Map of bike paths / walking paths in the Detroit area

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Recreational trails for walking, running and cycling in the Detroit area

Detroit is located in Wayne County in Southeastern Michigan. The city is situated on the Detroit River that connects Lake St. Clair and Lake Erie. Detroit is also located directly across the river from Windsor, Ontario in Canada.

Most of the recreational trails in the Detroit area are located in the suburbs on the perimeter of the City of Detroit. These trails wander through natural greenbelts and connect several parks and other destinations.

Detroit Riverfront

The Detroit Riverfront is a waterfront transformation project that consists of 3.5-miles of paved pathways, parks, plazas, pavilions, museums and other attractions located along the banks of the Detroit River adjacent to Downtown Detroit. This is an ongoing project to improve the parks and attractions along the river and create a destination for the local residents and visitors to the Detroit area. The trail has views of the boat traffic along the river, Windsor, Ontario and the Downtown Detroit Skyline.

The riverfront walkways span from Rosa Parks Boulevard to Gabriel Richard Park on the northeast side of the MacArthur Bridge. The bridge crosses the river to Belle Island Park. Attractions along the riverfront include West Riverfront Park, the Cobo Center, Hart Plaza, GM Renaissance Center, William G. Milliken State Park and Harbor, Chere Park and Pavilion, Mt. Elliot Park, MacArthur Bridge and Gabriel Richard Park.

The Detroit Riverfront pathways allow a connection to the Dequindre Cut Greenway and the pathways in Belle Island Park.

Macomb Orchard Trail

The Macomb Orchard Trail is a 23.5-mile long paved pathway that was constructed along an abandoned railroad right-of-way through the rural areas on the north side of the Detroit urban area. The trail travels through the communities of Richmond, Armada, Romeo, Waterton Township and Shelby Charter Township. The trail includes an expansive bridge for crossing over Highway 53 near the Ford Motor Company Romeo Engine Plant. Much of the Macomb Orchard Trail travels through open countryside and farmland with few street crossings.

The south end of the Macomb Orchard Trail is located on Dequindre Road, just south of 24 Mile Road. This point is also the eastern terminus for the Clinton River Trail. The eastern end of the trail is located in the community of Richmond which is 10 miles north of Lake St Clair.

Read more about the Macomb Orchard Trail

Clinton River Trail

The Clinton River Trail is a 16-mile long unpaved trail located in the community of Rochester Hills on the north side of the Detroit urban area. The trail extends from S. Opdyke Road to Dequindre Road. The trail passes near several local parks and schools. It has an overpass for crossing Interstate 75 and an underpass for crossing Highway 59.

The Clinton River Trail connects with Macomb Orchard Trail at Dequindre Road. It also connects to trails that lead to other trails in Bloomer Park. Paint Creek Trail intersects with Clinton River Trail at the far east end of Bloomer Park near E. 2nd Street. the trail also intersects with several of the bike paths located along the major roadways in the area.

The Clinton River Trail goes past the following points of interest: Avondale High School, Riverbend Park, Avon Nature Area, RC Baseball Field and Bloomer Park.

Paint Creek Trail

The Paint Creek Trail is a 9-mile long paved pathway that extends from the Clinton River Trail near Bloomer Park to the community of Lake Orion near S. Broadway Street. The trail goes right past Rochester Municipal Park and Dinosaur Hill Nature Preserve. The trail travels through the greenbelt of the Paint River, across wetlands and through thick woods and goes past residential neighborhoods. The surface of the trail is improved with packed crushed limestone, but may not be suitable for all kinds of bikes.

The south end of the trail is located at the northwest end of Bloomer Park, off of E. 2nd Street. This is also the point of intersection with the Clinton River Trail. The northwest end of the Paint Creek Trail is located at Atwater Street in the community of Lake Orion.

Polly Ann Trail

The Polly Ann Trail is a 21-mile long unpaved and paved trail located in Northern Oakland County. The pathway stretches from Joslyn Road to the community of Dryden. The trail was constructed along an abandoned railroad right-of-way that goes through beautiful thick forests and past several lakes. The trail is paved through the City of Oxford, other portions have a crushed limestone surface and remains undeveloped in other areas.

Read more about the Polly Ann Trail - Oakland County

Hines Park Trail / Rouge River Gateway Trail

The Hines Park Trail is a 17.2-mile long paved pathway that wanders through Hines Park in the southern suburbs of the Detroit area in Southeast Michigan. The trail goes past numerous parks, golf courses and lakes and wanders through the greenbelt alongside the Middle River Rouge. the trail links several communities as well as the University of Michigan Dearborn campus.

Much of the trail follows alongside Edward N. Hines Drive as it wanders through Hines Parkway. Hines Parkway is a long park that spans several communities in Wayne County. The parkway has athletic fields, picnic facilities, nature centers, hiking trails and numerous lakes. The Hines Park Trail also intersects the I-275 Metro Trail.

Read more about the Hines Park Trail

I-275 Metro Trail

The I-275 Metro Trail is a paved pathway that follows alongside Interstate 275 for about 30 miles on the southwest side of the Detroit urban area. It extends from the interchange of Interstate 696 and Interstate 275 to Will Carleton Road. The trail intersects with the Hines Park Trail near Plymouth Drive and the trails along the Downriver Linked Greenways just south of Huron River Drive.

Read more about the I-275 Metro Trail

Downriver Linked Greenways East-West Trail

The Downriver Linked Greenway East-West Trail is a 25-mile long system of paved pathway that follows the Huron River and connects several parks and greenbelts on the south side of the Detroit urban area. The trail goes through the following parks and natural areas: Lower Huron Metropolitan Park, Willow Metropark, Oakwoods Metropark, Civic Center Park, Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge, Mashlands Museum & Nature Center and Lake Erie Metropark.

The north end of the Downriver Linked Greenways East-West Trail is located at Hannan Road in the community of Romulus. The south end of the trail is located at Maple Beach on the shores of the Detroit River in Brownstown Charter Township.

Read more about the Downriver Linked Greenways East-West Trail

Metro Parkway Trail / Freedom Trail

The Metro Parkway Trail is a 10.5-mile long paved pathway that follows alongside Metro Parkway and 16 Mile Road in Clinton on the north side of the Detroit urban area. The pathway spans between Freedom Hill County Park and the Lake St. Clair Metropark. The Metro Parkway Trail intersects many of the major roadways in the area and also connects to the trails within the Lake St. Clair Metropark and the Clinton River Spillway Bike Path.

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Resources

Following are links to official off-site resources to find out more details about the recreational trails in Detroit, Michigan.