Just 2 miles across the river from Detroit is Windsor, Ontario. Windsor is home to lots of businesses also related to the auto industry. There’s a wonderful 3 mile riverfront path that runs between the Ambassador Bridge, 2 miles to the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel, and ending at a wildflower garden. In addition to the great view of the Detroit skyline, there are parks and sites along the whole way, from west to east — Windsor Sculpture Park, Steamboat Wharf, Dieppe Gardens (commemorating D-Day), Festival Plaza, and Great Western Park. There’s also a centrally located running store, The Running Factory, about 2.5 miles east of the eastern terminus of the Riverfront trail. Note: A passport is needed to get into Canada and there can be queues at the border. It is not possible to walk across the Ambassador Bridge.
Just 2 miles across the river from Detroit is Windsor, Ontario. Windsor is home to lots of businesses also related to the auto industry. There’s a wonderful 3 mile riverfront path that runs between the Ambassador Bridge, 2 miles to the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel, and ending at a wildflower garden. In addition to the great view of the Detroit skyline, there are parks and sites along the whole way, from west to east — Windsor Sculpture Park, Steamboat Wharf, Dieppe Gardens (commemorating D-Day), Festival Plaza, and Great Western Park. There’s also a centrally located running store, The Running Factory, about 2.5 miles east of the eastern terminus of the Riverfront trail. Note: A passport is needed to get into Canada and there can be queues at the border. It is not possible to walk across the Ambassador Bridge.
The signature running route in Detroit. Paved multi-use path runs for 5 miles along the Detroit River. Nice water views, several parks & some important Detroit sites. Accessible from downtown hotels. Add-ons: Dequindre Cut Greenway, Southwest Greenway.
A great off-road running option in downtown Detroit, this ~2 mile greenway runs from Atwater Ave. to Mack Ave., following a former railroad line. A unique feature is a series of 16 murals along the way. Good add-on to Riverwalk path.
Olmsted-designed park on an island in the middle of the Detroit River, with views of the Detroit skyline & the Windsor shore. Great paths for running, including 6-mile perimeter road.
For travelers in the Dearborn (Ford HQ) and Northville areas, there are good opportunities for running. The Hines Park Trail is a paved path between Dearborn and Northville.
See auto exec mansions along the winding country lanes of Bloomfield Hills, north of Detroit. Combine with the adjacent Birmingham neighborhood, which has leafy streets and attractive homes.
The best places to run in Detroit’s major western suburbs off I-275, from Huron Township near the Airport north to Northville. The highlight is the linear park from Lower Huron MetroPark to Oakwoods MetroPark. The I-275 Metro Trail is a good anchor.
The best places to run in the northern Detroit suburbs of Bloomfield, Clinton, Pontiac, Rochester: Multi-use paths include the West Bloomfield Trail, Clinton River Trail, & Paint Creek Trail; a wonderful series of parks in downtown Rochester; and Stony Creek Park.
For a fun running excursion, Kensington MetroPark and adjacent Island Lake Recreation Area offer thousands of acres of recreation opportunities and miles of trails for running. Combination of developed multi-use trails and more rugged trails.
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