The Lower Huron, etc. Metroparks have a13 mile (north to south) paved bike/run path extending through them. The bike path runs through three parks: Lower Huron, Willow, and Oakwoods. Park maps: http://www.metroparks.com/images/maps/lower_huron_park.pdf http://www.metroparks.com/images/maps/willow_park.pdf http://www.metroparks.com/images/maps/oakwoods_park.pdf Standard Metropark fees apply ($5/day or $25 for the season pass which is good for all Metroparks for the calendar year). Lower Huron The skaters usually park at the Tulip Tree picnic area in Lower Huron, because Lower Huron is most convenient for those of us coming from north of I-94 and Tulip Tree has a real (non-rustic) bathroom, which is open all year (and heated in the cold season!). Here is a map to the parking lot (the arrow should be correct - ignore the 'A'):http://tinyurl.com/TulipTree Directions: From Ann Arbor, take 94 East to the Haggerty Road exit (I believe this is exit #192 - just before 275). Go south on Haggerty, which takes you directly into the park.) The Tulip Tree picnic area is the second right - at the top of the hill. Go all the way back to the southeastern most parking lot, next to the blockhouse bathrooms. Willow If I'm going by myself, I'll often go to Willow Metropark and park at the Washago Pond lot. It feels less isolated, although you do spend a few extra minutes driving coming from Ann Arbor. Directions: Take I-94 East, then south on I-275 to exit 11A, South Huron Road-East (look for the Willow park signs). Then go right/east, turning right at the dead end to the park's north entrance. The Washago Pond meeting location in the park is the near the "Boat & Bike Rental and Ski Center" (just furthest parking lot beyond area "J" on the map link): http://wwhttp://www.metroparks.com/images/maps/willow_park.pdf or this Google Map should work: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Washago+Pond+Road,+New+Boston,+MI&sll=42.136168,-83.377562&sspn=0.0225,0.033002&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Washago+Pond+Rd,+New+Boston,+Wayne,+Michigan+48164&ll=42.130169,-83.37621&spn=0.011649,0.016501&z=16 The only "tricky" part of the entire 3 park path is around Willow. On the PDF map, you can see the bike trail (the gray line) forms a rough circle around the park, but also has a cut-through segment. Coming from the north (Lower Huron) and going all the way south through Oakwoods, we generally just follow the "always turn right at intersections" rule as we're going south, then coming back up going north. |