Explore the best rated trails in Sterling Heights, MI. Whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Chevy Commons Trail and Genesee Valley Trail. With more than 60 trails covering 446 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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This unassuming recreational path in Goodrich, Genesee County is actually a part of the Iron Belle Trail, Michigan's state-spanning multiuse trail system. The Gale Road Trail starts near Perry Road...
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...
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Clocking in at over four and a half miles, the ITC Corridor Trail in Novi is a fantastic recreational asset for the community, providing a paved pathway that connects neighborhoods and recreation...
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The Platt Road Trail is located on the east side of Platt Road and connects users to Lillie Park, where they can relax by the pond, picnic in a pavilion or take a stroll along its woodchip and...
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...
While not the most scenic of trails, the M-21 Non-Motorized Path provides a useful ten-foot wide asphalt path through a suburban stretch of Flint Township, connecting at its eastern end to the Genesee...
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 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...
The Genesse Road Trail sits on the western side of Genessee Road in Grand Blanc. The neighborhood trail extends for just over 3/4-mile, from Perry Road in the South to Kings Fairway Lane at the north...
The Black Creek Nature Trail begins at the Davison Township Municipal Center and winds its way to the trail system in the City of Davison’s Jack Abernathy Regional Park. Travelers on the trail will...
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...
A short paved trail that runs from the city of Flint's Kellar Park to the newly refurbished Chevy Commons park along the Flint River, the Kettering Gateway Trail provides a useful link in the city's...
Jewett Trail is both the name of the road, as well as the off-street bike-ped path, circling the Grand Blanc Community High School complex. The pathway, which sits on the southern edge of the trail,...
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The Flint River Trail begins near downtown at the University of Michigan-Flint campus and heads north along both sides of the Flint River to Bluebell Beach on the reservoir, a popular county park that...
The Lakes Community Trail is a multi-use pathway in southwest Oakland County. The walking-and-biking path stretches four miles and links to parks within four adjacent communities; the City of Wixom,...
The Metro Connector Trail works as its name suggests, closing the gap between two local favorites in Novi: the M-5 Metro Trail and the I-275 Metro Trail. The trail begins on 13 Mile Road and then...
Closure Notice: Parts of the Milford Trail will be closed from June to October 2020 for the Saginaw Trail Pipeline project. A map of the affected area can be found on the project website. The...
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 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...
Clocking in at over four and a half miles, the ITC Corridor Trail in Novi is a fantastic recreational asset for the community, providing a paved pathway that connects neighborhoods and recreation...
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....
The aptly-named North-South Connector Trail provides a paved trail connection between the communities of Gibraltar and Trenton, in the area south of Detroit known as the Downriver. Part of a...
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...
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 Michigan Air Line Trail stretches nearly 6 miles across the communities of Wixom, Walled Lake and Commerce Township in Oakland County. The trail begins on Wixom Road and travels east in the former...
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 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...
Paved and mostly flat, the Huron Valley Trail links several suburban communities, parks, and a large recreation area while providing connections to a growing network of trails. Forming a lowercase...
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...
This is a dedicated sidepath in Grand Blanc that is suitable for a casual stroll, a quick jog or an easy ride. The trail sits on the north side of Grand Blanc Road, through mainly residential...
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...
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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 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...
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,...
A short paved trail that runs from the city of Flint's Kellar Park to the newly refurbished Chevy Commons park along the Flint River, the Kettering Gateway Trail provides a useful link in the city's...
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...
Along its 3.5-mile route, the RiverWalk offers breathtaking views of the Detroit River and city skyline. Recreational opportunities abound as the trail links Milliken State Park and numerous plazas...
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...
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 Southern Links Trailway is a 10-mile rail-trail that connects the communities of Columbiaville, Otter Lake and Millington in central Michigan. While the trail is paved with smooth asphalt, an...
The Flint River Trail begins near downtown at the University of Michigan-Flint campus and heads north along both sides of the Flint River to Bluebell Beach on the reservoir, a popular county park that...
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...
Paved and mostly flat, the Huron Valley Trail links several suburban communities, parks, and a large recreation area while providing connections to a growing network of trails. Forming a lowercase...
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 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 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 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 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...
Along its 3.5-mile route, the RiverWalk offers breathtaking views of the Detroit River and city skyline. Recreational opportunities abound as the trail links Milliken State Park and numerous plazas...
Lapeer’s Linear Park Pathway courses through the city, connecting several parks with residences and businesses. A portion of the trail runs on a former railroad corridor; the same one now home to the...
While not the most scenic of trails, the M-21 Non-Motorized Path provides a useful ten-foot wide asphalt path through a suburban stretch of Flint Township, connecting at its eastern end to the Genesee...
The Michigan Air Line Trail stretches nearly 6 miles across the communities of Wixom, Walled Lake and Commerce Township in Oakland County. The trail begins on Wixom Road and travels east in the former...
Clocking in at over four and a half miles, the ITC Corridor Trail in Novi is a fantastic recreational asset for the community, providing a paved pathway that connects neighborhoods and recreation...
The Wadhams to Avoca Trail passes through 12 miles of woods and farmland in southeastern Michigan, but it’s the historic railroad bridge over Mill Creek that’s the big draw. Everyone from solo...
The Applewood Trail connects Mott Community College and several city parks with the lengthy Flint River Trail, the backbone of the Flint area's trail network. The trail runs along the roadway through...
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...
The LAFF Pathway is a proposed recreational trail project connecting the communities of Linden, Argentine Township, Fenton, and Fenton Township in Genesee County. The first phase of the LAFF...
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...
Great ride mix of hills and flat surfaces. Enjoy the wildlife.
A well maintained scenic trail. We will definitely be back for a fall color ride!
This was a really good trail. Even though it was gravel it was very hard packed and smooth. It's a rail to trail so very flat. Nice scenery and good tree canopy cover. Will be very nice in the fall. There is Paint Creek Tavern at the end in Rochester and a lot of bikes were parked there. It also wouldn't be too much further to the Rochester Mills Beer Company which I've been to before and is nice. You can go all the way from the other end in Lake Orion if you aren’t biking with small kids or you can park near Dutton Road and it's much shorter. About 2 miles. Keep a look out and you can spot plenty of wildlife.
Very clean trail. It was not so busy. We stopped to have ice cream. Great way to spend Father's Day
We have come back to this one many times because of the mostly flat, paved trail. It’s lovely with its tree-covered tunnels along most of the trail.
This is a very nice trail for walkers and scenery, 4 miles one-way, and includes nice beach access with a large grassy area and wide beach, plenty of parking.
The trail connects to Kensington Metropark's paved trail (9 mile circle) so one can have an extended ride - however - Island Lake's trail is much like Michigan roads: bumpy, hole-y, poor condition. Recently a small section was repaved through the pine trees (beautiful portion of ride, nice smells!) but the rest of the trail just beats up the bike (IMO).
Lots of road bikers just ride the main road instead which is much, much smoother than the trail and most of the cars are respectful of bikers. (put lights on your bike!)
There is a dirt path off the paved trail that goes down to Trout Lake (not the main lake at the beach) which is rather sandy but a nice challenge to ride around the lake. This lake is where a lot of beachgoers walk to for more privacy in little beaches scattered around the lake. Plus, the water is very clear.
There are plans for the trail to be extended through the entire park to meet up with the Lakeland Trail, which current ends at US23/M36 but will be extended along US 23 (under the bridge at Silver Lake) to meet up with the paved trail on the east side of US23 that goes to the Green Oak Mall behind JCPenny where many bikers park and ride into Island Lake.
When the connection is made, the entire Lakeland Trail (western end at Munith) will then connect to all the trail that go all the way to Port Huron.
We tried to beat the rain but didn’t make it. The trail is uphill from Rochester Hills to Lake Orion; the inclines are gradual. The ride back, even with the wind and rain against us, was fast and easy. We’ll try again.
I haven’t had a problem with this trail. This is the trail that I have been on my hole life and it’s the best one
This has become a decidedly favorite weekend trail of mine. We see a wide range of bikers on this trail -- from families biking with kids, to hand cyclists and recumbent bikers, and to even a full on peloton. This trail offers a little something for cyclists of any age and level. We also see lots of runners/walkers as well as a handful of roller skaters. The trails are nice and wide and there's ample space to pass.
We start near the eastern terminus of the trail in a lot in Hamburg. The trail starts off paved -- there's some bumps and ruts in the asphalt, but for the most part it's nice and smooth. The path does cross roads a bit -- but other than these crossings there is no having to deal with cars or traffic. After some point the path does turn into crushed limestone -- here is where you'll run into horses on the trail. Just make sure to know how to pass/approach them before hand and you'll be all set. The trail goes right by the Pinckney equestrian trail entrance, so on nice days there can be quite a few riders out there. My favorite part is when the path turns into the crushed limestone -- this is where it starts to get a bit more secluded and the scenery is oh so nice (lots of farmland and animals to see off the trail).
This trail goes through several towns, so if you need to stop for bathroom breaks (there's port-a-potties or vault restrooms at each of the main trail parking lots), or grab a snack or drink from a local gas station, you're all set. Most of the main trailhead parking lots along this trail also have picnic tables, so you can sit down to eat.
In Pinckney there's an ice cream place right off the trail -- Cap'n Frosty Ice Cream -- perfect for either a mid-ride or post-ride ice cream. There's also a restaurant also right off the trail with bike parking -- Zukey Lake Tavern.
Overall I give this trail a solid 5 stars. Nicely maintained, great mileage, nice scenery and fun stops along the way to make an adventure out of it.
Paved, free from debris and very scenic...definitely one of my favorite trails¿¿¿¿¿
For those heading east from Ann Arbor, this map and local b2b marker for the area around ypsi and emu is poorly mapped and labeled. When you pass the emu stadium, map to frog island park and go through the emu camps.
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