Rouge Park Mountain Bike and Hiking Hybrid Trail

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Features Birding · Fall Colors · River/Creek · Spring · Views · Wildlife

There are a few portions of the trail with an angled slope and steep hills. They are not major but enough to make note of.

If you are going to run this trail, make sure you pay attention to the ground as it is not level. There are many sharp twists and turns so being aware of where you're going at all times is necessary.

Rouge Park is the largest park in the city of Detroit, MI. It is home to many miles of running and biking trails covering many types of terrain from forests to wetlands to prairies.The Mountain Bike and Hiking Trail shown here is one of three running trails that all have trail-heads at the same intersection, making accessing the different trails fairly easy.The Mountain Bike and Hiking Trail is a little over two miles long on the main track with a few other spurs of trail, that are marked by wooden arrows, making the whole trail add up to about three miles.

The trail is a singletrack, large enough for one person or one bike to navigate the trail. There are multiple wooden bridges over small streams and wetlands. The trail twists and winds in some areas around large trees and steep terrain. At the far end of the trail by Joy Rd, the trail exits the woods to the road where you must cross the Rouge River to enter the woods again and continue on the trail.

Overall, the trail is in fair condition and is clear of any major obstructions. On some portions of the trail, poison ivy has crossed the path. Make sure to wear proper footwear and pants and you can enjoy your time with a beautiful piece of nature.

This trail is home to animals like deer, wild turkeys, coyotes, foxes, blue heron, birds, squirrels and many more. Often times, frogs and toads will hop across the trail while you run. There are many, many towering trees creating a beautiful canopy. Along the trail you'll also see different flowers, mushrooms, and other plants like poison ivy. The poison ivy is more prominent on the side of the trail closest to W Outer Drive on the first quarter mile.