16. Lillie Park + Johnson Nature Preserve

Photos from Lillie Park:

Photos from the Johnson Preserve:

Overview: The southern portion of Lillie Park has a few nature trails that surround two large ponds and a marsh. A grand tour using the trail segments around the perimeter is 1.6 miles long. Interesting enough by itself, but there's more to the story than you might discern from Googling:

The first of the two unmapped passages  into the Johnson Preserve may be found by heading east from the pavilion  at the south end of Lillie Park. Take the right branch at the next three forks in the trail you encounter. (See also the Johnson Preserve trail map, new as of 2021.)

Leashed dogs are allowed throughout.

What sort of boardwalk will you encounter?

In theory, there is a long boardwalk that crosses Turtle Rock Pond. However, during the Summer of 2020, it was suitable only for amphibians (above left). By the following spring, it appeared to be functional again although still closed to the public (above center). In retrospect, it is possible that no human efforts were involved -- perhaps the water level in the pond had simply dropped. In any case, by May of 2022, the boardwalk had reverted to a submerged state. As of August 2022, one can see that something more drastic has happened -- the boardwalk has been removed (above right).

A Challenge in the North: For hikers, the main attraction of Lillie Park North is a rough, narrow trail that runs along the southeastern shore of Haven Lake . Although not on the trail map, the path is visible on the OpenStreetMap .

To reach it from the south parking lot, walk north on the Platt Road Greenway. Shortly after crossing the service road separating the north and south, you will find a dirt road heading northeast that descends to Haven Lake. You can also reach this road from the north parking lot -- walk south from the pavilion and then make a hairpin turn  to the north. The trail will be on your right once you reach Haven Lake.

Another approach involves exiting from the northernmost section of Lillie Park South (Loop F on the trail map) onto the service road and following it southwest towards Platt Road. (See this route map .) Although it is arrow-straight and utilitarian, it is unpaved -- an advantage under icy conditions. And in the warmer months, the road will be lined with wildflowers  and sumac in bloom .

It is quite evident that the northern trail is no longer maintained. In any case, as you progress along the shoreline, the trail gets narrower  and the brush thicker. At some point you may need to turn back and retrace your steps, or exit by fighting your way up the embankment to the service road. Icy wintertime conditions, muddy springtime conditions, and thick underbrush in summer/fall can make this difficult if not impossible. If you manage to push through to the end of the trail (about 1/4 mile), you can head southeast across the service road and re-join the trail network in Lillie Park South at Loop F.

Directions: From downtown Ann Arbor, head southeast on Packard. After it bends to the east, turn right (south) onto Platt. Once you cross Ellsworth, the north entrance to Lillie Park is the first driveway on the left, and the south entrance is the third driveway on the left. (The second left is a private road.)

Unless you want to start your hike with the Northern Challenge, you should plan on using the south entrance.

Excerpt from the Johnson Preserve website: If you start your walk at Johnson from the parking lot you can enjoy a mile-long trail which passes through active farm fields, enters the forest and loops around the button bush swamp on the Harlie Smith boardwalk. A couple connectors to Lillie Park’s trails branch from the woodland trail. Fall colors are especially nice in this woodland. On your walk notice large oak and hickory trees marked with blue circles. These trees were marked at some point as “keepers” for the housing development that was to take place before the land was preserved by Legacy.