Top 10 New Year "Outdoor Resolutions" to Accomplish in Detroit's Outdoors during 2026
- Dan Cooke
- 2 days ago
- 12 min read
Happy New Year, Detroit!! Now that 2026 has FINALLY arrived, here are the Expedition Detroit team's top "New Year's resolutions" to accomplish in Detroit's outdoors this year, covering the most ambitious, exciting, and rewarding experiences that the Detroit region has to offer.
There's a simple beauty to the start of a new year.
Like a skier ready to drop into a pristine powder run, or a paddler launching into perfectly still water. And for so many New Year adventurers, establishing a few ambitious new year "Outdoor Resolutions" can provide the framework for plotting a route through the wilderness of opportunity that is a 2026 spent in the Detroit region's outdoors.
I'm far from being alone in looking forward to setting new goals for a new year. In fact, the "New Year's Outdoor Resolutions" social trend is so widespread that there's a growing body of research regarding the science of accomplishing or failing to achieve such goals.
The TL;DR summary of the research is that successful outdoor New Year's Resolutions typically consist of the following characteristics:
Specific or well-defined (e.g., "Train for and run a marathon" vs. "Exercise more")
Framed in positive, actionable terms (e.g., "Eat more broccoli" vs. "Stop eating Big Macs")
Focused on the goal-setter's own, individual interests (vs. societal, familial, or work-place expectations)
Keeping these traits in mind, the Expedition Detroit team has curated this list of 10 specific, ambitious, actionable, and rewarding New Year "Outdoor Resolutions" to be accomplished over the next 12 months. Spoiler alert, each of these resolutions directly involve world-class experiences in the Detroit region's outdoors. But these aren't just any experiences - completing any of these goals could easily stand out as your "Outdoor Highlight of 2026."
Oh, and as a little New Year surprise, we've included a special offering below regarding our 2026 guided trips offerings..!
Here are the top 10 New Year "Outdoor Resolutions" that we will be striving for this year:
1. Ski or Ride ALL of the Big Four Resorts
Mt. Brighton, Alpine Valley, Mt. Holly, and Pine Knob Ski Resorts | Skiing or riding down the slopes of each of Detroit's pristine "Big Four" ski resorts
Don't let today's spring weather fool you - each and every new year for us in Detroit begins in January, during the dead of winter, within a northern climate. Lasting now will return, hopefully sooner than later, and while our backcountry skiing aspirations will be on hold for a bit, Detroit's "Big Four" ski and snowboard resorts are up and running!
In line with our recently updated article on the "Big Four" ski resorts, each of these resorts have special attributes that make them well worth a visit over the next few wintry months. Alpine Valley provides a full-service mountain within a stone's throw of the Detroit region's best hiking, paddling, and mountain biking destinations. Mt. Brighton has state-of-the-art facilities and direct connections to world-class ski resorts around the country. Mt. Holly provides skiers and riders with Up North-caliber vertical terrain. And Pine Knob packs the largest adrenaline punch for our resident terrain park junkies.
Those are just the 30,000 ft. highlights; to get the full experience, take on all four mountains this season and rediscover your love for our local runs! Look for us on the chairlift.
2. Complete a Century Ride across the Detroit Region
Southeast Michigan | Complete a "Century" 100 Mile Bike Ride from
On most bucket lists, "Running a Marathon" tends to wear the crown as the top fitness-related goal to be accomplished during one's lifetime. We get it - running a marathon is undoubtedly an ambitious, hard-fought, and life-changing achievement. One that consumes most of a year just in the preparation for race day.
Love the idea of running a marathon, but not a huge fan of the running part?
We've got great news for you: biking a 100-mile "century" is often viewed as just as challenging and rewarding of an experience, but without the high impact, intense muscle shock, and greater recovery time.
With the explosion of interest in gravel biking in recent years across the Detroit region, it's only a matter of time before large, well-organized gravel biking races will annually occur across southeast Michigan's growing trail network. For now, completing a century will most likely consist of a self-guided, herculean effort.
That's where we come in. Linked here is our recommended "Expedition Century Ride" across the northwestern rim of the Detroit region. Navigating from Richmond to Munith, this ride follows the "Great Lake to Lake Route 1" trail along the following connected trails:
Macomb Orchard Trail (ride begins at eastern trailhead)
Clinton River Trail
West Bloomfield Trail
Michigan Airline Trail
Huron Valley Trail
Kensington Connector Trail
Island Lake Pathway
Fieldcrest Pathway
Mike Levin Lakelands Trail State Park (ride ends along trail near Munith Community Park)
For a more challenging experience, start at the Richmond trailhead and continue southwest towards Munith. For the most challenging experience, start at either trailhead - and then ride it back once you reach the other.
3. Paddle the Entirety of the Huron River National Water Trail
Proud Lake State Recreation Area to Lake Erie Metropark | Multi-day canoe camping adventure along the Detroit Region's longest water trail
While we at Expedition Detroit have written extensively on the beauty of the Huron River - especially during peak fall colors - the true blessing of the river is that it provides an endlessly flowing supply of recreational opportunities. Day paddles, fishing, wildlife viewing, hiking, biking, camping, hunting along its banks...if you can dream it, chances are the Huron will provide an opportunity to experience it.
In spite of these incredible activities, we must give credit where credit's due and crown the most adventuresome, comprehensive, and awe-inspiring endeavor that one can pursue on the Huron: Thru-paddling the entirety of the Huron River National Water Trail's 104-mile route.
Launching at the headwaters of Proud Lake, the official water trail route guides paddlers through several of the Detroit region's idyllic parks and quintessential trail towns along the journey to Lake Erie. Milford, Dexter, Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, and Flat Rock are the trail's official "Water Trail Towns," although the trail provides for ample exploration opportunities throughout the Huron-Clinton Metroparks, state recreation areas, and other destinations that encompass its surroundings.
There are four official canoe campgrounds along the water trail: Kensington Metropark (appropriately located off of Group Camp Rd.), Island Lake State Recreation Area, Hudson Mills Metropark, and Lower Huron Metropark. As the above map shows, there is quite a stretch between the Hudson Mills and Lower Huron campgrounds - a 38.7 mile stretch. A previous expedition camped at a "secret campground" location referred to as "Superior Pond" to break up this segment, but we are unsure whether this pre-approved "campground" was located on private property.
We'll dig a little deeper into that detail, but for the time being, we would advise maybe breaking up that segment with a night spent in Ann Arbor or Ypsilanti. A proper beer, burger, and bed rarely hurt anyone.
As a bonus perk of completing the thru-paddle, you will earn access into the Huron River Watershed Council's "Huron104" Trail Registry. Huron104 lists the names of each successful adventurer that has completed at least 100 distinct miles of the water trail within a calendar year. As of the date of this article, the registry lists only 53 names - and only three were added to that list in 2025.
Is that a comprehensive list of everyone who has completed the trail from point-to-point? Probably not, but it's hard to imagine a better way to add an adventuresome exclamation to this year than joining such an exclusive club.
4. Ride the Century Challenge during the Milford Bike Fest
Milford, Michigan | Completing a 100 Mile Challenge at Michigan's Quintessential Mountain Biking Festival
Call us jaded, but our taste for adventure drifts subconsciously towards the extreme. The experiences that push our bodies to the limit, demand more energy than we thought we were capable of delivering, and leave us with a newfound appreciation for what the human body is capable of. Several of these resolutions fit into that genre of adventure, but I have to be completely transparent: just the thought of taking on the Milford Bike Fest's "Century Challenge" makes my palms sweat (sorry, keyboard).
The MCMBA-sponsored Milford Bike Fest is, at its core, a celebration of southeast Michigan's mountain biking community. The festival occurs in Milford because of the trail town's central location to five world-class single track mountain biking trails, including the top-tier Highland A-B-C-D loops. While the festival comes complete with live music, complementary drinks, food discounts, and hundreds of your new favorite riding buddies, everyone knows that the main draw of the festival is the Century Challenge.
Here's the challenge: completing a mountain biking ride that covers THE ENTIRETY of all five trail systems that are readily accessible from Downtown Milford over a distance of at least 100 miles. These include the Milford Trail, Highland State Recreation Area, Hickory Glen, Proud Lake State Recreation Area/the Kensington Connector, and Island Lake State Recreation Area. I have biked each of these trail systems independently, and each one packs one hell of a punch. So, the thought of conquering all five in a single day...yeah, that's definitely one way to earn a post-ride beer!
We're crazy enough to give it a go. Please, comrades, join us on this odyssey!
5. Conquer ALL of Detroit's Black Diamond Trails
Bald Mountain, Brighton, and Highland State Recreation Areas | Hiking - or trail running - the trinity of the Detroit region's most difficult trails
When it comes to hiking trails, not all trails are created equal. That's a good thing - you wouldn't want to take someone making their first steps towards a lifelong fitness journey on a summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Such an endeavor would likely kill their drive to ever set foot on a trail again (or just to ever hike with you again).
The same concept holds true for our local hiking trails. Here at Expedition Detroit, we have already covered our area's top-ranked trails for every genre of hiker. We have also wrote about our most accessible trails for venturing out on a night hike. But for this special article - the shoot-for-the-moon "New Year's Resolutions" article - we're aiming for our three toughest, steepest, and most challenging trails: our three "Black Diamond" rated-trails at Bald Mountain, Brighton, and Highland State Recreation Areas.
We wrote a feature on these trails in the past, so we won't recreate the wheel now. What I will state here though is that completing this triple crown of Detroit hiking is no easy feat: the combined stats of these trails are 1,560 feet of elevation gain over 37.6 miles of Southeast Michigan's most rugged, variable, punishing, yet beautiful terrain.
As of the end of 2025, we have been able to complete the Bald Mountain and Highland trail systems. So for 2026, conquering Brighton is a very high priority. Who knows, we may go crazy and try to knock out all three trails in a single day...stay tuned my friends. Stay tuned.
CONQUER HIGHLAND'S A-B-C-D LOOPS WITH EXPEDITION DETROIT
6. Cross the Gordie Howe International Bridge and Bike the Trans Canada Trail in Windsor
Windsor, Ontario | Crossing the Gordie Howe Bridge and exploring the extensive trail system located south of the border
In one of our earliest articles, we made a prediction that Detroit will claim its place as the international trails capital of North America. Yes, the State of Michigan's immense investment in trail infrastructure as part of its campaign for Michigan to earn recognition as our nation's "Trails State" has facilitated immense momentum for our city's outdoor recreation economy.
Our Canadian cousins have undeniably acted as pioneers in this space: the Trans Canada Trail, the longest recreational trail network in the world covering over 15,000 miles, extends directly to Windsor’s Riverfront Trail.
Will we ever trek across all of the TCT's 15,000 miles, completing an epic journey from the Atlantic waves of St. John's Island to the icebergs of the Northwest Territories? Eh, probably not in this lifetime.
THAT BEING SAID, in 2026, U.S.-based Detroit region residents will FINALLY HAVE A DIRECT TRAIL LINK to the 15.5 miles of the Trans Canada Trail that stretch across Windsor's northern shores! This beautiful segment of the TCT includes the stunning Windsor Riverfront Trail, Malden Park, and Ojibway Prairie Provincial Nature Preserve. We can't wait for the opportunity to bike, hike, or run seamlessly from Detroit's greenways to Windsor's trails!
7. Visit Every "County Park" in your Home County
Throughout the Detroit Region | Exploring every "County Park" in either Livingston, Monroe, Oakland, Washtenaw, or Wayne Counties
Across the Expedition Detroit platform, we've largely publicized our region's Michigan State Parks and Huron-Clinton Metroparks as world-class destinations. That's for good reason, too: our State Parks and Metroparks are not only indescribably beautiful, but pristine destinations for year-round recreation and adventure.
Our region is also blessed with a handful of national parks, but there's another, prolific category of parks. One that often gets overlooked in light of the foregoing.
In 2026, we're excited to FINALLY shine the Expedition Detroit spotlight on our resident county parks - especially the extensive systems within Oakland, Washtenaw, and Wayne Counties. Special shoutout to our friend Brendan Freeman at Shades of the Outdoors for inspiring this challenge with his conquest of the Washtenaw County Parks during 2025.
8. Run the Detroit Free Press Marathon (or its other events)
Detroit, Michigan and Windsor, Ontario | Running in our region's hallmark race across two international border crossings
We've said it once, twice, and will say it proudly a million times more: the Detroit Free Press Marathon is the crown jewel in the treasure trove of Detroit's outdoor events calendar. The race embodies everything that we love about our region's outdoors: breath-taking views from the Ambassador Bridge, international fraternization along the Windsor and Detroit riverfronts, and heartwarming, encouraging interactions with Detroiters and Windsorites throughout the event.
Yes, we are generally more pro-trail running than road running. However, the Detroit Free Press Marathon will forever lure us back on an annual pilgrimage to the concrete labyrinth of Detroit's core routes. We emphatically urge you to join us in this amazing, heart (and lung)-pounding race that briefly turns the attention of the international running community towards our great city.
In 2025, Team Expedition Detroit was proud to FINALLY cross the 26.2 miles off of its bucket list. The Detroit Free Press Marathon is consistently ranked as one of the best marathons in the United States, including the official designation of THE "Best Marathon in the U.S." for 2025. However, due to the race's popularity, its main two events - the Full Marathon and International Half Marathon - have ALREADY SOLD OUT for 2026. Seriously.
Fortunately, the Detroit Free Press Marathon weekend has several concurrent events during "marathon weekend" which are still available for registration. Team Expedition Detroit will be running the "International Wonder" series, which includes the 1 Mile, 5K, and International Half Marathon events. We strongly encourage you to REGISTER TODAY for the remaining events, and we'll see you at the starting corrals next October!
9. Actively (or Passively) Support Conservation
Throughout the Detroit Region | Proactively supporting the conservation of our natural resources through hunting or simply buying a hunting license
Here's an uncomfortable truth for some recreationists: in our sprawling suburban ecosystem, hunting and fishing are vital to the DNR's ongoing conservation efforts. Rapid deer population growth has unleashed mayhem on southeast Michigan's habitat sustainability, vehicular safety, and the environmental longevity of the Great Lakes region. Add in the material detriment of decreasing hunting and fishing license sales on the DNR's annual budget, the net result is that our developed region can't afford to lose its hunters and anglers.
While we strongly encourage anyone looking to lead a more environmentally-conscious lifestyle to consider actively supporting conservation by hunting or fishing in 2026, we adamantly argue that all ethical outdoor recreationists should purchase a hunting and/or fishing license. The DNR desperately needs our participation in its greater conservation mission to properly care for the outdoor spaces that we love.
Actively hunting or fishing gets you in the game, but even just purchasing a license - with no intention of hunting or fishing - will provide the DNR with revenue to reinvest into the sustainability of our wilderness. Easily the best $20 you'll spend this year.
10. Fully Embrace an Outdoor-Centric Lifestyle
Throughout Southeast Michigan | Learning to incorporate the benefits of the outdoors into everyday life - no matter the season
If you are able to accomplish only one outdoor New Year's resolution in 2026, we sincerely hope it's this one: to incorporate the benefits of Detroit's outdoors into your everyday life.
You read that correctly, everyday life. Rain or shine. Hot or cold. Light or dark. The full spectrum of our outdoor ecosystem.
The Norwegians have perfected this approach to an outdoor-centric lifestyle - their word for it, both a noun and verb, is "Friluftsliv." By prioritizing friluftsliv's "get outdoors, every day, no matter what" lifestyle, Norway experienced a fundamental cultural transformation that has resulted in improved mental health, the good standard of societal fitness levels, and the prioritization of environmental conservation. The best part about this "friluftsliv resolution" is the least physically-demanding resolution on this list - just spending any amount of time in nature counts as a successful friluftsliv outing.
The difficult aspect of this goal, as with any truly transformative goal, is consistency. If your 2026 New Year "Outdoor Resolutions" include common - yet transformative - goals like "spending more time outdoors" or "exercising more," then we have the PERFECT opportunity for you: the Expedition Detroit "Ultimate Flex Plan"!
The Ultimate Flex Plan is not only our latest guided trip package offering, but resulted from the direct input from our most experienced and passionate guided trip participants. As the name suggests, this plan is geared towards anyone who identifies with the following characteristics:
You love exploring your local outdoors
You love low-impact exercise
You love boosting your mental health
You love fulfilling promises made to yourself
You love the flexibility of being able to choose your own adventure
You love paying a low price for a lifetime of experiences
If we just described YOU, then we strongly encourage you to check out Expedition Detroit's "Ultimate Flex Plan" and start your transformative journey TODAY!
Before signing off on this article and getting a jump on these resolutions, we also formally want to invite you to join us on each and every one of these goals. Another less-known characteristic of successful goal-setting is accountability. Well, this article is our team's public accountability notice. We fully intended on accomplishing each of these New Year's Resolutions, and we hope to see you on the trail, in the river, or across the finish line.
Happy New Year, Expedition Detroit community! As always, we can't wait to see you out there.
Has anyone completed a "Century" ride in SE Michigan before? If yes, where did you ride? Any training tips?? 🙏