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This summer, the Huron-Clinton Metroparks launched their inaugural Metroparks Trail Challenge : completing 13 "challenge trails" across all 13 Metroparks. We took the bait and completed the challenge with a twist - all 13 trails with 13 days. Happy Trails! The Expedition Detroit team is a sucker for a good challenge. Think Marty McFly's "Don't call me chicken" mentality. And especially when said challenge occurs in the outdoors. Back in early May, we published an article focused entirely on the best " Adventure Challenges " for Summer 2023. In full transparency, that article was inspired by one singular, monumental adventure challenge: the recently-launched Metroparks Trail Challenge . Equal parts scavenger hunt and endurance feat, this challenge seemed like the perfect opportunity to explore the Detroit region's pristine Metroparks with mission. A fun-filled, award-earning extra reason to get outdoors. As our crazy summer stretched on, however, we found that completing the Metroparks Trail Challenge proved a more daunting task than anticipated. Launching our guided trips platform through the Detroit area's beautiful Michigan State Parks system meant less time for exploring the Metroparks. Throw in a few trips, meetings, and the general time drain of modern life, and the prognosis for a timely completion of the Metroparks Trail Challenge looked daunting at best. So, we gave up. Haaa . Of course we didn't - in fact , we doubled-down by adding an extra variable: completing the Metroparks Trail Challenge, encompassing 13 trail challenges across all 13 Metroparks, within 13 days . An epic expedition that would require dedication, most likely multi-park days, and whirlwind tour of some of the most immaculate and diverse outdoor destinations within an hour's drive of Downtown Detroit. With the plan set, it was time to kick off our challenge. Here's how went: DAY ONE : AUGUST 5, 2023 THE CHALLENGE BEGINS! This journey began exploring the Metroparks closet to Ann Arbor and Dexter - a relatively continuous journey up the Huron River and largely along the scenic Border-to-Border Trail . Come for rapids and river-views. Stay for the meadows, bridges, wildlife, and perfectly-placed beach picnic locations.

Don't let the heat fool you - October's cooler temperatures are coming, along with the vibrant foliage that will decorate our parks, trails, and waterways! Updated for Fall 2025, here are Expedition Detroit's 5 best fall hikes for experiencing peak colors this season. Happy hiking! Fellow trail enthusiasts and fall foliage aficionados, we have incredible news for you . In the words of the great Rafiki: "It is time." Well...it is almost time. While the original predictions for the arrival of peak fall colors in the Detroit area slated October 5th as the kick-off date, that ETA has since been pushed back to tomorrow, October 7th . We can all blame summer's sudden resurgence over the past week for the color delay. But hey, if that means that we'll get to enjoy peak fall conditions for an extra few days on the tail end of the season, then we'll take it. With fall's brightest and most vibrant days just around the corner, now is the perfect time to plan your local outdoor getaways. Last year we zeroed in on the best paddling destinations along the Huron River for discovering the season's reflective colors. This year - and as requested by popular demand among our guided trip guests - we have trekked through mountains of research to curate a list of the best fall hikes for foliage hunters near Detroit. From generational favorites to hiding-in-plain-sight gems, we attempted the impossible ( and possibly sacrilegious ) by whittling down the wealth of our region's forested destinations into an exclusive "Top 5" list. Not exactly an easy feat. Fortunately for all of us, however, each of these five trails contain the variety of trees, landscapes, and contrasting elements that you would expect from any instagram-worthy fall outing. Better yet, each of these trails also entail a damn good hike - outdoor experiences worthy of your exploration any time of the year, but especially during fall's most vivid days. So...lace up your hiking boots and get your camera ready . Mother Nature's peak colors are ready to pop off, and you'll capture all of the season's most unforgettable moments on these five best fall hikes near Detroit :

Home of the Detroit region's best mountain biking trails, ski runs, backpacking ridges, and hiking gems, this article explores the past and present of the "Detroit Mountains"- southeast Michigan's glacial Jackson Interlobate Range. Growing up, I liked reading maps. We're talking battlefield maps, geographic encyclopedias - even fake maps from fictional worlds like Middle Earth, Kanto/Johto, and Narnia. Yes, I'm also the geography nerd on my local bar trivia team, and we've got the gift card winnings to back up the extensiveness of this very specific genre of knowledge. So we'll see if you're still laughing when the final jeopardy category comes up as African geography... Anyways , as I grew up, this random childhood peculiarity gradually evolved into a decades-long interest in scouting backcountry routes, planning international trips, and utilizing satellite imaging via Google Maps to identify "hole in the wall" or hidden gem outdoor destinations. I loaned this skillset to Expedition Detroit when first building out our " Destinations Map ," a near-exhaustive collection of every park, trailhead, launching point, ski resort, and other noteworthy outdoor space within an hour's drive of Downtown Detroit. What was my complex, algorithmic methodology for identifying such spaces? I opened Google Maps and looked for the color green. Seriously. And the darker the green, the more expansive the outdoor space. Here's a screenshot for reference: Yes, this non-satellite layer omits a multitude of incredible outdoor spaces within the core of Metro Detroit. However, glance over at the western edge of this map - the extensive, darkest shade of green that runs largely consecutively from Grass Lake to north or Auburn Hills . An area whose scope includes several of our region's most beloved "Trail Towns," including Brighton , Chelsea, Holly, Lake Orion, Milford , and Pinckney. If you dig a little deeper, you'll soon realize that this area also constitutes one of the largest and most unique, rugged, adventurous, historic, and collectively protected swaths of land found within the entire Great Lakes region . The home of 12 Michigan state parks and recreation areas, 5 Michigan state game and wildlife areas, 4 Huron-Clinton Metroparks, 2 county parks, and several independent natural preservation areas. This coveted area is the focal point of this article: the massive area geologically identified as the Jackson Interlobate Range (the "JIR"), but we'd like to informally dub it here as the "Detroit Mountains." SHORT HISTORY OF DETROIT'S TALLEST RANGE

The wait is over - Detroit's peak fall colors have FINALLY ARRIVED throughout the region, and there's no better trail to experience this season's beauty than along Pinckney Recreation Area's Crooked Lake Trail . As rapper E-40 so eloquently stated, "Everybody got choices." For Detroit's outdoor community, that simple sentence couldn't be more true for the month of October . Scratch that, the last two weeks of October. When our trails are brilliantly decorated in reds, yellows, and oranges. A fleeting, stunningly-gorgeous period where one can reasonably become recreationally paralyzed by the choice of whether to go for a run , paddle , bike, or hunt. Especially on a bluebird day. I found myself with such choices this past Monday. As I finished up my morning office work (yes, we in the outdoor industry do still have indoor offices), I recognized the recreational conundrum that lay before me. Every prediction software at my disposable gave the green light for every activity. My "Plan A" was to head to the deer stand , but man...a quick glance out the window showed that peak fall colors, at long last, had arrived. And, as any long-time Michigander knows, those colors could be gone in a matter of weeks - sometimes days if the winds pick up. Armed with recently-obtained knowledge regarding the Detroit area's 5 best trails for experiencing fall colors , I made a calculated choice to bail on the stand for Pinckney Recreation Area's Crooked Lake Trail . The #1 destination within an hour's drive of Downtown Detroit for inundating your hike with autumn's stunning ambience. A baptism of seasonal color. The type of click-bait destination that outdoor influencers dream of. With the afternoon's trail selected, my GoPro fully-charged, and a weighted rucking vest loaded up, all that was left to do was hit the road and pray that my gamble would pay off. Despite my excitement, this recreational choice represented a gamble - a zero-sum situation where choosing to hike meant foregoing the hunt. With October's bounty of outdoor opportunity, there was a decent likelihood that I could end up regretting this choice. Fast forward an hour or so, I'm a few miles into the Crooked Lake Trail - mesmerized by my surroundings. The entire scene is bathed in golden light, both from the vibrant yellow leaves of the park's hickory trees and the late afternoon sun. My camera is pleading for mercy after its overuse while trying to capture the scene. Eventually I give up on it, surrendering to the realization that moments like this, in places like this, can only be fully-experienced in the moment. "This...this was the right choice." It is our privilege to reintroduce Pinckney State Recreation Area and its Crooked Lake Trail now. MEET PINCKNEY STATE RECREATION AREA

Detroit's snow may have disappeared this month, but don't worry - ski season isn't over yet! Fortunately there are plenty of premiere winter destinations within driving distance of the Motor City where the lifts are still running. Check out these 5 world-class ski resorts driving distance from Detroit to close out your ski season! Here's a forgetful fact: March is predominantly a winter month. For our community of hikers, paddlers, and mountain bikers, that's certainly not a welcomed reminder. In fact, we'd be willing to bet that spring's unseasonably warm arrival has been a blessing to the senses for you. For our cold weather faithful - the powder seekers, groomer rippers, and snow-covered trail aficionados - winter's abrupt exit from the Detroit region has been jarring to say the least. As I type these words, ALL of Detroit's " Big Four Ski Resorts " have shuttered for the season ( Alpine Valley and Pine Knob , the last two standing, closed for the season today ). Did this year's El Niño winter deliver a bust for Detroit's snow recreational opportunities? Yes - a definitive yes. However, contrary to popular belief, winter did actually arrive to the Great Lakes region , and some areas received generously more snow than others. So much so that certain resorts remain open into mid-March. That's right, friends: #SkiSZN in the Great Lakes isn't 100% over yet . Looking to squeeze one final ski trip into the 2024 season? You've come to the right place - here are 5 premiere ski resorts near Detroit where you can still capitalize on late winter skiing and snowboarding opportunities:

Welcome back to our #TrailTuesday Series! This week finds us winding our way through a wooded retreat in the heart of Livonia, Michigan. Rotary Park Nature Preserve is a well-loved community hub offering a plethora of outdoor activities for any season. Join us as we experience an enchanting escape into the Rotary Park Loop! "You can't judge a book by its cover." This well-known proverb, generally accepted as a universal truth, can easily be coupled with another: " beauty is in the eye of the beholder ," or better yet that " beauty is always found by those who look for it. " The main takeaway is that there's always magic and wonder to be found in seemingly simple places or moments. Take our hike for today: a small park, hemmed in by a concrete grid of roads and sidewalks. A trail length of comparatively short distance, no challenging climbs to scenic vistas. You may ask, how could this small trail be worth a visit? Well, in this simple shady oasis, these trails unfold into a place of beauty and tranquility. A refreshing reset, a literal breath of fresh air.  It's unassuming, but the central location and smaller size lend themselves to perfect accessibility and convenience . On a personal level, when those stressful days just beg for a quick escape to the woods, this is my go-to getaway. So we're glad you're here, to follow along on a delightful and enchanting walk through this not-so-hidden treasure. Away we go, to Livonia - and into the wood!

This is not an April Fool's joke! After years of purposeful investment in Michigan's recreational ecosystem, major publications are finally recognizing our state's emergence as a world-class outdoor destination. The best part? We're still just getting started. Photo courtesy of Outside Interactive, Inc. "Come on, Dan, Michigan just isn't Colorado..." Staring back at me with a slight grin on his face was one of my oldest mentors. I had just finished presenting the 30,000 ft. pitch of my latest business idea - a "TBD" project informally titled "Expedition Detroit" - for a small group of outdoor enthusiasts. Although he was merely playing devil's advocate, I can admit that he had a compelling argument. As if to accentuate his point, we were sitting in a rustic Colorado ranch with a 360º view of snowcapped mountains. We had spent the day riding ATVs through the San Isabel National Forest. Truly an adventurer's paradise. "Yeah, but Colorado also isn't Michigan." I turned to make eye contact with the only other Michigander presiding over our mini episode of "Shark Tank." A Grand Rapids-born, personal wellness coach that now resides near Colorado Springs. Our conversations about the outdoor opportunities in Michigan prompted this impromptu business discussion. She gave me a wink after delivering this rebuttal, as if to say " Don't worry - they have no idea what they're missing out on. " DETROIT'S (FINALLY) ON THE OUTDOOR MAP

In honor of Earth Week, we embraced the challenge of thru-hiking the Detroit's region's most rigorous backpacking route: the Waterloo-Pinckney Trail . This third and final installation of our Waterloo-Pinckney Trail series covers the entirety of the Pinckney section of the trail - 14 miles of challenges, triumphs, pain, and euphoria. "Hey Pops - it's gonna be another hour or so...sorry. Today's been a wild card." Those were probably the last words that my jet-lagged father wanted to hear as he waited patiently at the Silver Lake Trailhead in Pinckney Recreation Area , and he masked his reasonable annoyance, well, reasonably. In his defense, I explicitly said that I would be arriving at the trailhead around 4:30PM. I would blow that arrival time by nearly an hour. In my defense, I never planned on arriving that evening at all. Reddit reviews and relentless rain can have that effect on a perfectly-planned itinerary. Add an ambitious, adventurous, and borderline reckless outdoorsman spirit, and you end up with a 10K day turning into a half marathon+ expedition. At a personal record-pace for backpacking. If you're asking yourself " Why would you do that to yourself? ", you're definitely not alone. I was asking myself the same question between miles 7 - 14 on Day 3. But at 8 a.m. - while waking up to yet another morning of rain pelting my tent fly - I simply couldn't stomach the thought of breaking down camp ( in the rain ), hiking a quick 6 miles ( in the rain ), setting up camp again ( in the rain ), and then potentially repeating the process all over again the following day. If it were another 20 miles to Silver Lake, then yes, I would have kept to the plan. But 14 miles...? I could push through. Especially with a boost from the intermittent presence of my brother James of Cooke Productions , my "documentary crew" for the first half of the day. "Alright," I said to myself as I looked back down the hill at Green Lake's Site #8 to confirm that I had left no trace. "No stopping now. The way is through. Let's get it!"

In honor of Earth Week, we embraced the challenge of thru-hiking the Detroit's region's most rigorous backpacking route: the Waterloo-Pinckney Trail . This second installment of our series on the Waterloo-Pinckney Trail traverses the most strenuous terrain of the entire journey - as well as discovering welcomed surprises to ease the "Survival Day." Rainstorms while camping: possibly the greatest paradox in the backpacking experience. On one hand, you'll never find a better "white noise" machine than Mother Nature maintaining a steady droplet beat against your rainfly. A wonderfully-deafening rhythm that beckons all weary hikers to further embed themselves into the cocoon of their warm sleeping bag. On the other hand...you're camping. Scratch that, you're backpacking . You need to emerge from the depths of your bag, pack up everything within eyesight into your backpack - including the shelter currently keeping you dry - and hit the trail. The muddy, sandy, hilly, 12-mile Waterloo-Pinckney Trail preselected as your "survival day." Yeah. Burrowing further into the sleeping bag sounded pretty good. I checked the radar, saw that the storms were scheduled to dissipate in a few hours, and succumbed to the temptation. Fast forward a few hours and it's 9:30 a.m. The backcountry equivalent of sleeping in until noon. The natural drumroll that had lulled me back to sleep has calmed to an inconsistent drip, and a lone bird call alerts me that all systems are clear for a prospective launch from the tent. The light in my cavernous backpacker's tent is noticeably brighter now too. As a final precaution, I check the radar again. Bad news. The storms are expected to linger until 2:30 p.m., albeit with brief respite periods like the next 30 minutes. The temptress known professionally as Big Agnes starts to whisper sweet nothings into my ear again, coaxing me back to my 20º-rated bag and Klymit air mattress . " No, " I say so audibly that the bird quits singing, confused with the faceless tent is suddenly speaking. " This is why I brought rain gear. Time to go. " The first battle of the day had been won. There would be several more to fight throughout one epic Day 2 on the Waterloo-Pinckney Trail.

The Great Lakes Tourism Experience Initiative is actively positioning Detroit as the epicenter of the longest interconnected trail network across Canada and the United States. Here's what you should know about our region's great investment in Detroit's outdoor economy. Rendering of the Gordie Howe International Bridge. Image courtesy of the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority. Detroit is no stranger to vast trail networks. The Detroit Riverwalk provides immediate access to the Iron Belle Trail , a hiking and biking trail network which, once completed, will stretch more than 2,000 miles fro m Belle Isle Park to Iro nwood in the western tip of the Upper Peninsula. The forthcoming Great Lakes Way will also connect over 160 miles of greenways and 156 miles of blueways running parallel to the southeastern coast of Michigan. Oh, and don't forget that the Iron Belle Trail connects directly to the North Country National Scenic Trail - a vast footpath stretching over 4,800 miles maintained by the National Park Service that guides thru hikers from Vermont to North Dakota. Dare I say that the Canadian side of the Detroit River is even more connected. The Trans Canada Trail , the longest recreational trail network in the world that ranges over 15,000 miles, extends directly to Windsor’s Riverfront Trail and greater trail network . The Trans Canada Trail also connects with Ontario’s Great Lakes Waterfront Trail , an impressive regional trail network spanning over 2,237 miles around the Great Lakes region, just east of Ontario’s new Ojibway Prairie National Urban Park . Cyclist peddling along the Windsor Riverfront Trail.

Welcome back to our #TrailTuesday Series! This edition features a picturesque jaunt through the winding trails of Kensington Metropark in Milford, Michigan . Join us as Katie shares her first foray as a "Trail Tuesday contributor" while exploring Kensington's enchanting Fox, Chicadee, and Wildwing Trail Loops! Exploration . The word itself conjures a sense of excitement, intrigue, and for some, maybe slight anxiety. New places and new experiences., ranging from adventures close to home like a day trip to a new town, or spanning across oceans to foreign lands. Here at Expedition Detroit , our spirit of exploration leads us to the bountiful and breathtaking adventures that Detroit's nature scene has to offer. There are a myriad of details that are required for any level of exploration. Research to be done, reviews to be read, gear to buy , and details to be hashed out. It takes some serious mental energy - h ence, possible anxiety. As an amateur hiker myself, I find myself investing a substantial amount of time scrolling through Alltrails pages and checking maps as I try to navigate my own adventure planning. It can be a little daunting and overwhelming - which is precisely why I'm excited to share my first #TrailTuesday expedition , taking on that prep work to help empower our community to embrace their longing to explore. So without further ado, let's hit the trail! MEET KENSINGTON METROPARK

Tundra Season is BACK in Detroit, unveiling unprecedented opportunities to dive into one of our region's favorite recreational pastimes: cross-country skiing . Here is our #ExpeditionEssentials guide to the best gear, destinations, and tips for launching into cross-country skiing near Detroit! We've said it once, twice, and will probably say it a million times more: Winter is one of the Detroit region's greatest recreational assets. Yes, we know that the real-feel temperature this morning was -23ºF (-30ºC). Extreme cold weather like this is undoubtedly the most severe natural risk to living and recreating in the Detroit region, so much so that we have published Expedition Detroit's own " Winter Survival Guide . " I wore more layers of protective clothing on yesterday's 1 mile walk than I did on my summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro . Never underestimate a Detroit winter. And yet, think of the alternative - like the lackluster winter that we endured last year. Winter sports annually contributes ~$3 billion to Michigan's $13 billion outdoor recreation industry. Last year, the infamous " Winter of '24 " gutted this revenue with its record-high temperatures, prompting Governor Whitmer to appeal to Congress, the U.S. Small Business Association, and the Federal Emergency Management Authority for Federal financial aid. Detroit's " Big Four Ski Resorts " suffered their worst seasons on record, with most of which closing for the season before the end of February. We did not make it out unscathed either. We did not lead a single guided snowshoe trek all last winter ( hoping to reverse that trend in 2025 - pre-sale is on NOW! ). Another of Expedition Detroit's greatest casualties from last winter involved cross-country skiing - a Detroit region favorite recreational pastime that we have been dying to dig further into since our genesis. Frustratingly, we never had the conditions to bring the sport to this platform. Until now. Winter 2025 - pervasive tundra conditions and all - is dialed in for exploring ALL of the Detroit region's wintertime recreational opportunities . So while these primetime conditions are still in effect, we're launching headfirst into the world-class gear, destinations, and beginner tips for exploring of the best of cross-country skiing near Detroit.