolling hills and scenic vistas - just what you would expect to find at a preserve located in and named for the geographically-significant Sharon Short Hills.

Squiers Preserve

The Squiers Preserve in Sylvan Township is a 50-acre parcel with quite a nice diversity of habitat types including dry-mesic southern forest, buttonbush swamp, hardwood swamp, sedge meadow and marsh.

Tom A. Freeman Preserve

Previously owned by the Domino’s Farms Corporation, this preserve was purchased in 2013. WCPARC received a Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund acquisition grant to assist with the purchase, and a financial contribution from Ann Arbor Township.

Trinkle Marsh at Easton Farms Preserve

Explore this 150-acre preserve to experience a diversity of high-quality habitats. A large wetland complex known as the Trinkle Marsh is a premier spot for watching waterfowl.

Watkins Lake State Park & County Preserve

The site is a popular watchable-wildlife destination and features beautiful rolling land covered in a mixture of open meadow, mixed hardwoods, low wetland areas, open water, and the property’s most popular feature, Watkins Lake.

Weatherbee Woods Preserve

The Weatherbee Woods Preserve was established in 2012 with the purchase of 65 acres and enlarged in 2014 with an additional 20 acre purchase. The northern portion of the preserve is mainly wooded and adjoins Schroeter Park, a facility owned by Superior Township.

West Lake Preserve

With scenic views and a rural setting, West Lake Preserve is one of NAPP’s most tranquil properties. Nearly two miles of trails take you through a wide range of ecosystems, such as upland forest, wetland, open water shoreline, and open fields.

Whitmore Lake Preserve

The Whitmore Lake Preserve is now open! This preserve is 235 acres and was purchased in 2013. Over 3 miles of trail (one way) let visitors explore diverse habitats, including, meadows, mixed hardwood forest, and wooded wetlands, with scenic views over a large marsh and small lakes.