J.D. & Annie S. Hays Nature Preserve

Very relaxed city park with a ton of greenery and places to hammock next to the river. There are a few short easy trails that circle the preserve and a long paved walking trail for runners. The Hays Nature Preserve 1.8 mile trail was partly flooded when I went in March blocking off the southwest portion of the trail. There were a ton of fishers using the lake. Pretty peaceful walk at sunset and it wasn’t too crowded. A great place to visit for a brisk outside walk to get some exercise and fresh air.

It's my favorite park in Madison County. It is a very calm and peaceful place. Lots of fishing spots. There are concrete walkways and nature trails. Great place for birdwatching and kayaking. There is also a great playground at the entrance. Would recommend to everyone to visit this place.

This is a beautiful preserve. We specifically went to the playground, but me and my boys had so much fun. My boys (ages 6 and 2) had a lot of fun exploring the fort, playing on the bridges and swings, and running around this big space. There are a lot of things to do on this playground. I do wish I had brought some buckets and shovels for the sand pits, but sticks worked great for digging. There are no fences, and the playground is right off the road leading into the preserve so keep watch that your kids don't get too close to the road.

This was my first time at Hays after living within 15 minutes for the past 2 years. The playground is somewhere I would have loved to hang out when I was younger. They even have a little library! Walked on a few trails and they were in good shape other than a tree down. There were plenty of people fishing and trail running. The mosquitoes weren't bad because of the cool weather and the fall colors are just starting to come in! I can't wait for my little one to get a little older so we can come all the time!

Kids love this place. It's very peaceful as well. The Greenway is a great place to run. It's like escaping from reality for a few moments. Fishing is better down by the river. In almost 20 years, I've never caught anything in that pond.

We meet the family with all the grandkids at Hays after church on Sundays. Sometimes we hike, other times lunch, and still other times we meet in the play area and let the kids roam around. The park, the lake, and every aspect of the Preserve is beautiful. There is always many people but the area is so large that it isn't crowded and this is a lot of parking. It would also be a wonderful place to take small cooler with snacks and soft drinks and a good book. There are many tables and shade trees.

My daughter enjoys fishing in the pond and the river.
My grandson loves the playground.
I enjoy the scenery.
Great place for hiking, walking, fishing, biking, picnics, or just letting the little ones play and explore.

Wonderful place to enjoy the colors of autumn and get in a walk, jog, or bike ride with family! Restrooms are available near the kid’s play area along with picnic tables. The trails feel safe and run up against a nice golf course. If you have time to view the trail guide, you’ll notice there are more trails to enjoy than there initially appear to be. We also noticed there’s a dock being built by the pond which will be nice. Adding more benches along the trails could be nice for those wanting to rest or relax and enjoy soaking up the views. Well worth a visit!

Their Earth day event was great! Many vendors and local organizations there to show what was going on in the community with regard to environmental and social issues. Very interactive tables. Beautiful area for kids to play. Great trails and able to fish.

Absolutely lovely and perfect for all ages! The playground is without a doubt the best one around here, and perhaps in the city (I haven't seen every single one, so I can't say definitively 😊). It is set in a ton of mature trees so there is plenty of shade which really helps when it's warm/hot out. There are bathrooms to the side of the playground and they're in good condition. There are picnic tables perfect for snacks, any meal, or just sitting down while the kids run themselves straight into nap time or bed time.

The equipment itself is perfect. Every thing is constructed of wood and feels so natural in the setting in the woods. There are plenty of adventures to be had for all ages. My 3&5 yo love it, and my 12 yo enjoys going as well. Lots to climb on, swing on, explore, and really let their imaginations go wild.

If you haven't been here, pack up and go today, you will be so glad you did!

There is a great park for the kids and the tree swing is big enough for adults. They have fishing available with live bait boxes close by. The trail we did this time was the paved one and it was lots of fun next time we will bring our bikes for sure!! Great place for hiking or just a stroll.

Great place for an easy and safe hike or bike ride on a paved path through nature and views of the golf course and Flint River. Lots of places to stop and rest or have a picnic. Well kept and taken care of.

We had so much fun playing on the playground and when we finally decided to go hiking we saw many beautiful flowers mushrooms and a few animals including a deer. :) we had a wonderful family day thanks to Hays Nature Preserve

They always have wonderful learning opportunities for the kiddos. The best part is that they are FREE! My kids always have a great time. This is a wonderful place to visit.

What a fun free spot right off the main road in Owens Cross Roads! Our son loves the park and the walk around the pond! The pond walk has plaques with animals facts and a book to read as you walk. He enjoyed running sign to sign!

It's peaceful and very beautiful and fun for the whole family

Love this place, excellent fishing spot and for family gatherings, photos, exploring, horseback ridding,hiking ect...
Caught many trout, catfish and bass here.
Did I mention its free to the public!

Very clean and very well taken care of. Family oriented. Nature trails to walk or to bike. A small lake to fish and on the flint river.

Great place to take the family for a nice stroll through the woods. Easy trails and a nice playground make this fun for kids as well!

Had a great time on the playground with my nephew. He especially loved the climbing pieces and the music area. A beautiful day to walk around the pond.