Overview
Cedar Bend Nature Area is a 19 acre park on the steep bank of the Huron River where the waterway makes a sharp bend from north to south. View
Ann Arbor Parks and Nature Areas map for location context. Of the beautiful and diverse natural areas that dot Ann Arbor's humming cityscape, none is quite so historically significant as Cedar Bend Nature Area as it is one of the oldest parks and designed by landscape architect O.C. Simonds. Simonds insisted on keeping the park as close to the natural landscape as possible, helping to preserve the biodiversity and native plant population that make Cedar Bends such a beautiful nature area today. Because of the steepness of the site, some trails in the park can be more challenging and should be approached with caution. The
trails at Cedar Bend are unpaved, leading up (or down) the steep slope, and also travel a ridge of the slope. Restroom facilities are available at nearby
Island Park and there are picnic spots along the river near the main parking area.
Cedar Bend brings to life a forest of pre-settlement times. Tall oaks and hickories surround you. Flowering black cherries and dogwoods highlight spring; native wildflowers bloom spring through fall; and flocks of chickadees, nuthatches, and titmice enliven the quiet beauty of the winter woodland. The trails offer a birds-eye view of the river and other areas of the city. There is a perennial garden maintained by a park neighbor at the top of the park, off Cedar Bend Drive. A mowed field is also in this section of the park.