Repair Station

These trailhead kiosks are set in concrete pads enabling greater access to park and trail information. The associated bicycle repair stations can double as wheelchair repair stations.

Concessions

Click here to check closures and conditions of this facility.

Turtle Cove Grille, located in the Turtle Cove Family Aquatic Center

• • Weekdays: Noon – 7 p.m.
  • Weekends & Holidays: Noon – 7 p.m.

Walk-up window is available to food service for those outside of Turtle Cove Family Aquatic Center.

Basketball

Play your next pick-up game at Lower Huron Metropark. Basketball courts, softball diamonds, a tennis court and a sand volleyball court are all here waiting for you. 

Biking

Put some air in those tires and come ride our 4.1-mile Hike-Bike Trail that meanders by scenic views of the Huron River. You’ll find open fields, lush woodlands and plenty of wildlife along the way. The trail is relatively flat with a few moderate hills and continues into Willow Metropark at the southern end of the park at Waltz Road. 

For longer rides, continue south through Willow and Oakwoods Metroparks, the City of Flat Rock and all the way to Lake Erie Metropark on a 23.75-mile trail—that’s up to 47.5 miles there and back. These trail segments are part of Michigan’s Iron Belle Trail. 

Camping

Walnut Grove Campground – Rustic Family Camping 

**Walnut Grove Campground will be closed until late in 2025. We are excited to begin work on a grant project funded in part by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Improvements will include new camping sites, including ADA accessibility, water and electric hookups as well as other landscaping improvements.**

Camp for a few days, a week or even longer at the Lower Huron Metropark Walnut Grove Campground. Twenty-seven rustic campsites are located near the Huron River and can be reserved early May through mid-October. Camping at Walnut Grove brings you closer to everything you love about the Metroparks, including hiking trails, biking trails and the Turtle Cove Family Aquatic Center. 

• Annual or Daily vehicle pass is required to enter any Metropark. Remember when staying multiple days, if you leave the park and re-enter, you will need a new daily pass.
• Tents, campers and motor homes are allowed.
• Water and electricity are not available at the campsites.
• Modern restrooms are located within the Walnut Grove Campground.
• A sanitary dump station is available on-site. 

Click here to review Walnut Grove Campground Rules.

Rates 

 Click here to make your reservation online. Cancellations will result in a one-night ($25) fee forfeiture per site. For more questions, please contact the Willow Metropark office at (734) 697-9181. 

Canoe Camp

Canoe Camp is available for paddlers on the Huron River Water Trail (river mile 25.4) at Walnut Grove Campground.

For more reservations, please contact the Willow Metropark Office at (734) 697-9181.

Group Camp 

Bring your scout group or youth organization to camp along the Huron River and under the stars at Lower Huron Metropark. Overnight and day camping is available for organized youth groups. Registration and a permit are required.  

You may bring in your own firewood or purchase firewood from the Lower Huron Metropark Office, during office hours. 

Rates 

For more reservations, please contact the Lower Huron Metropark office at  (734) 697-9181.

Canoeing & Kayaking

Load up your canoe or kayak and paddle along the scenic Huron River at Lower Huron Metropark. The Huron River was recently designated as the 18th trail of the National Water Trail System, joining a network of exemplary water trails from Puget Sound to the Hudson River. It’s filled with great scenery, wildlife and much more. 

River access within Lower Huron Metropark can be found at the North Fishing Site and at the East Bend Picnic Area / Group Camp. Downstream access points include the Willow Metropark Big Bend picnic area and the Oakwoods Metropark Cedar Knoll picnic area. 

If you plan to paddle further downstream, please note that the portage of the Flat Rock dam requires coordination with Flat Rock Metal, Inc. to unlock the gates. Please call or text ahead (313)268-3993. 

For overnight canoers, camp sites are available along the Huron River at the Walnut Grove Campground. To reserve, please call the Willow Metropark Office at (734) 697-9181. 

Motor City Canoe & Kayak Rental

Want to paddle but don’t have your own canoe or kayak? Motor City Canoe & Kayak Rental is here to help, with rentals available daily. Start your journey at Lower Huron, Willow or Oakwoods Metropark and see where the river takes you. Rentals available daily from May through August, weather and river conditions permitting. 

Click here to learn more or to make a reservation, visit their website.

Cross-Country Skiing

Carve out some time to cut your own cross-country ski trail along the flat terrain of Lower Huron Metropark. Enjoy picturesque views of the Huron River and snow-covered woodlands, with a chance to glimpse a red fox or a white-tailed deer. Freestyle cross-country skiing is available throughout most of Lower Huron Metropark, with some exceptions. Groomed trails are located at nearby Willow and Oakwoods Metroparks.

Fishing 

Cast your line along the shore of the Huron River and try your luck for largemouth and smallmouth bass, steelhead and northern pike. For bullhead and panfish, the South Fishing site is recommended. Fishing decks are also located at the North and South Fishing Sites. 

A valid Michigan Fishing License or Sportsperson’s License is required for all anglers age 17 and up. 

Click here to view the Eat Safe Fish Guides from MDHHS.

Hiking

Hike-Bike Trail

The 4.1-mile paved Hike-Bike Trail also provides additional hiking options and can be hiked all the way to Lake Erie Metropark – a full 23.75 miles one way. These trail segments are part of Michigan’s Iron Belle Trail. A variety of different length trips can be made between the parks. 

Nature Trail

BOBWHITE TRAIL – 1 MILE
A 1-mile loop of mostly flat natural surface trail that passes through woodlands. This location is near the Huron River, but a higher area less prone to flooding, which creates an area that is rich with high quality and native ferns, flowers and vines. This trail was named after the Northern Bobwhite Quail, who’s call sounds like it is whistling “bob white”. Listen as you walk and see if you can identify their recognizable call.

Know before you go: Occasionally woodland trails may be blocked with debris such as fallen tree limbs. Nature trails are not cleared or salted in the winter and may be snow-covered, slippery or muddy. Pets, bicycles and running are not permitted on the nature trails.

Rustic Trails

Get deep into nature as you hike through Lower Huron Metropark’s three rustic hiking trails. Beautiful woodlands, river views and abundant wildlife are just some of the sights you’ll see along the trails.

WOODS CREEK TRAIL – 2.5 MILES
This trail follows the bank and floodplain of the Huron River.

TAWATA TRACE TRAIL – .5 MILE
This trail follows the bank and floodplain of the Huron River.

Know before you go: Occasionally woodland trails may be blocked with debris such as fallen tree limbs. Rustic trails are not cleared or salted in the winter and may be snow-covered, slippery or muddy.

Motor City Canoe & Kayak Rental

Want to paddle but don’t have your own canoe or kayak? Motor City Canoe & Kayak Rental is here to help, with rentals available daily. Start your journey at Lower Huron, Willow or Oakwoods Metropark and see where the river takes you. Rentals available daily from May through August, weather and river conditions permitting. 

Click here to learn more or to make a reservation, visit their website.

Picnicking

Lower Huron Metropark provides the perfect setting for your next picnic. Picnic with friends or family amidst rolling hills, tree-lined lawns and beautiful vistas.  

Picnic Shelters  

Reunions, graduations, anniversaries, birthdays and any other way your family gets together – make your event more eventful with the Metroparks! We have picnic shelters available at Lower Huron Metropark for all your event and gathering needs. They come in a wide range of sizes and locations within the parks. Some are conveniently located near park amenities like trail, pools, playgrounds and sports fields to add even more fun to your event – while others are more secluded for a more intimate event. 

Our locations allow you to bring your own food or catering, add bounce houses, music and so much more. Save some money – we’re offering weekday rentals at half price. Prices are already reflected online in our online booking tool.  

• All groups, regardless of size, are encouraged to pre-register to use a picnic shelter. Groups of 50 or more, those bringing in special equipment or hosting a special event are required to make reservations in advance.  
• Any vehicle driving off-road must obtain an off-road permit from the Willow Metropark Office on the day of the picnic.  
• Park entry fees are not included in the shelter reservation fee.  

Click here to explore and reserve picnic shelters.  

Playgrounds

Swings and slides may be found throughout Lower Huron Metropark, often located near picnic shelters. Two larger playgrounds are also available, one near the Ellwood picnic area and the newest and largest is located close to the Woods Creek picnic area.

This space-themed accessible playground will have kids (and adults) ready to blast off! The playground is broken out into various zones (Earth, Mars, Venus, and the surrounding Galaxy). Children ages 2-5 will experience the planet Mars with a unique composite play structure with various climbers, slides, play spaces, and lookouts. This area also has a dome climber, group spinner, tot swings and harness swings.

Children ages 5-12  will enjoy a  galaxy area featuring an accessible space station themed ramped composite play structure. Ramps lead to a small accessible rocking spaceship, a sensory tunnel, various play panels and climbers, under a flying saucer, and to a larger rocket ship with taller slides and climbers. Surrounding this area is a four person rocker, wheel chair accessible spinner, and single person spinner. The double swoosh slide outlets on to the moon. Belt swings and a multi-person group swing are also located in this galaxy space. A large domed cable structure with various integrated climbers sits on planet earth.

Planet Venus is home to an enormous cabled climbing structure. Climbing to the top of this structure allows access to a unique viewing area and a 17-foot tall slide.

Benches, picnic tables, and shade structures surround the playground.

Softball

Play your next pick-up game at Lower Huron Metropark. Basketball courts, softball diamonds, a tennis court and a sand volleyball court are all here waiting for you.

Tennis 

Play your next pick-up game at Lower Huron Metropark. Basketball courts, softball diamonds, a tennis court and a sand volleyball court are all here waiting for you.

Turtle Cove Family Aquatic Center

Click here to check closures and conditions of this facility.

The ultimate relief from the summer sun is right here at the Lower Huron Metropark Turtle Cove Family Aquatic Center. Our massive water facility features two waterslides, a lazy river, 300-gallon dumping bucket and zero-depth entry pool.  

Children 10 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Must be at least 48″ or taller to ride the large waterslides. 

Hours of Operation

• June 14, 2025 – September 1
  • 11 a.m. – 7 p.m., daily

Rates 

Volleyball

Play your next pick-up game at Lower Huron Metropark. Basketball courts, softball diamonds, a tennis court and a sand volleyball court are all here waiting for you.