When you cross over the Huron River going North on Zeeb Road in Scio Township, gaze over to your left and most likely you'll see a busy little parking lot filled with people ready to enjoy the natural beauty of a heavily forested area that includes hiking trails, prairie remnants along the railroad tracks, and portions of an old mill dam. It's called the Burns-Stokes Preserve, and the 29-acre site is one of Washtenaw County's 17 nature preserves.

"It's a good place to hang out with friends," said Brittany Walls. The preserve has become a popular place for current and former Dexter High School students to congregate, she said.

For Dirk Fischbach of Saline, it's a great place to get away to hike and fish.

"When I have a couple hours, I come here to refresh," said Fischbach. "I"m happy to see the land in the conservation program."

The land was acquired through the Washtenaw County Natural Areas Preservation Program in 2005 after owners Rick Burns and Nancy Stokes nominated their property for the program. The preserve sits along a prehistoric Native American trail. From 1831 to the 1880s, the property was the site of a mill that supplied lumber to nearby Scio Village, which no longer exists. A flour mill operated on the property until it burned down in 1896. A feed mill was then built and operated until 1904.

"The Burns-Stokes Preserve has been open to the public since 2007 and is one of the most visited preserves," said Bob Tetens, director of the Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission. It's the only preserve in the county located on a a river, he said.

Although many people use the site to access the Huron River, Tetens warned that it is not an established boat launch and that fishing is prohibited from the shore because the river banks are prone to erosion. Fishing is permitted from the river itself, and that is regulated by the Department of Natural Resources.

Like all the county's preserves, Burns-Stokes offers parking, bicycle racks, a kiosk with historical information and natural trails. It's free to the public, only open during daylight hours, and there is no camping or hunting. Coy Vaughn, superintendent of park planning for Washtenaw County said it's a good place for bird-watching.

It's also a destination for environmental education. The Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission offers free nature programs and will have a naturalist at the Burns-Stokes site to lead a tour Oct. 10 about identifying autumn trees and shrubs along the Huron River. For more information, go the county's Web page for the Burns-Stokes Preserve.