Explore the best rated trails in Detroit, MI. Whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Clinton River Park Trail and East-West Connector Trail. With more than 37 trails covering 349 miles you’re bound to find a perfect trail for you. Click on any trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
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The East-West Connector Trail is true to its name, providing an important off-road connection between several trails in the Downriver Linked Greenways network, which enables cyclists and pedestrians...
A popular destination year-round for residents across the Detroit area, the Lake Erie Metropark offers a wide variety of activities and recreation sites across its 1600-plus acres. Nestled along the...
The Border-to-Border Trail is a work in progress, which when complete, will stretch across Washtenaw County from its border with Livingston County in the northwest to Wayne County in the east. Much of...
Tradition says that Michigan has 11,000 lakes. The eastern section of the Lakelands Trail State Park passes through a chain of them as it rolls from the town of Hamburg and Lakeland to Munith some 26...
Clinton River Park Trail winds along the east bank of its namesake river in Sterling Heights, a northern suburb of Detroit. The paved trail runs through a tranquil, wooded area; keep a lookout for...
Providing nearly two and a half miles of paved trail through a mixture of suburban and industrial land, the Brownstown Township Trail may not be much of a destination trail, but it is a great resource...
The automotive industry has the most impact on Macomb County’s economy, but it’s the freshly picked apples and squeezed cider that leave lasting impressions on visitors to the Macomb Orchard Trail....
A paved path, suitable for walking and cycling, the Trenton Walking Path follows the small but tranquil Frank and Poet Creek through a series of parks and green space that cuts right through the heart...
With 4,461 acres of prime recreational lands, this top-rated park's scenic, hilly terrain surrounds beautiful 500-acre Stony Creek Lake. Park features include a nature center, a hike-bike trail,...
The 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...
The Fieldcrest Pathway stretches 3 miles in the Green Oak Township, a suburb of Detroit. The trail follows Fieldcrest Drive from Lee Road south to Silver Lake Road. The paved recreational trail...
This trail is actually composed of two trails: the 2-mile Rouge River Gateway Greenway and the 17.5-mile Hines Park Trail, which create a seamless 19.5-mile connection between Dearborn and...
Stretching from the small riverside community of Rockwood to the East-West Connector Trail north of the city, the Rockwood Pathway provides a great way for cyclists and pedestrians to get around town...
The M-5 Metro Trail runs for 2 miles between Commerce Township and the city of Novi in southeastern Michigan. The paved trail parallels the west side of its namesake roadway (also known as the...
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Even though the Paint Creek Trail is Michigan’s oldest nonmotorized rail-trail, the occasional face-lifts and renovations keep it looking as young as ever. Established in 1983, the crushed-limestone...
The Island Lake Pathway runs east–west through the densely-wooded landscape of the Island Lake Recreation Area southeast of Brighton. Although relatively short, the paved trail may prove a challenge...
The Metro Parkway Trail—also known as the Freedom Trail—parallels the busy Metropolitan Parkway (16 Mile Road) through urban Macomb County. You'll find many street crossings throughout a mix of...
An extension of the paved paths that connect the Oakwoods, Willow, and Lower Huron Metroparks, the Oakwoods Metropark to Flat Rock Trail allows you to continue your trail experience into the small...
The Grosse Ile Trail is a smooth, paved route running nearly the entire north–south length of Grosse Ile, which rests in the Detroit River between mainland Michigan and Ontario, Canada. The trail...
The West Bloomfield Trail sails along for nearly 7 miles through a municipality that claims to be one of the wettest in the nation—not from rainfall but from the sheer number of lakes (28), ponds...
The Polly Ann Trail is a 34-mile long, non-motorized trail extending north from suburban Detroit on a former Pontiac, Oxford & Northern Railroad corridor. The trail is managed separately by groups in...
The Island Lake Pathway runs east–west through the densely-wooded landscape of the Island Lake Recreation Area southeast of Brighton. Although relatively short, the paved trail may prove a challenge...
The Grosse Ile Trail is a smooth, paved route running nearly the entire north–south length of Grosse Ile, which rests in the Detroit River between mainland Michigan and Ontario, Canada. The trail...
The Lower Rouge River Recreation Trail closely follows the river for 4 miles through the town of Canton, located between the urban centers of Ann Arbor and Detroit. The compacted crushed stone pathway...
The Flat Rock Pathway is a paved asphalt path in the small, industrial community of Flat Rock, located on the banks of the Huron River not far from where it empties into Lake Erie. Part of the...
Providing nearly two and a half miles of paved trail through a mixture of suburban and industrial land, the Brownstown Township Trail may not be much of a destination trail, but it is a great resource...
The Border-to-Border Trail is a work in progress, which when complete, will stretch across Washtenaw County from its border with Livingston County in the northwest to Wayne County in the east. Much of...
The Clinton River Trail is a 16-mile recreational trail on an abandoned rail line through the heart of Oakland County, including the cities of Sylvan Lake, Pontiac, Auburn Hills, Rochester Hills and...
Clinton River Park Trail winds along the east bank of its namesake river in Sterling Heights, a northern suburb of Detroit. The paved trail runs through a tranquil, wooded area; keep a lookout for...
The Dequindre Cut Greenway is a paved path nearly 2 miles long in downtown Detroit. The trail has separate lanes for cyclists and pedestrians and you'll find entrance ramps at Lafayette Street,...
Even though the Paint Creek Trail is Michigan’s oldest nonmotorized rail-trail, the occasional face-lifts and renovations keep it looking as young as ever. Established in 1983, the crushed-limestone...
A popular destination year-round for residents across the Detroit area, the Lake Erie Metropark offers a wide variety of activities and recreation sites across its 1600-plus acres. Nestled along the...
The Milford Trail connects the Village of Milford with the popular Kensington Metropark in Oakland County. The winding trail offers plenty of scenery as it travels through woodlands and...
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Canton's ITC Corridor Trail makes use of a power-line utility corridor, converting this space that previously served as a barrier between neighborhoods into a means of connecting various parts of the...
You won’t find this trail’s name on the ground: the continuous stretch is actually made up of the scenic trails within Oakwoods Metropark, Willow Metropark and Lower Huron Metropark, as well as a...
The 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...
The Clinton River Spillway Trail passes through a mostly wooded corridor above and parallel to the spillway between Velger Boat Harbor on Lake St. Clair and Shady Side Park in Mt. Clemens. At the east...
The East-West Connector Trail is true to its name, providing an important off-road connection between several trails in the Downriver Linked Greenways network, which enables cyclists and pedestrians...
An extension of the paved paths that connect the Oakwoods, Willow, and Lower Huron Metroparks, the Oakwoods Metropark to Flat Rock Trail allows you to continue your trail experience into the small...
The Fieldcrest Pathway stretches 3 miles in the Green Oak Township, a suburb of Detroit. The trail follows Fieldcrest Drive from Lee Road south to Silver Lake Road. The paved recreational trail...
The Lower Rouge River Recreation Trail closely follows the river for 4 miles through the town of Canton, located between the urban centers of Ann Arbor and Detroit. The compacted crushed stone pathway...
The Bridge to Bay Trail extends from the village of Lake Port on Lake Huron south to Algonac on the St. Clair River; however, only about 37.5 miles of the 54 planned miles are completed as of early...
The Dequindre Cut Greenway is a paved path nearly 2 miles long in downtown Detroit. The trail has separate lanes for cyclists and pedestrians and you'll find entrance ramps at Lafayette Street,...
Even though the Paint Creek Trail is Michigan’s oldest nonmotorized rail-trail, the occasional face-lifts and renovations keep it looking as young as ever. Established in 1983, the crushed-limestone...
The East-West Connector Trail is true to its name, providing an important off-road connection between several trails in the Downriver Linked Greenways network, which enables cyclists and pedestrians...
You won’t find this trail’s name on the ground: the continuous stretch is actually made up of the scenic trails within Oakwoods Metropark, Willow Metropark and Lower Huron Metropark, as well as a...
The Flat Rock Pathway is a paved asphalt path in the small, industrial community of Flat Rock, located on the banks of the Huron River not far from where it empties into Lake Erie. Part of the...
This trail runs from the Matthaei Botanical Gardens two miles south to Parker Mill Park. It was conceived in response to the need for a safer alternative for non-motorized travelers. Dixboro Road only...
The Kensington Metropark Trail forms a paved loop around Kent Lake in western Oakland County. The scenic area, which features 4,481 acres of hilly terrain around the large lake, is one of the most...
The 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...
The Border-to-Border Trail is a work in progress, which when complete, will stretch across Washtenaw County from its border with Livingston County in the northwest to Wayne County in the east. Much of...
Stretching from the small riverside community of Rockwood to the East-West Connector Trail north of the city, the Rockwood Pathway provides a great way for cyclists and pedestrians to get around town...
A paved path, suitable for walking and cycling, the Trenton Walking Path follows the small but tranquil Frank and Poet Creek through a series of parks and green space that cuts right through the heart...
The Clinton River Trail is a 16-mile recreational trail on an abandoned rail line through the heart of Oakland County, including the cities of Sylvan Lake, Pontiac, Auburn Hills, Rochester Hills and...
The Island Lake Pathway runs east–west through the densely-wooded landscape of the Island Lake Recreation Area southeast of Brighton. Although relatively short, the paved trail may prove a challenge...
The Chelsea Community Wellness Path weaves through a large campus home to many of Chelsea’s amenities. Although the total length of the trail is less than 2 miles, it is divided into three separate...
The Grosse Ile Trail is a smooth, paved route running nearly the entire north–south length of Grosse Ile, which rests in the Detroit River between mainland Michigan and Ontario, Canada. The trail...
Running from the city of Monroe's popular Munson Park, through the city's charming historic downtown, and out to Sterling State Park - one of the most-frequented of Michigan's state parks - the River...
The automotive industry has the most impact on Macomb County’s economy, but it’s the freshly picked apples and squeezed cider that leave lasting impressions on visitors to the Macomb Orchard Trail....
An extension of the paved paths that connect the Oakwoods, Willow, and Lower Huron Metroparks, the Oakwoods Metropark to Flat Rock Trail allows you to continue your trail experience into the small...
My wife and I live in Flat Rock and ride this trail often. It is well maintained blacktop and a pleasant ride.
I have ridden this trail a couple of times a year for the past several years. It was a really good smooth trail but has received very little maintenance. The asphalt is becoming very rough because of tree roots and general wear. I ride a hybrid bike and it is getting to the condition that I will find other trails to ride until this is repaired. I am 70 years old and love biking but my body lets me know quickly when the path is bad.
This trail is now developed past Munith and crosses Kennedy Rd where I live and continues at least through to Hawkins Rd, where a new bridge has been built as well as a parking area. This section of trail was opened for a few days, and then closed again, and hasn't officially opened yet for some reason. My husband and I have biked on it and have seen other bikers use it.
This is a nice trail with many scenic ponds and wet lands. A number of rest benches offer a chance to pause and reflect. Little critters scampering around and out the way. Made me smile.
The day I traversed the trail on my bike there were a few 'sprinkly showers' around. But not enough for me to abort. They were rather warm and enjoyable, and besides I had rain gear, but didn't need it.
We rode the Hines Park Trail but not the Rouge River. It is a well marked trail which runs along a road with a wide shoulder, most of the serious riders were riding on the street. We rode the path going one way and switched to the street going back. We happened upon a car show that ran for about 7.5 of the 17.5 miles of the trail (Cruisin Hines) which was fun to see. The trail has some bumps and there are a couple of steep inclines regardless of whether you are on the road or the trail. A couple of very narrow sections. The scenery is very pretty, lots of lakes and ponds and rivers.
We started at the Ann Arbor end of the trail in Bandemer Park. There is a lot of activity in this park-kayaking, canoeing, tubing so there are a lot of people walking on the trail which makes for slow riding. It's a very pretty and obviously well used park but bike riding is not one of it's highlights.
Once past that, the trail is not marked well, we missed several of the B to B sign posts (look on the posts when crossing the street). I'm not sure how many miles we did but I think we only managed to do 10 each way because of all the missteps and when we got to Eastern Michigan U. the trail just stopped. I'm guessing that's an on the road section but as we had no idea where we were going, we turned around. With all the other great continuous trails, we won't do this one again.
I have been enjoying this trail for years. I have biked many of the southeast Michigan trails and this one is the best. Particularly the eastern 4 miles are my favorite. From the trail's start on the east (at the end of the Macomb Orchard Trail), it goes downhill entering the Clinton River Valley to the beautiful Clinton riverfront as it passes by Bloomer Park fork, Downtown Rochester, Lake Norcentra Park at Rochester College and Veterans Park.
Coming downhill from the east, the trail starts to level out, you cross a bridge, a short distance later a fork would allow you to enter Bloomer Park with some of the better mountain bike trails found in the area. Bloomer Park was named for the work famous Bloomer Ski Jump that was a steel 112 foot jump built on the side of Newberry Hill. The cement foundations are still in the park today. The surrounding valley has miles of steep single track bike trails. The valley on the east side through Rochester offers stunning views of the river along the path as you pass through. Stop at Rochester Mills Brewery or one of the many great eatery's just off the trail at Downtown area. Continuing on the trail goes through heavily wooded areas as the next bridge crosses the Clinton River, you cannot miss Lake Norcentra which is a great stop. See the beautiful lake with the fountain and the artisan mural. Just a short walk from there is Veterans Park where a clean public restroom and water fountain are available.
The eastern 4 miles are my favorite, this trail has many parts that has more feel of a remote area in Northern Michigan, not anywhere near a populated area. Local residents have a real gem in their backyard.
Views were great and path was a moderate winding trail with slight uphill/downhill points. Few wooden bridges that could create traction issues, but to finish at the Botanical gardens on a shaded path along a quite road is the perfect way to start mornings!
Was stubborn the other weekend and told myself I’d do the complete length regardless of the comments here. Wish I’d saved myself the effort, plus not gotten tennis elbow, from almost reaching the end (short 8 miles). Finally gave up once I had to get off my bike three times in 10 minutes for hives trees that had fallen over the trail. Not recommended for any bike without suspension.
We rode from Huroc park in Flat Rock to Lower Huron Metropark and back. The scenery was beautiful and traffic was light (early Saturday morning). The Lower Huron Metropark had some bumps but nothing major. We highly recommend this trail.
My wife and I took the trail east from Stockbridge to Pinckney a few days ago. West of Pinckney, you definitely want a gravel bike or something with larger tires than a typical roadie as it's all hard packed limestone. I never ran into any horse obstacles other than the stray horse apple every once in a while. It sounds like they are working on updating the trail around the Stockbridge area and perhaps paving that as well? Personally, as a gravel biker I find this sad as I found the limestone portion to be very enjoyable. Clear and well kept.
It's been our favorite trail so far in Michigan. I'd highly recommend it. Just don't take road tires and expect any fun west of Pinckney.
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