Metro Beach Metropark

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109 Metro Beach Metropark

wildlife viewing | directions and facility information

Photo: © Phil Seng

Photo: © Phil Seng

Metro Beach is a 750-acre peninsula that extends into Lake St. Clair. The park offers more than 7 miles of shoreline, 1,600 feet of boardwalk along the lake, and nature trails that explore a wetland in the park’s interior. Trails have a wood chip base and are barrier free.

Wildlife Viewing

Metro Beach is excellent for watching birds. Birds that cross Lake St. Clair on their annual migrations use the park as a haven in which to rest and feed before continuing their journeys. November and December offer an excellent opportunity to view migrating waterfowl. You may see tens of thousands of diving birds, including cormorants and loons, on a single day! In April and May you can view loons again as they migrate back north to breeding grounds in northern Michigan and Canada. May also brings large numbers of warblers and other songbirds to the area. Least bitterns, great blue herons, and black-crowned night herons have been seen and heard on the nature trails through the wetlands. At the end of August, watch for large groups of monarch butterflies and hummingbirds migrating to Mexico for the winter. Occasionally, snowy owls are seen here during winter.

Directions

From Detroit, take I-94 east to Exit 236. Turn right onto metro Parkway (16 Mile Road) and follow it about 3 mile to the park entrance.

Ownership: Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Authority 586-463-4581 or 800-477-3172

Size: 750 acres

Closest Town: Mount Clemens

Weather and Driving Directions for Mount Clemens

Plan Your Trip with travel.michigan.org!

Facilities and Opportunities

Restrooms – Throughout the park, including the Nature Center
Trails – Self-guided, easy. Open 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Picnic – Throughout the park, some with playgrounds. Reservations possible for picnic shelters.
Visitor Center – Park office open daily 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.. Nature Center open weekdays 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on weekends during school season. Summer hours are 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Beach Shop open only in summer.
Bicycling – Around the park. No off-trail mountain bike trails.
Cross-country Skiing – Three easy trails. No rental equipment on site.
Boat Ramp – Regular boat launch into Black Creek, or day sail onto Lake St. Clair.
Drinking Water – Throughout the park
Fishing – Fish for walleye, perch, bluegill, and pike. No cleaning station. Bait shop located just outside park entrance.
Entry Fee - Motor vehicle permit required for entry.
Barrier Free – Entire park, including nature center
Restaurant – Food bar open daily during summer, otherwise weekends only.

Additional Information:
Metroparks web site
E-mail: mail@metroparks.com

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