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Best Places to Go Hiking in Southeast Michigan
These family nature trails in Macomb, Oakland, Washtenaw and Wayne counties let families and kids get in touch with the great outdoors
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Macomb Orchard Trail
- Address: Starts just south of 24 Mile Road on Dequindre Road (west side) in Shelby Township; goes through Washington Township, Romeo, Armada and ends in Richmond Township (Division and Main streets) (get trail directions on TrailLink.com)
- Phone: 586-463-8671 (Macomb County Department of Roads)
- Hours: dawn-dusk daily
- Admission: free
Some 23.5 miles of abandoned railroad are now a premier east-to-west nature stroll in Macomb County – all paved! To trek the full route, enter at the Shelby or Richmond entrances (there's parking near both). Families love the Washington Township entry: Grab a snack with the kids at the park and pavilion at the trailhead (on West Road about a quarter mile west of Van Dyke Avenue); then head a couple miles in either direction. In Armada, a 40-foot bridge over the Clinton River gives an amazing view, including dairy cows at pasture. And from 24 to 29 Mile roads, find a few benches for resting.
Oakwoods Metropark
- Address: 32911 Willow Road, New Boston
- Phone: 734-782-3956
- Hours: 8 a.m.-dusk daily
- Admission: $5/daily vehicle entry permit, free to trail-users if you enter through park roads and hike/bike trails
For a fairytale setting, you can't beat this 400-acre nature area within the park: Kids will feel they're truly walking through a "big forest" with tall, towering trees. Along six total trails, spot an ancient sandbar, garden and three-acre pond. There's also a paved 15-mile hike-bike path nearby connecting Oakwoods, Willow and Lower Huron Metroparks (also both in Belleville), plus an equestrian path and backwater trails for canoeists. Top it off with a stop at the nature center (call for hours). Walkers, bicyclists and inline skaters are welcome on the paved trail; walkers only in the nature area.
Park Lyndon (County)
- Address: N. Territorial Road, one mile east of M-52 (between Embury Road and M52), Lyndon Township
- Phone: 734-971-6337
- Hours: dawn-dusk daily
- Admission: free
This hilly natural gem is truly one for the hikers – no bikes allowed! Tucked up in the northwest pocket of Washtenaw County, the park's actually split into two by North Territorial Road. The hiking trails in Lyndon North skirt extensive wetlands and a children's play area, while Lyndon South offers a scenic pond. You'll find plenty of knockout geological features on these two miles, like a 100-foot elevation change (left behind where a big glacier melted); the Waterloo Pinckney Trail also passes through here (it connects to another 50 miles!). Habitat ranges from fen, marsh and bog to pond, forest and prairie. Watch for cool finds like the pileated woodpecker and white lady slipper orchid. Note: For ages 9-plus; terrain too steep for young kids.
Rolling Hills Park (County)
- Address: 7660 Stony Creek Road, Ypsilanti Township
- Phone: 734-484-9676
- Hours: 8 a.m.-dusk Labor Day-Memorial Day, 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Memorial Day-Labor Day
- Admission: daily vehicle pass: $5/Washtenaw County residents, $9/nonresidents
An awesome pick for younger and special needs kids, the Hills' has a trail network is totally handicap accessible, from path design to fishing pond docks and restrooms. The Woodland Trail, just a quarter-mile long, is also a great pick for children, with wildlife signs. A nice 1.5-mile loop is even dog-friendly (with leashes). For the more adventurous, try out the three miles of mountain bike trails. And, depending on the season, check out disc golf, winter rentals (tubes, toboggans and skis) and the awesome water park.
Stony Creek Metropark
- Address: 4300 Main Park Road, Shelby Township
- Phone: 586-781-4242
- Hours: 6 a.m.-10 p.m. April-October, 7 a.m.-8 p.m. November-March
- Admission: $5/daily vehicle entry permit, free to trail-users if you enter through park roads and hike/bike trails
The fun here revolves around Stony Creek Lake – literally! The eight-mile paved hike-bike trail circles the water for a scenic stroll. Or "rough it" on the six miles of natural paths that wind through lush woods, fields, woodland edges and small wetlands (between the two, you'll likely see a flock of turkeys). In winter, you can stroll, cross-country ski or snowshoe across marked trails. This big 4,461-acre park, spanning both Macomb and Oakland counties, also has loads of outdoor sports like disc golf, plus a nature center. After your hike, take the kids to the new, colorful playscape at Eastwood beach, located near the park's entrance.
