HomeMichiganAnn Arbor › Scio Woods Preserve

Scio Woods Preserve

4.6 ★★★★★ 124 Google reviews · Running trail in Ann Arbor, Michigan · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Natural surface
Loop distance
Not reported
Shape
Loop
Shade
Not reported
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from Scio 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 surfaceLoopScenicDog-friendlyFlat & fastHillyTrailhead parkingMile markers

Nature preserve featuring hiking trails in a forested area that are also suitable for kids.

What runners say about Scio Woods Preserve

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (124 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 5 mentions

“UPDATE 6-19-2926 Beautiful and good for running, walking, etc.”

🪧 well-marked 2 mentions

“There are a couple private paths that lead off the main loop to private property, but the trail is well marked and there is a map at the trail head.”

UPDATE 6-19-2926 Beautiful and good for running, walking, etc. if you are running please put your head in a safe place, watch for rocks and debris, logs, sticks. Make sure you use tick and mosquito creams, sprays. Just saying, a Vast place 💯 acres and acres

★★★★★ — Shane , Jun 2026

Get back over the first Hill to station 1 and it starts to feel like woods and less like roadside. We we went on a warm January day, trail was quiet. At least three ponds that are probably teeming with life in the spring.

★★★★☆ — Benjamin , Jan 2019

This is a nice short hiking trail. Easy to stop in and walk a mile or two. The trees are amazing and it is home to a basswood preserve so keep your eyes open for those beauties. There is enough change in grade to provide some challenge, but not so much as to prohibit walking with kids,strollers, pets or seniors.

★★★★★ — Barnaby , Jan 2020

Great place for a low impact hike. No hills, some muddy areas if it's rainy. Nice to see changes through seasons. It's a preserve so there's no facilities. All trails app has several paths. Loop is around 2 miles.

★★★★★ — Emilia , Mar 2021

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 124 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.

⛰️ Hills / elevation 6 mentions

“Great place in the west side for walks or runs, nice slow elevation changes, kid friendly, half mile and 1.”

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🏞️ Scenic views 5 mentions

“UPDATE 6-19-2926 Beautiful and good for running, walking, etc.”

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🅿️ Trailhead parking 4 mentions

“careful entering the parking lot though as there are a couple potholes that could use filled.”

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🔁 Loop trail 3 mentions

“There are a couple private paths that lead off the main loop to private property, but the trail is well marked and there is a map at the trail head.”

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📏 Mile markers 3 mentions

“There are a couple private paths that lead off the main loop to private property, but the trail is well marked and there is a map at the trail head.”

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🌲 Natural surface / singletrack 2 mentions

“No hills, some muddy areas if it's rainy.”

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Flat & fast 2 mentions

“The trail is well maintained, pretty flat there's very minimal elevation gain.”

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🐕 Dog-friendly 4 mentions

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Plan your run at Scio 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
  • 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 — reported by runners
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
  • Websitewashtenaw.org
  • Phone+1 734-971-6337

Hours

Monday 6:30 am–8 pm
Tuesday 6:30 am–8 pm
Wednesday 6:30 am–8 pm
Thursday 6:30 am–8 pm
Friday 6:30 am–8 pm
Saturday 6:30 am–8 pm
Sunday 6:30 am–8 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 Scio Woods Preserve

Scio Church Rd, Ann Arbor, MI 48103

Get directions

Running trails near Ann Arbor

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

Saginaw Forest Trailhead

4.8 ★★★★★ 61 reviews

Ann Arbor, MI

LoopNatural surfaceScenicDog-friendly

Trails through woods plus a lake are the highlight of this peaceful spot for walking, hiking and bird-watching.

1.3 miles away

Dicken Woods Nature Area

4.3 ★★★★☆ 29 reviews

Ann Arbor, MI

LoopBoardwalkDog-friendly

1.7 miles away

Miller Nature Area

4.8 ★★★★★ 69 reviews

Ann Arbor, MI

LoopShadedDog-friendly

Kid-friendly park with forested trails.

3.0 miles away

Scio Farms Trails

4.2 ★★★★☆ 6 reviews

Ann Arbor, MI

3.4 miles away

Bluffs Nature Area

4.4 ★★★★☆ 60 reviews

Ann Arbor, MI

Natural surfaceScenicDog-friendly

39-acre forested park featuring a variety of rugged hiking & biking trails & scenic ridge views.

4.1 miles away

Bird Hills Nature Area

4.7 ★★★★★ 575 reviews

Ann Arbor, MI

Natural surfaceShadedScenicDog-friendly

The city's largest park at 161 acres, this hilly green space offers unpaved woodland hiking trails.

4.1 miles away

All running trails in Ann Arbor, 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.