Lyon Oaks saves 800 wet acres beside the regional trail

Lyon Oaks looks like an active county park from the entrance. It has a playground, picnic shelter, soccer and cricket fields, pickleball, golf, and a large dog park. Most of the property is doing quieter work.

The 1,041-acre park preserves about 800 acres of sensitive wetlands. Six miles of natural trail cross the woods and wet ground. People use them for walking, biking, and cross-country skiing. Newer work links the park more directly to the Huron Valley Trail. That paved route joins South Lyon, Wixom, Kensington Metropark, and Island Lake Recreation Area.

That combination makes Lyon Oaks more useful than either half alone. It protects a large wetland landscape while giving a fast-growing township a trailhead, playing fields, and a path into a much wider regional network.

The natural loops and the paved regional route serve different trips. Wetland trails can be muddy and are shared by walkers, riders, and skiers. The Huron Valley Trail is the through route toward South Lyon and Wixom. Park notices cover seasonal conditions, dog-park rules, and construction. Trails shown near one another may still have different surfaces and rules.