Fall has FINALLY arrived in Southeast Michigan, and there's no better way to enjoy its vibrant colors and teeming wildlife than spending a night (or two) immersed in the season's glory. Don't miss the fleeting opportunity to experience these 5 best destinations for fall camping near Detroit - updated for FALL 2025 . "Blink and you'll miss it." While I'd be lying if I said that phrase doesn't trigger at least some degree of "FOMO" anxiety, I can't think of an instance where

This Halloween season, lace up your boots - and pack in some extra courage - for exploring these six notoriously haunted hikes in the Detroit region's most eery outdoor destinations - updated for October 2025! October in Michigan engages all of the senses. The warming smell of damp leaves in the morning sun. The vibrant sight of a maple in full regalia. The tangible crunch of a fallen leaf along your favorite trail. A fleeting glimpse of something moving through the evenin

Welcome home, Detroit's outdoor community! Looking for new "Back-to-School Trails" to experience with the whole family? We've got you...

Buongiorno, Detroit! Team Expedition Detroit recently returned from hiking the famous "Alta Via 1" trail through the Italian Dolomites....

Join us for a hike as we discover the Richardson Trail at Brighton Recreation Area! This lesser-known route travels through undisturbed forest and unique landscapes, providing a glimpse into Michigan's rich natural history. Whether you're a seasoned hiker or just looking for some peace and quiet, the Richardson Trail is sure to leave you feeling refreshed and inspired! The chirping of crickets and frogs echo through the woodland as I take my first few steps on the Richardson

No tent, no problem! Here we provide our #ExpeditionEssentials on the best gear, health benefits, and opportunities in the Detroit region...

No ropes, no worries. Live your next adventure in Metro Detroit exploring each of the "5 Summits" - Expedition Detroit's favorite destinations for hiking the most iconic hilltops near Detroit! There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering. All the rest are merely games. Those aren't my words, although I appreciate the hot take. No; those were spoken (likely after a Papa Doble or two) by Ernest Hemingway , the renown American author whose appet

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...

Looking to FINALLY accomplish your New Year's Resolutions of living a healthier and more adventurous lifestyle? Your search is over -...

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

Sixty years of POTO! In honor of the Potawatomi Trail's anniversary, we retraced the bootprints and tire marks of generations of Detroit's greatest outdoor enthusiasts along one of our region's most beloved trails. "Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can." This quote from tennis player Arthur Ashe is beautiful in its simplicity and applicability. Whether you're building a business, strengthening a relationship, or just conjuring the motivation to get out of

Looking to shake up your everyday life with new adventures - especially right here in Metro Detroit? Look no further - here are the amazing ways that a guided hike tour will elevate your outdoor experience! Claire was so nervous that she almost didn’t go. The butterflies crept up from her stomach and up into her throat. With a deep breath, she pushed herself out of the car and walked to the trailhead to meet the group.  Claire had wanted to get into hiking and other “outdoo

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

Written by Dr. Eric Reilly, here we thoroughly examine one of the most pressing health risks in the Detroit region - chronic physical inactivity - and the profound medical benefits of hiking your favorite trails! This Halloween, I wanted to share a true tale of terror that haunts the Detroit area’s medical community . A silent killer that moves undetected through each of its neighborhoods. A verifiable infliction that thrives within its host for years before it rears its ugl

Born out of military boot camp training, the physical and mental benefits of "Rucking" is taking the recreational community by storm!...

Don't let the heat fool you - October's cooler temperatures are coming, along with the vibrant foliage that will decorate our parks, trails, and waterways! Updated for Fall 2025, here are Expedition Detroit's 5 best fall hikes for experiencing peak colors this season. Happy hiking! Fellow trail enthusiasts and fall foliage aficionados, we have incredible news for you . In the words of the great Rafiki: "It is time." Well...it is almost time. While the original predictions f

One of the most divisive - and impactful - issues of the outdoor community, here we dive into the "Great Trail Debate" on when and why you should lace up trail running shoes or hiking boots for your next adventure. #ExpeditionEssentials "This feels heavy." I said those words audibly at approximately 10:40 P.M. and 8ish miles into my thru-hike of the Chief Pontiac Trail . For anyone who has backpacked with me in the past, those words may come as a surprise. To this day, my

Still looking to embark on an epic summer road trip? Look no further - these 10 national parks near Detroit provide idyllic outdoor destinations to satisfy your regional wanderlust. Hint: don't forget your passport! We have a confession to make: the Expedition Detroit team was largely not in the Detroit area last week. As our social media following is already well-aware, we spent last week on a road trip back to Detroit from Bozeman, Montana. A multi-day adventure spent expl

Along the banks of the Huron River and through the towering pines of Proud Lake, we retraced the generational footsteps of one of the Detroit region's oldest backpacking routes: the Chief Pontiac Trail . Join us on this concluding Part 2 of this series that follows this classic Michigan hiking trail from Proud Lake to Kensington Metropark! Pro tip: try to get more than 3 hours of recovery sleep in the middle of a ~20 mile thru-hike. The key word there is " try ." Two of our m

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...

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 oldest backpacking routes: the Chief Pontiac Trail . Join us on Part 1 of this series as we traverse this classic Michigan hiking trail from Highland to Proud Lake! " There's no way that it was like this in the 1950s. " I say those words audibly to myself as yet another set of headlights blind me along Wixom Trail. It's just past 10 p.m., and

Home of the Detroit region's best mountain biking trails, ski runs, backpacking ridges, and hiking gems, this article explores the past and present of the "Detroit Mountains"- southeast Michigan's glacial Jackson Interlobate Range. Growing up, I liked reading maps. We're talking battlefield maps, geographic encyclopedias - even fake maps from fictional worlds like Middle Earth, Kanto/Johto, and Narnia. Yes, I'm also the geography nerd on my local bar trivia team, and we've g

In a world where ounces equal pounds - and pounds equal pain - here's why you should treat yourself for peak hiking season this summer with CTUG's Michigan-made ultralight gear! #ExpeditionPartner "Yeah man, your kit is definitely looking a bit heavy." Those were extremely generous words from Austin Gongos , cofounder and one of the "Main Dirtbags" of U.P.-based Chicken Tramper Ultralight Gear ("CTUG") . We first connected literally days after I completed a thru-backpacking t

Expedition Detroit is proud to announce that we are now leading guided hiking, backpacking, and trail running outdoor adventure trips across ELEVEN Michigan state parks near Detroit! Learn more about our trips - and how to book your next local adventure - here. "When are you guys going to start leading guided trips?" If we had a nickel for every time that we've heard that question, well, let's just say that business would be booming. Since the launch of Expedition Detroit

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

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 second installment of our series on the Waterloo-Pinckney Trail traverses the most strenuous terrain of the entire journey - as well as discovering welcomed surprises to ease the "Survival Day." Rainstorms while camping: possibly the greatest paradox in the backpacking experience. On one hand, you'll never find a better "w

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

Brace yourself - the super bloom is coming! As spring continues to gradually reclaim its domain over Detroit's revitalized environment, here are the "Top 5 Outdoor Destinations" for experiencing the best days of the season. Wildflowers. Morels. Wetlands. Turkeys. And trails. Lots and lots of trails. When we think of spring in the Detroit region , that list forms the crème de la crème of our seasonal outdoor highlights. Regardless of whether you're heading into the trails to

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

After a brief hiatus, our #TrailTownSpotlight series is back! This edition crosses the border to explore the outdoor gems of Amherstburg, Ontario - possibly the single most historic recreational trail town in the Great Lakes region. All roads lead to Amherstburg, Ontario . Or at least that's our lingering sentiment after researching the Detroit region's outdoors over the past several months. Allow us to explain. Our first encounter with colonial Amherstburg dates back to our

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...

Just when any dreams of deep powder days had diminished to a fool's hope, January has delivered with over a foot of snow over the last...

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

Two hundred and ten years ago today, the bloodiest battle ever fought on Michigan soil came to a close, resulting in the United States'...

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

Happy New Year, Detroit!! Now that 2023 has arrived in full regalia, here are the Expedition Detroit Team's New Year's resolutions,...

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Just like waking up to fresh snowfall, January provides a perfectly clean slate for pursuing your wildest outdoor goals...

In recognition of this winter's inaugural snow storm, this edition of our #ExpeditionEssentials Series focuses on five essential survival...

The third installment of our #EmbraceTheDark Series, we're exploring the best night hiking trails near Detroit. Spoiler alert: most of...

Sunset marks the starting gate for a whole new genre of adventure, although with one major caveat: it's dark outside. Have no fear,...

The second installation of our #TrailTownSpotlight series, we're highlighting the best features of Northville, Michigan for every hometown outdoor enthusiast. Check out why we are celebrating this oasis of adventure opportunities within the heart of the Detroit region! If you take a quick look at the map on our Destinations page , one overarching aspect includes that the majority of Detroit's premiere outdoor opportunities are found along the outer rim of our region. Geograph

In honor of the upcoming darkest month of the year surrounding the Winter Solstice, we are launching a new series focusing on the Detroit...

In honor of National Hiking Day, we proudly present the triple-crown of the Detroit region's most intense and exhilarating hiking...