Paint Creek Trailway:
Michigan
Trail Map
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Description:
It is Michigan's oldest rail-trail, but the charms of the Paint Creek Trailway add up to more than its 1974 birth date. This 8.5-mile trail has wildlife, historical sites, picnic tables, and a lovely creek filled with jumping trout. To help keep tabs on your trip and connect with other area trails, the six trailheads provide large billboard maps and folding trail guides to take with you. Mile markers, left over from the days when this path was a railway, are additionally helpful.
Following Paint Creek from Lake Orion south to the city of Rochester, the trail slopes gently downhill. Its crushed limestone surface is a draw for bicyclists, walkers, and joggers. Equestrian riders share the path until just outside the Rochester city limits. Just 2 miles from Lake Orion, a prominent historical marker notes the site of the water-powered Carpenter Rudd Mill that stood here until 1926. This is also where you can connect to the Bald Mountain Recreation Area for fishing, swimming, and mountain biking. Take special care as you leave the trail and cross Adams Road, as there is a high volume of traffic and no crossing signal.
Continuing on the trail you find an abundance of wildlife, including deer, turtles, frogs, and many species of birds, as well as wildflowers. There are lots of opportunities to fish along the trail as the Paint Creek meanders alongside and crosses the trail.
In Oakland Township, Goodison area, there are two trailheads. At mile 5 there is parking only at the Gallagher Road trailhead, and parking is available at the Silverbell Road trailhead at mile 6. At Tienken there is parking and picnic tables. At mile 8.5, Dinosaur Hill Nature Preserve offers hiking trails through 16 acres of all-season beauty. A short way beyond the nature preserve, Rochester Municipal Park on your right provides parking, restrooms and drinking water. Just past the local police department and outside the park are bicycle shops, restaurants, a bank and shops.
The rail-trail ends along Rochester Municipal Park, where the Rochester River Walk begins. Follow the walkway south along Paint Creek, through the city of Rochester and behind the Rochester Hills Public Library. When the walkway forks at a gazebo, bear to your left to reach the 16-mile Clinton River Trail. At this point you can go west on the Clinton River Trail or turn east for 2 miles and connect to the Macomb Orchard Trail (see page XX).
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Parking & Trail Access:
To reach the Lake Orion trailhead, follow State Route M-24 (Lapeer Road) to Atwater Road. Parking and two trailheads are behind the strip mall on the southeast corner.
To reach the Clarkston Road trailhead, follow State Route M-24 (Lapeer Road). Turn east onto Clarkson, traveling 1 mile before turning right onto Kern Road. Parking is on the left.
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Reviews: [0 trail ratings]
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nice trail
By chattykathy in September, 2010
September 8, 2010

Really nice ride. Started in Rochester; incline but not bad. Hard gravel. Well kept. Lots of bridges, creeks, beautiful "cottages".
Ended in Lake Orion. Rode around the historic town. Nice. Friendly.
Return was 2 gears easier. One of our top picks of the year.
Favorite Trail
By smonday in May, 2010
My wife and I have biked this trail on several occasions and it is by far our favorite to date. The scenery is spectacular as you travel along the Paint Creek. It is an easy ride both ways but the return trip to Rochester is easiest as it is downhill the whole way. The cider mill in goodison is a great midpoint to stop and get some cider in season.
A very good flat trail
By Phil Pimental in November, 2006
"This is a trail that will accomodate the vast majority of recreational cyclists, runners and walkers that want to avoid the roads. This is an excellent trail for families and occasional riders. The trail can easily be navigated with any bicycle with hybrid tires or mountain bike tires. Semislicks or Cross tires are best in my opinion.
The grade is a very mild uphill grade running from Rochester to Lake Orion.

The trail extends northeast on crushed limestone/gravel approximetely 8.5 miles from the Rochester City park and is usually wide enough to easily allow two riders alongside with a little room to spare. The trail also extends southward though mostly paved sections for a half-mile until it links with the Clinton River Trail that runs from West Bloomfield through Rochester Hills and links with the Macomb County trail.
http://www.clintonrivertrail.org
http://www.macomborchardtrail.com

The traffic at Tienken, just over a half-mile north of the Rochester City Park, is moderate so you can expect to wait for traffic to clear before crossing the intersection. Some motorists will stop and allow you to cross however.

In season, I will typically take a break from road riding and using the trail once a week. During the day, especially on weekends, expect to see many runners, walkers and other riders on the trail. So those wanting to use this trail for training purposes may want to use the trail in the early morning.
"
Browse Trails by Activity:
Carpenter-Rudd Mill
Trail Facts
Trail End Points: Rochester to Lake Orion
Counties: Oakland
Trail Length: 8.5 miles
Trail Category: Rail-Trail
Trail Surfaces: Crushed Stone, Ballast, Dirt
Trail Activities: Bike, Fishing, Wheelchair Accessible, Horseback Riding, Mountain Biking, Walking, Cross Country Skiing
TrailLink ID: 6016198

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Guidebook: Learn more about other Midwestern rail-trails in RTC's Midwestern Guidebook.
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