| Stony Creek Metropark | |
|---|---|
  Location within Michigan Show map of Michigan Stony Creek Metropark (the United States) Show map of the United States | |
| Type | Regional park |
| Location | Macomb County andOakland County,Michigan,United States of America |
| Coordinates | 42°43′41″N83°05′04″W / 42.72796°N 83.0844°W /42.72796; -83.0844 |
| Area | 4,461 acres (1,805 ha) |
| Operated by | Huron–Clinton Metroparks |
| Status | Open year round |
| Website | Official site |
Stony Creek Metropark is aHuron-Clinton Metropark located in southeastMichigan in the outskirts ofmetro Detroit. The park is predominantly inWashington Township andOakland Township, with a small portion inShelby Township. The park covers 4,461 acres (18.05 km2) with Stony Creek Lake at its center.
Stony Creek Lake is a man-made lake built by damming Stony Creek, a tributary of theClinton River. Stony Creek drains 72 square miles (116 km2) of northernOakland County and the lake formed from the dams covers 500 acres (2.0 km2).
Stony Creek Metropark is situated on amoraine which makes for varied landscape. The park has forests, hills, prairies, as well as swamps. The park is also relatively high above sea level, 875 feet (267 m) at the park office. Although a visitor can see downtown Detroit (26 miles away) from the park office, it is not the highest point in Macomb County, as many people believe. Trombley Mountain, located in the Ford Proving Grounds (Bruce Township), is 1,150 feet (350 m) above sea level - the highest point in Macomb County.
Stony Creek has a vast amount of trails in four locations around the park. There are 14 miles (22.5 km) of mountain biking/hiking trails located on the grounds of a former estate, of which the foundations are still visible. There are another 8.5 miles (13.7 km) of hiking trails near the nature center, and over 6 miles (10 km) of foot trails near Inwood lake. Additionally, there is a 6-mile (10 km) paved trail that circles Stony Creek lake which is popular with joggers, and inline-skaters.
Stony Creek Metropark also has:
The park is reestablishing anosprey population in south-eastern Michigan. There are also wild turkey, deer, bald eagles, and other animals one can expect in south-east Michigan in the park. Birding is encouraged with the nature center maintaining a species list. There have beenmassasaugas, Michigan's only venomous snake, spotted during the spring and summer months.
Parks inmetropolitan Detroit | ||
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| Detroit city |
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| Metro 600 to 1,500 acres (243 to 607 ha) | ||
| 1,500 to 5,000 acres (607 to 2,023 ha) | ||
| over 5,000 acres (2,023 ha) | ||
| Waterways | ||
| Major beaches | ||
| Trails 5 to 36 miles (8 to 58 km) | ||
| Zoological and botanical | ||
| Topics | .jpg) | |
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| Detroit | ||
| Municipalities over 80,000 | ||
| Municipalities 40,000 to 80,000 | ||
| Cultural enclaves | ||
| Satellite cities | ||
| Counties in MSA | ||
| Counties in CSA | ||