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Pittsfield Preserve Nature Trail Area
4.4 ★★★★☆ 48 Google reviews · Running trail in Ann Arbor, Michigan · Dawn to dusk
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Natural surface
- Loop distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Loop
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Dawn to dusk
Confirmed from Pittsfield Preserve Nature Trail Area'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.
Quiet preserve, featuring picnic tables, a mix of prairie, woods, and open grasslands.
What runners say about Pittsfield Preserve Nature Trail Area
“Clean and large acres to run, walk, roam and vow the amazing to landscape ❤️”
“The walk is beautiful, especially during the fall season.”
“Outstanding natural area to enjoy either hiking or biking, and great for run training too!”
“Very quiet nature preserve.”
“I didn't see a playground at this area, but it did seem very dog and kid friendly.”
Been coming to this trail for a few years. The walk is beautiful, especially during the fall season. I would say, recently theres been an increase in coyote sightings at this location. Understand the remote nature of this trail.
Kinda of a cool hidden thick woods with well defined trails and flat hiking. The entrance to the trails is about 200 yards from the parking lot, between the farmers fields. A little wet in some spots right now in mid June. Not sure how much they dry up. Bring bug spray and do a tick check after.
Not far from Platt & Ellsworth, this natural preservation area has a nice paved parking lot. Take a picture of the map at the entrance- to help navigate. After walking thru a wide mowed pathway between 2 corn fields, you enter a mixed hardwood forest, good canopy with a woodsy temp and deep silence.
A small trailhead with a rock parking lot, port-a-potty, old picnic table. Nicely mowed path back to the woods where the trail takes you through the woods and around an open prairie on the other side. Great for a hot days run, watch the roots and deadfall limbs.
Trail conditions & character
“The walk is beautiful, especially during the fall season.”
“The entrance to the trails is about 200 yards from the parking lot, between the farmers fields.”
“I brought my daughter with a jogging stroller and we did ok, some pipes and roots to lift over but it’s doable.”
“Has free parking lots and a porta potty near the trail head if you need to go to the restroom.”
“great place for relaxing and just walk a bit with or without my dog.”
“I used the AllTrails app to run the Pittsfield Preserve Outer Trail Loop while training for a 5k - comes out to almost exactly 3 miles.”
Plan your run at Pittsfield Preserve Nature Trail Area
The practical stuff
- AccessDawn to dusk — the gates close, so do not plan a run that finishes after dark
- SurfaceNatural surface — easiest on the joints and the most fun, but expect roots, rocks and mud after rain
- DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- At the trailheadparking, restrooms — reported by runners
- DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
- Websitepittsfield-mi.gov
- Phone(734) 822-2120
Hours
| Monday | 6 AM–10 PM |
| Tuesday | 6 AM–10 PM |
| Wednesday | 6 AM–10 PM |
| Thursday | 6 AM–10 PM |
| Friday | 6 AM–10 PM |
| Saturday | 6 AM–10 PM |
| Sunday | 6 AM–10 PM |
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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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