Meadows, forests and butterflies: 4 nature trails to check out in Detroit

by Darcie Moran of Bridge Detroit

Green undergrowth, towering oaks and deer tracks lined an unpaved trail as chipmunks scurried, critters chirped and the high grasses of nearby meadows fluttered ever so slightly in late May 2025.

The path wasn’t part of some oasis Up North, in the suburbs or even on Belle Isle, but amid the hundreds of acres of forests and wildflower meadows within the city of Detroit.

Some visitors and even residents may be surprised to learn just how many trails and natural green spaces the city has to offer, according to park leaders and visitors alike.

Would-be hikers don’t need to hit the highway to reach them, said Adrian Morgan, 33, of Detroit, who was trekking through Palmer Park’s Witherell Woods that day in May.

Morgan tries to make it out to the park multiple times a week. It keeps him grounded, helps with anxiety and helps him hit his daily step count.

“I just like the convenience of it,” he said. “I don’t have to go out of Detroit to get to nature.”

The Free Press chatted with Kate Gmyrek, the manager of the city’s natural areas and assistant chief of landscape architecture, to discuss Detroit nature trails not everyone may know to check out.

Here are several nature trails to visit within Detroit:

Palmer Park’s Witherell Woods

People probably know about the front of Palmer Park with its tennis courts, Morgan said.

There’s a splash pad there, and on the other side of the park, there’s a dog park.

Morgan ventures that people probably don’t know much about the trails, though.

There’s a log he likes to sit on to take a break, near where one wooded trail opens up to a field and meadow. He can watch people play with their dogs from there.

The woods here are a remnant forest, present before Detroit was ever built, and the city, community partners and park stewards have been working on improvements for both visitors and the environment, Gmyrek said.  

The meadows not far from Morgan’s preferred log bench were specifically placed as a habitat for birds through a partnership with the Detroit Bird Alliance and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Gmyrek said. And that May day, Gmyrek was in the woods to check on the aftermath of a recent prescribed burn to battle back invasive species like buckthorn. In turn, it should mean the trails are a bit less buggy going forward.

On that day in May, bugs were few but trailgoers might have wanted hiking boots or mud-friendly shoes on the unpaved trails. Those unprepared for such a trek could still explore the woods on paved paths, of course.

A nonprofit community group key to the park’s preservation and revitalization, People For Palmer Park, has a map on its website of available paths, from 1-mile treks to 1.6-mile loops and others that can be taken as they are or combined.

Officials hope to put wayfinding signs in place this summer, Gmyrek said.

The park is located at 910 Merrill Plaisance St., just off Woodward Avenue and north of Highland Park.

Rouge Park’s Prairie Pathway

Two trails within the city’s largest park first came to mind for Gmyrek. One was Rouge Park’s Prairie Pathway, with a picturesque journey through native grasses.

“It’s incredibly beautiful, especially in the summer when the native wildflowers are in bloom,” she said.

Rouge Park boasts more than 1,100 acres and has been dubbed the state’s largest urban park. The Prairie Pathway is just one of multiple trails in the park.

It’s a 1.5-mile unpaved loop with one trailhead at Tireman Avenue and West Outer Drive, according to a map on the city website.

It has a butterfly garden along its mowed pathway, and the nonprofit community group that stewards the park, Friends of Rouge Park, hosts annual butterfly walks there.

There’s also mountain biking, horseback riding, archery, swimming, golfing and multiple other amenities elsewhere in the park, located at 21415 Plymouth Road.

Rouge Park’s Stone Bridge Trail

Near Rouge Park’s Prairie Pathway is another trail that came to mind for Gmyrek — the Stone Bridge Nature Trail.

The loop runs along the Rouge River in the floodplain forest, she said.

“That’s a spot when you really feel like you are far from the city,” Gmyrek said.

It’s a shorter loop, at about 0.7 miles, and has a trailhead on Tireman near that of the Prairie Pathway, according to a city park map online.

Naturally, it also has the aforementioned stone bridge, as photos from the Friends of Rouge Park show.

Eliza Howell Nature Trail

Both Gmyrek and Morgan mentioned their fondness for the Eliza Howell Nature Trail in Eliza Howell Park.

“It’s this incredible forest with very mature trees,” Gmyrek said. “There’s sunlight peeking through on the forest floor. The forest floor is covered with sedges and wildflowers in the spring.”

The park has more than 2 miles of trails and features a notable art scene through its adoptive community group, Sidewalk Detroit, according to the Sidewalk Detroit website. Notably, residents can check out a twisting stick-based piece, called a “stickwork” sculpture, in the park from artist Patrick Dougherty.

A rare regal fritillary butterfly was also spotted at the park a few years ago, city park leaders said.

Eliza Howell Park is located at 23751 Fenkell Ave., near Interstate 96 and Telegraph Road and north of Rouge Park.

The importance of urban forests and green spaces

The United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization recognizes urban forests, trees and green spaces have a positive impact on physical and mental health as well as the ability to absorb carbon, cool cities and reduce the dangerous effects of urban heat islands. The U.S. Forest Service acknowledges the ability of urban forests to filter air and water, conserve energy, control stormwater water and add economic value to communities.

And Gmyrek emphasized the potential for stress relief and the benefits for childhood development.

“Our parks need to have nature — and high-quality nature — for residents,” she said.

Along with increased focus on natural areas and park improvements overall, city leadership said security has been beefed up over the years in these spaces. On a different front, those headed out should be wary that it’s tick season. A sign at Palmer Park served as a reminder of this concern, but Gymrek noted wearing the right clothing — like long pants — protects her when traipsing on the unpaved paths.