Find a great trail to explore during Michigan Trails Week

Image source : Michigan DNR – https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-350-79133_79206_83612—,00.html

SEMCOG is celebrating Michigan Trails Week! This year, we’re supporting the Michigan Trails 2020 Challenge, which is an effort for people across the state to collectively log 100,000 miles on trails, park paths, greenways, and water trails from now through September 27. Whether you walk or run, ride bikes or horses, kayak or paddleboard – just self-report your treks to help reach the goal!

The most recent episode of SEMCOG’s podcast, Region Ahead, features a conversation on this and other outdoor recreation initiatives with Andrea LaFontaine, Executive Director of Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance, and Jonathan Jarosz, Executive Director of Heart of the Lakes.

This video highlights one of our region’s newest trail links – the Michigan Air Line Trail in Southwest Oakland County. It’s also a key connection in Michigan’s Great Lake-to-Lake Trail between South Haven and Port Huron.

If you’re looking for more trail inspiration this week, check out these recommendations from SEMCOG staff:

One of my favorite trails is the Pine River Nature Center in St. Clair County. It’s a really peaceful trail that goes through forests, wetlands, and prairie, so you get a range of views and you get to see a variety of animals and wildflowers. There’s also a treehouse which is really fun to climb and look out from and, as a bonus, the trail is also accessible by wheelchair. My favorite thing to do is pack a picnic, take my time on the three-mile loop (it’s a really easy hike,) and then set up at the picnic tables back by the nature center.

-Rachael Barlock, Environment and Infrastructure Engineer

My husband and I and our fur-baby love to go for hikes on the North Bay Park Trail in Ypsilanti Township. What is unique about this trail is the boardwalk that goes over beautiful Ford Lake. There is an elevated overlook along the trail where we could spend the whole day just watching nature. The trail also connects to the Border-to-Border Trail, which goes through the township and further into Washtenaw County. Every time on our hikes we see something exciting, like green herons catching fish from the water, barn swallows flying over our heads, turtles resting on a branch in the sun, swans making a nest on the shores of the lake, and, of course, a lot of water lilies in July.

-Beheshteh Makari, Economic and Community Vitality Planner

My family and I love to go to the Red Oaks Nature Trail in Madison Heights. It’s the closest place to our home where we can experience a sense of the wilderness. We went there on Christmas day last year and helped a person catch their loose dog. It was great because there were not a lot of people, but we all came together to help catch the dog. We finally did, and had a great time trekking on the trail. We were even back there this summer and saw the same person with her dog, but this time it didn’t get loose!

-Chad Misiuk, Data Analysis Planner

From the waters north of Belle Isle to south of Grosse Ile, the Detroit River Heritage Water Trail is like hanging out in my backyard three seasons each year. I have made a wonderful group of sea kayaking friends, thanks to that water. With a standing weekly paddle, we travel around islands, across international borders, by a historic lighthouse, and end with refreshments in lovely downtown Wyandotte. On this water, we all feel how it is the lifeblood of our region.

It is also amazing how quickly we can be transformed from city dwellers to rustic hikers on local paths that feel like they transport us hundreds of miles away! That is how I feel with every sight and sound as I hike the Woods Creek Rustic Trails of Lower Huron Metropark.

-Glenda Marks, Information Technology Manager

I tend to go to more local trails because I’m usually trying to pack in way too much on the weekends. I recommend Stony Creek Metropark for the beautiful six-mile paved trail around the lake. They also have hiking trails by the nature center, and mountain biking areas near the golf course that are really popular. If you’re in the park, right by the boat launch is where I got married a couple years ago. There’s also Bald Mountain State Recreation Area up toward Orion Township, and you can hike around East and West Graham Lakes, which is very beautiful. Some people kayak those lakes and I’ve heard that’s a lot of fun too. Another trail I recently went to is at Innovation Hills Park in Rochester Hills. It’s a smaller area for hiking, but it’s very natural with a lot of boardwalks which are really fun.

-Amy O’Leary, Deputy Executive Director

One of Southeast Michigan’s trail gems is Hines Drive. My family takes advantage of Saturday in the Park in which the park is closed so runners, walkers, bikers, and skaters can enjoy the road – kudos to Wayne County! When I want to connect with nature, I head downriver to the Huron-Clinton Metroparks. With three connected parks, I enjoy a relatively flat 35-mile round trip bike ride on a single trail. I start and end my ride at the Oakwoods Metropark Nature Center and say hello to the resident hawks and owls there.

I also like to meet up with co-workers from SEMCOG and explore new trails in different parts of the region when the weather is good. Just this year we’ve gone for bike rides at Kensington and Stony Creek Metroparks, Island Lake, Dodge Park, the Clinton River Trail in Sterling Heights, the Downriver Linked Greenways, and Bridge-to-Bay Trail in Port Huron. Ann Arbor trails are next on our list. We average 25-35 miles per ride and, while some people pick up and join us whenever they can, a few of us have been doing this consistently for more than 10 years.

-Chade Saghir, Data Analysis Planner

While working in the SEMCOG office, I’ve enjoyed walking on the Detroit Riverfront with coworkers. It’s been an activity we looked forward to during the workday – to re-energize ourselves, get fresh air, and walk along the water with views of our international border. I loved the extension to the trail at Milliken State Park with the lily pond and native vegetation, too.

-Saima Masud, Transportation Modeling and Mobility Engineer

One of my favorite long-distance regional trails is the Downriver Linked Greenways. My wife and I ride the shared-use paths that connect Elizabeth Park in Trenton to Lake Erie Metropark in Brownstown Township. From there, we can go on to Flat Rock, and the Oakwoods, Willow, and Lower Huron Metroparks. You can get some serious mileage in a variety of environments, including woods, beaches, prairies, and river valleys. It’s also part of the Iron Belle Trail Route, so hopefully in the future it will connect us all around the region – as far west as Chelsea, or as far north as Lake Orion. Best of all, we can access all of this from our house using Grosse Ile’s great bike paths.

Along the way, downtown Flat Rock is a great pit stop. It’s a budding trail town with bike rentals, kayak rentals, and great restaurants. One of our favorites is a local street taco place right on the Huron River – we grab some food, watch the river, and take a walk in Huroc Park before heading back to our own bicycle-friendly community of Grosse Ile.

-Brian Pawlik, Bicycle and Pedestrian Planner

I like the ITC Corridor Trail in Novi. My favorite part is where the boardwalk cuts through a wetland area. There is so much natural beauty to enjoy along this corridor.

-Jilan Chen, Transportation Modeling and Mobility Engineer

My family’s favorite place to hike is Belle Isle in Detroit. We especially enjoy the more rustic and off-the-beaten-path segments of trails the island provides. While on the island, it is easy for our six- and nine-year old boys to get a little lost in a good way, and feel like they’re hundreds of miles away from the nearest skyscraper. We especially like going there in the fall and winter months when we can bundle up, hike, and get a little lost in this city of ours.

-Kevin Vettraino, Economic and Community Vitality Manager

I have two favorite trails I like to visit. My favorite land-based trail is the Paint Creek Trail. Growing up in Lake Orion, I visited this trail often and I have a lot of great memories here with my family. I still like to walk along the trail from Lake Orion to the Paint Creek Cider Mill to get cider and donuts – who doesn’t love that? This route is especially great in the fall, and it’s just really stunning when all of the leaves have changed color and the air starts to get crisp. The trail follows the Paint Creek, which all helps spark my appreciation for Michigan’s changing seasons.

My favorite water trail is the Huron River Water Trail. I discovered this trail more recently, and it’s a great place to kayak. There are a few places where the river moves more slowly, so you can use a stand-up paddleboard, or even swim. My usual route is to start at Argo Park in Ann Arbor and paddle down to Gallup Park. You get to go through the Argo Cascades, which are kind of like rapids, and really fun. The route is about four miles and easy for people of all skill levels. It’s a really beautiful way to get out on the water and interact with nature in a very urban environment. As you get close to Gallup Park, the green setting and the wildlife really give you that “Up North” feel, right here in Southeast Michigan.

-Katie Grantham, Environment and Infrastructure Planner

I love to walk and bike on the Dequindre Cut. It gives me easy access to both Eastern Market and the Detroit Riverfront. The new Freight Yard is also a fun spot to get some food and listen to live music.

-Jenya Abramovich, Transportation Modeling and Mobility Planner

To take a virtual tour of these trails, and to find your next adventure, search the more than 1,000 miles of regional routes by visiting the Southeast Michigan Trail Explorer.