Welcome to your journey through the roads less travelled just northwest of Ann Arbor. On this route, you'll drive alongside the Huron River, passing by forests, lakes, unique sites, and undisturbed land.
Farms are common in this area and have occupied the land for well over 100 years. On the right, you're passing by where you came at Revel Run. Next to Revel Run is Urquhart's Christmas Tree Farm. During the holiday season, locals can cut Christmas trees and visit the gift shop.
Nearby, there is also an equine rescue and sanctuary, horseback riding training grounds, and White Lotus Farms, where visitors can spend time with llamas and goats and enjoy farm-made products. A little southeast, there are more creatures at The Creature Conservancy, a non-profit conservancy for rescued and exotic animals.

To your right, you're passing by Fox Science Preserve, an unassuming hidden preserve that dates back to when glaciers retreated from Michigan. The preserve sits within an old gravel quarry, whose materials once helped build I-94, the highway you were just on.
Now, untouched for almost 40 years, the land doesn't look too different from 12,000 years ago, offering a rare opportunity to see what the area may have looked like after the retreat of the glaciers and a unique spot to witness the study of biological succession. Billion-year-old rocks are strewn about, and signs of fossils can be spotted within the limestone rocks.

You just exited Dexter, Michigan, a historic village settled 200 years ago in 1824 by Samuel W. Dexter, a land speculator, judge, and abolitionist. To the left, you'll see his white Greek Revival home, Gordon Hall, built in the 1840s. It is considered one of the oldest and most historic buildings in the state, making it to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.
Historians say the Dexter family hosted at least two, possibly three, United States presidents at Gordon Hall and believe it was a stop along the Underground Railroad. Oral histories name Samuel W. Dexter as a conductor on the route, and historical drawings document evidence of a hidden room accessible only by a trap door.

To your left is Stinchfield Woods, a sprawling forest preserve owned by the University of Michigan. Since 1925, the forest has served as a field research and conservation area for faculty and students. There are also the university's old observatories and radio telescopes near Peach Mountain inside the woods, which is one of the highest points in southeastern Michigan (and is not really a mountain, but a hill).
An amateur astronomy group affiliated with the university, called the University Lowbrow Astronomers, maintains a 24-inch telescope near Peach Mountain that club members and visitors can use to view the stars, planets, nebulae, and galaxies on clear nights, unobstructed from city light pollution.

If you were to head down Tiplady Road on your left, you'd drive into Pinckney Recreation Area, an 11,000-acre park that's a complete retreat into nature for recreation lovers. Backpackers, mountain bikers, and hikers can enjoy over 40 miles of trails, and it's a paradise for fishermen thanks to the park's several lakes. There are two beaches for summer swimming, a stable for horseback riding, cross-country skiing in the winter, and paddle sports in the summer. Pinckney is also a popular camping destination, providing travellers to the region with a complete back country experience.

Look closely so you don't miss it! You're approaching a small community with an interesting moniker: Hell, Michigan. Although somewhat famous thanks to its name, fewer than 100 people actually live here. True to its name, the town embraces its quirky reputation. On your left, you'll pass the Smoke Doctor, a barbecue joint; Go to Hell, a horror-themed gift shop; and Hell Saloon. The origins of the town's name are debated, but legend suggests it can be traced back to George Reeves, the man who first settled the land. One theory is that Reeves, who owned several businesses in the town, paid his workers in the whiskey he produced, so when they chose to drink it rather than go home, their wives would exclaim they had “gone to Hell again.”
Another theory is that when asked what the town should be named, he replied, “I don’t care; you can name it Hell for all I care,” and they took him literally.

The University of Michigan Edwin S. George Reserve, a 1,300-acre preserve, sits on the land you're passing by. Since 1930, researchers and students have conducted long- and short-term biological research studies on the land, including a 30-year study of turtles, a 50-year study of successional changes in an abandoned field, and an ongoing 10-year study of amphibians. In addition to conducting important ecological studies, the university preserves the native flora and fauna on the land.

This western side of today's route is much more rural than the eastern side, as the road you just turned on crosses through the Pinckney Recreation Area. You can't see them from the road, but more than seven lakes are surrounding you at this moment. Near the lakes are peaceful camp grounds tucked away in nature and multiple trailheads. Pinckney's proximity to the metro Detroit and Ann Arbor areas makes the park an ideal spot for those seeking an easy respite in nature without having to travel too far.

North Lake, which you'll pass on your driver's side, marks the end of the Pinckney Recreation Area on the eastern side of the road. But before you head into Chelsea, the next town, you'll be passing near a couple of farms in the region, including berry farms, an orchard, and a trout farm where guests can catch their own fish from spring-fed, pollution-free ponds. While food-producing farms are declining across Michigan and the United States in general, farms have been steadily growing in this region recently.
Also to the southeast is the Chelsea Game Area, where visitors can hike, fish, hunt deer, camp, and watch wildlife, including eagles that have been spotted nesting in the region.

The clock tower marks your entrance into the historic downtown district of Chelsea. With buildings dating back to the 19th century that remain remarkably intact, Chelsea's main street was recently named to the National Register of Historic Places. Aside from its historic charm and Victorian neighbourhoods, Chelsea's walkable shopping district makes it a special place in Michigan, which, outside bigger cities, is mostly rural or suburban and highly dependent on cars.

On your right, off I-94, is Barn Sanctuary, a 140-year-old barn-turned-sanctuary that rescues and rehabilitates abused and neglected farm animals while giving them a new home to recover and spend the rest of their days. Animal Planet featured the sanctuary in a TV series called Saved by the Barn, which followed the barn's owner, Dan McKernan, as he and his crew learned the ropes of rescuing and caring for the animals. The barn is open to the public to tour and meet the animal residents.

While you're back on the road back to finish your route, to your left, you're passing by the Baker Woods Nature Preserve, where visitors can take trails, footpaths, and wooden bridges for a short hike through a mix of woodlands and wetlands.
Next to the nature preserve is also a marsh habitat, which is an excellent spot for waterfowl watching. Ducks, shorebirds, herons, cranes, and more stop here on their migration journey. Other species call the preserve home during the summer for nesting and raising young.

Revel Run is just a few seconds ahead after turning right at the next crossroad. This marks the end of our route today. I hope you enjoyed the tour and learned about this region's rich, but often unnoticed, history. Have a safe journey ahead, and see you next time!