Self-Guided Outdoor Learning
Explore our Interpretive Trail Loops
To make the most of your visit to our interpretive trails, we recommend coming prepared for the elements:
- Trail Conditions: Our three miles of trails are unpaved and can be muddy or uneven. Wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes or hiking boots to navigate the terrain safely.
- The "Wild" in Wildlife: You are entering a thriving ecosystem. Please stay on marked paths to avoid poison ivy, which grows naturally along trail edges, and to minimize contact with ticks and mosquitoes. Using insect repellent and wearing long pants is recommended.
- Stay on Dry Land: For your safety, stay away from the edges of Fair Lane Lake and the Rouge River, as the banks can be unstable, slippery, or hidden by dense vegetation.
- Weather & Hydration: Southeast Michigan’s weather can offer intense heat and humidity in the summer and cold, windy temperatures in the winter. Dress accordingly and stay hydrated!.
- Respect the Inhabitants: You may encounter a range of wildlife; for their safety and yours, please observe from a distance and do not feed them.
Observe how time has changed two contrasting landscapes that were once part of Henry and Clara Ford’s Fair Lane Estate: a planted native forest designed by renowned landscape architect Jens Jensen, and Clara Ford’s former rose garden.
Stroll through forests ranging in age from less than a century to over four hundred years. Discover characteristics of each that reveal how forests change over time in a natural process known as succession.
Discover how an open crop field abandoned in the early 1950s has given way to natural habitat. Pause at the edge of a marsh to look and listen for wetland wildlife.
Explore an artificial lake established by Henry Ford in 1915 to provide habitat for wildlife. Look for evidence of how Ford’s conservation goals have been realized.
To make the most of your visit to our interpretive trails, we recommend coming prepared for the elements:
Additional information
Make your hike an adventure with our Self-guided, Interpretive Discovery and Exploration (OutS.I.D.E.) packs. These loaner field bags are stuffed with professional tools and guides to help you dive deeper into nature.
- Themes include: Birding, Aquatic Life, Nature Journaling, Insects, Tracks & Signs, and Plants.
- How to Check Out: Packs are available for free at the EIC front desk.
- Hours: Weekdays, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm (Packs must be returned by 5:00 pm).
**Provided thanks to a grant from the National Association for Interpretation- Great Lakes Region!
A microseason is a short period of time marked by changes in nature, weather, and animal behavior, typically influenced by shifts in daylight, temperature, and precipitation.
EIC Staff have curated a unique, 12- microseason calendar to promote scientific inquiry and appreciation for nature’s rhythms and cycles. Take a hike on our trails and use all of your senses to observe nature at work!
The EIC is located on the University of Michigan-Dearborn campus at the corner of Fair Lane Drive and Monteith Boulevard.
- Address: 4901 Evergreen Rd, Dearborn, MI 48128
- Parking: All personal vehicles must park on the third floor of the Monteith Parking Structure (located next to Campus Support Services).
- Buses: A dedicated lane for loading and unloading is located directly in front of the building.
