Detroit

I moved to downtown Detroit last January and I have not used my cameras since. I have been trying to find a

nature park or wildlife refuge nearby but nobody I talked to had any ideas. I was hoping that some one on here

could recommend someplace that is close by. Due to the high cost of driving these days I was hoping for something

within 20 miles of the city.

In the spring there are numerous places along the Lake Ontaro shore that are world-famous for warbler migration, Point

Pelee National park (Ontario) for one.

There have got to be camera clubs in Detroit. They will provide you with many photographic opportunities in the area

and a place to meet like minded people.

 

Terry White is famous for his photographic insights and the Mac.

http://events.detnews.com/troy-mi/events/show/83671650-adobe-indesign-acrobat-9-with-terry-white-at-international-

academy-of-design-and-technology

 

A simple google search gave me:

 

http://www.gdccc.org/

 

http://www.photolinks.com/ResultsPage18.html?STATE=Michigan&COUNTRY=United%20States

 

http://www.psa-newmember.org/psa-regions/regions/reg16.html

Nick,

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There really not that much wildlife (of the non-human type that is ;-) ) within 20 miles of downtown. If you're

willing to venture a bit further there are a number of locations that provide some decent photo ops.

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<a href="http://www.metroparks.com/index.php">http://www.metroparks.com/index.php</a>

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At Kensington MetroPark the deer are so used to humans you could probably get decent images with a 50mm.

I've seen sandhill cranes at Indian Springs. I've shot deer, wild turkey, and egrets at Stony Creek.

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<a href="http://www.crwc.org/index.html">http://www.crwc.org/index.html</a>

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Most of the communities along the Clinton River have parks or other access along the river.

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<a

href="http://www.epa.gov/med/grosseile_site/indicators/refuge-map.html">http://www.epa.gov/med/grosseile_site/indicators/refuge-map.html</a>

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Going south there is Lake Erie MetroPark, and Point Mouillee State Game Area. Further south is the Sterling

State Park and Eagle Island Marsh. Going even further south you could try Erie Marsh and Erie State Game Area.

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Access to some of these areas is pretty good while others are more of a challenge.

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Dick

As someone born in Detroit and living less than 10 miles outside Detroit, I sincerely believe all wildlife within 20 miles of Detroit has either been eaten or paved over.

 

Just kidding...

 

Belle Isle - has several wildlife habitats around blue heron lagoon, a nature center, and a well marked system of trails. If you like something more formal, there's also the Anna Scripps Whitcomb conservatory, beautiful architecture and oldest conservatory in the US. Imagine Monticello rebuilt in glass domes and filled with plants...

 

Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge - Would you believe I've never been to this one, myself? Friends who have say it's fantastic, during migration you see clouds of a hundred thousand ducks. They also say respect all labeled fences and warnings, because the signs warning about hazmat are absolutely correct. Anything listed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service "the only International Wildlife Refuge in North America" has got to be a "must see". Therefore, I am going to go next week. You've got an open invitation.

 

http://www.fws.gov/midwest/detroitriver/

 

Lower Huron Metropark is within your 20 mile radius, I believe. Not that much on nature trails...

 

I've heard the U of M Dearborn maintains a preserve. Not sure exactly what they're preserving. ;)

 

If you up your drive to 30 or 40 miles

 

Kensington metropark is my favorite. Highland SRA is in that area, as is Proud Lake. Be prepared to spent the whole day from sunup to sundown...

 

West Bloomfield Woods is pretty.

 

And above all, read this...

 

http://michigan.sierraclub.org/SEMG/Resources/Documents/Outings/Detroit_Area_Day_Hiking.pdf

 

http://www.fws.gov/midwest/detroitriver/

 

"I moved to downtown Detroit last January and I have not used my cameras since."

 

Why not? We have some of the finest architecture in the world, the best urban ruins in the world, night life, Eastern Market...

Richard - "At Kensington MetroPark the deer are so used to humans you could probably get decent images with a 50mm."

 

Used to humans? If you're stupid enough to feed them, you can shoot them with the 20mm wide, or 8mm fisheye, and they will stick their dang noses right on your lens. I speak from personal experience.

detroiter for 61yrs. see the belle isle and the conservatory, wonderfull if you have a 100mm or so macro lens. they have flowers coming out of your eyeballs. ann arbor- the nichols aboratoreum, and matthei botanical gardens, part of the univertsity of michgan. drive out hines drive, about 30-40 miles of very peacefull and scenic wonders. get out of the car and see the little know spots along the rouge river which hines drv runs alongside, think wide angle and low to the water. also cranbrook-flowers gardens sculpture rock gardens buildings(with tours) and a lot of ecetera.

 

diito the silly and VERY FRIENDLY DEER at kensington metro park. they will climb in your camera or lap if you let them.

 

go to the tip of belle isle looking toward downtown and make a panorama. though with million boats going by that takes a little skill and timing. in the late afternoon beware of the glare coming off the river, also the brightness is horrific.

As one who flies across the NE part of the city every few weeks I notice that there are belts/blocks of green - power line right of ways, etc, and open green areas - I look because I might need them someday... Going North of Detroit City Airport there are blocks of green here and there... Perhaps using Google Earth you can locate these and go looky-see... You may find some interesting, unnoticed stuff...

Also, along the river and along the upriver shoreline there are areas that from the air look like you can access/walk and look for shots... Bell Isle has been mentioned and looks gorgeous from the air... Grosse Isle is downriver and I have landed there.. It is an island and may have park like areas... Again, Google Earth, or whatever can be used to check it out...

 

denny - Hemlock, Michigan (born in Motown)

Denny - there's a "greening of Detroit" website that talks about some of those areas. Some are intentional, some are nature taking back abandoned areas. Some they call "greenways" and "green belts". There are also studies on wildlife relating to the "lapsed" areas.

I took this a couple of weeks ago from Belle Isle.

Trying again.<div></div>