Stony Creek Metropark
Encyclopedia
Stony Creek Metropark is a Huron-Clinton Metropark
located in northern southeast Michigan
(predominantly in Washington Township, MI
and Rochester/Oakland, MI, with a small portion in Shelby Township, MI). The park covers 4461 acres (18.1 km²) with a large lake at its center.
. Stony Creek drains 72 square miles (116 km²) of northern Oakland County and the lake formed from the dams covers 500 acres (2 km²).
Stony Creek Metropark is situated on a moraine
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 1150 feet (350.5 m) above sea level - the highest point in Macomb County.
Stony Creek Metropark also has:
population in south-eastern Michigan. There are also wild turkey, deer, 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 been massasaugas, Michigan's only venomous snake, spotted during the spring and summer months.
Huron-Clinton Metroparks
The Huron-Clinton Metroparks system is a regional park system in Metro Detroit in the U.S. state of Michigan. The park system includes 13 parks totalling arranged along the Huron River and Clinton River forming a partial ring around the metro area. Plans are in development to finish the ring by...
located in northern southeast Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
(predominantly in Washington Township, MI
Washington Township, Macomb County, Michigan
Washington Charter Township is a charter township of Macomb County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 19,080 at the 2000 census. Washington Township is bordered by the village of Romeo, Ray Township, Shelby Township, and Oakland Township....
and Rochester/Oakland, MI, with a small portion in Shelby Township, MI). The park covers 4461 acres (18.1 km²) with a large lake at its center.
Geography
Stony Creek Metropark completely surrounds a man-made lake built by damming Stony Creek, a tributary of the Clinton RiverClinton River
The Clinton River is a river in southeastern Michigan in the United States.The main branch of the river rises from wetlands in Springfield Township, Oakland County, northwest of Pontiac. A series of dams create a number of small lakes west of Pontiac, the last of which is Dawson's Millpond. The...
. Stony Creek drains 72 square miles (116 km²) of northern Oakland County and the lake formed from the dams covers 500 acres (2 km²).
Stony Creek Metropark is situated on a moraine
Moraine
A moraine is any glacially formed accumulation of unconsolidated glacial debris which can occur in currently glaciated and formerly glaciated regions, such as those areas acted upon by a past glacial maximum. This debris may have been plucked off a valley floor as a glacier advanced or it may have...
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 1150 feet (350.5 m) above sea level - the highest point in Macomb County.
Activities
Stony Creek has a vast amount of trails in four different 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 6.2 mile (10 km) paved trail that circles Stony Creek lake which is popular with joggers, inline-skaters, and bicyclists.Stony Creek Metropark also has:
- A 6981 yards (6,383.4 m), 18-hole golf course
- Snowboarding, sledding and tobogganning hills
- Two beaches on Stony Creek lake, one of which (Eastwood) features life guards
- Picnic areas with basketball courts, baseball fields, playgrounds, and beach volleyball courts
- Nature center
- Ice skating rink
- 24-hole disc golf course
- Boat launch
- Rowboats, paddleboats, canoes, and kayaks available for rent
- Cross country skiing trails and ski rentals
Wildlife
The park is reestablishing an ospreyOsprey
The Osprey , sometimes known as the sea hawk or fish eagle, is a diurnal, fish-eating bird of prey. It is a large raptor, reaching more than in length and across the wings...
population in south-eastern Michigan. There are also wild turkey, deer, 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 been massasaugas, Michigan's only venomous snake, spotted during the spring and summer months.