HomeMichiganMt Pleasant › Florence Maxwell Audubon Woods Preserve

Florence Maxwell Audubon Woods Preserve

4.9 ★★★★★ 47 Google reviews · Running trail in Mt Pleasant, Michigan · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Natural surface
Loop distance
4 mi
Shape
Loop
Shade
Tree cover
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from Florence Maxwell Audubon Woods Preserve's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

Natural surface4 miLoopShadedScenicHillyQuiet

Secluded preserve featuring wooded trails, some along the Chippewa River and others with inclines.

What runners say about Florence Maxwell Audubon Woods Preserve

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (47 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 12 mentions

“Scenic mature forest land with beautiful trails and river corridor.”

🪧 well-marked 2 mentions

“I brought my RC trail truck and followed my 5 yr old on a fairly well marked trail.”

🌾 quiet & peaceful 4 mentions

“Beautiful trails and peaceful views of the Chippewa River!”

We just got done visiting the Florence Maxwell Audubon preserve here southwest of Mount Pleasant in a light rain but the over canopy of the old growth forest Beech- Maple complex kept us fairly dry. Some beautiful old trees. Just a rare habitat you should come visit. Some uncommon birds nest here.

★★★★★ — Nancy , Jun 2019

Beautiful walk. Not a long walk. Nice view of the river. Not much parking. Mostly woods. No bathroom. Some hills. Not bad.

★★★★★ — Bluebird , May 2022

One of my favorite preserves in the area! Almost fully wooded beside the river.

★★★★★ — Ashley , Sep 2024

This was a very pleasant walk to go on. It is shorter then many at a distance of a mile, but there are pretty significant uphill / downhill sections of the Walk. On the northernmost part of the trail you overlook the river. While I did not see any deer there, there were lots of deer tracks and they looked very fresh

★★★★☆ — Scott , Jun 2019

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 47 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🏞️ Scenic views 16 mentions

“Scenic mature forest land with beautiful trails and river corridor.”

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🤫 Quiet / uncrowded 4 mentions

“Beautiful trails and peaceful views of the Chippewa River!”

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🌳 Shaded / tree cover 3 mentions

“Almost fully wooded beside the river.”

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⛰️ Hills / elevation 3 mentions

“Nice and hilly with beautiful views.”

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🌲 Natural surface / singletrack 2 mentions

“Lots of root systems and the trail is easy to follow.”

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🔁 Loop trail 2 mentions

“About 3/4 mile hiking trail loop, partly along the chippewa river.”

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Plan your run at Florence Maxwell Audubon Woods Preserve

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • SurfaceNatural surface — easiest on the joints and the most fun, but expect roots, rocks and mud after rain
  • Loop distance4 mi back to where you parked
  • ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
  • Websitechippewawatershedconservancy.org

Hours

Monday 8 AM–6 PM
Tuesday 8 AM–6 PM
Wednesday 8 AM–6 PM
Thursday 8 AM–6 PM
Friday 8 AM–6 PM
Saturday 8 AM–6 PM
Sunday 8 AM–6 PM

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find Florence Maxwell Audubon Woods Preserve

S Gilmore Rd, Mt Pleasant, MI 48858

Get directions

Running trails near Mt Pleasant

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

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All running trails in Mt Pleasant, MI →

Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.