Exercise Guide: Draper Houston Meadows 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 with others.

Hike along the Saline River, in meadows, and through some small woodlots. It is always wonderful and truly amazing during spring ephemeral season. There are some impressive sycamore, oaks, and elms to see in the woodlots. Wood frogs and others are noisy in the vernal ponds.

Frequently you will need to either wear waterproof boots or accept wet feet. Parts of the trail will flood a few inches deep. Remember, Sierra Club policy is to walk through the water and mud, rather than around it - do your part to not promote erosion. Water is particularly an issue along the southeast parts of the trail along the Saline River.

The map below, when viewed full size will print at 8.5 x 11. It indicates where the signposts are and the current trail layout, although it doesn't label the trails by color.
Note: the "red" trail on the map below, north of the Saline River, coming off Platt Rd. is unverified.

Warning: the County's PDF map of the trails (https://www.washtenaw.org/DocumentCenter/View/1292) is outdated. The trail colors on the map do not match the signposts. It also shows some trails that no longer exist and omits some that do exist.
The County's interactive map (https://gisappsecure.ewashtenaw.org/public/ParkFinder/) shows correct trail configurations and colors. At provided link, search for "Draper-Houston" in the search box (upper left), click the name when it shows up. The map will center on Draper Houston, but it will be shaded brown; click the 'X' on the search box and the brown overlay disappears, leaving a printable map.

NOTE: as a Washtenaw County Preserve, dogs are not allowed in Draper-Houston.