Overview
Dhu Varren Woods Nature Area is a 13.58 acre park located off Dhu Varren Road on the city’s north side. View the
Ann Arbor Parks and Nature Areas map for location context. The ecosystem consists of woodland, wetland and shrubland. Glaciers once melted here, depositing the gravel and other rock that form the hills. The Traver Creek watershed extends in to this park. In the woods, a hiker can find beech and maple and the more typical oak and hickory trees. The woods for the most part are open, and a trail circles the park. There is also a small wetland that connects to the
Foxfire South Park wetland area. This wetland generally keeps visitors from crossing between the two nature areas.
American toads, spring peeper frogs, and pileated woodpeckers have been observed in the park. Native plants of note include sedge, whorled loosestrife, shrubby cinquefoil, pawpaw, rue anemone, flowering dogwood, small fringed gentian, sharp-fruited rush and northern bog violet. The not-so-common black maple may be found down by the creek. Bitternut and shagbark hickories abound at the tops of the hills.