A 3.6 mile hike in the Waterloo Recreation Area, this trip is just a short one outside of the Ann Arbor area, and was a perfect mid-pandemic activity with a few coworkers. Lakeview and Oak Woods trails are connected by a short piece of the Waterloo-Pickney Trail and have some great views of the water, if you can find them amongst all the trees. Our mid-July trek was made easier by the high canopy and relative cover provided by the trees.
While there are a few places for experiencing the tranquility of Mill Lake, our only real view of the lake was when we got slightly lost. The trail is relatively well marked, but there was some confusing on the Lakeview Trail that actually dropped us closer to a different access road. This detour led us to a natural boat launch that left us speechless looking out across the lake we had been trekking beside most of our afternoon.
Lakeview Trail may have had some confusing markings that got us a little turned around, but the rest of the trails (or, trail pieces) were well marked across both the Waterloo-Pickney Trail and the Oak Woods Trail. The recreation area is also far enough off the beaten path that you don’t get a lot of noise like cars once you make it to the paths, and we saw relatively few people. In the midst of our lockdown, it was a welcome adventure into the outdoors that allowed a little comradery with a relatively low risk factor. You can find more of my shots here, if you are interested in the full photo collection.
Another highlight of these trails is the Gerald E. Eddy Discovery Center. While we couldn’t explore it due to closure, “the center reflects [Eddy’s] career in geology and his dedication to preserving Michigan’s natural areas.”1 The center features two exhibition rooms, which are said to be great for young children, or just anyone interested in geology and Michigan.
- Jim DeFresne, “Lakeview and Oak Woods Loop” in 50 Hikes in Michigan (New York: The Countrymen Press, 2019), 55.
Raven K 