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Home / Oakland County / Southfield / Carpenter Lake Nature Preserve in Southfield Visitor’s Guide and Photos

Carpenter Lake Nature Preserve in Southfield Visitor’s Guide and Photos

Carpenter Lake Nature Preserve is a peaceful and serene place with a nature trail and deck overlooking a lake where you can fish or also relax.

The nature preserve is located on 10 Mile Road, East of Inkster, in Southfield.  The property is home to 42 acres of woodlands, forested wetlands together with native meadows surrounding the beautiful five-acre Carpenter Lake.

Carpenter Lake Nature Preserve Trail

Carpenter Lake Nature Preserve Trails

Visitors can walk the one-mile loop nature trails and take time to enjoy the interpretive signs, trailheads, as well as numerous benches, are located along the way.

Rocks on the trail
wildflowers at Carpenter Lake Nature Preserve

Largemouth bass, channel catfish, bluegill, sunfish, and of course minnows are all native to the Carpenter Lake making it a popular suburban location for fishing.

Carpenter Lake

The nature preserve also hosts many different species of flowers, plants, shrubs, trees and also grasses in the various sections of their property.

A vernal pond can be found seasonally (during the spring) within the Lake Plain Forest section of the property, near the boardwalk bridge.

Lake Plain Forest

Carpenter Lake Nature Preserve is also home to the Carpenter Lake Dam which helps control the flooding downstream along the Rouge River.

Carpenter Lake

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Other Parks in Southfield, Michigan

Bauervic Woods Park
Bedford Woods
Beech Woods Park
Brace Park
Burgh Historical Park
Carpenter Lake Nature Preserve
Civic Center Park
Freeway Park
Inglenook Park
John Grace Park & Community Center
John R. Miller Park
Lahser Woods Park
Lincoln Woods
Mary Thompson House & Farm
Pebble Creek Park
Simms Park
Stratford Woods Commons
Valley Woods Nature Preserve

Lastly, don’t forget to check out some other Metro Detroit Nature Centers. You may also enjoy other great Southfield Destinations, including Southfield Sports Arena.

Jasmine Robertson
Author: Jasmine Robertson

I'm a Detroit photographer, who wants to show everyone how beautiful the world can be! I graduated from Michigan State University in 2014. In addition to photography, I also work with children with autism. My son Rowan is 4 and we reside in Detroit Michigan where I grew up. I am currently continuing my education at Wayne State University.