Bird Hills Nature Area

Credit: Jen Bizzotto

Distance
2.25-3.0 miles to the park; 1.0-2.0 miles on park trails.

General Attributes
Easily one of the prettiest parks in the Ann Arbor vicinity, Bird Hills is far enough off the beaten path that it necessitates directions to get there. When you do figure it out, though, it's worth it: the only other people you'll find are neighborhood dog-walkers and the occasional fellow runner, making it a quiet (if you ignore the - we'll call it "music" - of the expressway) and a peaceful break from other trails and pavement running.

I don't want to say much about what it looks like: that's part of Bird Hills' brilliance; it's better to stumble upon it and be surprised. (Although, if you can't be consolidated, some pictures may be found here.) Be prepared for hills and one perennially muddy area, though! And don't count on water or restrooms.

Weather Caveats
One of the best aspects of Bird Hills is the lack of people: not the a-serial-killer-might-get-me kind of unpopulated, but rather a I'm-can-finally-run-slower-because-no-one's-here-to-judge-me kind. That, along with the hills, render it nearly untouchable during the winter months. Snow and ice - particularly ice - ]make the trail treacherous. Autumn is absolutely beautiful here, though, and tree cover provides shade (and occasional mugginess) in spring and summer.

Navigating
The easiest places to access the areas (if you're coming from the downtown Ann Arbor area) are through the Kuebler Langford Nature Area or from Newport Road. Entering from the Kuebler Langford Nature Area, which is right off Huron River Drive as cars are merging onto M-14, you make a left to go up a grass-covered abandoned road (this itself is a long, exhausting hill) that will eventually lead directly to a Bird Hills entrance. (You could also cut through neighborhoods to get here, but be careful if you try that: it's confusing, and it might be better to attempt on the way back rather than going to.) Otherwise, you would come down Miller Road, which cuts straight through downtown, then you would take a right onto Newport Road, and then you would come to the Bird Hills entrance directly after the expressway overpass.

The trails here can at first be difficult to find your way around. If you're ambitious, here's a closeup of the trails. The good thing is that eventually all the paths lead to an exit or an entrance. Even if you do get lost, it won't be long before you run into a familiar area - or a way out.

Upping the Mileage: Nearby Routes
Looking to extend this run? It'll be easier to refer to the larger map of Ann Arbor, but nearby Bird Hills - easy to add to the route or to modify it - are Bluffs and Barton Nature Areas as well as Argo and Bandemer Parks.