The Red Oaks Nature Center is located at 30300 Hales Street. It is south of 13 Mile between John R and Dequindre, in Madison Heights. The Nature Center hosts over 38 acres of rich natural habitat in the midst of Metro Detroit. Visitors will need a parking pass, however, admission is free.
Visitors will be able to find more than 45 tree and shrub species. The nature area also hosts scattered vernal ponds (seasonal), open shrubby, and grassy clearings. Finally, guests may even spot native wildlife including deer, cottontail rabbits, squirrels, raccoons, shrews, bats, and a wide variety of birds. The park also offers a 1.3 mile paved walking path with many benches along the way so you can rest. Along the trails you can also find the Storybook Trail, featuring different stories throughout the season.
During our visit, we saw a variety of plants, many squirrels, bees and a couple of woodpeckers. Inside the Nature Center you can see live fish, turtles and more. The park and trails are open daily during daylight hours. Meanwhile, the Nature Center Building is open Tuesday through 10 a.m.-5 p.m and Sunday Noon-5 p.m.
The Madison Heights Nature Center’s log cabin building is 2,400 square feet and features seasonal educational displays throughout the year. The displays encourage children to learn through curiosity and play. In addition to a nice selection of live animals to observe, visitors can learn through dramatic play (puppets), readings and a sensory area. I loved all the bird feeders they had set up to attract a wide variety of species. During our visit we saw a gold finch, house finch, blue jays, cardinals, warblers, sparrows and woodpeckers.
The Red Oaks Nature Center also offers:
Field Trips, Nature Interpretive Programs, and exhibits including live native animals. Auditorium/large classroom and meeting areas are available for larger groups. While a deck leading to a paved nature trail would be a fun spot for a group picnic. A pond with low waterfall at the entrance provides a water source for local wildlife. The nature center is also a great place to host your next Birthday Party.
Overall we had a fantastic time at the Red Oaks Nature Center. Oakland County Parks and Rec does an amazing job maintaining the walking paths and nature center building. There are two restrooms and a drinking fountain available for when nature called. The kids had fun and learned a lot, even though they didn’t know it.
Check out other Nature Centers in Metro Detroit.
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Other Parks in Madison Heights
- Ambassador Park offers trails, a playground, seasonal restrooms, a small sled hill, soccer field, tennis court, ice rink, together with a water fountain on 7 acres.
- Bill Gravel Park is a small .9-acre park that offers grills, picnic tables, and swings.
- Civic Center Park is a 33-acre park that hosts water fountains, basketball, a trail, sledding hills, picnic tables, pavilions, grills, restrooms, sand volleyball as well as a softball field.
- Edison Park offers ball diamonds, a playground as well as a small sledding hill on the 4-acre property.
- Exchange Park is a small .6 acre park that offers picnic tables, grills, together with a swing set.
- Greenleaf Park is located adjacent to Edmonson Elementary. The 4.5-acre park is home to two ball diamonds, while the school hosts several playground structures.
- Huffman Park is home to a basketball court, lighted softball field, play structure together with seasonal restrooms and a water fountain.
- Monroe Park offers a playscape as well as a toddler play area. The one-acre park also hosts a pavilion, picnic tables, a swing set, and a water fountain.
- Red Oaks Youth Soccer Complex offers a play structure, pavilion, water fountains, and seasonal restrooms in addition to nine youth soccer fields.
- Rosie’s Park is a 30.9-acre park that offers a variety of sports, picnic tables, grills, play structures, together with seasonal restrooms.
- Senior Center Park offers horseshoe pits, trails, picnic pavilions together with shuffleboard courts.
- Silverleaf Park is home to ball diamonds, restrooms together with picnic tables.
- Suarez Friendship Woods/Red Oaks Nature Center is a 36.5-acre park with 1.3 miles of paved trails.
- Twelve-Sherry Park hosts ball diamonds, a basketball court, an ice rink, picnic tables, a playground, as well as a tennis court.
- Wildwood Park recently updated playground renovation featuring brightly colored playground equipment, swings, climbing structures, and picnic tables.
Upcoming Red Oaks Nature Center Events
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Author: Amber Louchart
Amber is the proud mother to four beautiful children, Damian (27), Rosaleigh (14), Carlyn (11), and Naomi (8). Her family also includes four cats. She loves being a stay-at-home mom and feels blessed to be able to care for her children full-time and provide them with so many opportunities through Metro Detroit Mommy. In addition to Metro Detroit Mommy, Amber has a passion for hosting karaoke with Malibu Entertainment. She enjoys the metro Detroit nightlife especially, singing, dancing and meeting new people.
Amber is the proud mother to four beautiful children, Damian (27), Rosaleigh (14), Carlyn (11), and Naomi (8). Her family also includes four cats.
She loves being a stay-at-home mom and feels blessed to be able to care for her children full-time and provide them with so many opportunities through Metro Detroit Mommy. In addition to Metro Detroit Mommy, Amber has a passion for hosting karaoke with Malibu Entertainment. She enjoys the metro Detroit nightlife especially, singing, dancing and meeting new people.
