20 places to take a hike within driving distance of Detroit
Sometimes you just need to be one with nature.
We're a digitally connected society, and sometimes going for a walk in the woods or on a cool trail is just what we need to reset.
Here are 20 places to go for a hike that aren't that far from Detroit.
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Waterloo Recreation Area/Facebook
Waterloo Recreation Area
16345 McClure Rd., Chelsea; 734-475-8307; dnr.state.mi.us
Waterloo Recreation Area is the largest park in the Lower Peninsula. This park is home to the DTE Energy Foundation Trail, which is described as a cutting-edge, sustainable trail open to biking, trail running, and hiking.
Google Maps
Willow Metropark
23200 S. Huron Rd., New Boston; 734-697-9181; metroparkscom/parks/willow-metropark
More than 1,531 beautiful acres of mature woodlands, scenic 17-acre Washago Pond and the picturesque Huron River await you at Willow Metropark in New Boston. There's golf and disc golf, too, and opportunities for fishing, and hiking and biking along the park's 4.5 mile trail.
Google Maps
Kensington Metropark
4570 Huron River Pkwy., Milford; 810-227-8910; metroparks.com/parks/kensington-metropark
Kensington Metropark surrounds Kent Lake and offers abundant wildlife, waterfowl, and wooded hiking areas.
Huron-Clinton Metroparks
Hudson Mills Metropark
8801 N. Territorial Rd., Dexter; 734-426-8211; metroparks.com/parks/hudson-mills-metropark
Hudson Mills Metropark, which is about 12 miles from Ann Arbor, is a perfect spot for bass anglers, picnic lovers, and anyone looking to escape to serene woods and waters.
Huron-Clinton Metroparks
Indian Springs Metropark
5200 Indian Trail, White Lake; 248-625-6640; metroparks.com/parks/indian-springs-metropark
Indian Springs boasts hiking trails running through the virtually untouched land along the Huron River, encompassing more than 2,215 acres of wooded wetlands and meadows, home to red foxes and wildflowers.
Friends of Highland Recreation Area/Facebook
Highland Recreation Area
5200 Highland Rd.., White Lake.; 248-889-3750; dnr.state.mi.us
Highland Recreation Area is over 5,000 acres of forest and marshes with trails for hikers, equestrians, and bikers.
People For Palmer Park/Facebook
Palmer Park
910 Merrill Plaisance St., Detroit; 313-757-2751; peopleforpalmerpark.orgThis is one of the rare opportunities to escape the city without actually crossing Eight Mile Road. Historic Palmer Park comprises 296 acres of lawns and historic woodlands, as well as tennis courts, splash park, and hiking-biking trails.
Dwight Burdette / Wikimedia Commons
Cherry Hill Nature Preserve
6375 Cherry Hill Rd; Superior Charter Twp.
From wetlands, woods, and meadows, Cherry Hill has a 1.6-mile loop set in a wooded forest with a trail system that supports hiking, walking, and nature trips.
