There are so many ways to explore your watershed all year!
The Huron River watershed is nothing short of remarkable. It plays a vital role in our daily lives. Thanks to the river, creeks, wetlands, and lakes, we can enjoy healthy ecosystems. Safe drinking water. Thriving towns and cities. Diverse wildlife. And inviting places to swim, fish, paddle, socialize, exercise or simply enjoy nature. This year’s watershed community calendar encourages you to explore all that the watershed has to offer, whatever the season. Each month highlights a different recreation opportunity. See the resources below to inspire your next outing.
How many will you try in 2025?
JANUARY: VOLUNTEER
Volunteer for HRWC’s Winter Stonefly Search January 18th. Get outside and explore local creeks at this family-friendly event where volunteers collect important data on the health of our watershed. Stoneflies are an indicator of water quality. Sign up to volunteer.
FEBRUARY: CROSS COUNTRY SKI
Go cross country skiing! There are a number of parks around the watershed where you can find miles of groomed trails, equipment rentals, and even adaptive Sit-Skis for those unable to ski in an upright position.
Learn more:
Metroparks
Washtenaw County Parks
Ann Arbor Ski Club
MARCH: EXPLORE VERNAL POOLS
Search for vernal pools in your local forests. Each spring, these small wetlands appear as they fill with spring meltwater, only to dry up by the summertime. Vernal pools are important habitats for salamanders, frogs, and fairy shrimp. Learn more about vernal pools.
APRIL: CELEBRATE HRWC’S 60th ANNIVERSARY
Celebrate HRWC’s 60th Anniversary by giving back to your creek. Plan a cleanup with friends, or volunteer for Spring River Roundup. Head to an Earth Day event to learn about and celebrate our natural resources. Go to hrwc.org/calendar for upcoming events and volunteer opportunities.
MAY: PADDLE OR FLOAT
Paddle or float down the Huron River Water Trail. There are inclusive universal access launches for everyone, including paddlers with disabilities. For locations with accessible launches, interactive maps, trip recommendations, camping, safety information, and outfitters that provide equipment rentals and transportation go to huronriverwatertrail.org.
JUNE: GO FISHING
You will find smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, bluegill, perch, northern pike, catfish and carp throughout the river system. The Saturday and Sunday following the first full week of June is Michigan’s Free Fishing Weekend, when fishing license fees are waived for two days.
Learn more:
Free Fishing Weekend
Southeast Michigan Shore Fishing Opportunities (MI DNR)
Schultz Outfitters
JULY: EXPLORE SUMMER WILDFLOWERS
Explore summer wildflowers at a prairie near you! Look for Yellow Coneflower, Blue Vervain, or Marsh Blazing Star. Need help finding a prairie? The watershed’s local land conservancies have nature preserves that are free to explore.
Learn more:
Legacy Land Conservancy
Southeast Michigan Land Conservancy
Livingston Land Conservancy
University of Michigan Nichols Arboretum
AUGUST: EXPLORE A NEW PART OF THE WATERSHED
Explore a new part of the watershed! With over 300 lakes and ponds and 1200 miles of creeks and streams, there is surely somewhere you haven’t been before. Have you visited the Huron River’s headwaters at Indian Springs Metropark, or the river’s mouth at Pointe Mouillée? What about the river system’s many creeks? For inspiration, visit HRWC.org/maps to plan your next adventure.
SEPTEMBER: GO BIRDING
Go birding! During autumn, the skies over Southeast Michigan are alive with tens of thousands of hawks, eagles, falcons, and other birds of prey as they migrate south. One of the most popular birding areas in Michigan is Pointe Mouillée State Game Area where the Huron River flows into Lake Erie.
Learn more:
Birding at Pointe Mouillee (MI DNR)
Washtenaw Bird and Nature Alliance
Detroit Bird Alliance
Birding in Michigan (MI DNR)
OCTOBER: GO CAMPING
Camp in the fall colors in one of the seven state recreation areas in our watershed (Waterloo, Pinckney, Brighton, Island Lake, Proud Lake, Highland, and Pontiac Lake). Enjoy miles of trails, pristine lakes, and idyllic views of the river. Pitch a tent, park your RV, or rent a yurt or cabin.
Make reservations and learn more:
Michigan State Recreation Areas
Lower Huron Metropark
NOVEMBER: TAKE A BIKE RIDE
Take a bike ride along the Huron River before the winter chill really sets in! There are shared use paths in every county. The Border to Border Trail (Washtenaw), the Downriver Linked Greenways (Wayne), the Lakelands Trail (Livingston County), or the Huron Valley Trail (Oakland) offer miles of enjoyable biking through beautiful parks and city centers.
See links to trail details on the Huron River Water Trail website.
DECEMBER: GO FOR A WALK
Relax and unwind with family (or take some time for yourself) this holiday season by taking a stroll in your favorite park or preserve. Go for a winter lantern hike. Prowl for owls. Snowshoe through the woods. Remember, all water is connected, and while you might not be next to a river or stream, the actions you take anywhere in the watershed impact the quality of our rivers and lakes.
Find a park near you with Southeast Michigan Council of Government’s ParkFinder tool.