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Welcome to Highland State Recreation Area in Highland, Michigan! This introductory-level guided hike will traverse Highland's intrepid "North Loop" trail. Setting off from the E Livingston Road trailhead, this 2.2 mile hike traverses the rolling pines, mature pine forests, and stunning prairie grasslands of Highland's northern sections. The North Loop provides the perfect terrain for hikers of all experience levels to break in their boots, explore one of Highland's "hidden gem" trails, and kick-off their adventure into the world of hiking! MORE ON THIS TRIP: Meeting Point: Main "MTB Trailhead" parking lot off of E Livingston Road. Elevation Gain: 111 feet Trail Rating: Easy Route Orientation: Loop Parking Specifics: Michigan Recreation Passport required for parking at the MTB Trailhead

Welcome to Holly State Recreation Area in Holly, Michigan! This introductory-level guided hike will traverse Holly's stunning "Wildwood and Valley Lake" Trail. Setting off from the Wildwood and Valley Lake Trail trailhead (directly north of Wildwood Lake before the bridge), this 2.5 mile hike encircles the gentle waters, mature oak forests, and glistening vistas of Holly's southernmost lakes. This lakeside loop provides non-stop views of the wildlife, foliage, and paddlers enjoying one of the crown jewels of Holly Recreation Area's wild places. Come explore one of Holly's most beloved trails and kick-off your adventure into the world of hiking! MORE ON THIS TRIP: Meeting Point: "Wildwood and Valley Lakes Trail" parking lot south of McGinnis Road (follow signs for "Lakeshore Trail") Elevation Gain: 95 feet Trail Rating: Easy Route Orientation: Loop Parking Specifics: Michigan Recreation Passport required for parking at the Wildwood and Valley Lake Trail trailhead parking lot. DIRECTIONS: Enter Holly Recreation Area from McGinnis Road by driving south into entrance marked "HOLLY RECREATION AREA HERON, VALLEY, WILDWOOD LAKES." Follow signage towards Wildwood Lake. Drive past "Overlook Picnic Area" to reach trailhead parking lot directly north of Wildwood Lake bridge (parking lot entrance will be on your right). The tour starts in front of the "LAKESHORE TRAIL" sign.

Welcome to Highland State Recreation Area in Highland, Michigan! This moderate-level guided hike leads intrepid adventurers to the highest of Highlands' three towering moraines: Mount Kanzer, standing tall at an elevation of 1,160 feet. Starting at the southernmost trailhead of Highland - just north of Downtown Milford off of Weaver Road - the trail takes a southern approach to Mount Kanzer following the rolling "Milford Connector Trail." Once across Cooley Lake Road, the trail loops around Highland's southern marshlands until summiting Mount Kanzer just past the mid-way mark. Don't forget to stay on the lookout for abundant wildlife as you complete your summit push! MORE ON THIS TRIP: Meeting Point: Milford Connector parking lot trailhead Trail Length: 3.8 miles Elevation Gain: 233 feet Trail Rating: Moderate Route Orientation: Loop Parking Specifics: Very limited parking at trailhead; free parking pull-off locations also located along Weaver Rd.

Welcome to Pontiac Lake State Recreation Area in Waterford Township, Michigan! Congratulations - by conquering Pontiac Lake's famous MTB Loop, you will have successfully hiked one of the most technical trails in southeast Michigan. Circling around the forested wilderness area north of the namesake Pontiac Lake, the MTB loop features rocky, hilly terrain with sharp turns. As the name suggests, this trail is primarily utilized for mountain biking, but the Michigan DNR has provided Expedition Detroit with limited access to conduct guided trips due to the beauty, challenge, and world-class prestige of the MTB Trail. Perfect for anyone training for advanced hiking around the world, Pontiac Lake's massive MTB loop provides ample technical terrain, steep climbs, and stunning views to satisfy the appetite of any world-class hiker. MORE ON THIS TRAIL: Meeting Point: Main trailhead parking lot off of Williams Lake Road. Elevation Gain: 649 feet Trail Rating: Difficult Route Orientation: Loop (counter-clockwise to mountain biking traffic) Parking Specifics: Michigan Recreation Passport required for parking at the Williams Lake Road trailhead CHECK OUT OUR #TRAILTUESDAY FEATURE ON THIS TRAIL: https://www.expeditiondetroit.com/post/trailtuesday-pontiac-lake-mtb-loop

Welcome to Brighton Recreation Area in Brighton, Michigan! This moderate-level guided hike explores the most consistently top ranked trail in the entire Detroit region: the bucket-list worthy Penosha Trail! This famous loop, described as a "quintessential Michigan hike," has earned its acclaim through the trail's dramatic ridges, mature forests, wildlife-teeming wetlands, and seasonal wildflowers. Perfect for hikers looking for an accessible and perfectly-challenging day hike, the Penosha Trail certainly will become one of your go-to destinations for years to come! MORE ON THIS TRIP: Meeting Point: Bishop Lake trailhead parking lot Trail length: 4.9 miles Elevation Gain: 393 feet Trail Rating: Moderate Route Orientation: Loop Parking Specifics: Michigan Recreation Passport required for parking at Bishop Lake trailhead CHECK OUT OUR #TRAILTUESDAY SPOTLIGHT ON THIS TRAIL: https://www.expeditiondetroit.com/post/trailtuesday-the-penosha-trail

Welcome to Belle Isle Park in Detroit, Michigan! Perfect for beginner trail runners looking to leave the pavement behind with a dedicated guide AND coach, this introductory-level trail run will loop through the easternmost point of Belle Isle, the idyllic "Belle Isle Lighthouse and Blue Heron Lagoon" Trail! Setting off from the Ralph Wilson Gateway, this trail will traverse Belle Isle's southern shore, providing you with stunning views of the Windsor, Canada shoreline, the vibrant Detroit River, and the industrial freighters passing by. You will also pass by the Belle Isle Lighthouse, Blue Heron Lagoon, and locally-named "Hipster Beach" on your route. All introductory level trail runs include not only the helpful insights of a local guide, but also coaching on stride, pacing, and potential route hazards. Additional facts regarding this trail: Meeting Point: Trailhead at the eastern parking lot Trail Length: 2.2 miles Elevation Gain: 22 feet Trail Rating: Easy Route Orientation: Loop Parking Specifics: Michigan Recreation Passport required for parking at the Ralph C. Wilson Trailhead

Welcome to Belle Isle Park in Detroit, Michigan! This introductory-level guided hike will loop through the easternmost sections of Belle Isle along the idyllic "Belle Isle Lighthouse and Blue Heron Lagoon" Trail! Setting off from the Ralph Wilson Gateway, this trail traverses Belle Isle's southern shore, providing you with stunning views of the Windsor, Canada shoreline, the vibrant Detroit River, and the industrial freighters passing by. You will also pass by the Belle Isle Lighthouse, Blue Heron Lagoon, and locally-named "Hipster Beach" on your route. MORE ON THIS TRAIL: Meeting Point: Trailhead at the eastern parking lot Trail Length: 2.2 miles Elevation Gain: 22 feet Trail Rating: Easy Route Orientation: Loop Parking Specifics: Michigan Recreation Passport required for parking at the Ralph C. Wilson Trailhead

Welcome to Proud Lake State Recreation Area in Milford, Michigan! Less crowds, less problems! This moderate-level guided hike explores the lesser-known - but still stunningly beautiful - western segments of Proud Lake. Utilized by hikers, trail runners, mountain bikers, and equestrians alike, Proud Lake's Loops 2 and 3 provide exploration opportunities across the rolling hills, spacious grasslands, dense marshes, and forested trails south of the Huron River and west of Norton Creek. The variable terrain of the West Loops provides an ideal destination for building your hiking experience near the heart of the Detroit region! MORE ON THIS TRIP: Meeting Point: Equestrian staging parking lot at end of Garden Road (trailhead for Loops 2 and 3). Trail length: 4.5 miles Elevation Gain: 255 feet Trail Rating: Moderate Route Orientation: Loop Parking Specifics: Michigan Recreation Passport required for parking at the Garden Road Equestrian Staging parking lot.

Welcome to Maybury State Park in Northville, Michigan! Maybury's rolling hills, dense forests, and scenic wetland vistas provide an ideal locale to start your journey into the world of backpacking. Perfect for first-time or new-ish backpackers, this introductory-level day trip includes instruction on how to properly plan for a backpacking trip, tips on packing your backpack, and practical field training on proper form and pacing - all while exploring one of the Detroit region's most beloved trails, the Maybury State Park "Hiking Trail Loop." Don't forget to bring all of your gear, including - as always - your spirit for adventure! MORE ON THIS TRAIL: Meeting Point: Trailhead at the eastern parking lot Elevation Gain: 127 feet Trail Rating: Easy Route Orientation: Loop Parking Specifics: Michigan Recreation Passport required for parking at the 8 Mile Trailhead CHECK OUT OUR #TRAILTUESDAY SPOTLIGHT ON THIS TRAIL: https://www.expeditiondetroit.com/post/trailtuesday-maybury-state-park-hiking-trail-loop

Welcome to Highland State Recreation Area in Highland, Michigan! Congratulations - by conquering Highland's A-B-C-D Loops, you will have successfully hiked one of the Detroit region's 3 "Black Diamond"-rated hiking trails! Circling around Mount Omich, the four distinct "Alphabet Loops" constitute Highland's most rigorous terrain for our region's most experienced hikers. This trail system is primarily utilized for mountain biking, but the Michigan DNR has provided Expedition Detroit with limited access to conduct guided trips due to the beauty, challenge, and world-class prestige of the MTB Trail. Perfect for anyone training for advanced hiking around the world, these loops provide enough technical terrain, steep climbs, and stunning views to satisfy the appetite of any world-class hiker. MORE ON THIS TRIP: Meeting Point: Main "MTB Trailhead" parking lot off of E Livingston Road. Elevation Gain: 1,309 feet Trail Rating: Difficult Route Orientation: Loop (counter-clockwise to mountain biking traffic) Parking Specifics: Michigan Recreation Passport required for parking at the MTB Trailhead CHECK OUT OUR #TRAILTUESDAY FEATURE ON THIS TRAIL: https://www.expeditiondetroit.com/post/trailtuesday-highland-recreation-area-s-a-b-c-d-loops

Welcome to Brighton Recreation Area in Brighton, Michigan! This moderate-level guided trail run traverses the most consistently top-ranked trail in the entire Detroit region: the bucket-list worthy Penosha Trail! This famous loop, described as a "quintessential Michigan hike," has earned its acclaim through the trail's dramatic ridges, mature forests, wildlife-teeming wetlands, and seasonal wildflowers. Moderate-level trail runs are perfect for any runner training for a 10K, half-marathon, and even marathon distance race. With a guided and coached trail run, you will not only benefit from the experience of a knowledgeable guide, but also reap the physical benefits of running one of the Detroit region's premiere trails. MORE ON THIS TRIP: Meeting Point: Bishop Lake trailhead parking lot Trail length: 4.9 miles Elevation Gain: 393 feet Trail Rating: Moderate Route Orientation: Loop Parking Specifics: Michigan Recreation Passport required for parking at Bishop Lake trailhead CHECK OUT OUR #TRAILTUESDAY SPOTLIGHT ON THIS TRAIL: https://www.expeditiondetroit.com/post/trailtuesday-the-penosha-trail

Welcome to Pontiac Lake State Recreation Area in Waterford Township, Michigan! Congratulations - by conquering Pontiac Lake's famous MTB Loop, you will have successfully ran one of the most technical trails in southeast Michigan. Circling around the forested wilderness area north of the namesake Pontiac Lake, the MTB loop features rocky, hilly terrain with sharp turns. As the name suggests, this trail is primarily utilized for mountain biking, but the Michigan DNR has provided Expedition Detroit with limited access to conduct guided trips due to the beauty, challenge, and world-class prestige of the MTB Trail. As an advanced trail, this trip is perfect for experienced trail runners that are preparing for a half marathon, marathon, or ultra marathon. With a guided and coached trail run, you will not only benefit from the experience of a knowledgeable guide, but also reap the metaphysical benefits of running on one of the "Top 100 Trails" in the U.S. Don't forget to bring all of your gear, including - as always - your spirit for adventure! MORE ON THIS TRIP: Meeting Point: Main trailhead parking lot off of Williams Lake Road. Elevation Gain: 649 feet Trail Rating: Difficult Route Orientation: Loop (counter-clockwise to mountain biking traffic) Parking Specifics: Michigan Recreation Passport required for parking at the Williams Lake Road trailhead CHECK OUT OUR #TRAILTUESDAY FEATURE ON THIS TRAIL: https://www.expeditiondetroit.com/post/trailtuesday-pontiac-lake-mtb-loop