Detroit, MI

North Detroit Suburbs: Best Runs in Bloomfield, Clinton, Pontiac, Rochester

The greater metro area of Detroit is very large, with an extensive series of suburbs north of Detroit boasting numerous corporate offices and major residential neighborhoods. Here, we focus on the best places to run in the Pontiac, West Bloomfield Township, and Rochester areas. There’s an extensive series of linear parks and rail trails that are great for running. Particularly, the West Bloomfield Trail, Clinton River Trail, and Paint Creek Trail are interconnected. Near downtown Rochester, there’s an extensive series of linear parks.

West Bloomfield Trail (Pontiac south to W. Bloomfield Township). 6.8 miles ONE-WAY, unpaved between Pontiac and W. Bloomfield. PDF MAP. A good option  in the Pontiac/Auburn Hills area. One can start in Pontiac, and head south on a mainly unpaved rail trail south through the West Bloomfield township, where the trail ends near the West Bloomfield Nature Preserve. The northern 3 miles are especially pretty, as the trail bisects a series of lakes. At the north end at Orchard Lake Rd., connect to the Clinton River Trail (below). At the south end, connect to the Michigan Air Line Trail. ROUTE MAP

Clinton River Trail. Up to 15.4 miles ONE-WAY  PDF MAP.  This mainly unpaved trail connects Bloomfield Township/Pontiac and Rochester. From Bloomer Park in Rochester, the path heads southwest for 9.4 miles to S. Opdyke Rd., just west of I-75. After a 3.4 mile on-road section, the off-road trail picks up again for 2.5 miles to Sylvan Lake.

  • Add-Ons: at the Rochester end, connect to Rochester Municipal Park, the Rochester River Walk trail, and the Paint Creek Trail. Also, lots of trail running options in the linear park formed by Bloomer Park and River Bends Park.  At the Sylvan Lake end, connect to the West Bloomfield Trail (above). Note: the first ~7 miles from Rochester is a steady uphill. ROUTE MAP

Paint Creek Trail. 8.9 miles, ONE-WAY between Rochester and Lake Orion. PDF MAP.  This wide rails to trails multi-use path traverses through Rochester, Rochester Hills, Oakland Township, Orion Township and the Village of Lake Orion. Mainly unpaved. At the downtown Rochester end, nice connections to Rochester Municipal Park, the Rochester River Walk trail, and the Clinton River Trail.

Stony Creek Metropark. A great destination run 38 miles north of downtown and just east of Rochester. The park consists of 4,400 acres and a 50-acre lake. Tons of trails for running, hiking, mountain biking — a combination of paved multi-use trails, nature trails, and more rustic trails. There’s a marked 6 mile loop, and a 1.9-mile FIT Trail.  TRAIL MAP

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