Argo Nature Area
Whitewater cascades, a paddle livery, and a leashed riverwalk minutes from downtown
About this park
The downtown gateway to the Huron River, with a paddle livery, the Argo Cascades whitewater channel, and a stretch of the Border-to-Border Trail running along the reservoir. Dogs walk leashed on the trail, with the U-M rowing team often on the water and float tubes drifting through the cascades on summer afternoons.
Amenities
Argo Nature Area reviews
What visitors consistently sayVisitors single out the cascades and dam views as the signature features, with fall color along the trail drawing repeat visits. The rowing team and tubing traffic give the river a constant low-key energy that few in-town walks match.
The crowd skews paddlers and tubers heading for the livery, runners on the Border-to-Border Trail, and U-M rowers on the reservoir; weekends and peak fall color draw the heaviest foot traffic.
Best for
Before you go
Trail edges have exposed roots and rocks, so watch your footing on a leashed walk. The Cascades parking lot fills fast on warm summer weekends; arrive early or walk over from Bandemer across the bridge.
Nearby parks in Ann Arbor
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Bandemer Nature Area
A quieter river launch and the bridge across to Argo
Riverside Park
A short paved riverwalk wedged between the hospital and the Huron
Barton Nature Area
Hilly leashed trails along the dam and the upper Huron River