Celebrate Trails Week by Touring Land and Water Trails from your Chair

Earlier this year, we launched the Southeast Michigan ParkFinder app, which made it easier than ever to find parks and amenities near you. This week, we celebrate Michigan Trails Week by announcing that ParkFinder just got even better with the launch of Southeast Michigan Trail Explorer.

360-degree image from Blueways of St. Clair demonstrates integration of Trail Explorer into Southeast Michigan ParkFinder

Trail Explorer, accessible from its own page on SEMCOG’s website, has also been integrated into Southeast Michigan ParkFinder, the app that enables users to search more than 2,600 parks within Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair, Washtenaw, and Wayne Counties.

Trail Explorer snapshot from the Border-to-Border Trail in Dexter

Trail Explorer makes it possible to tour 630 miles of regional trails on a computer or mobile device. The 360-degree visual map is akin to Google Street View for hiking and biking and water trails throughout Southeast Michigan.

I was lucky enough to ride along with the camera crew as they mapped the Detroit River, which provided a great cross-section of what this tool showcases in our region. Starting in the open waters of Lake St. Clair, we floated by historic buildings and bustling city parks, alongside massive freighters and working industrial waterfronts, and through protected natural marshlands rich with wildlife. While the imagery is no substitute for getting out there and enjoying nature firsthand, we’re excited that it will help promote the wealth of natural resources we have in Southeast Michigan, and ultimately connect more people with the region’s outdoor destinations.

Here are some specifics of what you can find in Trail Explorer.

Hiking and biking trails

• Livingston County: 20 miles of Lakelands State Park Trail
• Macomb County: 36 miles, including Macomb Orchard Trail, Clinton River Park Trail, and River Bends Park Trail
• Monroe County: 14 miles, including River Raisin Heritage Trail, National Battlefield Park, and Sterling State Park Trails
• Oakland County: 55 miles, including Addison Oaks County Park and the Clinton River, Paint Creek, Polly Ann, and West Bloomfield Trails
• St. Clair County: 14 miles, including Blue Water River Walk in Port Huron and Wadhams to Avoca Trail
• Washtenaw County: 25 miles of Border-to-Border Trail
• Wayne County: 44 miles, including Detroit Riverwalk and Dequindre Cut, Downriver Linked Greenways, and Hines Park Trail

Water trails

• Livingston/Oakland/Washtenaw/Wayne Counties: 115 miles of Huron River Water Trail
• Macomb County: 60 miles, including Clinton River Water Trail and Lake St. Clair Water Trail
• Monroe County: 30 miles of River Raisin Water Trail
• Oakland County: 30 miles of Clinton River Water Trail
• St. Clair County: 125 miles of Blueways of St. Clair
• Wayne County: 62 miles, including Detroit River Heritage Trail and Rouge River Water Trail

Please share this new resource with all lovers of the outdoors. Whether it’s on the ParkFinder app or the Trail Explorer webpage, it only takes a few moments to preview some of our region’s greatest recreational assets and prepare for real-life adventures. So, especially during Michigan Trails Week, we encourage everyone to get out there and enjoy our magnificent region!