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HIKING AND BACKPACKING
Believe the hype: Detroit is on track to become the international hiking capital of North America.
From favorite short out-and-backs to multi-day backpacking treks, check back here regularly for hiking and backpacking route guides, gear reviews, trailside hacks, and everything in between.
We can’t wait to see you out there.
Ghosts on the Trail: Famous Haunted Hikes throughout Metro Detroit
This Halloween season, lace up your boots - and pack in some extra courage - for exploring these six notoriously haunted hikes in the...
Dan Cooke
13 hours ago10 min read
Fall 2025 Preview: Elite 8 Outdoor Experiences near Detroit to Enjoy this Season
Happy Fall, Detroit! These warmer days coupled with crisper nights mean that the BEST RECREATIONAL SEASON for experiencing Detroit has...
Dan Cooke
Sep 239 min read
Discover the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge: the Origin of Detroit's Conservation Renaissance
From grassroots activism to establishing conservation benchmarks in the Great Lakes area, we welcome you to explore the recreational...
Dan Cooke
Sep 179 min read
Explore the 5 Most Popular Trails for Guided Hiking near Detroit - Fall 2025 Edition
Welcome home, Detroit's outdoor community! Looking for new "Back-to-School Trails" to experience with the whole family? We've got you...
Dan Cooke
Sep 107 min read
Detroit to the Dolomites: Key Takeaways from Hiking in the Italian Alps
Buongiorno, Detroit! Team Expedition Detroit recently returned from hiking the famous "Alta Via 1" trail through the Italian Dolomites....
Dan Cooke
Aug 2912 min read
A Hidden Treasure: Explore the Richardson Trail at Brighton Recreation Area
Join us for a hike as we discover the Richardson Trail at Brighton Recreation Area! This lesser-known route travels through undisturbed...
Bria Sheffer
Aug 265 min read
Expedition Essentials: Hammock Camping Gear for Summer 2025
No tent, no problem! Here we provide our #ExpeditionEssentials on the best gear, health benefits, and opportunities in the Detroit region...
Dan Cooke
Jun 246 min read
The 5 Summits: Conquering the Most Iconic Hilltops near Detroit
No ropes, no worries. Live your next adventure in Metro Detroit exploring each of the "5 Summits" - Expedition Detroit's favorite...
Dan Cooke
Apr 108 min read
Spring 2025 Preview: Top Outdoor Experiences near Detroit this Season
Happy Spring, Detroit! With our darkest days finally behind us, outdoor enthusiasts can look forward to increasingly more daylight to...
Dan Cooke
Apr 38 min read
#TrailTuesday: Navigating Ortonville's Kerr Hill and Four Lakes Loops Trail
Welcome back to our #TrailTuesday Series! This edition explores the backcountry of the Detroit region's least known Michigan State Park:...
Dan Cooke
Mar 119 min read
The March Survival Guide for Metro Detroit's Outdoor Enthusiasts - 2025 Edition
Is it winter or spring..? Nobody in the Detroit region really knows, especially the month of March. Regardless of this month's...
Dan Cooke
Mar 65 min read
Introducing #ParksUnknown: Exploring the 5 Least-Visited State Parks Near Detroit
Tired of crowded trails, full parking lots, and impossible-to-book reservations? Then do we have a treat for you. Introducing Expedition...
Dan Cooke
Jan 296 min read
Explore the Cozy Life: Best Destinations for Glamping near Detroit - Winter 2025 Edition
Who says that winter camping has to be a suffer fest? Here we invite you take sit back, warm up, and explore the cozy side of camping...
Dan Cooke
Jan 176 min read
Make 2025 Your Healthiest AND Most Adventurous Year with Expedition Detroit's Guided Hiking Bundles!
Looking to FINALLY accomplish your New Year's Resolutions of living a healthier and more adventurous lifestyle? Your search is over -...
Dan Cooke
Jan 137 min read
Celebrate the Dark: Five Outdoor Adventures for Experiencing the Winter Solstice near Detroit
The grand, festive finale of our #EmbraceTheDark Series, we invite you to join us in celebrating the shortest solar day of the year...
Dan Cooke
Dec 20, 20245 min read
#TrailTuesday: Summiting Highland's Rugged Mt. Kanzer Trail
Welcome back to our weekly #TrailTuesday Series! This edition summits the heights of the Detroit region's resident "high lands" - the...
Dan Cooke
Nov 26, 202410 min read
#TrailTuesday: Proud Lake State Recreation Area's NEW "Expedition Loop"
Welcome back to our #TrailTuesday Series! This edition focuses on a highlight reel of Proud Lake State Recreation Area through an...
Dan Cooke
Oct 8, 20247 min read
Autumn Adventures: 5 Best Destinations for Fall Camping near Detroit
Fall has FINALLY arrived in Southeast Michigan, and there's no better way to enjoy its vibrant colors and teeming wildlife than spending...
Dan Cooke
Oct 1, 20246 min read
What We're Wearing: Expedition Detroit's Top Outdoor Gear Picks for June 2024
Introducing Expedition Detroit's new #WhatWereWearing series on our favorite outdoor gear for each month! From sport-specific to everyday...
Dan Cooke
Jun 24, 202410 min read
The Potawatomi Trail: Rediscovering Detroit's First Backpacking Loop
Sixty years of POTO! In honor of the Potawatomi Trail's anniversary, we retraced the bootprints and tire marks of generations of...
Dan Cooke
Jun 20, 202411 min read
#TrailTuesday: Exploring the Woods Creek Rustic Trail of Lower Huron Metropark
Welcome back to our #TrailTuesday Series! This edition explores one of the Huron-Clinton Metroparks' premiere riverside trails: the...
Dan Cooke
May 21, 20245 min read
5 Amazing Ways Guided Hike Tours Elevate Your Outdoor Experience
Looking to shake up your everyday life with new adventures - especially right here in Metro Detroit? Look no further - here are the...
Expedition Detroit
May 2, 20245 min read
#TrailTuesday: Exploring Brighton's Secluded Kahchin Trail
Welcome back to our #TrailTuesday Series! This edition treks across Brighton Recreation Area's "hiding in plain sight" gem: the Kahchin...
Dan Cooke
Mar 12, 20247 min read
#TrailTuesday: Livonia's Rotary Park Nature Preserve Trail Loop
Welcome back to our #TrailTuesday Series! This week finds us winding our way through a wooded retreat in the heart of Livonia, Michigan. ...
Katie Whitley
Feb 27, 20245 min read
#TrailTuesday: Exploring Bald Mountain's Rugged Blue, White and Orange Loops
Welcome back to our #TrailTuesday Series! This edition explores the glistening lakes, vast marshes, and wooded ridge lines of Bald...
Dan Cooke
Feb 6, 20248 min read
Expedition Essentials: Ultimate Guide to Winter Camping near Detroit
Now that Arctic temperatures have retreated north, the Detroit region is in peak condition for winter camping expeditions ! Here is our...
Dan Cooke
Jan 26, 202411 min read
#TrailTuesday: The Lloyd A. Stage Nature Center's Hiking Loops in Troy
Welcome back to our #TrailTuesday Series! Nestled in the heart of Troy, Michigan, this edition explores the pines, meadows, and marshes...
Dan Cooke
Dec 26, 20237 min read
#TrailTuesday: Exploring Island Lake's Hickory Ridge Trail
Welcome back to our #TrailTuesday Series! This edition explores the towering pines, vast meadows, and glistening snow-covered vistas of...
Dan Cooke
Nov 28, 202310 min read
#TrailTuesday: Kensington Metropark's Fox, Chicadee, and Wildwing Trail Loops
Welcome back to our #TrailTuesday Series! This edition features a picturesque jaunt through the winding trails of Kensington Metropark in...
Katie Whitley
Nov 14, 20235 min read
Hike Further, Live Longer: The Medical Benefits of Hiking Detroit’s Trails
Written by Dr. Eric Reilly, here we thoroughly examine one of the most pressing health risks in the Detroit region - chronic physical...
Eric Reilly, DO
Oct 31, 20236 min read
Meet Rucking: The Perfect Trail Sport for Offseason Recreation
Born out of military boot camp training, the physical and mental benefits of "Rucking" is taking the recreational community by storm!...
Dan Cooke
Oct 20, 20237 min read
The Best Fall Hikes near Detroit for Experiencing Peak Colors
Don't let the heat fool you - October's cooler temperatures are coming, along with the vibrant foliage that will decorate our parks,...
Dan Cooke
Oct 6, 20234 min read
The Best Hiking and Cider Mill Adventures in Metro Detroit
Crisp weather, crunchy leaves, changing colors - could you imagine a more perfect autumn hike? Well, the promise of sweet apple cider, a...
Katie Whitley
Sep 21, 20234 min read
Five Best Ways to Celebrate "Michigan Trails Week" this Month
Happy #TrailsWeek, Michiganders! With more than 13,400 miles of trails to choose from, here is our short list of the five best ways to...
Dan Cooke
Sep 18, 20235 min read
The Metroparks Trail Challenge: Exploring 13 Trails in 13 Days
This summer, the Huron-Clinton Metroparks launched their inaugural Metroparks Trail Challenge: completing 13 "challenge trails" across...
Dan Cooke
Aug 21, 20238 min read
Expedition Essentials: Trail Running Shoes vs. Hiking Boots
One of the most divisive - and impactful - issues of the outdoor community, here we dive into the "Great Trail Debate" on when and why...
Dan Cooke
Aug 16, 20236 min read
Explore these 10 National Parks near Detroit this Summer
Still looking to embark on an epic summer road trip? Look no further - these 10 national parks near Detroit provide idyllic outdoor...
Dan Cooke
Jul 31, 20236 min read
Thru-Hiking the Chief Pontiac Trail, Pt. II: Proud Lake to Kensington
Along the banks of the Huron River and through the towering pines of Proud Lake, we retraced the generational footsteps of one of the...
Dan Cooke
Jul 20, 20238 min read
(Un)Happy Campers: Five Guaranteed Ways to Piss Off a Campground
Based on a recent personal tale of woe, here are five key takeaways from one particular couple's masterclass on how to turn hundreds of...
Dan Cooke
Jul 14, 20237 min read
Thru-Hiking the Chief Pontiac Trail, Pt. I: Highland to Proud Lake
From the heights of Mt. Omich to the lowlands of the Huron River, we retraced the generational footsteps of one of the Detroit region's...
Dan Cooke
Jul 13, 202311 min read
The Detroit Mountains: Exploring the Jackson Interlobate Range
Home of the Detroit region's best mountain biking trails, ski runs, backpacking ridges, and hiking gems, this article explores the past...
Dan Cooke
Jun 27, 20237 min read
#TrailTuesday: Exploring the Seven Lakes Loop Trail
Welcome back to our #TrailTuesday Series! This edition explores the lakeside vistas and dramatic forested ravines of the Seven Lakes...
Dan Cooke
Jun 20, 20237 min read
Explore Michigan Backpacking with Chicken Tramper Ultralight Gear
In a world where ounces equal pounds - and pounds equal pain - here's why you should treat yourself for peak hiking season this summer...
Dan Cooke
Jun 16, 20234 min read
INTRODUCING: GUIDED OUTDOOR ADVENTURES WITH EXPEDITION DETROIT!
Expedition Detroit is proud to announce that we are now leading guided hiking, backpacking, and trail running outdoor adventure trips...
Dan Cooke
Jun 13, 20236 min read
#TrailTuesday: Rediscovering Proud Lake's Wild Northwestern Loops
Welcome back to our weekly #TrailTuesday Series! This edition explores two of the most controversial, diverse, beautiful, and fun trails...
Dan Cooke
Jun 6, 20238 min read
#TrailTuesday: Exploring Island Lake's Famous Yellow Trail Loop
Welcome back to our weekly #TrailTuesday Series! This edition explores one of the most accessible, beautiful, and popular trails in the...
Dan Cooke
May 30, 20238 min read
#TrailTuesday: Rediscovering Highland's Historic Haven Hill Loop
Welcome back to our weekly #TrailTuesday Series! This edition explores a trail hiked by investors, industrialists, royalty, and common...
Dan Cooke
May 16, 20239 min read
The 5 Best Adventure Challenges to Conquer over Summer 2023
The trees may still be blooming, but Detroit's primetime summer adventure season is just around the corner! As you finish planning which...
Dan Cooke
May 12, 20237 min read
Thru-Hiking the Waterloo-Pinckney Trail, Pt. 3: The Finale in Pinckney
In honor of Earth Week, we embraced the challenge of thru-hiking the Detroit's region's most rigorous backpacking route: the...
Dan Cooke
May 9, 20239 min read
Thru-Hiking the Waterloo-Pinckney Trail, Pt. 2: Crossing the Highlands
In honor of Earth Week, we embraced the challenge of thru-hiking the Detroit's region's most rigorous backpacking route: the...
Dan Cooke
May 2, 20237 min read
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