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Trails at Nan Weston Nature Preserve Reopen Just in Time for Spring Wildflower Season

Trails were temporarily closed for several months to repair boardwalks throughout the preserve.

April 23, 2024 | Manchester, MI

Orange and black bird perched on a branch.
American Redstart A common mid-spring to mid-fall migrant, American redstarts breed in Ohio over the summer. © Kevin Kluczek

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MANCHESTER, Mich. — The Nature Conservancy in Michigan (TNC) today announced the trails at Nan Weston Nature Preserve at Sharon Hollow are open again to visitors. Trails were closed in January for the construction and repair of several boardwalks throughout the preserve.

“I want to thank the public for their patience throughout this project and for giving us time to repair or rebuild boardwalks at Nan Weston Nature Preserve,” said Shaun Howard, preserve infrastructure and outreach project manager for The Nature Conservancy in Michigan. “The reopening of the trails at Nan Weston couldn’t come at a better time as the forest is alive with spring wildflowers pushing through the soil and birds beginning their migration north, often stopping along the River Raisin to rest and refuel.”

Construction will continue for the next several months on several paths and boardwalks closer to Sharon Mills Park to create a full 1.75 mile loop throughout Nan Weston. You can view an updated trail map showing open and under construction trails here.

Nan Weston Nature Preserve at Sharon Hollow includes over three miles of hiking trails traversing through flood plain forests and wetlands. You can learn more about Nan Weston and take an audio tour, either while on the trail or from your home, online.

Nan Weston is among TNC’s Top 5 most visited preserves in Michigan and is renowned for its spring wildflowers and opportunities to spot migrating songbirds. According to iNaturalist, more than 1,300 observations have been made and over 400 unique species identified by citizen scientists at the preserve over the last several years.

The Nature Conservancy is a global conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Guided by science, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. We are tackling climate change, conserving lands, waters and oceans at an unprecedented scale, providing food and water sustainably and helping make cities more sustainable. Working in more than 70 countries and territories, we use a collaborative approach that engages local communities, governments, the private sector, and other partners. To learn more, visit nature.org or follow @nature_press on Twitter.