Search Results

Looking to FINALLY accomplish your New Year's Resolutions of living a healthier and more adventurous lifestyle? Your search is over - we're proud to introduce Expedition Detroit's " Expedition Bundles " of guided hiking trips for all experience levels! New Year's Resolutions : all make them, few end up keeping them. That's the cold, hard truth about the promises that we all make to ourselves at the turn of the calendar. I especially get hooked by the romanticism of the "new year, new me" allurement that January 1st emits into the universe. A blank page full of new adventures, experiences, and possibilities. I'm far from being alone in this sentiment. An entire field of social data exists around the study of New Year's Resolutions, including the most prevalent goals, the likelihood of actually accomplishing them, and key actions that improve that likelihood. In the Detroit region , here are the most common New Year's Resolutions made each year: Image courtesy of ClickOnDetroit.com ; data sourced from Statista. Other common New Year's Resolutions include learning a new hobby or skill , traveling more , and breaking digital addictions . These goals seem simple enough to accomplish, right? Wrong - at least according to all pertinent data. Getting New Years Resolutions to stick is apparently a nationwide problem. A University of Scranton study found that only 19% of people stick to their resolutions long term (two+ years). Worse yet, the same study published that 23% of people give up on their resolutions after one week . Yikes . So, what can you do to become a part of the 19% that actually exercises more, loses weight, spends more time with family & friends, travels more, and reduces stress from social media, work, and life? Well, Expedition Detroit is proud to announce that we have an ideal solution for this problem. One that's data-driven, nature fueled, and most importantly, extremely fun for the entire family. New for 2025, we're ECSTATIC to launch our " Expedition Bundles " of curated guided hiking trips for every experience level! INTRODUCING "EXPEDITION BUNDLES": CURATED GUIDED HIKING EXPERIENCES FOR EVERY EXPERIENCE LEVEL Our guided hiking trips affiliation with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources has evolved slowly but surely since its launch in June of 2023 . We started simply with day hiking trips to fan-favorite parks like Belle Isle, Maybury, and Island Lake. Our highly-publicized night hiking trips followed one year ago. And now - as heavily requested by first-time and veteran trip participants alike - we're stoked to roll out the next iteration of our top-rated guided hiking day trips: the Expedition Bundles ! Three Tiers of Expedition Bundles: Beginner, Adventure, and Expert EXPEDITION BUNDLES: The Basics So what exactly are the Expedition Bundles? Three pre-packaged guided hiking trip bundles sorted by recommended experience level, terrain diversity, and adventure intensity . Our goal is to take the guess-work out of planning your next guided hiking expedition in Detroit's outdoors - and save you a little cash in the process. That's right: by purchasing an Expedition Bundle vs. individually-reserving our guided hiking trips, you will SAVE OVER 20% on the Detroit region's top-rated  guided hiking experiences! Here's the breakdown: Each Expedition Bundle covers 5 unique trails + a bonus night hiking safari ! Automatic savings compared to individual guided hiking trip reservations Bundle period lasts 3 months for reservation flexibility Bundle participants are billed monthly and can cancel anytime Seven day free trial We're firm believers that adventure doesn't have to hurt your wallet. In fact, we've thrown in a bonus guided hike for each bundle just to add a little more bang to your buck. Let's get into the Expedition Bundles now! BEGINNER BUNDLE : Perfect for the Whole Family Are you brand new to the wide world of hiking - or looking to FINALLY introduce a loved one to your passion for the outdoors? Then the "Beginner Bundle" is the perfect selection for you! We've carefully crafted the Beginner Bundle for anyone looking to leave the concrete behind and explore the Detroit region's most accessible, beautiful, and family-friendly hiking trails. The Beginner Bundle covers the following destinations: BUNDLED TRAILS TRAIL PERKS TRAIL PERKS Belle Isle "Lighthouse & Blue Heron Lagoon" Trail 2.2 miles Scenic natural hike along the wild eastern coast of Belle Isle Park Maybury "Classic Hiking" Trail 3.1 miles Top-rated hiking experience through historic Maybury State Park Proud Lake "Expedition Loop" Trail 3.1 miles Highlight reel of natural beauty of Proud Lake State Recreation Area Holly "Wild Lakes Loop" Trail 2.5 miles Gorgeous lakeside hike at Holly State Recreation Area Highland "North Loop" Trail 2.2 miles Rolling woodland trail through Highland State Recreation Area Beginner Bundle hikers will also have access to Expedition Detroit's fan-favorite guided hiking experience: a night hiking safari at Maybury State Park! ADVENTURE BUNDLE: The Very Best of Detroit Hiking In full transparency, the " Adventure Bundle " answers the most common question that our guides receive during our guided trips: "What is your favorite hiking trail near Detroit?" We can never just pick one answer to that question, so we grouped our favorite trails together in one highlight reel of a bundle for the whole region to enjoy! The Adventure Bundle is simply for everyone - especially experienced hikers that are looking for their new favorite getaways throughout the Detroit region. Each of these award-winning trails leads hikers through the most epic, historic, diverse, and beautiful terrain that the Jackson Interlobate Range has to offer. The Adventure Bundle covers the following destinations: BUNDLED TRAILS TRAIL PERKS TRAIL PERKS Highland "Haven Hill Loop" Trail 3.7 miles Fan favorite that explores one of the Detroit region's most famous, beautiful, and historic trails at Highland Recreation Area Pinckney "Crooked Lake" Trail 4.4 miles Forested hills that are widely regarded as the Detroit region's most beautiful at Pinckney State Recreation Area Highland "Mt. Kanzer" Trail 3.8 miles Intrepid hike to the highest point in Highland State Recreation Area Brighton "Penosha" Trail 4.9 miles A can't-miss Southeast Michigan trail that explores the heart of Brighton State Recreation Area Island Lake "Yellow Loop" Trail 5.5 miles Rollercoaster single-track trail that provides stunning views of the Huron River at Island Lake State Recreation Area Adventure Bundle hikers will also have access to Expedition Detroit's  newest guided hiking experience: a night hiking safari at Highland State Recreation Area's Haven Hill! EXPERT BUNDLE:   Trails for World-Class Adventurers Calling all thru-hikers, Out West ex-pats, summit baggers, and type-2 adventurers: the "Expert Bundle" is designed exclusively for you. For me personally, the Expert Bundle's challenging trails at Pontiac Lake and Highland Recreation Areas have become my go-to destinations for world-class training purposes. The imprints of my Hokas are permanently embedded into the rocks, roots, and sand of both of these trails, especially in the lead up to my "G.O.A.T. Series" trail races and Mt. Kilimanjaro summit . PLEASE DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THESE TRAILS. They will, undoubtedly, kick your ass if you arrive at the trailhead unprepared. Which is exactly why we at Expedition Detroit love them so much - and if you're looking to raise your hiking level to world-class, then you will too. The Expert Bundle covers the following destinations: BUNDLED TRAILS TRAIL PERKS TRAIL PERKS Pontiac Lake "MTB Loop" Trail 9.4 miles Iconic mountain biking trail that also serves as a hiker and trail runner's paradise through the heart of Pontiac Lake State Recreation Area. Highland "A-B-C-D Loops" Trail 14.7 miles Regarded as the most challenging trail system in Southeast Michigan, this all-day adventure explores the surprisingly rugged terrain of Highland State Recreation Area. But wait - I thought each Expedition Bundle covers 5 trails...? Good memory, reader ! Anyone who takes on the challenge of the Expert Bundle will be rewarded with access to ALL THREE of Expedition Detroit's highly-requested " Night Hiking Safari " trips! We do plan on adding additional "Black Diamond"-rated trails to the Expert Bundle over 2025, but for now trust us when we saying that conquering Pontiac Lake and Highland are enough of an accomplishment in and of themselves. THE SCIENCE BEHIND SUCCESS: HOW THE EXPEDITION BUNDLES WILL HELP YOU ACCOMPLISH YOUR RESOLUTIONS IN 2025 Alright, you're now an expert on the guided hiking opportunities ( and savings ) associated with each of the Expedition Bundles. But how exactly will signing up for a specific bundle help you accomplish your New Year's Resolutions for 2025? Fortunately for all of us, empirical research strongly supports that subscribing to a regimen like an Expedition Bundle will dramatically increase your likelihood of successfully accomplishing your goals . The "gold standard" for creating achievable goals is to create " SMART " goals, meaning Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound . By signing up for an experience like an Expedition Bundle, somewhat generic resolutions like "exercise more," "spending more time outside with friends" or "reduce stress" become immediately SMART(er). Here are some examples: SPECIFIC : " Exercise more " becomes " Go hiking at several Michigan State Parks several times a month. " MEASURABLE : " Spend more time with loved ones " becomes " Go hiking with my friends two times each month. " ACHIEVABLE : " Go backpacking " becomes " Start my hiking journey on beginner-friendly trails across the Detroit region. " RELEVANT : "Reduce stress levels" becomes " Spend a few hours away from work/personal commitments each week on a curated guided hiking experience. " TIME-BOUND : " Spend more time in nature " becomes " Hike at least 6 new trails across Southeast Michigan over a 3 month period. " With these Expedition Bundles, one of our resolutions for 2025 is to make your fitness, wellness, and exploration resolutions SMART-er, simpler, and easier to accomplish. We at Expedition Detroit wish you nothing but the best in this new year, and we hope to see you at the trailhead very soon! BONUS:  DON'T MISS OUR 2025 NEW YEAR'S DEALS! In the spirit of expanding friluftsliv  opportunities throughout our region, we at Expedition Detroit  are also proud to announce our 2025 "New Year's Deals"  for our guided services! More information will be released in the coming week, but here are the highlights of our current deals: SNOWSHOE TREKS PRESALE:  Use discount code " SNOWDANCE25 " to save 10%  on any of our planned snowshoe treks ! BUNDLE AND SAVE:  Use discount code " NEWYEARBUNDLE " to save 20% on any of our EXPEDITION BUNDLES  of curated guided trips. FREE BEANIE:  In honor of 2025, the first 25 participants to book a guided trip will receive a free Expedition Detroit  beanie  with their booking! These offerings are only available through January 31st , so we hope that you will kick off your New Year with us as we continue exploring the beautiful parks and trails surrounding Detroit! START YOUR NEW YEAR WITH A GUIDED SNOWSHOE TREK ! PRESALE IS LIVE NOW  WITH SPECIAL OFFERINGS FOR EARLY BOOKINGS!

In honor of National Hiking Day, we proudly present the triple-crown of the Detroit region's most intense and exhilarating hiking experiences: our three most rigorous Black Diamond hiking trails. Let’s cut right to the chase: these trails are not for the faint of heart. Unlike our previous article regarding the Detroit region's “Top Five Hiking Trails,” these trails are best suited for our list endurance athletes, aspiring thru-hikers, and our other resident hikers that are looking to up their hiking levels an Up North or Out West capacity. These treks were designed to push boundaries, expand capacity, build confidence, and break down any preconceived notion that Detroit does not have trails suitable for top-tier adventurers. Put differently, if you’re not sure where to start training for that Mt. Kilimanjaro trek or Appalachian Trail thru hike in our area, we recommend that you start with this triple-crown of Detroit’s most challenging trails. 1. Highland A-B-C-D Loops | Highland State Recreation Area Length : 13.7 miles Elevation Gain : 1,309 ft. Estimated Completion Time : 5h 15min Highland State Recreation Area’s alphabet loops stand on top of the podium for the most challenging hike in the entire Detroit region. Starting at the E. Livingston Road trailhead, you will initially head south on the A Loop for only 0.1 of a mile before heading west (right) at the point where the A Loop splits. Note that you should hike the loops in the opposite direction of the mountain bike trail instructions. Your first diversion - and real test of the entire trail system - will occur 0.9 miles into the trek when you head due west (right) to conquer the infamous D Loop. You will “summit” 3.4 miles into the trail while on the D Loop (1,134 ft.) before being rewarded with a long, steady decline to briefly rejoin the A Loop. Continue southwest on the B Loop at the 4.4 mile mark. The B Loop is the second-hardest trail of Highland’s alphabet loops, including the trail system’s second highest point at mile 5.3 (1,124 ft.). You will diverge off of the B Loop to complete the milder C Loop at mile 6. With the main challenges behind you, the last legs consist of 8.1 miles as you complete the eastern segments B and A Loops towards the trailhead. The route consists of varying sections with roots, rocky stretches, steep climbs, and manageable technical areas. While these loops are primarily intended for mountain bikers, these trails are also very popular for hikers, trail runners , bird watchers, cross-country skiers, snowshoers, and hunters . Hikers should also be aware that Highland’s horse riding trail system also intersects with the four loops, so be sure to keep a map readily-accessible. Pro Tip : Due to the several low-lying bogs in this area, Highland’s four loops are prone to mosquitos during the summer months. We recommend applying a healthy amount of bug spray during the summer months ( Murphy’s Naturals Lemon Eucalyptus Oil is my personal favorite - highly effective, natural, and actually feels good on your skin). This trail is also relatively mosquito and human-free during the late fall through early spring, although please wear hunter orange or bright clothing during the fall firearm hunting months (especially late November). Parking Directions : Park at the mountain bike trailhead parking lot on the north side of E Livingston Rd. The A Loop trailhead is directly south across E Livingston Rd., although Highland’s tamer North Loop trail is directly accessible from the parking lot. A Recreation Passport is required for parking here. CONQUER HIGHLAND'S A-B-C-D LOOPS WITH EXPEDITION DETROIT Photo courtesy of AllTrails, LLC 2. Brighton Loop Trail System | Brighton State Recreation Area Length : 14.8 miles Elevation Gain : 892 ft. Estimated Completion Time : 5h 10min The longest of the three “Black Diamonds,” Brighton State Recreation Area’s loop trail system also provides rewarding, arduous hiking for Detroit’s most intrepid hikers. Similar to Highland, these trails are also primarily used for mountain biking, although they are also popular with trail runners, birdwatchers, and occasionally hunters. Due to the heavy use by mountain bikers (especially in the summer months), we also advise hiking this trail in the opposite direction of mountain bike traffic. Starting from the mountain bike trailheads, head southeast to start on the Torn Shirt Trail before diverting north (left) at the 0.1 mile mark. After a steady decline, continue heading northeast (keeping left) onto the Murray Lake “Purple Loop” for 4.1 miles of rolling hills and switchbacks. At the lowest point of the hike (874 ft. elevation) you will merge onto the Lost Loop “Green Trail,” renown for its thick forest cover, for 1.7 miles. Back on the Murray Lake trail, you will steadily climb over rolling terrain for 2.8 miles until you nearly reach the trailhead at mile 8.7. Don’t linger too long on thoughts of a post-trail beer, however; Brighton’s real crucible, the Torn Shirt Trail, remains unconquered. Heading northeast on the Torn Shirt Trail, you will navigate around smaller ponds and technical terrain for 3.3 miles before facing the trail’s most formidable challenge. At an 11% grade, you will hike from one of the trail’s lowest points (894 ft.) to its summit (965 ft.) over 0.3 miles, although you will be rewarding immediately with a descent of similar length. A few more rolling ascents and descents over the remaining 2.3 miles and you will have finally earned that post-hike beer in one of Brighton’s famous watering holes. Pro Tip : Consider tackling Brighton’s challenging loops over a weekend by camping in one or more of the park's campgrounds . The Murray Lake rustic campground is immediately accessible to the Murray Lake Trail, while the Appleton Lake rustic campground and Bishop Lake modern campground are also within close proximity. Reservations are required to be made in advance. Parking Directions : From Bishop Lake Rd., turn into the side street at the “Bishop Lake Complex” sign within the park. Take the first right turn available to you to arrive at the Bishop Lake parking lot . A Recreation Passport is required for parking here. Photo courtesy of AllTrails, LLC 3. Bald Mountain's Orange, White, Green, and Blue Loops | Bald Mountain State Recreation Area Length : 9.1 miles Elevation Gain : 538 ft. Estimated Completion Time : 3h 5min Although the shortest of the three “Black Diamonds,” Bald Mountain State Recreation Area’s four loops should not be underestimated. While this trail system is also shared with mountain bikers and hunters, you will have the best opportunity here to only share the trails with fellow hikers and wildlife. As such, we recommend starting with Bald Mountain if you are just starting to “level up” your hiking skillset. Starting at the East Graham Lake trailhead, you will head south until turning northeast (left) onto the Orange Trail less than 0.1 miles into the hike. Be sure to utilize the next 0.7 miles of flat hiking and lake views to warm up your legs - at the 0.8 mile mark, you will find yourself tackling almost 1,000 feet of elevation gain towards the trail system’s summit (1,028 ft.). After the summit, you will be rewarded with 0.4 miles of decline as you head west towards Duck Pond. At the 2.2 mile mark, complete the out-and-back that runs parallel to the northeast bank of Prince Lake before hiking 1.4 miles south to the point where the Orange and Green Trails meet. Turn right onto the Green Trail at the 3.8 mile mark. The Green Trail comprises a half mile out-and-bank, which fortunately includes established restrooms right at the turnaround point. You will only briefly retrace your steps though before heading west (left) on the White Trail at the 4.5 mile mark. Don’t get too comfortable on the White Trail, however; you will turn south (left) at the 4.8 mark onto the Blue Trail, which in turn will warmly welcome you with a steady 0.7 mile climb towards the trail’s second highest point (1,022 ft.). Enjoy the ensuing decline as you finish the Blue Trail and turn northwest (left) at the 6.6 mile mark to rejoin the White Trail for a half-mile out-and-back. Continue on the rolling White Trail for its final mile until you reconnect with the Orange Trail at Mile 8.6. The remaining half mile is a leisurely, well-deserved decline back to the East Graham Lake parking lot. Pro Tip : Most trail maps for this hike include a segment through a residential area starting at the 7.1 mile mark, and then continuing for roughly a mile over the southwestern segment of the White Trail and northwestern segment of the Blue Trail. Unless you’re hunting for that extra mile, we recommend skipping this portion of the typical hike (we omitted it from our instructions above). Why? Well, there’s no better buzzkill for a wilderness experience than hiking through a subdivision, plus you would have already hiked the Blue Trail segment in the same direction. Trust us, your senses (and legs) will thank you. Parking Directions : From the Harmon Rd. entrance to the park, turn right onto W Predmore Rd. Turn left at the East Graham Lake Boat Launch sign - be on the lookout for your fellow hikers on the Orange Trail that you will quickly bisect. The road dead ends at the East Graham Lake parking lot .

Tomorrow, the Michigan State Senate Appropriation Committee vote on whether to award a $50 million mining grant on the border of Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. Here's why all Detroit region recreationists should fight against it. "Right here Lucy, lay right here. Perfect. Good girl!" With the headlamp freshly off, I could barely make out the silhouette of my golden retriever navigating through the pitch-black darkness of our tent. We had never camped before, so with bated breath I watched her sniff around the tent for a few moments, find a spot right next to my sleeping bag, and nestle in to her "dad den." I exhaled. And smiled. Perfect . Everything in that moment was perfect. We had spent the day trekking through the backcountry of Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park with two buddies, also from Metro Detroit, and all of our first time to this corner of the Upper Peninsula. We backpacked in to a backcountry site, built a roaring fire, and killed most of a bottle of rye while laughing and telling stories under the starlit sky. Lucy was one of the guys - she even had her own "pack" on to carry her poop bags, collapsable water bowl, and trail treats. Everyone carries their load on the trail. As we laid down to close out a perfect trail day, the Porkies had one last surprise for us. Howls pierced the soundtrack of an August night. A whole pack of wolves, somewhere in our greater vicinity, decided to make their presence known in spectacular fashion. My eyes shot open. Not out of fear, but out of curiosity - and renewed apprehension regarding my newest backpacking companion curled up next to me. Lucy picked up her head. Curiously cocked it to the side. Listened attentively. Smiled. And then nestled back into her polyester den. As I gave her one last kiss goodnight, I couldn't help but smile too. We were sharing a very primal wilderness experience together, just as man and canine had experienced for roughly 30,000 years . Lucy and I always had a special bond, but it was never stronger than those days backpacking through the Porcupine Mountains together, reconnecting with our roots as symbiotic outdoor beings. Hiking those trails. Wading into Lake Superior. Admiring the stars reflecting off of the Lake of the Clouds. A truly #PureMichigan wilderness experience. The "Porkies Crew" at Lake of the Clouds, August 2019 That's my personal Porkies story. One of innumerable special moments that have been experienced by generations of visitors to " America's most beautiful state park. " A beautiful collection of memories that I hold deeply close to my heart, especially since Lucy is tragically no longer in my life. Now, as I type these words, another main character in my story is also at risk. An unreasonable, indefensible, and potentially catastrophic risk. A risk that threatens not only the Porcupine Mountains and Lake Superior, but the entirety of Michigan's outdoor recreation industry - and especially Detroit's. The Porcupine Mountains themselves are in risk of exploitation, contamination, and degradation. Here's why all of Michigan's outdoor community must join forces to #ProtectThePorkies. The Danger Facing the Porcupine Mountains In case this article is the first that you are hearing about this issue, allow us to give you the TL;DR summary. TOMORROW, DECEMBER 18TH , the Michigan Senate Appropriations Committee will be voting on whether to approve a $50,000,000, taxpayer-funded grant to a Canadian mining company called Highland Copper. The Michigan House Appropriations Committee provided their preliminary approval of the grant last week. The "Copperwood Mine" will be located all of a 15 SECOND DRIVE from the southeastern corner of Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park, with mining waste having direct gravitational flow access to the Presque Isle River and Lake Superior. Additionally, the Copperwood Mine will be located directly north of the North Country National Scenic Trail , one of the longest national scenic trails in the United States. Image courtesy of Protect the Porkies Before diving into the severe environmental and economic risks of the Copperwood Mine, for the sake of fairness we would like to point out some of its economic benefits. The price of copper is roughly $3.72 per pound , so the mine could produce an estimated $400 million. The copper mining industry produces roughly $1 billion per year for Michigan's economy. Alright, those are the "pros." Here is the startling long list of " cons ": Thirty million tons of mine waste. That's right - the Copperwood Mine is anticipated to produce 30,000,000 tons of toxic waste over a 10 year period. Copper will comprise only 1.45% of the total extracted material from the mine - the remaining 98.55% would be waste, containing mercury, arsenic, and other toxins, to be stored on-site in a 323-acre waste facility erected on topography sloping directly into Lake Superior. There has never been a copper sulfide mine which did not contaminate local water. The Copperwood Mine would erect a tailings disposal facility holding 50+ million tons of heavy-metal laden waste-rock on topography sloping towards Lake Superior - a lake that comprises 10% of the world's freshwater. The underground operations of the Copperwood Mine would threaten the roots of the Porcupine Mountain's old growth forest. The 35,000 acres of old growth forest in Porcupine Mountains State Park represent the largest tract of mixed old growth remaining in the Midwest. Irreparable harm to local wildlife. The mine would subject the Porcupine Mountains to heavy metal dust spewed up from hundreds of meters underground, to catch and carry on the wind for miles in all directions; twice-daily subterranean blasts which are known to disrupt the reproductive cycles of aquatic life; noise pollution and light pollution which will further impact the mating rituals and calls of wildlife. Intense light pollution. The 24/7 requisite industrial lighting for the Copperwood Mine would entail severe light pollution for the wilderness region, leading to negative and deadly effects on many creatures, including amphibians, birds, mammals, insects, and plants. Copper is not scarce. It is 100% recyclable, and an estimated 88% of copper still remains in the ground. Copper was also just recently denied an upgrade of status to "critical mineral" by the U.S. Geological Society. Highland Copper is an inexperienced and foreign entity. The extra copper will be shipped to Canada for Canadian infrastructure and manufacturing operations. Highland Copper has never developed a mine before. This list only scratches the surface of the projected risks that the Copperwood Mine poses to the Porcupine Mountains, including additional and specified harm to secondary forest growth, endangered wolf and Redside Dace populations, medicinal plant species, and cultural degradation to indigenous Anishinaabe lands. But wait, there's more. An additional genre of "harm" that may sound intangible, but will have a devastating impact on the Great Lakes State for decades to come. In fact, it is a recurrent harm that generations of Michiganders - and especially Detroiters - have already faced and suffered under: The Degradation of our Outdoor Identity. The Fragility of Michigan's Outdoor State Until very, very recently , Michigan's outdoor recreation industry has faced a severe image problem. Scratch that, the entire Great Lakes region has had to overcome a legacy of favoring industrialization over conservation . The impact of such political and economic favortism has had dire socioeconomic and environmental consequences, which we have felt the most painfully right here in the Detroit region. As political strategist Lee Atwater once said, " Perception is reality. " Throughout Michigan's history , our collective perception of our natural resources has varied significantly. From fur trapping to logging booms to the rise of the automative industry, we have systematically perceived our Michigan's bountiful forests, water ways, wildlife, and minerals as a means of economic and industrial production. Yes, this has brought "high times" of wealth, development, and prosperity to our region. The natural cycles of industrialization have also left ghost towns, economic exposure , and irreparable environmental contamination in its wake. One of the first articles that we ever published on Expedition Detroit featured a response to the dumping of 10,000 gallons of hexavalent chromium solution - a highly toxic carcinogen - into disposal channels that lead to the Huron River . The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is struggling to maintain healthy wildlife populations due to Michigan's over-suburbanization and aging, decreasing population. Our state is struggling to attract young workers to fill in the widening void wrought by poor economic development agendas brought forth by administrations past. Ironically, this is all occurring while Michigan's outdoor recreation industry is experiencing an unprecedented boom. Michigan’s outdoor recreation economy contributed $13.9 billion in value-add in 2023 , supporting 118,000 jobs and $6.4 billion in compensation to employee households. There are more than 7,000 outdoor recreation industry companies in Michigan, ranging from manufacturing, service providers and facilitators to retailers and wholesalers. National headlines have hailed both Michigan as a whole and Detroit specifically as "one of the most adventurous states in the U.S.," including the following quote from Outside Magazine : The Detroit Riverwalk, the city’s crown jewel, now connects to nearby Belle Isle, the southern terminus of the nearly completed 2,000-mile Iron Belle Trail. The statewide project, with hiking and biking paths to the Upper Peninsula, is over 70 percent ready following new route additions in 2023. . . The expansion of the Detroit Riverwalk—a 3.5-mile riverfront promenade voted one of the nation’s most beautiful—means easier access to Belle Isle, a 982-acre park. The best part about all of these good headlines? Young professionals - the " Holy Grail " for Michigan's long-term economic development agenda - are attracted to regions that feature world-class outdoor recreational opportunities . HOW YOU CAN PROTECT MICHIGAN'S OUTDOOR FUTURE Here's our main question to the powers that be: Why the hell are we shooting ourselves in the foot? A common definition for " Insanity " is "doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results." By sacrificing one of Michigan's most beloved wilderness regions in the name of marginal profits, we as a state are signaling to the greater outdoor economy that nothing has changed . That we will build a major manufacturing site directly next to a fragile natural resource. That we will disregard our natural environment in the name of pollutive profits. That we are comfortable trading short-term benefits for long-term pain. That we’re willing to gamble with our reputation as an outdoor destination, especially for nascent recreational economies like Detroit’s. That Michigan's outdoors - including the economic and ecological environment that supports it - truly do not matter. How can we call ourselves the " Great Trails State " when we're willing to build a pollutive mine right next to a National Scenic Trail? How can the "Great Lakes State" be so willing to utilize taxpayer funds to contaminate our largest lake? We're far from alone in expressing this outrage. As of the publication of this article, 324,902 individuals have signed a petition to "Protect the Porkies." You should too, but given the 11th hour of this publication, here is how you can join the fight. CONTACT YOUR SENATOR. Especially these Senators that will be VOTING TOMORROW: E-mail Addresses (copy and paste the full list into the To: field of an email) SenSAnthony@senate.michigan.gov SenSMcCann@senate.michigan.gov SenKMcDonaldRivet@senate.michigan.gov SenJCherry@senate.michigan.gov SenRBayer@senate.michigan.gov SenSSantana@senate.michigan.gov SenSShink@senate.michigan.gov SenJIrwin@senate.michigan.gov SenKHertel@senate.michigan.gov SenDCamilleri@senate.michigan.gov SenVKlinefelt@senate.michigan.gov SenMMcMorrow@senate.michigan.gov SenMCavanagh@senate.michigan.gov SenJBumstead@senate.michigan.gov SenTAlbert@senate.michigan.gov SenJDamoose@senate.michigan.gov SenMHuizenga@senate.michigan.gov SenROutman@senate.michigan.gov SenLTheis@senate.michigan.gov   Phone Numbers — Senate Sarah Anthony (Majority Chair): 517-373-6960 Sean McCann (Majority Vice Chair): 517-373-5100 Kristen McDonald Rivet: 517-373-1725 John Cherry: 517-373-0142 Rosemary Bayer: 517-373-2417 Sylvia Santana: 517-373-0990 Sue Shink: 517-373-2426 Jeff Irwin: 517-373-2406 Kevin Hertel: 517-373-7315 Darin Camilleri: 517-373-7918 Veronica Klinefelt: 517-373-7670 Mallory McMorrow: 517-373-2523 Mary Cavanagh: 517-373-7748 John Bumstead (Minority Vice Chair): 517-373-1635 Thomas Albert: 517-373-1734 John Damoose: 517-373-2413 Mark Huizenga: 517-373-0797 Rick Outman: 517-373-3760 Lana Theis: 517-373-2420 ***DECEMBER 20, 2024 UPDATE*** On December 19th, the Michigan Senate Appropriations Committee DECLINED TO VOTE on the Copperwood Mine Grant, effectively DEFEATING its passage for the indefinite future! This is a MASSIVE win for Michigan's outdoor community, and one that inherently aligns with the values and aspirations of the Expedition Detroit community. Thank you to everyone who signed the petition and contacted their state representatives. Thank you to the team at Protect the Porkies for their tireless efforts in advocating for the land. Most importantly, thank you to the Porkies and Lake Superior for being so damn spectacular that any reasonable person had no choice but to jump on board the #ProtectThePorkies train. Unfortunately, yesterday's actions do not guarantee the safety of the Porcupine Mountains. As certain as death and taxes are, you can also bet your last dollar that someone - either Highland Copper or another unknown party - will continue to try and extract valuable resources from this immensely vulnerable environment. Absolutely savor this moment of victory, but stay diligent. And when the time comes, we hope that you'll join us in continuing this fight. #ProtectthePorkies

'Tis the season for holly, jolly outdoor adventures - and we are stoked for them all! As you navigate the madness of the holidays, here are the top ten outdoor events near Detroit to guide you through this most festive of months. Happy holidays! In case you haven't heard, it's the most wonderful time of the year... And yes, not only because of the holiday season. The Expedition Detroit team is STOKED for a December that's JAM-PACKED with recreational opportunities in the Detroit area, which may come as a shock to some outdoor enthusiasts. Especially since we're waaaaay behind the curve here publishing this article on December 12th. Whoops . To be fair, December can be a polarizing month - less in terms of Santa's homestead and more regarding attitudes towards outdoor recreation. The Winter Solstice hitting mid-month means that December brings the shortest and some of the coldest days of the year. Add in the seasonal work and holiday commitments, the net result is that the odds for experiencing bountiful outdoor recreation thin out a bit. That, dear friends, represents the greatest gift that you will receive this month. December rings in opportunities for intrepid recreationists that simply do not exist mid-summer. Virtually empty running, hiking, and kayaking trails. Prime time for fat tire biking season. Expeditious s nowshoeing and cross-country skiing routes. Fresh groomer tracks at Detroit's ski resorts. Extended hunting periods. An entire season ripe for outdoor innovation. Put differently, December provides us all with two options : hibernate until spring, or fully embrace and capitalize on the gift that is winter in Detroit. You already know which option we're choosing, so we're kicking off our winter expeditions with these awesome top ten outdoor events near Detroit for December . Photo courtesy of Vail Resorts Management Company. 1. Earn First Tracks at Detroit's Premiere Ski Resorts Throughout December | Big Four Ski Resorts Winter recreation invokes many different emotions, expectations, and memories. For certain members of the Expedition Detroit team, winter means claiming first chair rights and carving fresh tracks into a perfectly groomed ski slope. Yes, we of course love our backcountry terrain too, but there's nothing quite like a crisp groomer or a deep powder day at one of Detroit's four premiere resorts: Mt. Holly , Pine Knob , Alpine Valley , and Mt. Brighton . As of the writing of this article, 3/4 of Detroit's " Big Four Ski Resorts " are open for riding! We state this with a little bit of a caveat - all four resorts are largely still in the snowmaking/accumulating process . Conditions are only going to heat up ( er , cool down?) as this month progresses, so while we're waiting for the snow to fall we will be purchasing our lift tickets (relevant links here and here ), sharpening our skis, and dreaming of those first sweet runs. 2. Run like Rudolph in a Holiday Race December 7th   | Throughout the Detroit Region   | 9:30 a.m. Remember those few extra pounds that you may or may not have packed on during Thanksgiving? Well, lucky for you, 2024's holiday race season didn't end with that Turkey Trot your in-laws dragged you out of bed to run. To the contrary, 'tis the season for Christmas-themed races , so you'll burn off those extra turkey pounds in no time. The holiday race season, all of your favorite running Santas will be coming to towns across the Detroit region this Saturday, December 7th . Starting in Utica, the Eggnog Jog  kicks off at 9:30 a.m. Dexter's a nnual " Holiday Hustle " then sprints off with their half marathon race at 11 a.m., followed by community-favorites 1 mile and 5K events respectively at 4 and 4:30 p.m. Last but certainly not least, Saline's " Merry Mile " closes out the festive racing at 5:30 p.m. 3. Gaze into the Cosmos at a Dark Sky Preserve December 7th   | Point Pelee National Park    | 6:00 p.m.   Sometimes the best break from the frenzy of the holidays is to do nothing. Well, almost nothing - hiking through a national park to experience the   best stargazing in the Detroit region  definitely counts as doing something. Fortunately for us, Point Pelee National Park  saves the day yet again as our region's sole Dark Sky Preserve : the ideal location for gazing into the cosmos and tuning out the world for an extraterrestrial outing. Point Pelee's " Dark Sky Nights "   are especially catered towards star-gazing tourists willing to brave near-freezing temperatures at night, with amenities including extended visitor hours, seasonal star charts, and the combined natural beauty of the park and the cosmos. The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC) will be onsite with telescopes to facilitate star gazing. RASC attendance is weather permitting as cloudy skies inhibit night sky viewing. Cloudy skies or clear, the park will be open until 12 am unless otherwise stated 4. Wander Into Winter with Expedition Detroit! Throughout December | 11 Michigan State Parks and Recreation Areas Detroit is a world-class, year-round outdoor destination - and our guided trips are curated to capitalize on each phase of our calendar trail conditions! Beyond our typical offering of guided hiking, backpacking, and trail running adventures, this December we're excited to broaden our offering of guided night hiking safaris and - conditions pending - GUIDED SNOWSHOE TREKS ! Both of these trips will provide snowshoes and headlamps for rent. The Expedition Detroit  team is proud to represent the Michigan DNR's largest commercial provider  of guided hikes, backpacking expeditions, and trail running coach across ELEVEN  of the Detroit region's most pristine state parks and recreation areas. Each of our guides has the field experience, wilderness first aid training, park knowledge, and outdoor passion that you can - and should - expect from any world-class trail experience . P.S. Subscribers to our content  get discounts on our Guided Services AND online store  items... 5. Discover the 12 Birds of Christmas at Humbug Marsh December 21st | Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge - Humbug Marsh Unit | 9 a.m. Let's be honest - why just sing about a few festive birds when you can venture into our region's sole International Wildlife Refuge to experience the real deal? The Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge is hosting a free " 12 Birds of Christmas " hiking and bird watching event at Humbug Marsh. Located along the Detroit River, Humbug Marsh is the last undeveloped mile of the Detroit River on the U.S. side of the border. The guided hike will traverse native prairies, native shrublands, forests with a unique mosaic of 300-400 year old oaks mixed with hickory and ash, diverse wetlands, and beautiful Humbug Island. Rare birds on the viewing agenda include eagles, winter wrens, golden crowned kinglets, herons, and other migrating and resident water birds. 6. Book Your Escape from the Holiday Mayhem All December   | Throughout Detroit Region Let's call a spade a spade: the holidays often provide some of the most stressful days of the year. A perfect storm of year-end burnout , financial stressors, and familial pressures. Oh, and constant reminders to be "merry" and "joyful" don't really ease the situation as much as carolers hope for ( they actually tend to exacerbate it ). During times like these, our go-to remedy is a winter escape. Anything from an overnight at Green Lake's iconic yurt , a rustic cabin at Island Lake Recreation Area, Point Pelee National Park's " oTENTik " modern tents, or the best "glamping" destinations throughout the Detroit region. Basically anything to get you off-grid and in nature during this magically stressful time of year. Photo courtesy of Glenlore Trails 7. Experience the Winter Wonderland of Glenlore Trails Throughout December  | Glenlore Trails, Commerce, Michigan   | 7 p.m. This holiday season, Glenlore Trails invites you to step into "Aurora," an illuminated winter wonderland! Glenlore's magical night walk is filled with dazzling lights, interactive activations, and a special twist - magic wands that let you unlock hidden surprises along the trail . Whether you’re looking for a fun family outing or a memorable date night, Aurora offers a truly immersive experience that will bring the holiday season to life! Aurora will be open from until December 29th. 8. Seize the Day on a Winter Solstice Hike December 21st   | Lake Erie Metropark | 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Winter is coming. For many, that may invoke a feeling of dread - or a signal to start looking at flights south. For Expedition Detroit, on the other hand, that means an opportunity to kick the " Friluftsliv " lifestyle into high gear. The Detroit region's generous snowfall and shorter days mean incredible skiing, snow shoeing , and night hiking opportunities . Plus, the fair-weather crowds leave our pristine natural environment virtually vacant. And that all officially kicks off on December 21st - the " Winter Solstice " - which is also the shortest day of the calendar year. This solstice, our friends at Lake Erie Metropark invite you to seize the fleeting daylight on their nature trails on an educational Winter Solstice Hike ! The guides will dive deep into the why and how the winter solstice happens, and what that means for the natural world around us. This program is entirely outdoors, lasts approximately 120 minutes, will be spent on a leisurely walk with frequent stops. The hike will conclude at the Lake Erie Marshlands Museum. The planned path surface is dirt and gravel, mostly flat and level. EXPLORE A NIGHT HIKE SAFARI WITH EXPEDITION DETROIT! 9. Stay in the Woods for Extended Whitetail Deer Season Throughout December   | Statewide in Michigan    Wait - you didn't think that whitetail deer season   ended in November, right ...? If you did, don't sweat it. Most Michiganders only associate deer hunting with "primetime" firearm season during the last two weeks of November. However, deer season continues all the way until the very end of January. In fact, Detroit-region hunters have the most expansive and inclusive hunting opportunities in the entire state . Here's a quick reference guide for the remaining schedule for deer season near Detroit: Period Dates Equipment Regulations Location Muzzleloader December 6th - 15th A muzzleloading rifle or black powder handgun loaded with black powder or a commercially manufactured black powder substitute Statewide Antlerless Firearm December 16th - January 12th All firearm regulations apply Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, Washtenaw, and Wayne Counties Urban Archery December 1st - January 31st Compound and crossbow; must wear hunter orange during firearm periods Macomb, Oakland, Washtenaw, and Wayne Counties This season, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources  has specifically called on lower peninsula hunters to play a critical role in the DNR's conservation strategy . More specifically, in order to alleviate the significant stress that an overpopulation of deer has levied upon the lower peninsula's ecosystem, the DNR is pleading for hunters to focus primarily on harvesting a doe . Increased doe harvests will also provide the long-term benefits  of reduced cases of disease transmission, vehicle accidents involving deer, and destruction of farmland. GEAR UP FOR THE SEASON WITH EXPEDITION DETROIT 10. Sprint into the New Year at the Belle Isle NYE Run December 31st | Belle Isle State Park   | 3 p.m. Every New Year's Eve , we all find ourselves looking forward to a blank slate of opportunity. Races to be run. Trails to be explored. Memories to capture. And for the most part, all of those experiences lay just outside of our grasp - one ripped calendar page away from becoming a reality. December 31st also provides us all with one last sweet, finite way of sticking it to the year that's on its way out. Regardless of whether you'll look back on 2024 as the best or worst year of your life, we can't think of a better way to close out this chapter than sweating it out on a New Year's Eve race. This year, head down to Belle Isle for the annual New Year's Eve Run 5K ! Set against the picturesque backdrop of Downtown Detroit , this annual run features a range of distances to accommodate all levels of runners and walkers. Participants enjoy a scenic route with stunning views of the Detroit skyline and the Detroit River, while festive decorations and a lively atmosphere add to the celebration. The event often includes post-race festivities such as music, food, and opportunities for socializing, making it a memorable way to ring in the new year. Happy December to you all, and wishing you nothing but the best heading into 2024. We can’t wait to see you out there! Do you host an upcoming outdoor event that you would like to be featured in a future article? If yes, then we would love to hear from you! Please contact us at info@expeditiondetroit.com to discuss Expedition Detroit feature opportunities.

In this opinion piece, Brandan Freeman of "Shades of the Outdoors" provides critical insights into the broken promises of "The Wilderness Act" and "Civil Rights Act" - and how all Americans can better uphold the call for an "Outdoors for All." The year 2024 marks the 60th anniversary of the signing of one of the most important pieces of legislation impacting the American outdoors: The Wilderness Act. The Wilderness Act drastically expanded the definition of what could be conserved under federal law. As a result, millions of acres of land across the country have been protected from commercialization and human development. This land has been protected to be used for, according to the Act’s edict, the " permanent good of all people. " The anniversary of the Act’s signing is worth celebrating by anyone who experiences our national parks, monuments, waterways, and public lands . As an outdoor enthusiast, I extol the Wilderness Act as a shining example of American ingenuity, perseverance, and commitment to conservation. Indeed, it truly is. It is also one of the most visible examples of systemic racism in this era of “color blindness.” This year, as we celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Wilderness Act, we should also celebrate the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Civil Rights Act . Both acts were approved by Congress within the same legislation session. The Wilderness Act was passed unanimously, in a bipartisan manner, by members of the House of Representatives on July 30, 1964.Three weeks earlier, members of the House convened to vote on the Civil Rights Act, which fortunately passed on July 2, 1964. Unlike the Wilderness Act, however, the passage of the Civil Rights Act was highly contentious and far from unanimous. In fact, when you analyze the voter rolls for both Acts, you undeniably discover systemic inequality in action. Out of all of the votes cast, nearly one third of Congress members that voted in favor of the Wilderness Act, did not vote in favor of the Civil Rights Act. That's right. Over 100 members of congress were simultaneously in favor of the Wilderness Act, but starkly against guaranteeing civil rights for millions of Americans. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial in Washington, D.C. Two days before Independence Day - a day that Americans praise the virtues of freedom and independence, and three weeks before signing legislation that would preserve land for the enjoyment of all Americans - hundreds of members of Congress voted against granting African Americans rights guaranteed by the Constitution. In doing so, Congress perpetuated the dual-definition of what it meant to be an American. The reality of who , where , and how Americans can live their lives. Regardless of the de jure wins passed within the Civil Rights Act, the de facto definition of “all Americans” remained unchanged. Congress' actions affirmed that irrespective of the Act, Americans that identify as members of the global majority (often inaccurately labeled as BIPOC) would remain explicitly excluded. This intentional re-amplification of the racial caste system reaffirmed who qualifies as Americans. And, very notably, wh o were eligible to enjoy public outdoor recreation areas. “All” did not truly mean all. And that legacy of "not all" in our outdoors persists 60 years later. A common saying among the outdoor community is that " the outdoors does not discriminate. " Yes, this is true on its face - there are no records of trees or mountains engaging in hate speech or acts of bigotry. The social construct of "the outdoors," however, has a documented history of racism that both predates and survives the Wilderness Act and the Civil Rights Act. The displacement of Native Americans from their indigenous lands began long before the establishment of our Constitution in 1789. The monstrous amount of lynchings that occurred from 1865 to 1950s usually took place in forests or natural spaces. Even our beloved National Parks System was segregated until 1945. And in recent memory , discrimination in the outdoors has persisted in both covert ways - such as in the case of Christian Cooper, threatened with violence and arrest while bird-watching in Central Park - to overt and life-threatening ways, such as the tragedy of Ahmaud Arbery's murder while running outdoors in February of 2020. Here are additional facts on the current state of the outdoors in America: Only 23% of visitors to the 432 national park units across the U.S. are people of color. 74% percent of communities of color in the contiguous United States live in nature-deprived areas, compared with just 23% of white communities. Nature destruction has had the largest impact on low-income communities of color , depriving such communities of air and water purification, climate mitigation, biodiversity and disease control, and opportunities for leisure and recreation. In Michigan, people of color comprise 85% of residents living in a nature-deprived area. Oftentimes words lose their gravity, importance, and meaning due to overuse. "Systemic" is one of those words. Same with "inequality." From this day forward, when you hear the phrase "systemic inequality," remember the Wilderness and Civil Rights Acts. Inequality is deeply rooted into our society, laws, customs, and courtesies. When we say the "outdoors" was created within a construct that systemically excludes people of the global majority, the Wilderness Act is, unfortunately, exactly what we mean. Remember the statistics referenced here, and how they reflect the duality of what it means to be an American in our "outdoors." It is important to note that conservation didn’t end in 1964. In the 60 years post ratification, numerous additional pieces of legislation were signed to protect millions of additional acres of land. Even today , conservationists in Michigan are fighting in Lansing to protect Porcupine Mountains State Park from a foreign company's plan to erect a metallic sulfide waste facility directly adjacent to the park's boundary. Similarly, the fight for Civil Rights did not end on signing day. The fight for equality for all rages on. And it must continue, because 60 years after these two pieces of legislation were signed, forthcoming government policies continue to threaten the viability of both civil rights and conservation within the United States and around the world. The job wasn’t done then. Our job isn’t done now. Being mindful of our history, and perhaps the future,   we call on outdoor organizations to look inwards. Scrutinize your values, guiding principles, and practices. Colorblindness alone will not bring change. Intentional anti-racist actions are necessary. Only when that occurs will the outdoors truly become a place for everyone . This article was originally published as “ From 1964 to 2024 ” on November 11, 2024 via Shades of the Outdoors and is republished on Expedition Detroit with the express written consent of Shades of the Outdoors and Brandan Freeman. Further republications of the original article require the express written consent of Brandan Freeman. This article expresses the views of its author(s), which do not necessarily reflect those of this publication.

October means that FALL IS BACK IN DETROIT, along with your favorite autumnal traditions, seasonal treats, and the optimal opportunity to experience your favorite parks, trails, and waterways . With the best of Detroit's outdoor ecosystem waiting for your arrival, here's our short list of the Top Ten Outdoor Events near Detroit remaining in the best month of the year! We’ve said it once, twice, and possibly a million times : nothing beats October in the Detroit area. Crisp mornings, warm days, screensaver-worthy foliage, less crowded trails and campgrounds, open season for hunting, premiere racing… one does not simply top the optimal recreational opportunities that October entails. With an adventure-packed month like October that's already flying by, the sheer scope of the wealth of outdoor experiences available to you may come off as overwhelming at first. Trust us, you're not alone in the sentiment. If we're being honest, every October morning starts with a catharsis of which recreational aspirations we will pursue that day. Start the morning in the tree stand for the morning hunt or with a trail run ? Paddle out into the Huron River for reflective fall colors or pump up the tires for a mountain bike ride ? Head out for a stroll along Detroit's most scenic urban trails or book a guided hike for a backcountry adventure ? Don't worry though - when it comes to October in Metro Detroit, as long as you're outside on a bluebird sky and color-filled day, then you're living your best life . Regardless of your recreational pursuit. That being said, if you're searching for a shortlist of the best outdoor events to provide some structure to the last half of this month of months, then you've clicked on the right article. Here are Expedition Detroit's "Top Ten Outdoor Events near Detroit" occurring throughout this action-packed month ! Photo courtesy of Wheelhouse Detroit LLC 1. Dare to Peddle on a Haunted Bicycle Tour through Detroit Throughout October | Detroit, Michigan   | Noon Celebrate Halloween on two wheels with Wheelhouse Detroit ! This spooky cycling tour combines some ghostly anecdotes with factual historic info about Harry Houdini, the Nain Rouge, Elmwood Cemetery, and the St. Aubin Street Massacre. The three hour tour also visits a few spots rumored to be haunted, including the Fort-Shelby and Leland Hotels, The Whitney, and the Masonic Temple. The Detroit central route includes Rivertown, Elmwood Park, Poletown, Midtown/Cass Corridor, and Downtown. There will be time for a beer or coffee stop, per the group's preference. The total route distance is 13 miles and cost is $45/$55 with bike rental. 2. Get in the Woods for Whitetail Deer Bow Season Throughout October | Statewide in Michigan    Fall technically started on September 23rd, but the overwhelming consensus among Michigan outdoorsmen is that the season kicks off the moment that you get into your stand for whitetail deer season on October 1st . Months of gear preparation , scouting, land maintenance, target practice, and stand assembly have led to this moment. The temperature may be slightly warmer than preferred, but there’s no better place to sit back, watch the changing leaves wave in the wind, and wait for that buck of a lifetime to wander your way. This season, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources has specifically called on lower peninsula hunters to play a critical role in the DNR's conservation strategy . More specifically, in order to alleviate the significant stress that an overpopulation of deer has levied upon the lower peninsula's ecosystem, the DNR is pleading for hunters to focus primarily on harvesting a doe during October's opening weeks . While that may seem counterintuitive to the longstanding - i.e., way outdated - approach to "bucks only" hunting, the DNR's action call also notes that taking an early-season doe will most likely entail increased rut activity, decreased young buck harvests, and improvement of overall herd ratios. Most importantly, increased doe harvests will also provide the long-term benefits of reduced cases of disease transmission, vehicle accidents involving deer, and destruction of farmland. GEAR UP FOR THE SEASON WITH EXPEDITION DETROIT 3. Join a Guided Hike under the Full Hunter’s Moon October 17th   |  Lake Erie Metropark   |  7 P.M. October’s full moon - appropriately named the “ Hunter’s Moon ”  - will reach its peak on October 17th. Be sure to catch a glimpse of this bright orange moon by heading over to Lake Erie Metropark  for a guided “ Hunter's Moon Hike ” led by a metropark ranger equipped with special historical and astronomical knowledge. We couldn’t resist doing some of our own research, though; it is believed that this full moon came to be called the “ Hunter’s Moon ” because it signaled the right time to start hunting  in relation to the impending winter. We embrace this omen and proudly endorse this moon.. 4. Ride into the MTB Life at Brighton Recreation Area October 19-20th | Brighton State Recreation Area | 7 A.M. Looking to FINALLY break into mountain biking?? Join Dynamic Cycling Adventures for a weekend of mountain bike clinics taught by local certified coaches!    This upcoming Saturday will feature a fundamentals clinic appropriate for all skills and abilities.  The fundamentals clinic will focus on laying the foundation of sound mountain biking skills. Sunday will consist of an intermediate/advanced clinic to explore more advanced mountain bike skills - cornering, jumping, caps, and rock rollovers.   Combine the two clinics for a great two day clinic experience to take your riding to the next level! The event staff requests that all participants bring helmets, appropriate bike shoes (preferably flats), plenty of water, snacks, lunch, and rain gear.  Online preregistration is required. The cost is $249 for one day or $449 for two days. EXPERIENCE BRIGHTON RECREATION AREA'S FAMOUS PENOSHA TRAIL 5. Hike under Peak Fall Colors with Expedition Detroit! Throughout October | 11 State Parks and Recreation Areas Peak fall colors are JUST AROUND THE CORNER, and there's no better way to experience them than on the trails of the Michigan State Parks! Not sure where to explore? No problem - we've curated dozens of guided trips intended to showcase the best of the best of the Detroit region's outdoors. EXPERIENCE PEAK FALL COLORS WITH EXPEDITION DETROIT The Expedition Detroit team is proud to represent the Michigan DNR's largest commercial provider of guided hikes, backpacking expeditions, and trail running coach across ELEVEN of the Detroit region's most pristine state parks and recreation areas. Each of our guides has the field experience, wilderness first aid training, park knowledge, and outdoor passion that you can - and should - expect from any world-class trail experience . We will be gradually adding new guided trips over the coming weeks, as well as special trips like night hiking safaris . So, stay tuned friends. We can't wait to host you on one of our trips soon! EXPERIENCE MAYBURY AT NIGHT WITH EXPEDITION DETROIT P.S. Expedition Detroit+ subscribers save 40% on every guided trip AND 20% on online store purchases ..... 6. Run the Detroit Free Press Marathon October 20th | Detroit, MI | 7 A.M. We are certainly not alone in declaring that the Detroit Free Press Marathon is the crown jewel of the Detroit region’s fall outdoor season . The internationally-celebrated course guides runners not only along the crowd-favorite Windsor Riverfront, but also through several featured neighborhoods and destinations . The recently-updated course includes routes within the District Detroit, Midtown, New Center, Eastern Market, and the world-famous Dequindre Cut Greenway ! On a personal note, my all-time favorite racing moment is watching the sunrise while running across the Ambassador Bridge . I don’t know how the race planners perfectly time that year after year, but it’s the icing on the cake for an already bucket list-worthy outdoor event . We hope that you'll join us at the starting line this year! Photo courtesy of Glenlore Immersive Entertainment 7. Experience the Enchantment of Glenlore Trails Throughout October | Glenlore Trails, Commerce, Michigan | 7 P.M. Have you experienced the Detroit region's newest Halloween outdoor tradition..? For the fifth year in a row, Glenlore Trails will once again be delighting guests with their immersive and illuminated Enchanted Forest ! From Thursday to Sunday evenings, guests will be captivated and enchanted as they venture into a spellbound forest where "the line between mortals and magic recedes." This magical Halloween experience was transformed by wistful wraiths, frolicking fairies, and the weird wayward witch of the woods. Guests of all ages are immersed in this one-mile outdoor hike complete with sensory installations designed to amaze and entertain. During the walk, which begins at dusk, guests are encouraged take part in a variety of interactive games and installations that can be found throughout the trail. But wait, there's more! Glenlore Trails are also sponsoring a special 21+ night event on October 25th featuring live music. So if you're hunting for a unique date night this month, the ghouls and gobblins lurking around Glenlore have you covered. LOOKING FOR MORE HAUNTED HIKES? BOOK A SPECIAL HAUNTED HIKE AT BELLE ISLE! 8. Hoot and Holler at the Hootenanny Endurance Run October 26th   |  Gregory, Michigan   |  7 A.M. Do you have what it takes to be the last runner standing? Put your stamina to the test at the 2024 Hootenanny Endurance Run , an all-day, all-out running festival! The Hoot consists of several endurance running events ranging from 4 hour, 8 hour, 12 hour, and "Last One Standing" options . The timed events follow a 2-mile forested loop, with the goal being to complete as many loops as possible within the time window. The "Last One Standing" race occurs on a separate 1 mile loop, with the allotted time decreasing slightly with each loop. There's also a classic 5K race for the whole family to enjoy. Last note - the more loops completed, the more prizes runners will receive..! 9. Wear your Mask, Cape, and Helmet at the Batman Ride October 26th | Pinckney State Recreation Area | 7:00 p.m. Looking to get some extra use out of your Batman halloween costume this year? Of course you are, you festive outdoor enthusiast. Pack it in alongside your nighttime MTB gear for a special themed " Batman Ride " sponsored by the Potawatomi Mountain Biking Association . In full disclosure, the only description for this event is " Ride the Poto, backwards, at night ," so get ready for a night full of awesome mid-fall riding and whatever other surprises that the Poto MBA might have waiting in their utility belt... Photo courtesy of Kona Running Company 10. Run a Halloween-Themed Race October 26th and 27th | Kensington Metropark and Maybury State Park   | 9 A.M. We’re admittedly suckers for hometown 5Ks and 10Ks, and themed races that are enjoyable for runners and spectators alike absolutely top our lists. Running in one of the “Halloween races” occurring across Metro Detroit will undoubtedly get you in the holiday spirit, especially if you forgo your typical race attire for the most sweat-resistant costume in your basement. Finish Line Runs’ “ Michigan Monster Dash ” at Kensington Metropark kicks off the seasonal races on October 26th, which includes 1K, 5K, 10K, and half marathon events. Kona Running’s “ Wicked Halloween Run ” 5K at Maybury State Park closes out Spooky Season racing on the 27th. EXPLORE MAYBURY STATE PARK WITH EXPEDITION DETROIT Do you host an upcoming outdoor event that you would like to be featured in a future article? If yes, then we would love to hear from you! Please contact us at info@expeditiondetroit.com to discuss Expedition Detroit feature opportunities.

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 become a central pillar of your lifestyle, akin to going to the gym, dropping in to your favorite brewery , or watching the Lions on Sunday afternoons. Alright, now that you've had a laugh , please - actually entertain the question for the second. Try to answer it. " We need trails because... " Ahhhhh ...now the question gets a little more complicated. I tried answering before I put pen to paper here, but ultimately bypassed the critical thinking exercise by Googling the question. Here's what the fine folks at the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy came up with: Trails and greenways create healthy recreation and transportation opportunities by providing people of all ages with attractive, safe, accessible and low- or no-cost places to cycle, walk, hike, jog or skate. Trails help people of all ages incorporate exercise into their daily routines by connecting them with places they want or need to go . Communities that encourage physical activity by making use of the linear corridors can see a significant effect on public health and wellness. " Connecting them with places they want or need to go. " Ultimately, that's the core value of a trail - especially when built out of necessity or desire . The Mt. Kanzer Trail was born out of such necessity and desire. That may sound surprising since Highland State Recreation Area is a world-class destination that has no shortage of trails. Our #TrailTuesday series has already covered Highland's two most famous trails, the historic Haven Hill Loop and the rigorous, "black-diamond" rated A-B-C-D Loops . We've even covered the segment of the Chief Pontiac Trail that navigates through the heart of the park. So what makes the Mt. Kanzer Trail so special? First, it leads to the highest point in Highland State Recreation Area: Mt. Kanzer . While the debate continues whether Mt. Kanzer reaches 1,050 ft. or 1,060 ft. of elevation ( we opt for the higher because, come on ), it is undisputed that the peak constitutes one of the highest elevations in all of southeast Michigan. Extra points for being the highest point within a park literally named after its reputation as the "high lands." Second, it provides a critical safety corridor between Downtown Milford and Highland Recreation Area for mountain bikers, hikers, and trail runners. For several years, mountain bikers looking to access Highland's A-B-C-D Loops from Milford had no choice but to navigate the tight turns, variable conditions, and unpredictable traffic of Weaver, Cooley Lake, and Beaumont Roads. The Mt. Kanzer Trail, which includes the MCMBA-built " Milford Connector Trail ," safely guides trail users away from the vast majority of this traffic. The Connector has even become a staple route for riders participating in the annual " Milford Bike Fest " route. Now that you're all caught up, allow us to reintroduce Highland State Recreation Area and the Mt. Kanzer Trail now. MEET HIGHLAND STATE RECREATION AREA The story of Highland State Recreation Area, as we recognize and recreate within it today, dates back to an unexpected union of lands once owned by fierce business rivals . In March of 1922, the Board of the Dodge Brothers Company authorized the spending of $350,000 to purchase lands across the northwestern perimeter of the Detroit region. These lands - now referred to as the "Dodge Parks" - were donated by Dodge to the State of Michigan for use as public parks in memory of the company's founders, John and Horace Dodge. One of these parks received the designation "Dodge Brothers State Park No. 10" in the northeast quarter of Highland Township. Just a few miles east, another prominent automotive family was contemporaneously closing on vast land purchases. Starting in 1923 , the Edsel and Eleanor Ford started to purchase thousands of acres in the same general region of western Oakland County, including a particular area consisting of a dramatic hill rising adjacent to a wooded lake. The Fords decided to construct their "nerve retreat" wilderness lodge on top of that hill, with construction lasting from 1924 through 1931. The world would come to know that lodge, and its foundational moraine, as "Haven Hill." EXPLORE HIGHLAND'S HAVEN HILL LOOP  WITH EXPEDITION DETROIT Over the following 20 years, the Michigan Department of Conservation purchased several thousand additional acres of land to the east of Dodge Brothers State Park No. 10. The State of Michigan also acquired the area surrounding Haven Hill in 1943. The aggregation of the Dodge Brothers parcels with the Ford parcels would amount to the 5,900 acres now constituting Highland State Recreation Area, the Detroit region's fourth largest state park, which officially opened in 1945. The Highland Recreation Area of 2024 consists of one of the most ecologically and recreationally diverse landscapes in the entire Great Lakes region. The park's Haven Hill Natural Area contains all of southern Michigan's principal forest types within its 721 acres, including swamp forest of tamarack, cedar, beech-maple forest, oak-hickory forest, and mixed hardwood forest. Beyond world-class hiking and mountain biking, Highland has also evolved into a recreational melting pot for our region's best equestrians, backpackers, kayakers, cross-country skiers, bird-watchers, anglers, and hunters. Now - let's get to the trail. HIT THE TRAIL Total Distance : 3.8 miles Elevation Gain : 272 feet Trail Rating : Moderate Route Orientation : "Lollipop Loop" from Milford Connector trailhead Parking Specifics : Limited parking available at Milford Connector trailhead on west side of Weaver Road Drive slowly down Weaver Road as you approach the Milford Connector trailhead - your launching point for the Mt. Kanzer Trail . There's several practical and logistical reasons for this, the first being that Weaver Road is a residential street that starts next to a local middle school within the Village of Milford and ends in the southern heart of Highland Recreation Area. Second, Weaver is teeming with wildlife, especially in the morning and late afternoon hours. Last, the trailhead "parking lot" is small . Very small. As in two cars max . If you're driving too fast, you'll miss it. If there isn't a lot of space at the trailhead, then you could also either utilize a pull off space along Weaver Rd., start your hike at the Cooley Lake Rd. crossing (ample parking spaces are typically available along Cooley Lake), or hike in reverse from the Beaumont Rd. terminus of the Milford Connector Trail. For this #TrailTuesday, however, we'll assume that you were able to snag a spot at the Mt. Kanzer Trail's main Weaver Rd. trailhead. The Mt. Kanzer Trail starts by heading north along the out-and-back Milford Connector Trail. In leafless "off-season conditions" you'll be treated to glimmering views of Moore Lake to your west. The initial 0.6 mile segment to the Cooley Lake Road crossing is quick and relatively flat, although a dramatic ravine and bridge crossing at the 0.3 mile marker does add some variety to the first chapter of this hike. There's also a trail pup memorial right when Cooley Lake Road comes into view. Always, always pay homage to the fallen trail pup. Congrats - your crossing of Cooley Lake Road means that you have traversed the only section of Highland State Recreation Area that exists within Milford Township. The first 0.2 miles of hiking into Highland Township continues to follow the Milford Connector. Fading signage posted by our friends at the MCMBA will guide the way. Your first navigational challenge arrives at a clearing located roughly at the 0.8 mile marker. You will turn north ( left ) to deviate away from the well-marked Milford Connector Trail and onto a barely-apparent equestrian trail. As poet Robert Frost would say, you will "take the trail less traveled by, and that will make all the difference" as you start your ascent towards Mt. Kanzer. The next 0.8 miles of hiking along the Mt. Kanzer Trail consist of a narrow, consistent, and northward ascent towards the summit. If you're hiking this trail, then the gradual 77 ft. of ascent during this segment will come at a nice, consistent pace. If you're trail running, then you'll likely start to feel the 5-7% incline grades as you ascend through the "tunnel of trees." Fair warning : this stretch of the Mt. Kanzer Trail can get very muddy during the wetter months of year, and is also rarely maintained by the Michigan DNR. We strongly recommend that you were waterproof hiking boots due largely to just this section of the trail. Although there are several offshoot trails along this ascending segment of the Mt. Kanzer Trail, only one prominent trail dramatically bisects it at the 1.5 mile marker. This trail is your route - the formal, prominent, and 11% grade push to the summit of Mt. Kanzer. It will be abundantly obvious, but turn left to continue your final ascent of the trail. The last 0.2 miles of hiking to the summit showcase the stark reality of Highland's wildest segments. On one hand, you have the dramatic ridge lines, drop-offs, and vistas that have cemented Highland as an adventure athlete's paradise. These are the same ridges that we once utilized to test our theory that Highland represents one of the Detroit region's best destinations for backcountry powder skiing . The theory held up - Highland remains undefeated for innovation in outdoor adventure sports. On the other end of the spectrum, the views from the summit are virtually nonexistent due to the claustrophobic effect of invasive bittersweet vines . The summit is marked by a stone monument located to the left of the main trail (a small sidetrack leads right to it), which during the leafy summer months provides the only recognition that you've reached the pinnacle of Highland's high lands. There's no dramatic, Instagram-ready vista like Mt. Katahdin or Uhuru Peak. There's hardly room to pose by the monument due to the overreach of vines. There's only a simple monument, with rolling forested views, to commemorate a unique southeast Michigan outdoor achievement . We don't intend to put a negative spin on the Mt. Kanzer summit push. In fact, t his is one of my go-to trails that I ran regularly during my training for summiting Mt. Kilimanjaro last August . And I'd be lying if I said that I still don't feel a little sense of pride every time that I reach the summit, because summiting is always an accomplishment. Our critique here is intended solely as a reality check regarding the effects of generational neglect of our wildest places. Mt. Kanzer could - and should - be stunning. A destination for our regional outdoor athletes. And while it may never provide sweeping views due to its heavily-forested environs, Expedition Detroit absolutely advocates for prioritized forest maintenance efforts in the area surrounding the summit. Constructing a more prominent summit monument would also be a nice touch, but let's not get greedy. After spending ample time at the summit, the Mt. Kanzer Trail then descends the full length of the "Summit Trail" back towards Beaumont Rd. If you're looking to add extra mileage to your hike, you can continue west on the Summit Trail past the peak until it ends at Pettibone Lake Rd. If you're sticking to our route however, you will descend 0.2 miles - past the equestrian trail that you completed earlier - until you reconnect with the prominent Milford Connector Trail before reaching the DNR parking area. Turn right at the signage post towards Milford. The next 0.9 miles of hiking along the Milford Connector Trail is simply stunning. The trail building crew over at the MCMBA are experts not only in building beautiful trails, but also planning beautiful trails. The steady descent of the Milford Connector Trail provides sweeping, vine-less vistas of " kettle pool " ponds, wetlands, and dramatic forested ravines. This segment is especially gorgeous during the evening "golden hour." You'll know that you've reached the "beginning of the end" when you pass through "deviation point" clearing at the 2.9 mile marker, thereby completing the Mt. Kanzer-Milford Connector Loop. From this point, you'll retrace your earlier boot prints over 0.9 miles, although this time with a steady incline over the last half mile. EXPLORE THE HIGHLAND MT. KANZER TRAIL WITH EXPEDITION DETROIT WEEKEND BONUS TIPS While Highland represents a destination ready for outdoor enthusiasts of all experience levels and interests, let's call a spade a spade : Highland is best suited for our region's most professional, badass, adventurous, and conditions-be-damned recreationists . Men and women who smile when the "summit" of one hill only reveals another, or laugh when the rocks and roots start competing to see which can trip you up first. Hikers, runners, and backpackers looking to train on Highland's prime real estate of rigorous terrain. Hunters unafraid of dragging their prized game out of wild, inhospitable terrain. And, especially, mountain bikers looking to conquer Highland's beloved yet infamous A-B-C-D Loops . For the uninitiated, the singular term "Highland" in midwest MTB circles specifically refers to this trail system - one of only three "Black Diamond"-rated trails in the entire Detroit region. In fact, these combined loops constitute the single most challenging trail in the entirety of our corner of the Great Lakes. The route consists of varying sections with roots, rocky stretches, steep climbs, and manageable technical areas. While these loops are primarily intended for mountain bikers, these trails are also very popular for hikers, trail runners , bird watchers, cross-country skiers, snowshoers, and hunters . CONQUER HIGHLAND'S A-B-C-D LOOPS  WITH EXPEDITION DETROIT Looking for something a slightly tamer? We don't blame you, and fortunately Highland's scenic " North Loop " trail is directly accessible from the same MTB Trailhead. The North Loop provides 2.2 miles of easy, flowing trail, complete with trekking or riding through the full spectrum of Highland's varied natural environment. The North Loop is also teeming with wildlife within its grasslands, pine forests, and marshlands, so stay on the lookout for wild turkeys, sandhill cranes, and deer. EXPLORE HIGHLAND'S NORTH LOOP WITH EXPEDITION DETROIT Outside of Highland, we have one simple piece of advice for you: travel south, preferably with a kayak . The Huron River and its endless supply of adventures wait for you along its idyllic banks at Proud Lake State Recreation Area, ripe for wildlife viewing and catch-and-release fishing opportunities. The best launch points at Proud Lake can be found at the Proud Lake Campground, Moss Lake Dam, and the boat launch parking lot just east of N Wixom Road. Looking more for a "trail town" experience? May we interest you in Downtown Milford : our inaugural " Trail Town Spotlight " destination and a small town overflowing with outdoor recreation opportunities. From Highland, downtown is within walking distance from the recreation area's southern segments and easily reachable via bike from the main MTB Trailhead off of E Livingston Road. From Proud Lake, you can easily paddle the 2.6 miles downstream to Milford Central Park - or, as we like to do, pull off just before the Main Street Bridge for direct access to our friends at River's Edge Brewing Co . We can't wait to see you out there. The #TrailTuesday Series idea started as a recommendation from readers looking for a deeper analysis into the individual trails that define Detroit's vast network. One of our main goals for this platform is to produce content that reflects the outdoor interests and desires of our community, so please continue to provide us with your suggestions via our contact form or here in the comments!

The third installment of our #EmbraceTheDark Series, we're exploring the best night hiking trails near Detroit. Spoiler alert: most of these trails are awesome for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing too. What makes for an amazing night hiking trail? We've wrestled with this question over the last few weeks - especially when compared to our existing articles on our region's top-rated and most challenging trails . Should trail accessibility play into the analysis? What about the difference in trail popularity vs. peak summer months? Availability for multi-sport use, such as snowshoeing and fat tire biking, during the winter months? Above average nocturnal wildlife viewing opportunities when compared to daytime wildlife opportunities? Yes - the answer to each of these questions/factors/analytical data points is yes . A truly great nighttime hiking, snowshoeing, or cross-country skiing trail should be easily accessible, especially in light of the, well, absence of light. The nocturnal version of the trail should provide benefits that are simply unattainable during peak season, daylight hours: dissipated crowds, bustling wildlife, opportunity to pursue your sport without constantly keeping your head on a swivel for other trail users. Now that we've established our ranking framework, here are the Detroit region's top five trails for your next nighttime outdoor excursion . 1. Maybury State Park Hiking Loop | Northville, MI Distance : 3.1 miles Elevation Gain : 127 feet Trail Rating : Easy Trail Closure : 10 p.m. In our most recent #TrailTownSpotlight on Northville , we emphasized that Maybury State Park's central location in the Detroit region establishes the park as an outdoor adventure oasis amidst Detroit's western suburbs. Well, there's one downside to that high praise: Maybury is immensely popular with hikers, dog-walkers, and trail runners during the peak summer months - especially along its natural hiking trail. The net result of that popularity includes noise pollution, decreased wildlife sightings, and a slight diminishment of the wilderness sentiment that we all crave. Now, here's a beautiful insider tip: all of these negating factors disappear in the colder months - especially at night! Writing from personal experience, Maybury's main hiking loop has become my go-to hiking and running trail over the last month due to its ease of accessibility from virtually anywhere in the Detroit region, its depopulated route, and the immensity of wildlife that I regularly cross-paths on the trail. I kid you not, I have seen more giant bucks along Maybury's hiking trail during the past few weeks than I ever have over nearly a decade of hunting. Beyond these perks, the trail also nabs our top ranking for night hiking due to its combination of interesting geographic features, rolling yet manageable terrain, and opportunities for varied routes. Maybury is a relatively small state park, yet this 5K loop provides hikers with expansive old forest, lowland marsh, and stunning wetland terrain. The park's main fishing pond and adjacent piers are absolutely the gems of the route, but the wooded hills and valleys of the western stretches of the route make for excellent wildlife viewing opportunities - especially with the added visibility during this time of year. The only caveat here is to keep your eyes peeled for roots crossing the trail - especially during the steeper decline around the 1-mile mark. EXPERIENCE THIS TRAIL WITH EXPEDITION DETROIT 2. Bird Hills Nature Area Trail | Ann Arbor, MI Distance : 4.9 miles Elevation Gain : 393 feet Trail Rating : Moderate Trail Closure : 10 p.m. Coming in as a very, very close second, the Bird Hills Nature Area Trail provides one of the most scenic, unique, and challenging night hiking destinations on our list. Despite falling entirely within the city limits of one of the Detroit region's largest cities, Bird Hills provides hikers with a panorama view of the Huron River, access to four of Ann Arbor's celebrated "Nature Areas," and an opportunity to immerse yourself in a small patch of wilderness despite being walking distance from one of the country's greatest college towns. While Bird Hills stands out on its own anytime of the year, completing the trail outside of its peak March to October season - especially at night - comes with additional perks. Beyond the nonexistent crowds that typically flock to this trail, these colder, darker months take care of the suffocating mosquitos that dominate this trail during early summer. For any college students facing final exams, taking a well-deserved study break in nature, with little to no human interference with your surroundings, also dramatically decreases the stress and anxiety associated with this notoriously stressful final lap of the semester. While none of these trails are necessarily "difficult," the Birds Hill trail does take the prize as the most challenging trail in this article - most notably starting at the 3-mile marker. Please make sure that you adequately prepare for hiking in the dark before hitting the trailhead, including basic safety tips like always telling someone your itinerary before heading out for a hike. As depicted on the map linked above, Bird Hills features lots of intersecting trails, so please frequently check your trail map to avoid getting lost. Take your time, enjoy the sights and sounds of nature, and soak up every moment of having one of the Detroit region's most popular trails all to yourself! 3. Marsh, River, Red, and Blue Trail Loops | Proud Lake State Recreation Area | Commerce Charter Township, MI Distance : 5.6 miles Elevation Gain : 127 feet Trail Rating : Easy Trail Closure : 10 p.m. I've said it once, twice, and maybe a thousand times: Proud Lake State Recreation Area is one of the Detroit region's most underrated parks, even despite being one of its most popular. For the uninitiated, Wixom Road bifurcates Proud Lake into two distinct western and eastern zones. We recently highlighted the western zone within our #TrailTownSpotlight on Milford as an "off the beaten path" gem for trail running (and mountain biking ), despite the zone largely being dominated by equestrian trails. The far more popular eastern zone is largely the realm of hikers, paddlers, swimmers, fishers, and in-season hunters, as well as scout groups, community camping trips, and anyone else who wants to spend an hour or two on the trail or in the Huron. As you can imagine, summers at Proud Lake can often feel more like a waterpark than a " Walden Pond "-style natural escape from suburbia. Not to sound like a broken record, but here's an amazing fact of nature: remove a few hours of sunlight and degrees Fahrenheit from the equation, and you end up with an entirely distinct experience despite holding all other variables constant. Rather than sharing the splendor of nature with what feels like half of Commerce Township, you're all but guaranteed to see more deer, cranes, or muskrats than people. The awe-factor described here is exponentiated by which trails the route covers. As I mentioned above, the eastern zone of Proud Lake typically represents the "hot zone" for foot traffic during peak visitor months. Of all of the trails in the eastern zone, the Marsh, River, Red, and Blue Trails comprise of the epicenter of Proud Lake's "instagram-worthy" highlight reel of destinations. Having the best of the best of Proud Lake to yourself - Moss Lake Dam, the Proud Lake Marsh boardwalks, the riverside trails, northeastern rolling hills that are typically dotted with hunters - is nature's equivalent of having Campus Martius in peak holiday form as yours alone to enjoy. The only items required are a well-charged headlamp, an extra layer or two, and a spirit of adventure. EXPLORE PROUD LAKE WITH EXPEDITION DETROIT 4. Yellow Trail Loop | Island Lake State Recreation Area | Brighton, MI Distance : 5.5 miles Elevation Gain : 278 feet Trail Rating : Moderate Trail Closure : 10 p.m. If you love the outdoors, then you either will or already do love Island Lake State Recreation Area. Swimming, road cycling, mountain biking, hiking, running, birdwatching, shooting, hunting, fishing... you name it, Island Lake's probably got it. Unsurprisingly, the large park's trails can often swell as a result of the faithful swarming to its pristine wilderness hotspots. And out of all of those hotspots, the Yellow Trail Loop takes the prize as Island Lake's most sought-after trail. The Yellow Trail is the first of two predominantly MTB trails included in this article ( spoiler, sorry ), so during peak season hikers should always keep their eyes and ears dialed in for bikers flying down the descents or burning through tight turns. Come November, however, the likelihood of hearing the characteristic "zip" sound of a mountain bike while on the trail starts to diminish steadily. This has always surprised me, especially since the Yellow Trail more or less constitutes a curated highlight reel of the best natural aspects of what many outdoor enthusiasts consider the best recreation area of the entire Detroit region. Then December arrives, along with its imposing wintry temperatures and darkness, and the biking crowd further reduces to only its most passionate, gear-inundated minority. This, my friends, is when the winter hiking community can truly shine on the Yellow Trail. The decreased traffic allows for hikers to truly enjoy the rolling hills without the risk of a mountain biker flying towards them ( remember : whenever possible, always hike in the opposite direction of biking traffic). The bird-watching opportunities along the foliage banks of the Huron are also incredible - especially at night with the headlamp firing. Enjoy the tranquility of having one of the Detroit region's greatest year-round trails all to yourself! CONQUER THE YELLOW TRAIL WITH EXPEDITION DETROIT 5. Lakeshore Park MTB Trails | Novi, MI Distance : 9.7 miles Elevation Gain : 269 feet Trail Rating : Moderate Park Closure : 9 p.m. The final night hiking trail to make our list may come off as a bit misplaced (or sacrilegious) on first glance for our ardent mountain biking community . Lakeshore Park - also commonly referred to as "Novi Tree Farm" - represents one of the Detroit region's most sought-after and highly-praised mountain biking destinations , especially during the peak summer months. Similar to Maybury, its location within the central core of Metro Detroit has established the park as an accessible, well-maintained rider's paradise for decades (kudos, as always, to the MCMBA for their tireless efforts). Put differently, mountain bikers largely reign supreme at Lakeshore Park. Well, surprise surprise, that power dynamic shifts a bit towards other sports during the colder and darker months. Yes, fat tire bikers with beaming headlamps still rule the trail, but the palpable decrease in mountain biking traffic provides hikers, runners, snowshoers, and cross-country skiers with an opportunity to safely and comfortably explore Lakeshore Park's extensive trail system without constantly looking for cyclists. We have included the full 9.7 mile trail system here, but note that Lakeshore Park provides trail users with a "choose your adventure" opportunity regarding its several interwinding loops. While each distinct loop has varying degrees of difficulty, remember that this trail system was designed predominantly for mountain biking. As such, Lakeshore Park hikers should expect a "flowy" trail accentuated with some tight turns, steep climbs, and plenty of bonus features like rock gardens and log piles. Before closing out this article, we wanted to give a quick shoutout to a certain reader who suggested that we include the actual mapped trail routes that we reference within our articles. Fortunately AllTrails makes this feature super user-friendly, so we thank both the reader and AllTrails for providing us with the idea and capability to make this addition possible. Our primary goal at Expedition Detroit is to provide value to our growing outdoor community, so we welcome any and all ideas geared towards improving or enhancing this platform's content. We've actually referenced several reader-feedback ideas throughout our #EmbraceTheDark Series, so this simple recognition is long overdue. We're extremely grateful for everyone who takes the time to check out our posts, so any comments, ideas, or nudges towards new topics or trails are never brushed aside. Have an idea for a new series? Have a favorite trail that you'd like for us to check out? Sweet - we want to hear about it! You can either subscribe to our monthly Newsletter for regular content sharing opportunities or email us directly at info@expeditiondetroit.com to share. We can't wait to see you on the trail - just don't forget your headlamp!

Elections fundamentally shape the future of outdoor recreation within the Detroit region and across the United States. As Michiganders head to the polls tomorrow, we encourage everyone to " Vote the Outdoors " - especially in light of the candidates and proposals that are up for the vote this year. Elections Matter . If you've opened your social media feed any time over the few months - or have a cell phone capable of receiving unwanted texts - then you're all too familiar with this message. But here's the truth: the reason that mantra keeps popping up on your feeds is because it's absolutely true. Especially when election results will have both an immediate and often irrevocable impact on the protection and expansion of outdoor recreation opportunities in your township, state, and country . We at Expedition Detroit are not in the candidate-endorsement business. We are in the outdoor recreation business, and both sides of the political aisle have consistently proposed landmark legislation aimed towards furthering the best interests of our natural resources. Stated differently, we support or attack interests and policies , not parties or people. Spoiler alert : the most constructive, protective, and beneficial interests, policies, and actions have resulted from bipartisan collaboration. Unfortunately - or should we say shamefully - elections often result in a primetime showcase for divisive politics, which produce formidable stumbling blocks for meaningful action down the road. Here we dive into how informed voting serves as one of the best mechanisms for protecting our outdoors , as well as the recreational ballot items that we at Expedition Detroit fully endorse . How Politics Protect the Outdoors Despite the divisiveness that we've grown numb to , recent history has proven that the adoption of effective, collaborative, and bipartisan action can and should be an expectation that us as voters maintain - especially when it comes to our great outdoors. On the federal level, Congresses presiding under both the Trump and Biden Administrations have delivered several impactful, bipartisan bills aimed towards providing lasting protection for our natural environment . Dating back to 2019, both sides of the aisle effectively sponsored and passed the John D. Dingell Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act , which designated more than 1,300,000 acres of wilderness area, expanded several national parks and other areas of the National Park System, and established four new national monuments while re-designating others. Similarly, the bipartisan and monumental Great American Outdoors Act of 2020 fully and permanently funds the Land and Water Conservation Fund, and as well as provides $1.9 billion annually to remedy maintenance backlog at American national parks. More recently, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2022 provided a textbook example of impactful, bipartisan collaboration on a landmark bill. This bill demonstrated the very best of political action: it will not only rebuild crumbling roads, bridges, and airports, but also improve the infrastructure behind our beloved natural resources and their corresponding outdoor recreation experiences. The bill's material investments in mitigating climate change and reinforcing America's natural infrastructure are primed to connect more recreationists to the outdoors and strengthen the estimated $887 billion outdoor recreation economy. For Michigan, the 2018 midterm elections ushered in a new era of political and fiscal investment in our outdoor ecosystem. In 2019, the Whitmer Administration led Michigan to become one of what's now 20 states that are members of the bipartisan Outdoor Recreation Industry Confluence Accords . The Confluence Accords consists of multi-state collaboration focused on promoting conservation, ensuring environmental quality, and restoring sustainable access to the outdoors. The Whitmer Administration concurrently created Michigan's first Office of Outdoor Recreation Industry , which works in tandem with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and the Outdoor Recreation Advisory Council to expand Michigan’s growing $12.6 billion outdoor recreation economy . The Power of Your Vote So where does your vote fit into this equation? We strongly encourage you to #VoteTheOutdoors by completing the following simple tasks before going to the polls: Research each candidate's position on the outdoors and natural environment . Vote411.org provides a fantastic online resource that compares each candidate's policies and priorities, including line items specifically on the environment and social justice. Encourage friends and family to vote - regardless of their political leanings. If you remember anything from this article, I sincerely hope that it's that bipartisan collaboration has the greatest likelihood of enacting impactful legislation . America's fundamental political problems are not grounded in a single party; they derive from the extremes of both parties, spurred on by polarizing candidates typically elected during midterm elections. The tyranny of the extremes has produced the agonizing gridlock that has killed countless opportunities for impactful action. Vote in Favor of Recreation Ballot Proposals . We've gone ahead and reviewed all of the ballot proposals up for vote in Michigan tomorrow. Of those proposals, here is a shortlist of recreation-related proposals that we support: Jurisdiction Proposal Name Proposal Summary Oakland County Oakland County Parks and Recreation Millage Increase of millage to 65 cents per $1,000 of taxable value in order to expand, improve, operate, maintain, and acquire parks, recreational facilities, open spaces, lakes, rivers, water areas, and trails; to support nature education, recreational, and outdoor educational and health programming; to support partnerships for access to and awareness of recreational lands and facilities; to promote the conservation and restoration of high-quality natural and wildlife habitats; and to allow free general park admission to all county parks for residents. Ann Arbor Ann Arbor City Charter Amendment Authorizing Tax for Park Maintenance and Capital Improvements Amendment of the Ann Arbor City Charter to authorize a tax up to 1.10 mills for park maintenance and capital improvements for 2025 through 2044. Charter Township of Waterford Community Center Bond Proposal Authorization of loan of $36,410,000 for the purposes of acquiring, renovating, constructing, furnishing, and equipping a community center with public community facilities, parks and recreational facilities and structures, and acquiring approximately 51 acres of land for such community center and related facilities, making site improvements, renovating existing facilities at the site of such community center and related facilities. The "Outdoor State" comprises of republicans, democrats, independents, libertarians, and every one else across the political spectrum. The best outcome from tomorrow that we can all collectively hope for is that we elect leaders that are willing to collaborate with their colleagues towards producing and effectuating meaningful action for our outdoors. That outcome can only be realized if we make our voices heard and our votes count. While the results of the 2024 Elections will have sweeping consequences for the future of Detroit's outdoor ecosystem, we can guarantee you that Expedition Detroit will continue to operate in line with our core values . Our content, advocacy, and fundamental operations will always seek to facilitate the expansion, inclusion, and protection of outdoor recreation opportunities in the Detroit region. We'll see you at the polls - and then the trailhead. #VoteTheOutdoors

Welcome to the first installation of our weekly #TrailTuesday Series! Located just south of Walled Lake, this inaugural installation zeroes in on the finer details of Novi Lakeshore Park's multi-use trail and what makes the trail an all-season Detroit region staple. INTRODUCING TRAIL TUESDAY You've heard of "Taco Tuesday." Maybe even "Trivia Tuesday." Possibly even "Turnt Tuesday" for those willing to burn a productive Wednesday morning. Well, friends, family, and fellow outdoor enthusiasts: today we're christening a brand new alliterative rendition of Tuesdays. The first iteration of a year-long series dedicated to taking a deep dive into the 52 most popular trails in the Detroit region , as ranked by AllTrails. A consistent output of content geared not only towards establishing Expedition Detroit as the comprehensive gateway to our area's best outdoor experiences, but with providing our community with trail maps, statistics, knowledge, ideas, and first-hand tips on enjoying Detroit's favorite trails. On a high-level, each #TrailTuesday article will provide you with a brief snapshot of any and all information that we believe will enhance your appreciation of and experience on the trail. Those snapshots will include brief overview of the trail's surrounding destination, route statistics, and our typical flowery description of the trail. We will also throw in a few bonus activity insights for those with larger recreational appetites ( we're dubbing these insights the "Weekend Bonus Tips" ). Without further ado, we formally welcome you to #TrailTuesday. We're glad that you've joined us on this journey, and we invite you to hit this virtual trail with us each week as we explore the best of the best of the Detroit region's vast trail network! MEET NOVI LAKESHORE PARK The crown jewel of Novi's outdoor ecosystem, Lakeshore Park constitutes the City of Novi's largest park and principal gateway to recreational adventures for the greater Novi community. The origins of the park date back to 1922, when the Dodge Brothers Company donated 25.82 acres of land along the southern bank of Walled Lake to the State of Michigan for use as a public park. The newly-created state park was dubbed " Dodge Brothers Park Number 2 ," which the State operated until its transfer to Novi in 1947. Fast forward to 2023, Lakeshore Park continues to foster year-round recreation opportunities like a swimming beach on Walled Lake in the summer months, well-maintained mountain biking and natural hiking trails, and a popular destination for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing in the winter. Lakeshore Park provides key habitat for a wide variety of flora and fauna, thereby establishing the park as the best wildlife viewing destination within the City of Novi. HIT THE TRAIL Total Distance : 2.9 miles Elevation Gain : 104 feet Trail Rating : Easy Route Orientation : Loop Parking Specifics : Free parking at north trailhead, accessible from S Lake Drive Lakeshore Park's "Multi-Use" trail launches from the same trailhead as Lakeshore Park's famous mountain biking loops, although you will quickly notice the deviation point where bikers will verge right and you'll keep hiking straight. Fortunately, the "Multi-Trail" remains prominently wider than the MTB loops throughout its duration, so hikers, runners, snowshoers, and cross-country skiers should not have any doubt regarding whether they have verged onto a biking trail. The only potential hiccups on the trail might result from route navigation: the trail features plenty of signs, but the lack of numbered posts may create some confusion regarding route orientation. We advise frequently checking the map included above, but when in doubt, turn right ( we'll note where that general advice does NOT apply shortly ). The trail starts with a very easy 0.4 mile incline towards its first intersection in front of a patch of pine trees. Keep right to venture slightly uphill towards a zone of the park that we're naming "The Hardwoods." Enjoy the long-reaching views through Lakeshore's mature forest - including the occasional mountain biker ripping down the "Expert Loop" - as you start your decline towards the Walled Lake Branch stream. Take your time along the well-maintained boardwalk as you cross the stream; beyond wildlife viewing opportunities, the messages engraved into the boardwalk are pretty entertaining to read. Once you complete the boardwalk, KEEP LEFT and follow the first trail that you encounter back over a less-maintained boardwalk. You will have now returned to the main trail through The Hardwoods, doubling back until you reach the 1.1 mile mark. Reverting back to the general "Keep Right" rule, you will venture into one of the most beautiful areas of Lakeshore Park. After a brief descent towards low-lying marshes, you will very gradually climb over the next 0.7 miles through mature pine and oak forests, occasionally broken up by fields, trails, and eventually the park's famous MTB "Pump Track." Hopefully you will be treated to some riders taking on the Pump Track's obstacles, but note that your route continues TO THE LEFT OF THE BACKSIDE of the Pump Track area. This branch of the route is not marked at all, which we discovered by adding about a quarter of a mile to our hike... The last mile of the hike - especially during these foliage-free months - is the "Panorama Segment" of the trail. Gazing through the treeline, you will be treated to long, panoramic vistas of Mud Pond, including fleeting glimpses of the behemoth Walled Lake in the distance. These views will oscillate as you hike parallel to marshes, thickets of pine trees, and other varying terrain, although the bright blue waters of Mud Pond will be a constant companion off to your right as you complete the final stretches of your hike back to the parking lot. WEEKEND BONUS TIPS I would earn the rightful scorn of Detroit's mountain biking community for not recommending the elephant in the article: the vast majority of visitors to Lakeshore Park do NOT visit to hike, run, snowshoe, or cross-country ski, but to bike the park's famous MTB trail network . The Motor City Mountain Biking Association maintains the 10.5 miles of singletrack trails, which range from beginner-friendly terrain to technical features like rock gardens, log piles, skinnies, and a pump track. We previously featured Lakeshore Park as one of the Detroit region's five best mountain biking trails , so we highly recommend that you couple your hike with a ride for the full experience. Broadening the scope a bit, another beautiful aspect of Lakeshore Park is its enviable central location to the lion's share of outdoor experiences located in the northwest corridor of the Detroit region. Maybury State Park in Northville - another local mecca for hiking, running, and mountain biking ventures - is a mere 8.5 miles southwest of Lakeshore Park, or an 8.2 mile cycle via the ITC Corridor Trail . Proud Lake State Recreation Area's vast trail network, including ample paddling access to the Huron River, is just 9.1 miles northwest of the park. When you add in near-immediate access to the natural trails of Wixom Habitat and Lyon Oaks County Park , it shouldn't take much convincing to argue that Lakeshore Park provides an idyllic launching point for a full day's worth of outdoor adventures. We implore you to put that theory to the test. The #TrailTuesday Series idea started as a recommendation from readers looking for a deeper analysis into the individual trails that define Detroit's vast network. One of our main goals for this platform is to produce content that reflects the outdoor interests and desires of our community, so please continue to provide us with your suggestions via our contact form or here in the comments!

Welcome back to our weekly #TrailTuesday Series! This edition explores the Detroit region's sole "Top 50" trail that's south of the border - yes, Canada is south of Detroit - in Ontario's Point Pelee National Park. Join us as we venture to the southernmost point of mainland Canada! "The National parks are the best idea we ever had . . . they reflect us at our best rather than our worst." American novelist, environmentalist, and historian Wallace Stegner penned these famous words in 1983, 111 years after President Ulysses S. Grant established the world's first national park in the world: Yellowstone National Park . Since Yellowstone's opening, the elusive number of national parks within the United States has grown to only 63, the most recent of which being West Virginia's New River Gorge National Park on December 27, 2020. Canada has an even more exclusive list of just 38 national parks, with its first ( Banff National Park ) established in 1885 and its most recent ( Qausuittuq National Park ) established in 2015. The scarcity of national parks on both sides of the border reflect the prestige surrounding such federal designations. National parks represent far more than just public outdoor recreational destinations: national parks are revered as the gate-keepers for " national treasures ," the great protectors of North America's most naturally stunning, awe-inspiring, historically significant, and adventure-filled sanctuaries. On the American side of the Detroit region, there are unfortunately no readily-accessible national parks (although River Raisin National Battlefield Park is maintained by the National Park Service). Our three closest parks are Cuyahoga Valley , Indiana Dunes , and New River Gorge. Even Isle Royale - the only national park located in Michigan - is the 10th closest U.S. national park to the Detroit region. Ouch . Fortunately for us on the American side of the border, the Canadian equivalent of the U.S. National Park Service - Parks Canada - has our recreational needs covered. On the far eastern rim of the Detroit region lies Point Pelee National Park , Canada's second-smallest national park situated at the southernmost point of the country's mainland. Your mother probably told you not to judge a book by its cover. Well, don't judge a park by its square miles (sorry - square kilometers ) - this "best idea" overdelivers on outdoor recreation opportunities for its size, including one of our "Top 50" #TrailTuesday routes! Timelapse of a cloudy sunrise at the Point Pelee Tip, December 21, 2022 MEET POINT PELEE NATIONAL PARK While the Canadian government formally established Point Pelee as a national park on May 29, 1918, humanity's relationship with the area dates back to over 6,000 years . Native peoples, French explorers, the British military, fisherman, farmers, hunters, loggers, naturalists, and modern visitors have explored, settled, and impacted the uniquely shaped, situated, and ecologically-significant 15km strip of land now known as Point Pelee. Despite its small size, the environmental significance of Point Pelee could not be overstated. Canadian visitors especially will immediately recognize several unique attributes of the park: as the most southern location in mainland Canada, Point Pelee experiences one of the warmest climates in the country, receives the lowest amount of precipitation in the province of Ontario, and contains a rich blend of marsh, beach, cedar, savannah and forest habitats. About two thirds of the park is marsh, which is home to cattails, lilies, and other species including the rare swamp rose-mallow. Point Pelee is especially noteworthy within the Detroit region for two specific groups of outdoor enthusiasts: bird watchers and dark sky chasers . Point Pelee is recognized as one of Canada's best inland locations to observe seasonal bird migrations, including the park's more than 390 species of birds that annually visit the Point Pelee Birding Area . In 2006, the Windsor Centre of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada designated Point Pelee as a “ Dark Sky Preserve .'' We recently recognized Point Pelee as the #1 destination in the Detroit region for stargazing opportunities, and the park regularly hosts " Dark Sky Night " events for visitors during optimal stargazing periods. Now - let's get to the trail. HIT THE TRAIL Total Distance : 0.7 miles Elevation Gain : 3 feet Trail Rating : (Very) Easy Route Orientation : Loop Parking Specifics : Seasonal admission fees apply to enter park; parking available at trailhead . Ladies and gentlemen, we have good and bad news: the Marsh Boardwalk trail is hands-down the easiest out of the "Top 50" most popular trails included within our #TrailTuesday series . If you are just starting off your outdoor fitness journey, then we could not more fully endorse this trail for you. The trail begins right at the parking lot, just to the right of the impressive observation tower. You will tackle a whopping 3 feet of elevation gain - the occasional planked steps and gentle rises scattered throughout the trail. Wetland wildlife sightings will be plentiful, including bald eyes around dawn and dusk. Your dog is welcome to join in as well (please keep them on leash - the below photo resulted from a combination of years of call-and-response training and clever photography angles to hide Lucy's leash...). On the other end of the adventure spectrum, if you are looking for hardcore mileage or heart-thumping inclines, well... this isn't the trail for you. Or at least not alone; Point Pelee has over 12 km (~7.5 miles) of trails criss-crossing the distinct wetland, lakeshore, and mature forest biomes that define the park. The trail comprises of one continuous 0.7 mile loop through the great marshlands of the northern section of the National Park. The entire trail consists of a well-maintained board that guides hikers and bird watchers through an otherwise inaccessible natural environment. Although diminished in comparison to the trailhead observation tower, the boardwalk also provides hikers with sweeping panoramic views of the great marshland and adjacent waterways throughout the trek. Wildlife viewings differ based on the season and time of visitation, but be on the lookout for bald eagles, owls, white-tail deer, coyotes, mink, weasel, flying squirrel, raccoons, turtles, non-venomous snakes, frogs, and hundreds of migrant songbirds . WEEKEND BONUS TIPS If you have but one major takeaway from this article, please let this be it: do not short your Point Pelee experience by ONLY visiting the Marsh Boardwalk Trail. The main benefit of Point Pelee's size is that visitors can truly accomplish a weekend's worth of recreational escapades within a matter of hours. We recommend starting at the end: parking your vehicle near "The Tip" - the famous, dramatic southernmost beach and shoreline of the park that hauntingly disappears into the vast expanse of Lake Erie. While you can park right at The Tip's parking lot, we advise adding an element of adventure and hiking down via the West Beach Footpath trail . PLEASE heed the rip tide warning signs that flank the trail heading to The Tip. Swimming or wading at The Tip is NOT PERMITTED and very dangerous due to strong currents. Entering Lake Erie at The Tip can earn you a fine of up to $10,000 - trust us, that money can and should be spent pursuing other adventures. For the aquatically-inclined , visitors are permitted to explore the park's extensive marshlands via kayak or canoe. Most Pelee explorers opt to stay on dry land, traversing the park's natural and paved trails via hiking boot or bike peddle . Cycling is absolutely the most efficient - and possibly enjoyable - means of seeing the entirety of the park with a limited amount of time. For hikers, note that the park also has over-night camping options available for extended trekking expeditions. To summarize, don't rush Point Pelee - our region's sole national park is jam-packed with year-round adventures for every genre of outdoor enthusiast. We'll see you at the Point . The #TrailTuesday Series idea started as a recommendation from readers looking for a deeper analysis into the individual trails that define Detroit's vast network. One of our main goals for this platform is to produce content that reflects the outdoor interests and desires of our community, so please continue to provide us with your suggestions via our contact form or here in the comments!

The ice has melted. The birds are returning. The sun - knock on wood - is actually shining again. Kayak season has returned to Detroit, along with endless opportunities to extend your aquatic expeditions via Canoe Camping . Imagine your perfect day on the water . The heat of the sun. The gentle breeze at your back. The serenity of nature's silence, broken only by the lapping waves, rustle of leaves, calling birds - and maybe that one guy playing music from a waterproof speaker around the bend. As perfect as perfect gets paddling down the Detroit region's waterways . There's only one downside to such bliss: it ends . Even the longest, most brilliant summer days eventually arrive at a sunset, thus signaling the end of that day's paddling expedition for most kayakers . A sad fate that we all must submit to... or do we ? Spoiler alert : the terminus of your paddling voyage does not have to align with the setting sun. We at Expedition Detroit are proud to formally welcome Spring to our platform with an #ExpeditionEssentials crash course on " Canoe Camping " - the backpacking equivalent of overnight paddling adventures - covering the essential gear and destinations that you'll need for launching your next voyage. Canoe Camping Gear Congratulations, you nailed it : you are going to need a canoe for canoe camping - more likely a kayak. You probably also guessed that you will need a personal flotation device ("PFD"). And oars. Oars are very important. What may be less intuitive, however, are questions concerning the hair-splitting nuances between the variety of possible gear selections. What are the key differences between hard shell and inflatable kayaks? How about proper layering for shoulder season temperatures? Which water-proof bags are best for carrying a tent, sleeping bag, and other camping necessities? How about head lamps or gear that's required by law? That, our dear friends, is where this section comes in handy. We've dug into the tough questions to save you a few hours of research, possibly save a few bucks, and get you in the water in no time. Choice of Vessel If you've spent anytime around the Huron, Clinton, or Rouge Rivers over the last few years, chances are that you've witnessed a cold war between three primary camps of paddling enthusiasts: hard shell kayakers, inflatable kayakers, and old school canoeists. Each of these modes of maritime transportation have their pros and cons - especially when it comes to selection for canoe camping. Here's a quick breakdown of these three options: Canoe If you are planning packing a lot of gear - we're talking multiple days hunting in the backcountry amount of gear - then your vessel search should end with purchasing with a canoe . Following in the footsteps of both our Native American and European predecessors, the open-air design of a canoe facilitates immense storage capacity , as well as a more stable frame than kayaks. The hulls of canoes also comprise of the durable materials , such as three layer polyethylene, that paddlers would expect to safely navigate through shallow terrain. The three principal cons of a canoe when compared to a kayak are maneuverability, weight, and cost . Even with sleeker canoes like the Sportsman Discovery Solo 119 shown above, the slimmer frame of a kayak permits paddlers to navigate through narrow or obstacle-ridden stretches that could delay canoes. The additional 10-20 pounds of weight that distinguish separate lightweight canoes from much lighter kayaks also inhibit the navigational prowess of a canoe. Last, canoes are undoubtedly more expensive than their kayak cousins. For example, the price difference between the featured canoe and inflatable kayak in this article is over $1,000. Kayak (Hard Shell) Hard shell kayaks are hands-down the crowd favorite for maritime navigation throughout the Great Lakes region - for several good reasons. First, the lighter weight and slimmer frame when compared to canoes offer more advanced maneuverability in less hospitable waters. The coverage of the shell also better protects a paddler from undesired water exposure and cold temperatures. Last, the extra compartments typically featured on kayaks like the Old Town Dirigo 106 Kayak remedy some of the lost storage capacity inherent to the hard shell cover. While a hard shell kayak may appear to check almost every box for a paddler, there are some key drawbacks to note. Especially with regard to extended canoe camping, the lost storage capacity due to the encompassing shell may rule the vessel out entirely for longer, gear-intensive trips. Getting in and out of hard shell kayaks can prove to be more of a challenge when compared to open canoe or inflatable kayak models as well. Similar to canoes, hard shell kayaks also lack the transportability and significant price discount that inflatable kayaks offer to their owners. Kayak (Inflatable) The chief benefit of an inflatable kayak is and will always be its transportability. There was a period where I simply stored my inflatable kayak in the cab of my pickup truck, ready to be deployed whenever the paddling inspiration hit. Inflatable kayaks also tend to be less expensive and have higher weight thresholds than canoes and hardshell kayaks. The main drawbacks of inflatable kayaks are their less dependable durability and inflation requirement . With regard to durability, the quality of the synthetic rubber and plastic polymers that inflatable kayaks are made from has improved over recent years, although these qualities simply do not compare to the wood, plastic, fiberglass, and composite materials of canoes and hard shell kayaks ( pro tip : always carry some form of adhesive to plug any minor punctures). I personally enjoy the inflation process of an inflatable kayak for the upper body workout, but for anyone who doesn't derive the same joy from "type 2 fun," you will learn to dread this aspect of inflatable kayak ownership. Layered Clothing Let's start with the basics : you should always dress in layers, especially for the cooler-to-freezing temperatures that fluctuate in the Detroit region during early spring. Especially when kayaking around sunrise or sunset, bring along extra layer to pull on/off when the temperature inevitably starts to heat up or cool off. Here's a refresher on layering : Base Layer ("underwear layer") : Arguably most important layer; goal is to wick sweat off your skin. Could be a swimsuit for warmer weather paddling. Middle Layer ("insulating layer") : Should retain body heat to protect you from the cold. Outer Layer ("shell layer") : Largely weather-dependent; shields you from wind and rain and provides extra insulation. Could include a raincoat and waterproof rain pants for inclement weather. You should always dress for the water temperature you'll be paddling in, NOT the air temperature. For cold paddling conditions, opt to wear a drysuit over your base and mid layers. No need for an outer layer - your windproof, waterproof, and breathable drysuit takes care of that. Recommended Add-Ons You've probably heard the old adage that " Too much of a good thing is a bad thing. " Well, when it comes to searching "Recommended canoe camping gear" on Google, everyone appears to have an opinion, list, and strong arguments as to why certain gear should or shouldn't be included on your next expedition. We have waded through the never-ending rabbit holes of recommended lists to provide you with this synthesized punch list of gear (omitting specific items discussed elsewhere): Headlamp : Black Diamond's " Spot 400 " and Petzl's " Actik Core " headlamps are the two market-leaders, although BioLite's 750 lumen headlamp has also recently been making waves into the headlamp market. Dry Bags : Waterproof storage bags your camping gear, cell phone, portable batteries, maps and charts, matches or other fire-starting equipment, and anything else that you truly cannot afford to get wet. Sun Protection Gear : Sunscreen, lip balm, sun glasses, and a wide-brimmed hat. Bailer or Bilge Pump : Bilge pumps are especially effective for pumping unwanted water out of your kayak. Sponges . "Boat Shoes" or Sandals and Dry "Camp Shoes." Camping Necessities : Tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, water treatment equipment and bottle, and portable stove and cookware. Energy Food . Knife or Multi-Tool . First Aid Supplies . Legal Requirements Let's settle the " lifejacket question " first: Michigan law requires paddlers to carry either a wearable PFD or a throwable PFD for each person on board a vessel. Ontario law is similar to Michigan law's requirement to carry a PFD per passenger, although only wearable PFDs are approved as lawful safety equipment. We strongly recommend wearing a PFD every time that you are on the water, which is required for all personal watercraft operators in Ohio . For nighttime paddling , the one universal requirement under Michigan law states that all u npowered vessels less than 26 feet long must have at least one lantern or flashlight shining a white light at all times while in motion (such as a headlamp). The ideal illumination of this light would amount to visibility from at least three miles away, although that is not a legal requirement. While most of the Detroit region's inner waterways fall under Michigan state jurisdiction, the Great Lakes also represent international boundary waters and therefore fall under the U.S. Coast Guard's jurisdiction. As such, special regulations apply to nighttime paddling along any international waters like the St. Clair River, Lake St. Clair, the Detroit River, and Lake Erie. These include carrying (1) a mounting a " kayak light " that is visible from 360-degrees and (2) visual/audio distress signal s . Interactive map of the Huron River National Water Trail The Destinations In case you haven't noticed, the Detroit region has water. Lots of water. Thousands of miles of Great Lakes coastline and inland lakes, rivers, and streams to explore, including 5 of Michigan's state-designated water trails, 3 national water trails, and the Detroit Heritage River Trail that constitutes the first and only water trail that has been designated for protection by the Canadian and U.S. Governments. Especially with Michigan's moniker as "The Great Lakes State," you would assume that the Detroit region has an excess supply of canoe campgrounds, right...? Wrong . To our team's surprise, the Huron River National Water Trail represents the sole thru-paddling opportunity within our area's vast waterways. Yes, that includes the portions of Ohio and Ontario that fall within the purview of the Detroit region. We will breakdown the best canoe camping destinations in a moment, but here's the silver lining to our current situation: canoe camping undoubtedly represents the single greatest recreational infrastructure opportunity within the Detroit region, on both sides of the border . Especially in light of the phenomenal work of recent years on developing the Clinton River Water Trail , Rouge River Water Trail , and Monroe County Water Trails , our recreational bodies have the firepower to construct and maintain world-class canoe campgrounds along our pristine waterways. Here are the Detroit region's top canoe camping destinations: 1. Huron River National Water Trail | Michigan Simply put, the Huron River National Water Trail ("HRNWT") is one of the crown jewels of the Detroit's greater outdoor ecosystem . Its 104-mile trail, spanning from Proud Lake State Recreation Area in Oakland County to Lake Erie Metropark in Monroe County, circumnavigates the western rim of our region's premiere outdoor destinations. Most importantly for our article, the HRNWT provides direct access to four canoe campgrounds : Kensington Metropark , Island Lake State Recreation Area, Hudson Mills Metropark , and Lower Huron Metropark . A fifth - and very much needed - campground is slated for Oakwoods Metropark. Reservations are required for all sites. 2. Point Pelee National Park and Pelee Island | Ontario As long-time readers of our content are now well-aware, if any "top destinations" list appears on our content, then Point Pelee National Park will surely make an appearance. Generations of recreationists have flocked to the park for its world-class hiking, cycling, bird watching, and star-gazing opportunities. Kayaking is another favorite past time of Point Pelee's patrons, especially when paired with an overnight stay at Camp Henry within the park. The Camp's " oTENTik" lodgings - a cross between an A-frame cabin and a prospector tent - are conveniently located directly across an access point to West Beach. Talk about a bucket list camping experience within our region's sole national park! 3. Algonac State Park | Michigan On the northeastern periphery of the Detroit region - just north of Lake St. Clair - lies Algonac State Park and its unprecedented Great Lakes kayaking opportunities . While the park is largely celebrated for its views of freighters from around the world (watch them right from your tent!), the park's 1,550-acres boasts a half-mile of riverfront, campgrounds , trails and a 1,200-plus-acre dedicated natural area. Algonac's " Riverfront Campground " is conveniently located just a short walk away from multiple launching points into the St. Clair River and its multiple routes within the Blueways of St. Clair water trail network . 4. Seven Lakes State Park | Michigan The "Seven Lakes " of Seven Lakes State Park may have morphed into one massive "Seven Lake " after its dam construction, but the park's legacy of pristine kayaking and camping opportunities has both endured and thrived . While the namesake "Seven Lake" provides an obvious draw for top-notch paddling experiences, the park's 230 acres of water also provide ample opportunities to explore Dickinson Lake, Spring Lake, and and Sand Lake. The park's campground at Sand Lake is especially popular with kayakers - hard to argue with direct beach access from the campground to the lake. Quick Safety Add-Ons Before signing off on this article, we wanted to close by sharing the following water safety best practices as prepared by the Clinton River Watershed Council . Regardless of whether your voyage consists of a few hours on the lake or a multi-day thru paddle of the Huron, paddling recreationists should always adhere to the following safety guidelines: ALWAYS PADDLE WITH PROPER EQUIPMENT . Life vests, helmets, a whistle, a first aid kit, and a phone are examples of standard equipment depending on the routes or conditions that you may paddle. BE AWARE OF THE STREAM FLOW . Check streamflow at the USGS gauge nearest to your intended trip. Visually check stream flow before you embark, and if the river is too fast for your comfort level, wait until it recedes. BE AWARE OF THE WATER TEMPERATURE . Cold water is extremely dangerous. Learn about protecting yourself from hypothermia before embarking on your trip. BE AWARE OF THE WEATHER . Conditions can change rapidly. Be aware of forecasts, and do not go out during thunderstorms or other adverse weather events. Stay alert to changing weather conditions. BE AWARE OF THE DAYLIGHT . Make sure you leave enough daylight to comfortably finish your trip. BRING A SPARE CHANGE OF CLOTHES IN A DRY BAG . You will likely get wet. Bring a spare change of clothes in a dry bag to avoid hypothermia. WEAR RIVER FOOTWEAR . Protect your feet from sharp river rocks—always wear footwear. KNOW HOW TO SWIM . Make sure you know how to swim before embarking on a river trip. KNOW HOW TO GET HELP . To get help, dial 911. Make sure you are aware of your surroundings and can communicate your position to emergency responders. FOLLOW SAFETY SIGNS . Know how to recognize the safety signs throughout the Clinton River. The return of warmer weather means open season on several genres of outdoor exploration in the Detroit region: backpacking, mountain biking, and especially canoe camping . Overnight expeditions on our world-famous waterways provides not only a phenomenal means of exploring our region's greatest asset - our fresh water - for extended periods of recreational bliss, but also represents a relatively untapped avenue for experiencing our natural environmental. As shoulder season ends and Spring proper takes over, we can't wait to get back in the water. We can't wait to paddle up to new campgrounds, dock our vessels, and settle in by the campfire, swapping stores from the full day spent paddling and exploring our rivers and lakes. Most importantly, we can't to see you out there.