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Along its 3.5-mile paved route, the RiverWalk offers breathtaking views of the Detroit River and city skyline.
About the Route
Recreational opportunities abound as the trail links Milliken State Park and numerous plazas and pocket parks. The 31-acre state park offers covered picnic areas, shoreline fishing, and a great photo opportunity with its 63-foot-tall lighthouse.
On its western end, the Renaissance Center—a cluster of seven interconnected skyscrapers, including the General Motors world headquarters—offers shopping, dining, lodging, and entertainment. A block from the RenCen, in Rivard Plaza, the beautiful, custom-made Cullen Family Carousel features animals all native to the Detroit River, except two: a sea serpent and a mermaid.
Connections
Roughly mid-way (at Atwater Street), trail users can make an easy connection to the Dequindre Cut Greenway, which heads north about a mile to Eastern Market, a commercial district centered around a popular six-block farmers market (open Saturdays) that has been in operation since 1891.
The Detroit RiverWalk runs between the intersection of W Jefferson Ave & Rosa Parks Blvd (Detroit) and Gabriel Richard Park on E Jefferson Ave (Detroit), where there is parking.
Visit the TrailLink map for all parking options and detailed directions.
Great trail and you can continue riding across bridge to Belle Isle with bike lanes!
Nice views from the shore, to be sure, and ample vantage points to landmarks. The narrowness and congestion of foot traffic make it too busy and impractical for bicycling but better for walking.
Great views, well maintained sidewalk. Be aware that pedestrians and bikers share the sidewalk so don’t go too fast.
Enjoy an easy cruise along the Riverwalk. It’s all paved with many places to sit and admire the Detroit River and the views of Windsor. Every so often there are public restrooms and even ice cream in summer. The native plants and gardens along the way bring birds and butterflies.
The River Walk is beautiful, and has been extended beyond what is currently described here, I believe. And as of my last ride down there, last month, more riverwalk was being completed — it goes east out almost all the way to the bridge to Belle Isle now. You can also go west past the old Joe Louis arena after a short stretch on roads or sidewalks, and the trail extends another half-mile or so in that direction. If you combine the very cool Dequindre Cut with the River Walk and the route around Belle Isle, it’s easy to get in a 20 mile bike ride without having to worry about cars or traffic almost at all.
I just hope they continue extending the River Walk, the Detroit River is beautiful and there’s plenty of space to keeping expanding. Eventually, I’d love to see it extend to Grosse Point, and down to the Ambassador Bridge.
I walked this trail it was as beautiful as it was long, got up at 7am to do the trail it was so peaceful at that time. Can't wait to do it again.
Cycled this trail and connected trails on a beautiful October fall day, what a pleasure it was! Loved the views of the Ambassador Bridge to Canada and the MacArthur Bridge to Belle Isle, plus much much more, if I lived a little closer I'd be out there more often.
We loved this trail. they have cleaned this area up and put in some nice parks, spray parks, wet lands. It was a safe ride, and great way to see the city and the river. Bathrooms, and places to eat along the way. Great trail surface. Combine this with the Dequindre Cut trail and Belle Isle for a longer ride.
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