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Trails While there are miles of serene hiking, biking & horse riding trails throughout Highland State Recreation Area, there are plans for much more, through the assistance of Oakland County Planning & Economic Development. These plans include trail links, interpretive displays of both the landscape and history, benches, and much more. Park acreage & amenities (Highland Rec), including picnic shelters.
The Haven Hill Natural Area has all of southern Michigan's principal forest types within one small area, including swamp forest of tamarack, cedar, beech-maple forest, oak-hickory forest, and mixed hardwood forest. The area has remained largely undisturbed for the past 75 years and has retained its natural character as well as some unusual flora and fauna. It is an excellent educational facility which is used by universities and international organizations. Late April and early May are the best times to view warblers and spring wildflowers. |
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A visit is literally a “day in the park” |
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Park & Trails |
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Highland Recreation Area State Park Much of what is now Highland Recreation Area, was once the country estate of auto magnate Edsel Ford. Looking for a “nerve retreat,” Edsel developed an elaborate country estate throughout the Haven Hill and Teeple Lake Area. The area included a self-sufficient farm, sheep barn, gardens, riding stable and the lodge atop Haven Hill. As a result of the infamous Lindbergh kidnapping, and later, violent union struggles in the 1930’s, the high security of Haven Hill estate more and more replaced the Grosse Pointe Ford Mansion as home for the Ford family. The four Ford children spent most of their childhood within the security of the Haven Hill compound. The site was also the location of choice for entertaining close family friends such as Thomas Edison and Charles Lindbergh. Edsel Ford died on May 26, 1943 at the age of 49. As part of Department Director P.J. Hoffmaster’s philosophy of “bringing the parks to the people,” 5,407 acres were acquired between 1943 and 1946. Today, many of the original Ford buildings are still park facilities. Haven Hill Lodge was used as a conference center between 1949 and 1972, and as a Natural Resource Learning Center from 1972 to 1980. |