They say that spending time in nature is like hitting the reset button on your soul. Whether that’s true or not, it’s just nice to get away from the pavement and exhaust (both kinds), and enjoy some local green walks. Here are 20 of our favorite places near Detroit for a quick connection to the great outdoors.

By Michael Milhim, Luanne Lim, Jack Roskopp

Crosswinds Marsh Park New Boston With 8 trails and a boardwalk that goes over a marsh, this park is a beautiful place to spend an afternoon and work off some carbs. Photo via Instagram.
Stoney Creek Metropark Shelby Township Stoney Creek is probably among the more popular metroparks in Michigan. The park has many fun warm weather activities, including horse riding, biking and hiking trails. Just pick your method of transportation and start hiking! Daily fee: $10 per vehicle. Photo via Yelp user, Ronald M.
Independence Oaks Park Clarkston Aside from taking your senior pictures here, there is 12-plus miles of trails for you to get lost in. How perfect? Photo via Instagram
Rolling Hills Park Ypsilanti This park has 5 miles of paved trails, and then 3 miles of hiking trails that have stunning views and observation decks for that perfect Instagram post. May we suggest #summerfitness? Oh, and there are sections that are accessible for people that are handicapped. Awesome! Photo via Facebook
Waterloo-Pinckney Recreation Hiking Trail Waterloo Township An 18.6 mile trail, the Waterloo-Pinckney takes hikers along a back trail. This hiking trail is canine friendly and features a lake. This trail is not for beginners. You have been warned. Photo via Alltrails user Michael Adrian
River Bends Mountain Bike Trail Shelby Township Snakes, turtles and frogs, oh my! This trail that’s a part of Holland Ponds Park’s Great Blue Heron Rookery takes you through 4.3 miles of pure nature. You can bike, hike or take advantage of the other activities offered at the park. Keep your eyes peeled for the Great Blue Heron nests and, of course, for the big birds. Photo via Facebook
Paint Creek Trail Rochester This trail is 8.9 miles long and was the first Non-Motorized Rail-to-Trail in the state of Michigan. It used to be a rail for trains, but was converted into a nice trail for runners or people who want to walk their dogs. The trail is gorgeous and goes through Rochester, Rochester Hills, and Lake Orion. Photo via Facebook
Maybury State Park Hiking Trail Northville This hiker friendly trail is a gem for those wanting to escape suburbia. The four mile hike takes you through rolling hills and other trails in the park. If you get winded, there are plenty of drinking fountains, picnic tables and restrooms clearly labeled and spread throughout the trail. Photo via Yelp user Nicole W.
Addison Oaks Mountain Bike Trail Leonard Adventure seekers, hike on over to this trail. Tie on your most comfortable hiking shoes, cause this trail is a whopper at 12.3 miles. Biker and hiker friendly, this trail has many bridges that will take you across springs and lowlands. Photo via Facebook, Dave Kivisto
Macomb Orchard Trail Northern Macomb County Another huge ass trail! For those who live in Richmond or Shelby Township, you need to hit up this trail. Clocking in at 24 miles(!!!) this trail is super scenic and has multiple locations in Richmond, Armada, and Shelby Twp for parking. Photo via Facebook
Lyon Oaks County Park Wixom Maybe your pooch needs some exercise too? The Lyon Oaks County Park has a 13-acre fenced in dog park so your dog can run free while you play fetch with it. There is roughly 6 miles of trails too that you can do cross country skiing in the winter or go for a run in the summer. Photo via Facebook
Lake St. Clair Metropark Harrison Twp. Not only does this park have a one-mile boardwalk and endless trails through marsh and wetlands, but it is a fun place to bring the whole family for an afternoon of fun. They offer a pool with waterslides, a beach, shuffleboard, and fun little playgrounds for the kids. Photo via Facebook
Graham Lakes Trail Lake Orion Also known as the Orange Loop, this trail goes on for 3.6 miles. This trail is the biggest out of the Bald Mountain Recreation Area’s trails. Hikers can expect to see six lakes and trek over many hills and ridges, one of the highest points reaching 60 feet. Photo via Alltrails user kevin coppock
Kensington Metropark Milford With tons of wildlife, trails, and even a disc golf course, this park will keep you entertained for hours.
Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge Grosse Ile Located along the western shoreline of Lake Erie, this wildlife refuge features many hiking trails that allow visitors to be immersed in nature. As a home to over 300 species of birds and 117 kinds of fish, hikers are bound to see something new with every visit. Photo via Facebook
Clinton River Trail Northern Oakland County The Clinton River Trail is huge, y’all. This bad boy of a trail is 16 miles long and pretty much passes through every major city in northern Oakland County. Another cool thing about this trail is that it connects to other ones in the area including the Paint Creek Trail and Macomb Orchard Trail. Photo via Facebook
Algonac State Park Marine City This park is 1,500 acres and has lots of cool trails, plus it features breathtaking views of the St. Clair River. Keep your eyes peeled for the freighters that chup along the river. Photo via Facebook
Bald Eagle-Blue Heron Hike Sumpter Township A distance of up to 4.5 miles, this trail is a part of the Crosswinds Marsh County Park. A hike on this trail brings hikers closer to nature, but also reminds them that they’re quite close to the city. You’ll walk on boardwalks, see an eagle or two, and maybe even see a plane that’s just taken off. Photo via Facebook
Bluebird Loop Trail Lake Orion Bring your binoculars and field guide and see how many birds you can spot on this nature trail. The Bluebird Loop Trail at Orion Oaks is a birdwatcher’s dream come true. Park vehicle permit is required for access to the trail. Park permits are $30 for Oakland County residents and $48 for non-residents. Photo via Facebook, Alan Fleming
Bog Trail Waterloo, Chelsea One of five trails of Waterloo Recreation Area, the Bog Trail makes for the most unique hike. 1.5 miles in length, the Bog Trail leads hikers to a floating bog in Cedar Lake. Photo via Alltrails user David Somervill
Border-to-Border Trail Ann Arbor This extensive trail goes on for about ten miles, following the Huron River. The trail connects Hudson Mills metropark to downtown Dexter. Along the way, you’ll see great views of the river and walk by University of Michigan’s medical campus. Photo via Facebook Friends of the Border to Border trail
Park Lyndon County Park Lyndon Township One of southeastern Michigan’s finest natural area preserves, this hilly terrain is full of various species of plant life and boasts a great view of Lake Genevieve. The trail connects to the state’s Waterlook-Pinkney Trail for a combined hiking experience of almost 50 miles. Photo via Facebook, Washtenaw County Parks & Recreation Commission
Mother Earth Trail Ray Like Disneyworld, the Wolcott Mill Metropark combines four parks in one. A historic site, golf course and nature park, Wolcott Mill is also home to the Mother Earth Trail. Hike just along the riverbanks and walk through land that was used by Native Americans. Photo via Facebook

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