Exercise guide: Nan Weston Preserve

This is NOT an in-person event.

These Exercise Guides are intended to assist and encourage exploration of parks and natural areas in the Huron Valley Group region. Please enjoy them on your own or with others.

The Nan Weston Preserve is a beautiful woods along the River Raisin in SW Washtenaw County's Sharon Township. It is sandwiched between Sharon Mills County Park and the Sharonville State Game Area. It has an amazing variety of native plants throughout the preserve, with very few invasives.
Nan Weston is a great place to catch spring ephemerals.
The woods has lots of beeches, including some big, older trees and lots of young ones. Look carefully and you'll find some beech drops, a fungus that grows only around mature beeches.
Down by the river there is lots of evidence of beaver activity. If you follow the trail along the River Raisin, going east toward Sharon Mills, there is an active heronry, but bring your binoculars.
You can hike to Sharon Mills from Nan Weston, or stop by Sharon Mills on your way home (the Sharon Mills parking lot is right at the little jog from Eustades to Sharon Hollow to Pleasant Lake Rd). Walk down to the River Raisin to see the beaver lodge out in the river and more evidence of beaver activity.

NOTE: Dogs are not allowed in Nan Weston Preserve. They are welcome in Sharon Mills Park.