HomeMichiganBay City › Ted Putz Nature Area

Ted Putz Nature Area

4.4 ★★★★☆ 141 Google reviews · Running trail in Bay City, Michigan · Open 24 hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Boardwalk
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Open 24 hours

Confirmed from Ted Putz Nature 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.

BoardwalkOpen 24hScenic

4-acre park with a boardwalk overlooking the wetlands scenery of the Saginaw River floodplain.

What runners say about Ted Putz Nature Area

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (141 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 4 mentions

“Very beautiful landscape for children and pets to play, and has a long dock with a bench to sit on and watch the sunrise👍.”

🏃 great for running 2 mentions

“Peaceful in the mornings on the weekend that's great for a walk or jog.”

Not a bad place to walk at all, and i love the little cut from the main river to fish, lotus blue gills bass and pike there

★★★★☆ — Ray , May 2021

Great place to bike ride. 4 aces with paved trails and boardwalks over fields and marshes. Love the long boardwalk over the Saginaw. River. Saw mallards, Canada geese and a cormorant sunning its self. What a great way to spend a Saturday. Clean and safe. Port a johns available on Bigalow island near the parking lot.

★★★★★ — Suzan , Jun 2019

Very nice park, lots of shade and grass. We went to see fireworks on Saturday. Next time I hope to get closer to fireworks.

★★★★★ — Patty , Jul 2025

Great place to go kiting. Walk your pets. Grass was in need of mowing. But still short enuf to enjoy the area.

★★★★☆ — Fuzzy , May 2020

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 141 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 7 mentions

“Very beautiful landscape for children and pets to play, and has a long dock with a bench to sit on and watch the sunrise👍.”

More trails like this →

🪵 Boardwalk 2 mentions

“Love the long boardwalk over the Saginaw.”

More trails like this →

Plan your run at Ted Putz Nature Area

The practical stuff

  • AccessOpen 24 hours — no gate to beat, so a 5am or a 10pm run both work
  • SurfaceBoardwalk — flat and scenic, and slick when wet, so watch your footing
  • 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.
  • Websitebaycitymi.org
  • Phone(989) 894-8314

Hours

Monday Open 24 hours
Tuesday Open 24 hours
Wednesday Open 24 hours
Thursday Open 24 hours
Friday Open 24 hours
Saturday Open 24 hours
Sunday Open 24 hours

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 Ted Putz Nature Area

1105 S Arbor St, Bay City, MI 48706

Get directions

Running trails near Bay City

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

Bigelow Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 417 reviews

Bay City, MI

Scenic

Park along the Riverwalk offering a picnic pavilion, play structures, a boat dock & grassy space.

under a mile away

Michigan Sugar Trails

4.5 ★★★★★ 42 reviews

Bay City, MI

Natural surfaceShaded

Wooded nature reserve and trail system for hiking, biking and fishing, with a dirt parking lot.

under a mile away

Bay City Fitness Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 54 reviews

Bay City, MI

ScenicDog-friendly

Park for walking, running, cycling, and playground fun.

under a mile away

Discovery Preserve

4.7 ★★★★★ 79 reviews

Bay City, MI

MixedScenicDog-friendly

This area of marshland features a boardwalk, observation deck, playground & nature center.

under a mile away

Veterans Memorial Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 2,593 reviews

Bay City, MI

BoardwalkScenic

Large riverside park with sports fields & walkways, plus a marina, an arboretum & a concert stage.

1.1 miles away

BayZil Rail Trail Brook St Trailhead

4.6 ★★★★★ 73 reviews

Bay City, MI

5.5 miPavedScenic

Paved hiking and biking area featuring wildlife and a picnic shelter with a restroom.

1.2 miles away

All running trails in Bay City, 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.