5 Great Trails to Enjoy Spring in Detroit
Guest Blogger
| 2 min read
This post is from Kristina Williams-Lee, of Blue Care Network of Michigan.
It is about this time each year, after seeing the first cherry blossoms open up to the Detroit sunshine, when I get a bit antsy. It’s been too long since I’ve hit my maximum stride walking around the neighborhood with the sound of children playing in the neighborhood brightening up the atmosphere.
Yes, like a ton of bricks, it hits me — I must walk. I grab a water bottle, lace up my shoes, wait 20 more minutes for my walking partners (my two daughters) to get ready and hit the trail.
Living in Southeast Michigan, we’re blessed to have scores of parks, trails and tracks scattered around metro Detroit to explore. It’s a good thing too, because studies show that walking paths and bike trails encourage children(and their parents, naturally) to engage in greater physical activity, even if it’s only for half an hour. It’s also great for families looking for spring activities or visitors wondering what to do in Detroit.
5 Great Detroit-Area Trails
- Personally, I’m more of an around-the-neighborhood type walker, but if time allows, I’ll take in the breathtaking sights and sounds of the RiverWalk along the Detroit River while stepping it out.
- The Dequindre Cut is another amazing Detroit walking trail, complete with inspiring tags (graffiti art) and a separate lane for biking. This urban oasis, carved from a sunken, abandoned railroad line, offers unique perspectives on the city.
- Kensington Metropark offers a paved, 8.5-mile path around Kent Lake.
- The Paint Creek Trail stretches for nearly 9 scenic miles between downtown Rochester and Lake Orion. Its crushed limestone surface makes it a popular spot for walkers and runners.
- The Long Bark Trail features four interpretive nature trails through the forests alongside the Huron River in Oakwoods Metropark.
Where do you go to get your walk on?
Photo by methyl_lives
Editor’s Note: This post originally appeared on A Healthier Michigan in May 2012.
