Welcome back to our #TrailTuesday Series! This edition explores the backcountry of the Detroit region's least known Michigan State Park: Ortonville State Recreation Area . Join us as we scale the heights and navigate the backwoods of Ortonville's Kerr Hill and Four Lakes Loops Trail ! Yeah...I get it now. That little quip holds a special place with my hiking crew. Credit's owed to my buddy Joe, who originated it during his first backpacking trip with us back in February of 2

Welcome back to our weekly #TrailTuesday Series! This edition summits the heights of the Detroit region's resident "high lands" - the rugged Mt. Kanzer Trail of Highland State Recreation Area . Join us as we explore one of Southeast Michigan's most unknown and highest points! Why do we need trails? If you're as passionate about the outdoors as I am, that question may seem laughable on its face. Ridiculous even. A gut reaction like that is to be expected when trails have becom

Welcome back to our #TrailTuesday Series! This edition focuses on a highlight reel of Proud Lake State Recreation Area through an Expedition Detroit-designed route: the " Expedition Loop. " Join us as we proudly present this new Proud Lake loop that's quickly becoming a fan favorite! " Not too long. Not too short. Just a perfect 5K length. " Those were our marching orders when planning the July 2024 meetup for " Women in Milford ," the preeminent organization for supporting

Welcome back to our #TrailTuesday Series! Snaking through the western rim of Novi, Michigan, this edition explores the panoramic boardwalks, vast wildflower fields, and unmatched accessibility of the ITC Corridor Trail! Join us as we rediscover this hidden gem of a paved trail that has quickly become a fan favorite for Detroit's recreationists. " Alright, today's the day. " The truth is, I had finally run out of excuses. Since the grand opening of the ITC Corridor Trail nea

Welcome back to our #TrailTuesday Series! This edition explores one of the Huron-Clinton Metroparks' premiere riverside trails: the Woods Creek Rustic Trail of Lower Huron Metropark . Join us as we the rugged ravines, gardens, and riverside views of this Southeast Michigan gem! This may be a polarizing way to start an article, but I'm an unapologetic "List Person." Long-time readers know this all too well by this point, given Expedition Detroit's monthly " Top Outdoor Eve

Welcome back to our #TrailTuesday Series! This edition treks across Brighton Recreation Area's "hiding in plain sight" gem: the Kahchin Trail . Join us as we explore deep into the heart of Brighton's woodlands along this short-but-sweet trail! Sometimes I dread Saturday mornings. That may read as blasphemous or ludicrous on face value. Allow me to elaborate. On a rainy weekday, most adults have their schedule more or less locked in for the day. They wake up, shower, head to

Welcome back to our #TrailTuesday Series! This week finds us winding our way through a wooded retreat in the heart of Livonia, Michigan. Rotary Park Nature Preserve is a well-loved community hub offering a plethora of outdoor activities for any season. Join us as we experience an enchanting escape into the Rotary Park Loop! "You can't judge a book by its cover." This well-known proverb, generally accepted as a universal truth, can easily be coupled with another: " beauty

Welcome back to our #TrailTuesday Series! This edition explores the glistening lakes, vast marshes, and wooded ridge lines of Bald Mountain State Recreation Area's Blue, White, and Orange Loops . Join us as we conquer one of the Detroit region's "Black Diamond" trails on our first visit to Bald Mountain in Oakland Charter Township, Michigan! Some days it's easy to be an " Outdoorist ." The cloudless weather sits at an idyllic 60-something degrees. The trail is dry, clear, an

Welcome back to our #TrailTuesday Series! Nestled in the heart of Troy, Michigan, this edition explores the pines, meadows, and marshes of the Lloyd A. Stage Nature Center's Blackbird, Fox, and Sugar Maple Loops! Join us as we rediscover this suburban oasis of wilderness that has hosted post-holiday hikes - and community activism - for generations. December 26th, 2023. " Boxing Day ," as today is more commonly referred to throughout the English-speaking world. But for us i

Welcome back to our #TrailTuesday Series! This edition explores the towering pines, vast meadows, and glistening snow-covered vistas of Island Lake State Recreation Area's Hickory Ridge Trail ! Join us as we capitalize on the Detroit region's first snowfall by exploring Island Lake's most accessible - and possibly most beautiful - trail. Let's start with a polarizing confession: I am a "Thanksgiving believer." That means that I absolutely refuse to engage with the connotati

Welcome back to our #TrailTuesday Series! This edition features a picturesque jaunt through the winding trails of Kensington Metropark in Milford, Michigan . Join us as Katie shares her first foray as a "Trail Tuesday contributor" while exploring Kensington's enchanting Fox, Chicadee, and Wildwing Trail Loops! Exploration . The word itself conjures a sense of excitement, intrigue, and for some, maybe slight anxiety. New places and new experiences., ranging from adventure

Welcome back to our #TrailTuesday Series! This edition loops around the wild trails nestled into the easternmost wilderness of Detroit's most beautiful island - Belle Isle Park . Join us as we rediscover Belle Isle's stunning Lighthouse and Blue Heron Lagoon trail ! Trails inspire us. They encourage ingenuity, community, and continuity of connection. They challenge us to push our limits, reward us with stunning vistas, and congratulate us with post-hike brews . Trails provid

The wait is over - Detroit's peak fall colors have FINALLY ARRIVED throughout the region, and there's no better trail to experience this season's beauty than along Pinckney Recreation Area's Crooked Lake Trail . As rapper E-40 so eloquently stated, "Everybody got choices." For Detroit's outdoor community, that simple sentence couldn't be more true for the month of October . Scratch that, the last two weeks of October. When our trails are brilliantly decorated in reds, yell

Welcome back to our #TrailTuesday Series! This edition explores one of the Detroit region's most beloved MTB routes and trail running destinations: Maybury State Park's Mountain Bike Trail. Join us as we rediscover this primetime biking, running, and hiking trail! "Yeah. I'm the stupidest person on the trail." I remember saying those words audibly to myself during the summer of 2008 on a blisteringly hot day. Despite living in Northville for a year, I had finally completed

Welcome back to our #TrailTuesday Series! This edition explores the lakeside vistas and dramatic forested ravines of the Seven Lakes Loop , the flagship trail of Seven Lakes State Park . Join us as we traverse one of the most beautiful trails of the Detroit region! I've never understood why anyone hates a surprise . I'm referring to "good" surprises, of course. All of your best friends surprising you on your birthday, serendipitously running into your favorite professional

Welcome back to our weekly #TrailTuesday Series! This edition explores two of the most controversial, diverse, beautiful, and fun trails...

Welcome back to our weekly #TrailTuesday Series! This edition explores one of the most accessible, beautiful, and popular trails in the Detroit region: Island Lake's Yellow Trail Loop. Join us as we rediscover this cherished biking, hiking, and running destination! Let's get right to it: if you could only visit one Detroit region park in your entire life, then Island Lake State Recreation Area should be said park. If you have ever had the pleasure of recreating at Island

Welcome back to our weekly #TrailTuesday Series! This edition explores a trail widely recognized as one of the Top 100 Trails in the entire country: Pontiac Lake's Mountain Bike Trail. Join us as we scale the climbs and ride the bends of this classic biking and hiking trail! "Yeah, I've been riding for a while now. Pontiac Lake was what really got me into it." Flashback to April of 2020, and my buddy has formally inducted me into the Detroit region's mountain biking faithfu

Welcome back to our weekly #TrailTuesday Series! This edition explores a trail hiked by investors, industrialists, royalty, and common outdoor enthusiasts alike: Highland Recreation Area's Haven Hill Loop. Join us as we rediscover this timeless trail! Two roads diverged in a green wood, and I - I took the one less traveled by, and that led me to the ruins of the Ford family's wilderness homestead, and that has made all the difference. Robert Frost just turned in his grave at

In honor of Earth Week, we embraced the challenge of thru-hiking the Detroit's region's most rigorous backpacking route: the Waterloo-Pinckney Trail . This third and final installation of our Waterloo-Pinckney Trail series covers the entirety of the Pinckney section of the trail - 14 miles of challenges, triumphs, pain, and euphoria. "Hey Pops - it's gonna be another hour or so...sorry. Today's been a wild card." Those were probably the last words that my jet-lagged father wa

In honor of Earth Week, we embraced the challenge of thru-hiking the Detroit's region's most rigorous backpacking route: the Waterloo-Pinckney Trail . This first installment of our 3 part series on the Waterloo-Pinckney Trail highlights the trail's initial physical and psychological impressions - especially on solo hikers. Every journey has its beginning, and this 38-mile one started in a basement. Next to a gas-lit fireplace. My parents' basement fireplace to be exact, duri

Welcome back to our #TrailTuesday Series! This edition treks across one of the Detroit region's most beloved trails - if not THE most beloved trail - Brighton Recreation Area's Penosha Trail . Join us as we rediscover this iconic trail. "Pace yourself, Lucy - the climb is coming." My trail pup pauses for a second to look at me, confused why I'm slowing down our pace as we're hiking through a rolling, mature oak forest. We are roughly two miles in at this point, and she's clea

Welcome back to our #TrailTuesday Series! This edition journeys to the Detroit region's northernmost destination - Holly Recreation Area...

Welcome back to our weekly #TrailTuesday Series! This edition tackles the only "Black Diamond" rated trail within our series: the rugged and respected hills of Highland Recreation Area's "A-B-C-D" loops. Check out what draws Detroit's best mountain bikers, trail runners, and hikers flock to these alphabet loops all year long. " BEST DAY EVER. " Those are the three words that I force myself to say - audibly - whenever I get back on my feet after flipping over the handle bar

Welcome back to our weekly #TrailTuesday Series! This edition digs into the sole "Top 50" trail within our namesake city - the Dequindre...

Welcome back to our weekly #TrailTuesday Series! This edition digs into one of the most popular trails in the entire Detroit region - a well deserved designation - within the heart of Maybury State Park. Join us as we traverse the rolling hills and expansive wetlands of Maybury! Have you ever experienced the joy - and frustration - of recognizing that something beautiful was hiding in plain sight? Maybe you finally realized that an old friend from your school years also const

Welcome back to our weekly #TrailTuesday Series! This edition explores the Detroit region's sole "Top 50" trail that's south of the...

Welcome back to our weekly #TrailTuesday Series! This edition explores the highland loops of the West Bloomfield Woods Nature Preserve, a forested oasis amidst the abundant lakes of West Bloomfield Township, Michigan. "Hey Dan, have you ever explored the West Bloomfield Nature Preserve?" This question from my uncle at first seemed to spring out of left field, but I've come to accept that wearing any Expedition Detroit merch now constitutes a public invitation for any and a

Welcome back to our weekly #TrailTuesday Series! This edition traverses the lakeside bluffs, forested ravines, and panoramic views of the...

Welcome back to our weekly #TrailTuesday Series! This edition criss-crosses the Huron River on Proud Lake State Recreation Area's Marsh,...

Welcome to the first installation of our weekly #TrailTuesday Series! Located just south of Walled Lake, this inaugural installation...