Dhu Varren Woods Nature Area

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Overview

Dhu Varren Woods Nature Area is a 13.58 acre park located off Dhu Varren Road on the city’s north side. View the Ann Arbor Parks and Nature Areas map​ for location context. The ecosystem consists of woodland, wetland and shrubland. Glaciers once melted here, depositing the gravel and other rock that form the hills. The Traver Creek watershed extends in to this park. In the woods, a hiker can find beech and maple and the more typical oak and hickory trees. The woods for the most part are open, and a trail circles the park. There is also a small wetland that connects to the Foxfire South Park wetland area. This wetland generally keeps visitors from crossing between the two nature areas.

American toads, spring peeper frogs, and pileated woodpeckers have been observed in the park. Native plants of note include sedge, whorled loosestrife, shrubby cinquefoil, pawpaw, rue anemone, flowering dogwood, small fringed gentian, sharp-fruited rush and northern bog violet. The not-so-common black maple may be found down by the creek. Bitternut and shagbark hickories abound at the tops of the hills.​

Park Notices

Unless otherwise posted per City Council resolution, when a park is closed, no person shall remain in or enter it other than to quietly sit or walk.​

Refer to Chapter 39 of the City of Ann Arbor Code of Ordinances for park regulations and rules.

Park Hours

6 a.m. – Midnight

Amenities

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Unpaved Trails


 
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Access and Parking

Dhu Varren Woods Nature Area can be accessed via a trailhead entrance located on the south side of Dhu Varren Road, across the street from Birchwood Drive. There is street parking on Birchwood.​​​​

The park can be accessed on foot from the neighborhood across Dhu Varren. There is no sidewalk along Dhu Varren. There are bike lanes along most of Dhu Varren near the park. There are no bike racks at the park.

The park is close (within a mile) to several other parks and nature areas, including Placid Way Park, Foxfire East Park, Foxfire West Park, Buttonbush Nature Area, Foxfire North Park and Olson Park.

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Public Transportation

The nearest ​bu​​s stop ​​​is on Dhu Varren Road, immediately across the street from the park's entrance. Visit TheRide​ for closest stops and route details or check out the parks ride guide​​.​​​

History​​​

Ann Arbor's city parks sit on the ancestral and traditional homelands​ of several indigenous Native peoples. Read a land acknowledgement​​ from the city and learn more a​bout the early history of the land here.​​

The land that comprises​ Dhu Varren Woods Nature Area and Traver Creek Nature Area​ was annexed by the City of Ann Arbor from Ann Arbor Township in 1993, after the two properties were bought by the city.  The two properties were known as the Sias Properties. The Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund provided a grant of $292,259 toward the purchase price of $584,518.​

Read an article from a Natural Area Preservation newsletter highlighting Dhu Varren Woods and the glacial topography of the area:

2011 A Winter Recitation: Dhu Varren Woods Nature Area​ by Rob Schubert


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