Nichols Arboretum

Trail Length/Type

Varies, Loop

Helpful Trail Information

Creek / River, Mud Puddles, Shaded Hike, Viewpoint, Visitor Center, and Wildlife Viewing The Washington Heights entrance is where you can find the peony garden. Peonies bloom in early June and over 90 different types are found here. A fairy garden and troll knoll is just past the peony garden and is a fun place to circle back to after a hike for the kiddos to explore. If you have a stroller, make a right turn at the split and wind down the path to the river. If you are up for some stairs, go straight and this will take you on a ridge with nice peeks of the Huron River below. At the bottom this trail, you’ll find the Huron River. Spend some time watching the kayakers go by, wading, skipping rocks, or catching crayfish. Continue straight to go to the prairie, or take a right just past the stone stairs to the river and you’ll go on a wide, stroller friendly path up to the Caretaker’s Cottage. Before you get to the cottage, if you’d like a more strenuous hike, there is a small trail that goes up the hill. This trail can be pretty steep and you’ll get your heart pumping. If you take the trail to the cottage, you’ll go down the hill to the main valley. This is a great place to let the kiddos run free or kick a ball around. Go straight and up the stairs for a great view of North Campus, or take a right and head back to the main path by taking the boardwalk. The boardwalk will intersect with the main path and to Heathdale. This is one of my favorite places in the Arb. Rhododendrons and lush ferns can be found here and a stone circle for sitting and chatting.Take the trail to the right, up the hill, and under the curved tree and back to the fairy garden.

Parking Details

Parking is best on Washington Heights in the M-28 lot. It is free after 5pm Monday through Friday and on the weekends. During the week, you can pay for street parking on Observatory or Washington Heights. Alternatively, you can park in the hospital parking structures.