Get Into Nature at Stage Nature Center
A day spent exploring nature is never a day wasted, especially when you live in a naturally diverse area like southeast Michigan and Troy, MI. Learn about native flora and fauna or go hiking through forests right in the center of Troy at Stage Nature Center.
The Story of Stage Nature Center
The Lloyd A. Stage Nature Center was founded in the 1970s and the property originally included a house that was used as the welcome center. In 2002, the house was demolished and a new, 8,200 square-foot interpretive center was built with a government grant. In 2010, the city of Troy was planning to close the Lloyd A. Stage Nature Center, but a group of citizens formed the nonprofit Troy Nature Society to raise funds for the Center’s operation and maintenance. Since 2011, the Troy Nature Society has handled the operation and maintenance of the site and has started offering educational programs. The Center today is known simply as Stage Nature Center, and offers nature-inspired public programs designed for people of all ages, including for schools and community groups.
Things to Do and Special Events
Stage Nature Center has an interpretive building that runs programs and exhibits, as well as hosts special events. There’s a kids’ activity area and a wildlife observation area in the building as well, and a library for some quiet reading. Indoor activities can keep you busy when there’s bad weather, but most of the fun at Stage Nature Center can be had outdoors. The 100-acre preserve features four trails, ranging from 0.13 miles long to 0.7 miles long. You can combine all four for a near two-mile hike through lowland and upland forests, meadows, and marshlands. You can also explore the native plants garden to see which types of plants grow in Michigan, or stop by the Monarch butterfly station.
Plan Your Visit
Stage Nature Center is located at 6685 Coolidge Hwy, Troy, MI 48098. It’s open Monday-Friday from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm and on Saturdays from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Admission to the nature preserve and Stage Nature Center building are free, as is on-site parking. Indoor bathrooms are located in the building but are only accessible during opening hours. The trails in the preserve are open daily from dawn until dusk and for walking only — no pets, biking, running, or skiing. It’s also prohibited to forage, collect, feed wildlife, or stray from the trails. You can go snowshoeing on the trails in winter when there’s enough snow as well. It’s truly one of the best outdoor activities in Troy, Michigan!
