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Print Friendly MapThe I-275 Metro Trail began back in the 1970s as the Michigan Department of Transportation's response to the then-fuel crisis. The original trail linked Wayne, Oakland and Monroe counties along a 40-mile paved route that ran parallel to Interstate 275.
The trail was ahead of its time, but construction standards were not up to the standards of today's pedestrian and bike trails, and the path fell into disrepair. However, thanks to the efforts of MI DOT, along with volunteers, planners and recreation enthusiasts, the I-275 Metro Trail is now alive and well. The new and improved paved path runs between Novi in the north and New Boston in the south.
Along Hines Drive in Plymouth Township, you can connect to the Rouge River Gateway Greenway, which stretches 20 miles through several western suburbs of Detroit. It is necessary to take that trail a short distance to circumvent a small gap in the I-275 Metro Trail.
Just north of Michigan Avenue in Canton, you can also connect to the 4-mile Lower Rouge River Recreation Trail. Farther south, a link to the Wayne County Metroparks Trail allows trail users to visit the Lower Huron, Willow and Oakwoods Metroparks. Trail planners have also completed a connection to the M-5 Metro Trail to the north.
You can access the I-275 Metro Trail in numerous places along its route, including 8 Mile Road, Ann Arbor Road, Palmer Road and Michigan Avenue. However, there is no designated parking along this trail.
For more information, view the TrailLink Map.
Love the trail but the trail is absolutely beat up. It's in pretty bad shape. I rode 6 miles of broken asphalt and bumps that could've ended up in disaster. Please fix!!!
Due to construction on I-275, I discovered the trail closed from Hannah to Ecorse.
Does anyone maintain the 275 Metro Trial. It is like riding in a dump with loose stone debris and twigs all over. It is early June and I have already had two flat tires and destroyed 2 tires do to cuts and slices resulting from the debris.
1) The overpass above the railway line south of Michigan Ave has three spots where the concrete is dangerously unlevel. Beware road bike riders. In the same stretch there are a few areas of collected sand; sand caution. 2) The asphalt path going through the underpass at the rail line near Hannah has dramatic buckling and sinking. It is always narrow and sandy (from unavoidable run off). This feels like mountain biking. Road bikers be cautious. 3) South of Huron the path becomes a jungle; the asphalt is laced with significant mounds of grass. The area is nearly impassable on a road bike without gravel or “knobby” tires. I could not complete the connection to the end, I was forced to turn back. Otherwise, the trail is pretty enjoyable.
I utilize this path to get from my home in Canton to Hines Drive where I can ride on the street. It's a little loud at spots because it passes close to the expressway and the path isn't very smooth north of M-14, but it's a good path. Also, beware the crossing at Michigan Ave. It's particularly difficult (annoying).
Didn’t realize this was so close To the freeway.
A nice stretch to ride. Very loud riding just a few yards from traffic. Some of the trail diverts away from traffic and just behind neighborhood homes and shade trees and back again. Going North from the Canton area will give you the chance to detour onto the Hines Park area. Following the trail south from Canton you can detour onto the Metro Park trail system, clean quiet and places to rest.
The section south of Edward Hines Drive is wide and smooth. I know much of this section was repaved with stimulus money 7-9 years ago. The section north of Edward Hines is in horrible shape. It is very rough. The stretch from 5 to 6 Mile Roads is especially bad. Some of crossings of major roads are difficult. It is a noisy ride, but the trail connects to several other trails.
Title says it all. It's noisy because it's along the highway, it's hard to get to safely because there's no bike lanes or side walks along the fast roads that lead to it, and it just goes between the highway and industrial businesses. Methinks it's just there for advertising ("hey millennials we have trails! you like trails don't you?"). I guess that's why it is still relatively smooth and clean, because nobody can use it, so 2 starts, good job guys
I rode this trail for the first time while in Novi for a work event. The trail was very rough on the majority of the trail and overgrown in some areas. I will not ride this trail next time I'm in town because it made my ride not very enjoyable. Hopefully they will give it some attention because it has the potential to be a decent trail.
Very blessed to have this trail, especially the southern extension. We ride it a couple times a week, usually from the trailhead at Michigan Avenue and go north or south for a 15-plus mile ride. Not too exciting but good for exercise. For a beautiful ride, the redone portion south of Northline Road is in great shape and the entry to Lower Huron Metropark just off Will Carleton (but not easy to find) makes for a nice diversion and adds some hills to an otherwise flat ride. Traffic alerts: Ecorse and Ann Arbor roads (north of I-94) where drivers often blow through walk lights when turning right.
This trail is very smooth asphalt from S. Huron Road (exit 11 on I275) up through where it merges with the Hines Drive road and trail (aprox. 20 miles). There are two railroad crossings that were not improved. One is just south of where I94 crosses I275, the trail goes under a railroad tressel, it narrows and the asphalt is old and bumpy. The other place is where the trail crosses Van Born Road (south of US12), I 275 overpasses Van Born and there is a wash where water from the freeway erodes down the embankment and sediment spreads across the trail after a heavy rain on the north side of Van Born. From there the trail is like a concrete sidewalk, with a chain-link fence on the east side, the trail ascends to overpass a railroad. The whole overpass is like the sidewalk and the concrete plates are shifting and breaking up somewhat, there are no "pot holes" as yet. This overpass represents the largest hill on most of the trail except a steep hill where the trail drops down into Hines Park area. I enjoy this trail very much overall.
I came out of Flat Rock and rode a link trail to Oakwood park then thru Willow park and just shy of Lower Huron park picked up this trail. Not knowing the trail at all this was an exploration ride and so i went south first but was sorely disappointed after about a half mile. At South Huron Road the trail abruptly ended. I could see across the road where the trail once ran but the asphalt was busted up and overgrown with weeds and small bushes. Sad to see a trail portion die. However, on going north i rode to M-12 and found the trail in excellent shape except at one underpass and two overpasses which were a bit broken and rough. I had hoped to encounter an area somewhere along this trail that had a park or at least some type of rest area with benches but again sorely disappointed. When i do these rides i pack a nice lunch and stop to eat but alas there were no places to do so. All in all a decent and utilitarian ride but not really a destination trail for scenery or quiet enjoyment, since it is after all, along an expressway. It is however a ride where miles and speed can be rocked.
I accessed the trail just north of 11 Mile Road to get in my daily 5.67 mile run. I found the trail to be quite nice.
This trail portion from Hines to 8 Mile is in very poor condition. Lots of tree bumps and missing portions of black top making for a very rough and bumpy ride. Wouldn't recommend unless you have a fat tire bike or mountain bike.
Beautiful trail on a beautiful day (it was sunny and 75 today.) The trail passes through hardwood forests, evergreen forests, swamps, prairies, meadows, and crosses both the Rouge and Huron rivers. The 20 miles from Hines Dr down to S. Huron Dr is very smooth.
Nice trail in terms of maintenance, etc, but there's trash everywhere, it's loud and it stinks of highway smog. Pass.
I love this trail. I usually pick it up near Northline Rd and ride north, or by 8 mile and ride south. I hope they fix the trail along Northline, it would be a great ride. Very few big hills, smooth going, although be aware of washout south of the MI Ave rest area near the intersection. It is downhill to the road, and lots of sand has washed on to the trail. Same with near the top of the hill. Large sticks in the wooded areas. If you ride this trail starting early in the spring, you can watch the seasons transform the woods. It's nice.
Not all pedestrians are aware of the bikes, so give a little "beep-beep" if you are coming up behind so they don't jump with fright into your path. For those on skateboards, sometimes a little reminder for them to stay right as you pass left is helpful. Dog walkers are courteous and keep their pets off the trail, or on a very short leash as you meet or pass.
I was one of the first to try-out this trail back when it was being constructed. It had almost disappeared for want of maintenance, so it's a surprise to see that it's up and running again! What a wonderful surprise, though!
The paved bike trail is fine. But many areas are under construction for a while...
Rode my longboard from Hines heading south towards Michigan Ave. Smooth trail not much traffic. Perfect for longboard but there are a couple of major roads to cross. Kind of noisy due to being next to 275 but still a great ride.
This is a nice trail, the north section (north of M14) was rebuilt a couple years ago and the southern section is in process. The rebuilding of the southern section was complete for riding this summer to Michigan Ave. By October it was competed almost to I94. It is a nice ride with the only downside being that it is noisy as almost the entire trail is next to I275.
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