Barton Nature Area
Rate this placeLast Updated: December 5, 2025
Barton Nature Area is a 102-acre park located in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
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Summary
It is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts, offering a variety of activities including hiking, biking, fishing, and birdwatching. The park features several trails that wind through forests, wetlands, and fields, providing visitors with a chance to see a diverse range of plant and animal life.
One of the main attractions of Barton Nature Area is the Barton Pond, a 220-acre impoundment on the Huron River. The pond is a popular spot for fishing, and anglers can catch a variety of fish including bass, pike, and bluegill.
In addition to the pond, the park also features a number of other points of interest, including a butterfly garden, an observation deck overlooking the river, and a nature center with educational exhibits and programs.
Interesting facts about the area include the fact that it was once a site of a grist mill, which operated from 1837 to 1919. The mill was powered by the Huron River, and remnants of the mill can still be seen in the park today.
The best time of year to visit Barton Nature Area is in the spring and summer, when the weather is mild and the park is in full bloom. The fall is also a popular time to visit, as the changing leaves provide a stunning backdrop for hiking and biking.
Overall, Barton Nature Area is a beautiful and peaceful retreat that offers visitors a chance to connect with nature and explore the great outdoors.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
Related References
Huron Bridge Park
Kuebler Langford Park
Bird Hills Park
Beckley Park
Longshore Park