HAVE A STORY TO SHARE ABOUT YOUR METROPARKS VISIT?

Our favorite memory so far has been camping at Lower Huron for their Family Campout this summer 2026. We spend most of our visits going to Kensington to visit the nature center since it’s close to home and spending our sons birthday at the splash pad at Kensington. -Kristina

If I had to pick the place where my family has created the most memories, it would be Lake St. Clair Metropark. I have been going to Metro Beach for as long as I can remember. I have many memories of my parents taking me there as a kid, and now we create those same…

I love participating in the Metroparks Trail Challenge every year. This is the 4th year I’ve completed a visit to every park. Each park has it’s own character, charm, and variety of things to do. It’s a great way to get my family out, whether we’re hiking nature trails, riding on the bike trails, or…

My mother always wanted to take my sisters and I camping as kids and she never got a chance to. After she passed away last year, I made it my mission to take my children camping in her honor. We loved the family camping at Kensington, there was so much for everyone to do, even…

I took my nieces and nephew to Kensington nature trails and farm center several times when they were very young. One of my niece’s name is McKenzie and she called the park McKenzington. She is 30-years-old and still refers to the park as McKensington. Our family has a lot of special memories experienced at McKensington.…

My husband and I buy eight annual Metropark passes every year. One for each of our kids and one for our cars. As of August 1, my park diary shows my husband and I have visited our Metroparks 126 times this year… so far…we truly love our Metroparks. Kensington is my absolute favorite between swimming,…

Although I was born and raised in Michigan, I’ve lived in Ohio for the last 21 years, but recently moved back home to Michigan to be near family in our retirement years. While living near Columbus, Ohio I became very attached to the Metroparks there, especially their fall colors. I was reluctant to leave them…

I have many Metropark family memories because our family summer activities were spent at Kensington every Sunday all summer long. The long drive, felt like hours and it was only about 30-45 minutes, the “are we there yet”, the “I need to go potty” and the anxious 4 children in the back of the station…

I go to Lake St. Clair Metropark twice a week. I didn’t start golfing until I was 55, and in the last four years, I have had four holes in one. I enjoy golfing and walking at Lake Sy. Clair, even in the winter time, if the weather is not too bad. Looking forward to…

When I first went to Lake Erie Metropark, the big pond was filled with phragmites. I prefer egrets. I also come back every year to check out the American Lotus bloom. It is not just beautiful but eerie to see all those giant leaves receiving a signal from outer space. -Cynthia

I experienced my first attempt of Mountain Biking on the Stoney Creek Sheldon Trails! After making the leap and finally committing to buying a new bike, I got my first taste of weaving between trees and flowing through the trails – even having to pause for a moment to let a pair of deer pass…

After visiting all of the Metroparks for the Trail Challenge this year, I signed up for the “canal paddle” tour at Lake Erie to complete the bonus challenges. I happened to catch a great sunset over the Lotus beds – perfect place, perfect time! -Stacey

I remember coming to Lake Erie as a child in middle school for class trips in the summer. I have always loved Lake Erie Metropark but it took me until my 36th birthday to check out the Marshland Museum and some of the gorgeous trails. It’s a reminder that magic is all around us and…

We all know that life can get crazy busy. What I love the most about the Metroparks is intentionally taking time to unwind & be with nature. I’m no pro at taking photos, but every now & again I get it “just right.” This pic was worth battling the fish flies, lol. -Robyn

When I was young every Sunday my mom would take us to Metro Beach (Lake St. Clair Metropark) . We would have a picnic and eat cucumber sandwiches. But the thing I remember the most was the turtle races they used to have for the kids . Every kid would get a turtle and we…

Started the 2026 Trail Challenge with Birding in mind! I’ve been able to see multiple hawks, woodpeckers, a green heron, great egret, and mourning doves up close or through my binoculars! Have also hung out close to some Canadian geese and ducks. I never realized how vast the bird species in Michigan was before visiting…

My favorite thing about the Trail Challenge is seeing all the different wildlife at all 14 different Me tropark trails was phenomenal. It’s hard to pick only 3 pictures from so many trails with so many experiences. -Breanna

My friends and I have had a lot of fun completing the Metroparks Trail Challenge and visiting Metroparks we already knew well and explore the rest! We have been kayaking (our favorite), hiking and biking and finished today visiting the animals at the farm center and the historic site at Wolcott Mill Metropark – such…

One of my goals this year was to spend more quality time with my 9-year-old son, Lucas, making memories together. The Metroparks Trail Challenge has given us a reason to explore new parks, hike trails, visit nature centers, and discover parts of southeast Michigan we probably never would have visited otherwise. Watching him get excited…

I think the Metroparks Trail Challenge is really fun because I get to explore new parks with my mom. My favorite things are finding the challenge signs, hiking the trails, and playing on the playgrounds. I want to visit all of the parks before the challenge ends! -Lucas

My fiance and I took our 10 year old to the Wolcott Mill Metropark Farm Center to see the animals and we stumbled across the kiosk for the Metropark Trail Challenge. We have had so much fun exploring and visiting parks we didn’t even know existed! We’ve really enjoyed our time outside this summer visiting…

Eastwood Beach at Stony Creek Metropark has long been our favorite Metropark spot for its beach and playground, but the Metropark Challenge has given us so many new ones to add to the list! My kids were obsessed with the space-themed playground at Lower Huron, and we had a blast attending the “Magnificent Millipedes” class…

Our family just had a much overdo family reunion at Kensington Metropark a few weeks ago. We rented a shelter and it turned out to be the perfect venue for our family. The children enjoyed the playground and beach, while us old folks reminisced in the shade of the pavilion. A big thanks to the…

As a born and raised Michigander, I spent my childhood attending family reunions at Stony Creek and then running cross country races in high school at Wolcott and Lake St. Clair. It was so special to bring my Florida then-fiancé to Indian Springs to tour the space for our wedding. When we visited, we saw…

I never saw myself as someone particularly interested in birds. As a hobby photographer I was, however, interested in pushing my limits beyond landscape photography and static objects. The wildlife at Kensington Metropark presented itself as the perfect subject. When you are a beginner, you are more likely to succeed if nosy nuthatches and cheeky…

My husband and I have loved doing the Metroparks Trail Challenge. What a great way/idea to visit all the parks you may never have thought to explore. We are impressed with the amenities and wonderful opportunities the parks offer for all those who love an adventure. Highly recommend!! -Sheila

My daughter and I signed up for this summer’s Trail Challenge. We had never been to Wolcott Mill Metropark. I decided to enroll us and the grandkids in the free ice cream making class at the dairy farm in the park. It was so much fun. First we mixed the ingredients of cream, sugar and…

As a new property owner in Detroit metro area, I joined the Metroparks challenge last year as a way to learn more about the region. My dog and I enjoyed it so much, I decided to do it again this year and our new 6 month old puppy came with us. I love the diversity…

The deck behind the Oakwoods nature center is one of my favorite places to visit. You walk up, and nothing is there. Then you glimpse a woodpecker, then you notice some mallards, then there’s 2 eagles in the tree in the distance, then a blue gray gnatcatcher calls in the distance. You just have to…

Lake St. Clair Metropark is an amazing place to go kayaking. You can rent the kayaks right there, and there are lots of very cool places to see on the water. When my friend and I were paddling on the water, we saw a little entrance in the reeds. Upon entering the reeds, we were…

We walked at Oakwood Metropark today and we were having a difficult time finding a trail and a kind worker took time to help locate our trail. We were very grateful. -Patricia  

Stoney Creek MetroBARK is an amazing place for us and our dogs! Every night at dusk we drive through the park at dusk and watch deer come out to feed. The pups are mesmerized! And we love Paws and Play weekends. We get out on the trails to learn about flora and fauna from knowledgeable…

The Huron-Clinton Metroparks Trail challenge has been a way to re-establish family bonds. Two of my sisters recently moved back to Southeast Michigan. Last year we did the Trail Challenge. This year we added two team members, my wife and my sisters dog Milo. It has been fun finding the kiosks, walking and getting reacquainted.…

We fell in love with kayaking in Kensington! My wife and I took our kids and parents to the lake and rented kayaks. It was a massive hit, but even more with my wife and I. The small islands to visit, the open water and small sailboats all were so idyllic, that we returned the…

A colleague told me about the Metroparks Trail Challenge and I am so grateful! Despite living in the area my whole life, I’m a bit ashamed to admit that prior to this year, I had only ever visited 3 or 4 of our local metroparks. This challenge has brought my pup & me so much…

My daughter, and her dog, Luna, as well as myself are all participating in the 2026 Metroparks Trail Challenge. We love being able to see some of the parks together spending time walking and talking while taking in the beauty of our Metroparks. -Beverly

I moved to Michigan from the South about 10 years ago and have enjoyed the outdoors over the summers each year. But this is the first time I have taken the Metroparks Trail Challenge and gone canoeing as part of a Metroparks activity. I did that this afternoon at Oakwoods Metropark. It was a group…

We have been around the Huron Clinton Metroparks for decades and just discovered the Trail Challenge and are enjoying every minute. -Esten

The Metroparks Trail Challenge has become much more than a checklist of trails for me. It has given me a reason to explore new places, spend more time outdoors, and reconnect with the things I enjoy most… nature, wildlife, and photography. As someone who loves photographing birds and wildlife, every trail offers something different. Some…

I enjoy going for hikes on the trails at the Metroparks. There is a variety between each park, and there is always wildlife. I visit Kensington the most as it is closest to me. And I enjoy both hiking the nature trails to see all the animals, and the Hike-Bike Trail to view the water…

When my husband and I moved to Michigan a few years ago, the Metroparks were a great way for us to explore our area. With exploring we reignited our love for being outside with nature. Together we have lost over 125 pounds due in part to our continued connection with the metroparks. -GeorgAnne

Last year my kids and I decided to try something new and joined the Trail Challenge. We bring our dogs and we all look forward to our early morning adventures. It’s so peaceful walking before the park gets too busy. We have loved visiting parks we have never been to before and we each have…

I was recovering from some hip issues and used the trails at the Kensington Nature Center to re-train my hips for a long vacation in the Pacific Northwest. While the gentle hills of those trails were nothing like Mount Rainier’s trails, they helped me get ready for a lot of pain-free hiking! -John

Yesterday, I paddled with friends from Huron Meadows to Hudson Mills Metropark. The trip was 12.84 miles. We had one portage at Flook Dam and ran the rapids at Rapids View in Hudson Mills. How fun to be able to get from one Metropark to another on the water. And with a real bathroom before…

What a gem we have in Stony Creek Metropark. I have walked, biked, golfed, picnicked, attended family events, high school events, and more since I was a young kid. The park is huge and I have much of it to still explore. -David

My sister and I have always loved any event or challenge that came with a fun incentive or collectible. When I was pregnant with my daughter, I worried that our adventures together might come to an end. Then we discovered the Trail Challenge, and it turned out to be the perfect way to include her…

The Trail Challenge is a great motivator for family time. Even my teenager will join in for a family walk if it means we are crossing another Metropark off the list. We love exploring together and seeing who will be the first to spot the Challenge Trrail sign! -Andrea

I really love the nature center at Indian Springs Metropark. I like to walk through the tunnel under the pond and just sit in the dome room watching the fish swim around me. So peaceful. And the pond sculpture is really nice. -Leslie

Stoney Creek has become my happy place. If ever I feel stressed or like I need a break, I find myself going there to get fresh air and go for a walk. The mornings are especially my fave because everyone is so friendly when you pass. It’s a great way to start my day! People…

Our very first Trail Challenge kiosk is still our favorite memory. Last year, my sister, my niece, my boyfriend, and I embarked on a hike at Wolcott Mill Metropark Historic Center to earn our first kiosk badge. The sun was setting, and we drastically overestimated how far a 3-year-old can hike (we ended up carrying…

We went to the Lake St. Clair Metropark kiosk and walked back on the boardwalk. We have been going to the Metroparks for years now but this Trail Challenge is letting us learn more and more new things about each one. I had no idea that Lake St. Clair had a splash pad and a…

My daughter loves to go trail walking. It’s her favorite thing to do, and her favorite one is Kensington Metropark Wildwing Nature Trail. We love to see all of the birds, and I often take my best animal pictures at Kensington. We do enjoy and use the other Metroparks as well. Trail walks have been…

I loved visiting the Maple Syrup event at Wolcott Mill Metropark. The new sugar shack is terrific and the smells from the reducing sap were amazing! I loved having the chance to buy syrup for home as well to keep the memories longer! -Sara

We visited Lower Huron Metropark as part of the Trail Challenge. What a beautiful park!! I instantly fell in love. Out of all the parks I’ve been to this one is my absolute favorite. We visited early in the morning and it was just so peaceful and I enjoyed every moment of our walk. I…

It all started with a cardinal. After years of being sick and falling into depression, I saw a cardinal at my bird feeder. It made me want to see more birds. The more birds I saw, the happier I became. I wanted to see if I could find birds at the nearest Metropark. I met…

The #TrailChallenge has been the extra nudge I needed to get outside and move more. It has pushed me well past 10,000 steps on many days while exploring parks I never would have visited otherwise. My dog, Hattie, has loved the adventure, and I’ve enjoyed sharing the experience with family and friends. The Metroparks truly…

Today we attended the Little Critter program at Lake St. Claire Metropark Nature Center where we learned about reptiles, and decorated our own snakes. Afterwards we explored the Nature Center where we seen our favorite reptile a turtle. The kids loved it!! -Annette

Today I completed the Metroparks Trail Challenge. It was my first year doing it. I grew up between Hudson Mills in Dexter and Kensington near Milford but had never been to several of the parks in the Trail Challenge. Huron Meadows was always a local favorite of mine growing up too, but feel spoiled by…

We have been going to the Metroparks since we moved into the area. My wife and I have always loved the outdoors but I would have to say my favorite memory has to be when we took our daughter to float down the river last year. She had so much fun and to see the…

I grew up going to Stoney Creek with my family for picnics, hikes, and parties. I signed up for the Trail Challenge as soon as I heard about it and have been hiking the trails since. In 2025 I was pregnant with my first child and hiked all the Metroparks. It was a great workout…

I love the Metroparks. As a kid I spent time at Lake St. Clair or Stony Creek, at the beach or picnicking. We live closer Kensington and Indian Springs now and have spent hours riding or walking the paths. The Trail Challenge gave us an opportunity to see the parks that we have never visited.…

Today a friend and I visited Kensington Metropark where I have not visited in probably 40 years! We decided to start the Trail Challenge there and did get turned around once! The wonderful parts of being a little lost was seeing a swan nested on 4 eggs, wild turkeys, and baby Cranes! -Victoria O.

Our favorite bike trail is the one where three Metroparks are all connected. We start at Willow in the Washago parking lot; take a half-loop to the connector down to Oakwoods; stop for a quick break at the nature center. Then, we head back to our starting point where we grab some lunch. After some…

Our family has enjoyed attending many of the birding classes throughout the last few years. It’s been such a joy to share my husband’s and my love of nature with our two kids with all the vast amounts of information we’ve gotten from the classes. Our daughter started pointing out birds in our backyard and…

I am loving walking and seeing the abundance of nature out here. I was at Lake St. Clair Metropark today. I walk around the point, talked to some fishermen that were from Indiana. People come from all over just to fish our waters. Then I went over to the Marsh and experienced that walk and…

As a child, we would go every week to watch for deer at dusk at the metroparks with our grandma. Now, my kids we get to with her as well and it is one of my favorite traditions. We have so much fun exploring each unique park and watching for wildlife! -Brooke E.

I’ve been coming to Kensington since the 70’s, when we used to skip school to hit the beach. Now I enjoy birding and geocaching along the nature trails. It’s a magical place! This is also my first year to do the Trail Challenge, along with my two sisters. I enjoy visiting Kensington, as a beginning…

From Mid-Michigan area and have drove by these parks many times in the past. Last year I joined my daughter and sister for a day during there 2025 Trail Challenge. Did not realize I was driving by so much beauty. I enjoyed myself so much that day, when they said they were doing the 2026…

My friend and I biked part of the trails for the Metroparks Trail Challenge last year, biking to 3 different Metroparks altogether — Delhi, Dexter-Huron, and Hudson Mills! It definitely turned into a long ride (24.01 miles total in 3.5 hours), which was not the original plan 😂 but I can’t wait to do it…

What a great experience we had at Indian Springs Environmental Discovery Center. My son is moderate to severely autistic. It’s difficult to get him out of the house, let alone to be excited about an outing. He’s obsessed with elevators and wanted to ride the Schindler Elevator at Indian Springs. I called ahead and was…

At the end of 2024 I learned about the Trail Challenge but was too late to sign up. It became a goal for me to sign up for 2025 and get my friends on board in order to bond and spend more time outdoors. We completed the 2025 Trail Challenge and explored parks we’ve never…

I grew up at Lake St. Clair Metropark (Metro Beach as we know it), had my first job at the old ice cream stand in 1975, brought my children to the Tot Lot when they were little, and am looking forward to bringing my grandson when he is old enough. I experienced a brooding swan…

Our brother was a huge Kensington Metropark lover. He enjoyed riding his bike throughout the park, walking the paths, spotting the albino dear and other activities. Robert ‘Bob’ passed away in 2022 and the best way we could think of to honor his memory, is to purchase a bench. The bench is located right by…

My go to park Kensington Metropark for the nature trails. I use it to get some exercise, unwind after a long day and just pray and see what God has created for me to enjoy. The sunsets are spectacular. This year I was able to see a Barred Owl! So thankful that we have these…

We consider Huron Meadows Metropark our home park. Our kids have grown up in this park. We have used it in all seasons and for so many memorable events. My went fishing here on my daughter’s first Mother’s Day. My son ran cross country meets here. My daughter rode her bike without training wheels for…

Hello, my name is Kendra and I’ve asked my human to share my MetroBarks story. Last year I completed the Trail Challenge! It was so much fun going to all the parks and splashing in the Huron River. My human didn’t want to go in the water, but I made sure to pull her in…

I have been coming to the Metroparks since the 1960’s, as a young girl with my family. It was a great low-cost, local place to go for our large family of 9 to picnic and enjoy the beach. I have always had a love for nature and being outdoors, so it was always a joy…

The Huron-Clinton Metroparks have been a cornerstone in my life. As a young child I enjoyed the squirt zone at Lake St. Clair. To my teenage years of running cross country at Stoney Creek, Wolcott, and Lake St. Chair. To watching my cousin get married at Indian Spings Metropark. Enjoying the wildlife views of Kensington.…

You can say my dog and I are big Metropark nerds! We try to go to the Metroparks every day in the morning for our walks. My day is 100 times better when I take my dog to the park! We actually decided to go to all 13 Metroparks a while ago. We have been…

Last year, I discovered the Metroparks Trail Challenge a bit late in the season. Although I didn’t get to cross the official finish line by finishing every park, the journey itself was a massive win. Exploring so many beautiful, diverse parks challenged me to push my limits, test my distance, and fall in love with…

Last year, while participating in the Trail Challenge, I visited Kensington Metropark for the first time. I really enjoyed visiting parks away from our “home parks” and found myself at Kensington on a cold, drizzly morning. I anticipated this would be a quick trip – do about a 1/2 mile quick walk and submit my…

A couple weeks ago we attended the Raptor Fest at Lake St. Clair Metropark and we loved seeing the eagles in the nest from the telescopes and using the borrowed binoculars. We actually took pictures of the binoculars and came home and bought the exact ones for ourselves. Last night we went and did our…

Today marks the start of our second year participating in the Metroparks Trail Challenge. We are very excited to complete all the check-ins and explore all the parks. We are excited that the markers moved this year so we get to see new places in the parks! This year we are excited to have new…

Stony Creek Metropark has basically been in our backyard since moving to Romeo 8 years ago, but we really got to know it and all the Metroparks after signing up for our first Metropark Trail Challenge in 2025. Signing up started as a motivator to get some hiking conditioning in before our trip to Isle…

Over 2 decades ago, my husband and I started frequently visiting Kensington Metropark, to bike, roller blade, and hike. Because we loved the park and the area around it so much, we decided to move closer and chose Milford to start our family. Over the next 20 years, we shared the park with our children.…

My day did not start the way I wanted it to. The plan was to get up early and visit a few of the Metroparks that are a pretty far from me. I got up late, fell behind in chores and then hit traffic and construction on the way out to the parks. I finally…

One of my favorite moments was bringing my wheelchair dependent 3 year old and high energy 5 year old to the nature trails surrounding the Lake St. Claire Metropark Nature Center. It’s difficult to connect with nature when its not accessible but its so important to us as a family. It was tough to traverse…

I was first introduced to the Trail Challenge in 2024, and this is my third year doing it. The experience has been truly amazing. Visiting all the different parks and hitting so many different trails has been a journey. I started off walking at Lake St. Clair Metropark pretty much daily before I discovered the…

The Metroparks are beautiful and have so much to offer. I love walking the trails with my daughters. It’s definitely boosted my mental health and gives me precious time with my girls. Seeing the wildlife and picturesque views makes us happy. -Patricia K.

We started the Trail Challenge very late last year but had also done it the previous years. Even though we got a late start in 2025, we decided it was our time to do all 13! We managed to fit in all 13 in the final month, saw many new places, spent quality time on…

I had only ever been to Stony Creek Metropark golf course prior to doing the Trail Challenge for the first time a couple years ago. After seeing what all the parks have to offer, I’ve gone to multiple golf courses. Indian Springs and Huron Meadows Metroparks are two of my new favorite golf courses in…

Some of my favorite memories from childhood are from visiting Kensington Metropark with my family for the yearly Fourth of July fireworks and also seeing the Detroit Symphony Orchestra perform while we sat on the grass. Other highlights included visiting the Farm and Nature Center. I continue to visit, but now with my own family,…

During Covid lockdown, my daughter and I set about trying to hike at all of the Metroparks (we got to all except Lake St. Clair, Wolcott Mill, and Stoney Creek Metroparks) and she even created a spreadsheet where we ranked the hiking trails. Kensington Metropark reigned supreme. She was just home from her first year…

With gas prices skyrocketing the Metroparks Trail Challenge offers the perfect daycation solution. Last year was our first year participating. Each park offers local, unique, and beautiful natural spaces to explore. Even though the Trail Challenge involved mostly hiking and biking, we also discovered many new places to launch our kayaks and paddle the stress…

I started participating in the Metroparks Trail Challenge in 2024 and have signed up each year since. Prior to participating, I had only been to a few of the Metroparks (the couple closest to my house). Participating in the Trail Challenge took me to parks that I may have not ever visited otherwise, many of…

Twenty eight years ago I met my future husband while walking on the paved path near the north dam at Stony Creek Metropark. Five months later, after an evening walk, he proposed in the Northdale parking lot. Seven months from the day we first met, we were married at the Northdale picnic shelter. To this…

My Wife and I discovered the Trail Challenge last year and absolutely loved it. We had so much fun visiting the thirteen vastly different parks. We were amazed at the varied biomes that each park offered. Every park felt unique and we cannot wait to visit them all again this year. We are especially looking…

I love everything Stony Creek Metropark has to offer and my dogs love it too. What I love most is mountain biking. I’ve been riding here for over 20 years. The revamped trails are amazing. The berms and jumps are great. These trails taught me how to jump properly, and I’m almost 50! I am…

For years, I have wanted to find a maple tree on our property and learn to tap it for syrup with my son. Unfortunately timing, equipment costs, and life in general have impeded this dream. Today, we were fortunate enough to join the maple tapping event at Kensington Metropark. Sitting and listening to a member…

The Metroparks have been woven into the story of my life. Some of my earliest memories are summer days at the Wave Pool at Lake Erie Metropark, where the parks first became a place of joy and adventure for me. Decades later, they remain a constant. As a runner for more than twenty-five years, I…

As a family we love to spend time year around in the Metroparks. There is always something to enjoy no matter the weather. We love the kids ice fishing tournaments sponsored by the Walleye Club. It is a great free way to get your kids out enjoying nature even in the winter months. We also…

If you have an active dog the Huron-Clinton Metroparks are a must! From hiking trails, attending events, walking with friends and swimming we’ve been to every park within about 90 minutes and visit our local parks biweekly. Great way to explore and burn energy together. -Renee M.