Marshall Nature Area

Overview

Marshall Nature Area is an 87 acre natural area in the far northeast area of Ann Arbor, at the corner of Plymouth and Dixboro Roads. View the Ann Arbor Parks and Nature Areas map for location context. A small gravel parking area is accessible off Dixboro, just north of Plymouth Road. West from the parking area is an open oak grove which was once the site of the Marshall family homestead. Trails begin at the northwest corner of the oak grove. The trails through the park are unpaved and in some areas are narrow. Some sections of the trail traverse steep slopes. Otherwise, the terrain is gently rolling. Trails meander through the park and a large trail loop connects to ​Washtenaw County's Freeman Pr​eserve to the west. The park connects to the Dixboro Road Pathway which heads south along Dixboro and connects to the Matthaei Botanical Gardens. Then, the path links to the Botanical Gardens Trail which continues further south until it connects with the B2B Trail.​

Most of Marshall Nature Area is wooded with some open fields. Much of the forested area is open with mixed hardwoods such as oak, hickory, maple and beech. Dogwoods and a variety of wildflowers add springtime color to the park. Pockets of planted pine and spruce are found on the south and west side of the park. The main trail will loop through both types of woods and the fields. Small, seasonally wet areas are found along the loop trail, so be prepared. The area directly north of the parking lot is mostly shrub-thicket. Areas of the park are undergoing restoration by the staff and volunteers of Natural Area Preservation. These efforts include prescribed ecological burns and removal of invasive non-native plants from higher quality natural areas of the park.