Metroparks: Lower Huron, Willow, and Oakwoods (Biking and Hiking)

Place: 3 Metroparks: Lower Huron, Willow, and Oakwoods

This is pretty much what happened.

Today's Activity: Biking 25 miles (roundtrip) and ~ 2 miles of hiking

Duration: ~ 120 minutes biking, ~ 30 minutes hiking

Time: Tuesday, June 12th around 1:45pm

Cost: $0 (apart from one-time park pass purchase, bike). Remember, if you enter the park by foot or bike, it's free!

The Experience: Needless to say, there is a LOT to do between these three parks. All I can say is, biking through them was a very pleasant experience that sort of kicked my butt with some hilliness, but it was a lovely, scenic ride and a GREAT workout.

You can do any amount of biking if you're not up to 25 miles or if you're scoffing at my puny ride, but whatever you choose, I definitely found Lower Huron and Willow the prettiest.

Further, if you've got the energy, you can go for a nice hike near the Nature Center (at Oakwoods) at the end of ~12 miles to stretch out your legs.

A nice beginning to the ride, which followed the Huron River at different
points - Here is near the beginning at the Lower Huron Metropark

There were quite a few cute little bridges

As you connect to Willow Metropark, you cross the railroad tracks
and there is this wee cemetery with just a couple headstones

Biking into Willow Metropark

In the middle of Willow Metropark is Washago Pond, a nice place
to stop for water and rest up if you'd lke

As you approach Oakwoods Metropark, you come to a point where you
can continue onward or go back around the pond the other way (a way
to add on a couple miles if you're up for it!)

A friendly walker in the distance - told me that Oakwoods was flat but
"not interesting," similar to how another biker told me it was "bleak"

On the Oakwoods bike trail

So this was only picture I took of the Oakwoods bike trail - I enjoyed its flatness but it was, in fact, a bit bleak compared to the other parks... but totally worth going through if you want to finish (or take a break) with a hike at the nature center at the end of the bike trail.

When I got to the halfway point (~ 12.5 miles) there were a handful of short hiking trails and I was pretty eager to get off the bike for a while, so I walked a couple of miles between the "Big Tree" and "Long Bark" trails:

Time to stretch my legs. Thankfully, the bugs weren't
too bad.

Hiking along a couple of cutely-named trails.

Follow the Huron River a bit on the Long Bark trail.

I think most of the trails must look close to this.

A nice spot along the river to sit and think about things.

I'm not sure I could ever get tired of the green...

The return trip was a doozy - there were some pretty strong winds coming against me, and the hills were unrelenting. You definitely want to bring enough water, and perhaps check the weather before you start...

Need I say more?

Now I did about 25 miles but the map says there's up to 30 miles of paths to bike, and you could easily loop around the lake to add on more miles. When you get to the park, ask for the map that shows you the trails through all 3 parks - it's pretty helpful.

Enjoy your ride! :)

PS: Pipi, I think you'd like this one more than Indian Springs - love you.

More information: Click here to learn more about biking through these three metroparks.

Metropark: Stony Creek (Hiking)

Place: Stony Creek Metropark

Today's Activity: ~ 6 or 7 miles of Hiking / insect killing 

Duration: 90 minutes on the Inwood Trails, 45 minutes with Heather on the Nature Trails

Time: Monday 9:30am, then 1pm

Weather: I've added this "weather" section because it is worth noting that if it is hot and muggy, maybe don't go into the ungroomed wilderness for fun, unless bugs seriously don't bother you.

Cost: $0! (apart from one-time park pass and cost of gas)

The Experience: This morning I had to leave Duke at home since I was going to be out longer than he can really handle, meaning I had to say "no" to this sad face:

Worst. feeling. ever.
I'm sorry Duke! Next time!

Once I got over the guilt, I left for Stony Creek, a metropark I've never been to before. I was excited because the park looked great upon entering it, and I love that it took me 15 minutes of driving to get to the other side of the park where you can go on different trails, but I was rather disappointed when I arrived and was greeted by this little fellow:

Not exactly the best start to a hike...

Ugh.

When I finally got going though, you mostly lost sight of them and it wasn't so bad, but I was just annoyed they were there.

I started off on the Habitat trail to get to the Inwood Trails, which are described on the map as, "primitive trails for foot traffic only." The Nature Trails are a bit less wild but moderately hilly, as Heather can attest to :)

Their website offers great maps of the trails: click here for a detailed map of the Nature Trails or click here for a map of the Inwood Trails. 

The very beginning of the Habitat Trail (part of the Nature Trails)

"Walk quietly" is my favorite part.

Making my way to the Inwood Trails.

The Nature Trails were shorter and much better-marked.

The Habitat Trail.

There were also quite a few posts like these with fun facts...

The Habitat Trail

The Habitat Trail - a bunny in the distance!

"During the summer, the field behind you is used by female rattlesnakes
preparing to give birth." AWESOME.

You can't hide from me, Bunny. Except that you kind of can.

The Habitat Trail

"Do not pick the wildflowers." Fine. As long as they don't pick me.

Here we are! Looks promising.

A slightly ominous beginning to the Inwood Trails.

Further on... the trails changed a lot.

The bugs were rather vicious. 

I practically ran down, snapped the next picture, and
then ran back away, the bugs were so bad.

Notice the water - it sprinkled on and off for an hour or so.

Bug-breeding ground, probably.

They knew I was coming.

It may look pleasant, but it was a 90 minute bug battle for me.
(See video below)

You may want bug spray.

The water peeking out here and there was pretty nice.

More like... "A Place to Sit and Get Eaten Alive." I tried not to stop during
the walk, otherwise I'd get ambushed by bugs.

Returning to the Habitat Trail.

And so, while the Inwood Trails were a bit more rugged, they were definitely a challenge in that they were not exactly "maintained" - it looked like someone may have mowed the path a couple months ago - which is totally fine, but you would definitely want some good hiking boots. Also, if you can't stand a lot of bugs, it may not be for you, or you may want to wait for another season when they're not so bad. Mid-summer muggy days are a recipe for bug bites.

Walking with Heather later that day on the Landscape Trail.

The one downfall of the Stony Creek Metropark.

The Landscape Trail.

It was a mile or so long, finishing with a walk along the river.

Heather and I had a lot of fun here, trying to climb the tree.

A LOT of fun.

Perhaps the funniest 15 minutes of our walk.

Overall, I enjoyed my hikes but would probably wait for better weather for the Inwood Trails, and I can only imagine it's amazing during the fall when the leaves are all changing.

The Nature Trails were more family-friendly, or less intensive if you just want a short walk, but they were a bit hilly here and there. 

I'm looking forward to going back and biking the 6-mile paved loop around the lake, and seeing what else Stony has to offer.

Go outside, have fun, and stay safe :)

More information: click here for more information about Stony Creek Metropark