The Timberland Swamp Nature Sanctuary is the largest nature sanctuary in southeast Michigan under management of the Michigan Nature Association. I suspect it is also one of the least visited protected wildlands within Oakland County. Four or five years have passed since my last Timberland trek, so last week, I headed back to the 245-acre sanctuary for a slow paced, nature-embracing hike. This was also my first visit on a sultry summer day and will remain one of my most memorable, for the wrong reason. Swarms of mosquitos were my greeting party. Previous treks in the crispness of late autumn were mosquito free and that made all the difference.

Spoiler alert 1: You may not want to hike Timberland in the heat of the summer on a humid day. Mosquitos may be waiting for you as well.

Spoiler alert 2: The trails are primitive, very narrow and at times difficult to follow with thick foliage almost hiding sections of the trail. Some sections are very muddy but remember it’s swampland.  Timberland is not the place for a casual family hike until autumn crispness resets the scene, but even then situational awareness is a must. Timberland may not be for you if your comfort level is hiking well-marked, wide trails such as those found at Huron-Clinton Metroparks and Oakland County Parks. 

Spoiler alert 3: Don’t even think about wandering off trail. The very thick vegetation will make it difficult to find your way back. This swampland is very much the wilder side of Oakland County.

A word of caution. To reach the trailhead, you will drive over an active unguarded railway track not far from the entrance to Timberland. Be sure to stop and look both ways.

My plan was to hike alone, but within seconds, swarms of mosquitos were so thick I could hear an audible buzz. I quickly retreated back to my car as I swatted my neck, face and arms and was extremely grateful I was not wearing shorts. I was pleased that my DEET was stowed away in my daypack.

The trail I followed is the “Blue Trail,” also known as Alicia’s Trail. Blue colored trail markers are on many of the trees along the way, but even with those markers it would be easy to wander off trail. I came upon fresh raccoon and deer tracks in a muddy section of the trail and on my return trek, I saw those same tracks again.

The surrounding habitat changes quickly with the swampiest area near the beginning. One of my favorite locations was a narrow boardwalk where I paused for photos. It is one of the most scenic areas with abundant orange jewelweed, a native wildflower that thrives in wetlands and blooms in late summer and early fall. I was not quick enough with my camera to capture an image of Ruby-throated Hummingbird that hovered at one of the blossoms before rocketing away.

I was also too slow with my camera to capture a pair of Pileated Woodpeckers that I heard before seeing. Perhaps the vocalization that drew my attention was informing other creatures that a human was in their habitat; at least that is what I’d like to think.   

When sitting down at my desk to write this blog, I found the first draft of a blog I wrote in 2019 about the swamp and one paragraph drew my attention. “This sanctuary remained largely undisturbed since the surrounding land was farmed in the early 19th century.  From the mid-1800s until the Michigan Nature Association’s acquisition, the swamp provided timber for local settlers and farmers, with former logging trails still evident into the early 1900s. The sanctuary is adjacent to Indian Springs Metropark, and together they protect more than 2,000 acres of sensitive habitat and green space.”

If you are looking for place to deepen your awareness of nature, the Timberland Swamp Nature Sanctuary in Springfield Township might just be the place and it could be combined with a trip to nearby Indian Springs. Timberland has numerous downed trees known as deadfalls and the underside of those often moss-covered deadfalls provide excellent habitat for salamanders.    

During my trek I encountered a half dozen wood frogs hopping about moist fallen leaves and also saw green frogs hunting dragonflies at a small algae and duckweed-rich pond.

I spotted a northern water snake basking in a small sunny area near a primitive foot bridge and I suspect it’s also an ideal habitat for our native swamp rattler, the Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake.

The habitat of Timberland Swamp Nature Sanctuary is nearly flat and encompasses small streams, vernal pools, wooded wetlands and swamps. In some locations, there is not a clear defining line between what is land and what is water. The wetter parts of the terrain have red maple, silver maple and yellow birch trees. A few feet of elevation led to beech-maple woods; with black cherry, shagbark hickory and mature red oaks mixed in. A small meadow clearing in the woods was home to a pair of Red-tailed Hawk that loudly announced my arrival and the site where I photographed a hawk feather on the ground just yards from a cluster of colorful coral fungi.

The Eastern Red-Backed Salamander is one of the most active, and without doubt, smallest predators of the preserve. Their presence indicated a healthy ecosystem. These tiny creatures thrive in damp habitat under decaying logs and leaves and hunt invertebrates of all sorts, including snails, slugs, and spiders. Timberland ensures their critical needs and provides a place of exploration and peace for me. Perhaps after considering the words of William Wadsworth, you may be inspired to explore Timberland Swamp. “Come forth into the light of things. Let nature be your teacher.” Just remember to walk slowly, stop often, look about as you hike and use caution on the slippery boardwalks and small wooden planks that take you across a creek. 

For more information on the Michigan Nature Association visit www.michigannature.org, and specific information on Timberland Swamp sanctuary including a location map, click here.           

Jonathan Schechter is a naturalist, eagle watcher and nature education writer for Oakland County Government and blogs about nature’s way on the Wilder Side of Oakland County.

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