Search Results

In the fight to retain the Detroit region's Millennial and Gen Z workers, our greatest - and most underutilized - asset for retaining young professionals is our natural environment. Here's how we can spur on our region's viability through prioritizing the growth of our outdoor opportunities. The Great State of Michigan - and the Detroit region specifically - is an incredible place to call home. Speaking both personally and professionally, we at Expedition Detroit couldn't imagine a better "base camp" location than this corner of the Great Lakes. Beyond the world-class outdoors, resurgent economy, state of the art venues, and cross-border experiences, the main draw to living and working in Detroit can be summarized in one word: "Opportunity." We've experienced that opportunity first hand. While other large metropolitan areas present an upstream battle trying to launch a new career, entrepreneurial pursuit, or nonprofit initiative, the cumulative effect of our relatively low cost of living, rich innovative ecosystem, and undeniably resilient work ethic provides the perfect recipe for successful launches. Truly, the immense growth that we obtained in our first year stems largely for the intangible benefits of simply launching here. In Metro Detroit. Within its emerging outdoor industry. And yet...people are still leaving - especially our region's young professionals, aged 25 to 34. In a recent article published by Crain's Detroit Business, 20-somethings about to graduate from Michigan's universities cited Washington, D.C., Chicago, New York, Seattle, and Minneapolis as "talent magnets" drawing them away from our fresh coasts. For us at Expedition Detroit, this issue is very personal - "the pain point," as an earlier business mentor succinctly put it. Most of my closest friends have taken career opportunities in markets outside of the Detroit region, and especially within "conventional adventure hubs" like Denver, Seattle, Salt Lake City, and North Carolina. Their rationales for doing so were valid, and ultimately they believed that the professional and personal lifestyle opportunities found in other markets fared better than here. In a world inundated with "live your truths," "safe space bubbles," and cheap dopamine hits going for a dime a dozen on social media, the market stands undefeated as an objective indicator for well how a business - or an economy - is truly performing. Yes, the trophy case of accolades that Detroit's resurgence has collected in recent years is worth celebrating, but at the proverbial "close of business," our numbers are down. Worse yet, they're projected to stay down. Unless, of course, we collectively decide to change course in several meaningful ways. We roll up our sleeves as only Detroiters know how to do and refine the strategies that are drawing young professionals to distant destinations. We implement innovative, disruptive, and market-redefining approaches to what it means to live, work, and thrive in a metropolitan area. And, as the stone-cold data supports, one of the best places to start is by emphasizing our outdoors. STATE OF THE YOUNG STATE Friends, there's no way to sugar coat this: the state of Michigan's young state is not good. Since 1990, Michigan has ranked 49th in population growth, with demographers anticipating our figures to further drop until 2050. Beyond non-existent population bragging rights, this prognosis has truly dire consequences for our state's viability. This unfortunate trend means that businesses will continue to struggle accessing a skilled workforce, dynamic corporations will flock to other markets for infrastructure investments, and our state will continue to lose representation in the House of Representatives in Washington, D.C. These doomsday indicators have dominated the headlines for the last month, prompting the Whitmer Administration to expedite "population growth" as one of its key policy issues and establish the "Growing Michigan Together Council." The figures demonstrating Michigan's exodus of recent college graduates is especially worrisome. Only 55% of voters between the age of 18 and 29 believe they will still be living in Michigan a decade from now, according to a statewide public opinion survey. In the period spanning 2017 to 2021, an average of 9,000 Michiganders with bachelor’s degrees or higher left the state every year, according to Census data from the American Community Survey. That figure was fortunately offset somewhat by 3,000 in-bound professionals per year, but the macro-trend still does not bode well for our economic vitality. So...why exactly are college grads adopting the U-Haul as their "official vehicle of young professionals from Michigan"? The main complaint is lack of job opportunities outside of the automotive industry or manufacturing in general. Michigan's cold temperatures, lack of comprehensive public transportation, episodic economic growth have also contributed to repelling our graduates. Each of those very tangible factors can be addressed through economic and infrastructure investments (well, maybe not the cold). There's another category, however, that constitutes a significant draw to younger professionals. A more intangible, yet immensely important, factor to building a life within a particular region. One that the Detroit region is uniquely positioned to capitalize on within the coming decade: Lifestyle. And, as the post-pandemic data continues to supporting, especially an outdoor lifestyle. ALLURE OF THE OUTDOORS "I think a big one for me would be safety in a city, being able to walk around and feeling like I can be able to go out to places and don't have to go with a big group all the time." This quote from a forthcoming Albion College graduate sums up a general sentiment that young professionals - most notably "Generation Z" that came of age during the pandemic - value in their budding careers. Alongside economic opportunities, young workers want to feel alive within and connected to the place where they work. An ample supply of safe green spaces, innovative outdoor infrastructure, and accessibility to world-class outdoor opportunities go hand-in-hand with upward mobility and higher-market salaries within the job searching spectrum. The lasting legacy of the pandemic's impact on the preferences of our young workforce cannot be understated. While Americans struggled with the mental and physical effects of the nation-wide Covid-19 lockdowns, nature became the go-to antidote. With the entrenchment of "work from home" policies spanning multiple years, Americans reevaluated which intrinsic values should be associated with their ideal concept of "home." In this vein, park visitation figures skyrocketed, outdoor recreation participation metrics shattered records, and millions of workers found their preferences irrevocably impacted by the immensity of benefits associated with an outdoor-centric lifestyle. Colorado Springs, CO provides an ideal archetype of the allure of outdoor recreation to young professionals. The city boasts 7,000 acres of open space for hiking and biking, 230 miles of bike trails, 160 miles of park trails, and 105 miles of urban trails. Millennial and Gen Z workers have flocked to the city in droves, noting the draw of seamlessly incorporating outdoor recreation, natural immersion, and exercise into their daily commutes and general work life within the city. A near perfect ying-yang balance of work and life. On a national scope, Outside Magazine, one of the world's leading outdoor industry periodicals, maintains a "Most Livable Towns and Cities in America" list. Each location listed is given a scorecard listing several metrics, including conventional median home price, population, and diversity categories. The scorecards also contain uniquely-outdoor qualifiers, such as percentage of city that's parkland," "percentage of residents who live within a 10-minute walk of a park," and "percentage of residents of color who live within a 10-minute walk of a park." Unsurprisingly, each of the featured cities ranks highly in these outdoor qualifiers. REIMAGINING DETROIT: AMERICA'S PREMIERE OUTDOOR LIFESTYLE DESTINATION This article has admittedly been a "downer," so let's kick off the holidays on a high: Detroit constitutes North America's greatest opportunity to continue reinventing itself as a premiere outdoor destination. One with the undeniable capacity to attract generations of workers - especially younger professionals - to an unmatched quality of work-life balance. No, this isn't wishful thinking. In fact, the foundation has already been laid and the gears are rapidly turning. On the community front, organizations like Thrive Outside Detroit have curated events geared towards engaging the City of Detroit's youth in nature-based activities. Thrive Outside has partnered with the City of Detroit Parks and Recreation Department, the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, the U.S. Forest Service, the Belle Isle Nature Center, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and the Detroit Public Schools Community District to collaboratively engage Detroit's next generation of outdoor enthusiasts with creative and impactful outdoor experiences. From a trails, greenways, and parks perspective, Detroit is spear-heading a multi-tiered approach to connecting its entire community to accessible, world-class outdoor experiences and destinations. Vacant lots are being converted into cutting-edge parks. Initiatives like the Joe Louis Greenway are creating hundreds of miles of safe, accessible, and stunningly beautiful corridors for recreation and transportation. The ever-expanding Detroit Riverfront Trail continues to connect and draw Detroit's disparate neighborhoods to its pristine - and award-winning - riverwalk. As the cherry on top, the new Gordie Howe International Bridge will directly connect all of these city-based destinations to Windsor's section of the Trans-Canada Trail. While we could easily conclude this article with a punch list of cutting-edge outdoor initiatives that have launched within the City of Detroit over the past few years, we'll conclude by reiterating what living, working, and recreating in Detroit presents: opportunity. Especially in the outdoor arena, Detroit's unique geography, land availability, trail infrastructure, and population demographics presents an unprecedented opportunity to creatively innovate within the outdoor recreation industry. In virtually real time, we can craft a regional landscape intended to attract, engage, maintain professionals of all ages, and ethnicities - most notably our recent college graduates. In other words, just as our region pioneered automotive mobility, we have the perfect opportunity to build the prototype for a dynamic, interconnected, and inconclusive outdoor ecosystem. The model outdoor destination for the 21st century professional recreationist. The next generation of great Detroiters.

In honor of the arrival of peaking hunting season in Michigan, we're launching a two-part series on true - yet controversial - considerations for all of Michigan's recreational community. Part One dials in on the vast economic and environmental factors that validate the necessity of hunting within the Detroit region. #HuntingHardKnocks A house divided against itself cannot stand. Then-senate hopeful Abraham Lincoln famously stated those words on June 16, 1858, standing before the Illinois House of Representatives. The U.S. Senate candidate may have lost that particular race, but his immortal speech in opposition of the prolonged existence of slavery within the United States would propel the future president into the political limelight. President Lincoln understood that the longterm viability of the United States depended on unity. The restored political union of the United States of America. The unity of war-torn families. And, most importantly, the unity of core beliefs for all Americans: that all men are created equal, with unalienable rights to pursue life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. In 21st century America, the "house divided" construct continues to rear its consequential head across the full spectrum of our society. Especially within Michigan's outdoor industry, the greatest rift that threatens the longevity of ecological conservation, economic expansion, and community connection can be summed up in one word: hunting. More specifically, the fundamental misunderstanding of the vital necessity of hunting for preserving Michigan's outdoors. The Divided State of the Outdoor Community We at Expedition Detroit have experienced the collateral damage associated with this misunderstanding. Roughly one year ago, we started connecting with industry-leading partners for affiliate marketing opportunities. One particular retailer - which will not be named in this article - was our ideal partner. Aside from being arguably the most influential and recognized outdoor retail brand throughout North America, this brand constitutes a key leader in the outdoor recreation advocacy space. Partnering with this brand in our earliest months could have been a catalyst for growth. Alas, after a lengthy application process, the Expedition Detroit team experienced our first operational heartbreak. A denied application, along with a short explanation as to why: "Web content prominently features gun violence and/or hunting." My jaw dropped when I read those words. For starters, and to the chagrin of Expedition Detroit's hunting faithful, our hunting-related content is the least-publicized across our platform. Aside from the indisputable sensitivity surrounding the topic, that statistic also results from the relatively narrow and insulated scope that hunting has compared to other mixed-trail recreational genres. Additionally, we have always sought to produce our hunting content in a manner that promotes responsible, ethical, and environmentally-conscious practices. Second, and more significantly, painting "gun violence" and "hunting" with the same broad brush is irresponsibly misleading, offensive, and destructive for the growth and sustainability of the greater outdoor economy and community. Gun violence in the United States is undoubtedly one of our country's most horrendous issues. A multifaceted societal stain that has robbed us of the sanctuaries of our schools, festivals, theaters, and places of worship. The leading cause of premature death in the U.S. Something that no rational person - or company - could ever support. Allow us to be abundantly clear: hunting is NOT gun violence. "Gun violence" is defined as "homicide, violent crime, attempted suicide, suicide, and unintentional death and injury" resulting from a firearm. While hunting does involve taking life, and often via the use of a firearm, no aspect of hunting inherently aligns with the definition of gun violence. This particular retailer's uneducated and plainly stupid association of these two disparate concepts only serves to associate ethical and conservation-minded hunters with the most horrific acts of our country's last two decades. To the contrary, leading environmental advocacy organizations like Leave No Trace and household-name brands like Patagonia and Black Diamond actively support hunting. Leave No Trace has affirmed that hunting is a "great American pastime and helped shape many of our first public lands, as well as "a legitimate, traditional and acceptable outdoor recreational pursuit." In Mark Kenyon's phenomenal book That Wild Country, Kenyon recalls the following words from Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard, once a stark anti-hunting advocate, at a wildlife conservation conference: "They say that hunters and tree huggers can't get together. That's bullshit. The only way we're going to get anything done is to work together." Now, this article is not intended to convert any vegans into ardent hunters. At all. Instead, we at Expedition Detroit believe that educating our growing community on the necessity of hunting is of dire importance. To our knowledge, Mr. Chouinard has never hunted in his 85 years exploring this beautiful place we call Earth - yet now recognizes the immense value of hunting for conservation, even without his direct participation in it. Value that Michigan cannot afford to lose. The Irreplaceable Value of Hunting "Warmer winters, fewer hunters have Michigan deer numbers soaring — and it's becoming a problem." Detroit Free Press, October 2022. "Drop in hunting, fishing licenses could harm Michigan economy, reports show." Bridge Michigan, January 2019. "Fewer hunters but more deer as Michigan's firearms season begins." Crain's Detroit Business, November 2018. Just by taking a quick glance at the hunting-related headlines over the last few years, you can easily tell which direction Michigan hunting is headed towards. Likewise, you can also sense the negative undertone of these headlines - that hunter numbers are diminishing, deer herds especially are booming, and that those facts are newsworthy problems. From a purely economic perspective, the sale of hunting and fishing licenses remains a core fiscal component of several interwoven business models. From supercharging the Michigan Department of Natural Resources's financial capacity to supporting thousands of small businesses, the long-term viability of hunting remains a vital economic interest. Here's a helpful infographic produced by the Michigan United Conservation Clubs on this point: Especially for small businesses - over 171,000 to be exact - the economic necessity of hunting provides essential support for hotels, restaurants, convenience stores, and over 4,000 gas stations across Michigan. In fact, these disparate groups have joined the advocacy group Hunting Works for Michigan as an effort to further support this narrow, yet vital, facet of Michigan's larger outdoor recreation industry. That degree of reliance is troubling when compared to recent trends in annual hunter participation. Firearm deer-hunting licenses sold to Michiganders has dropped more than 20% in two decades, down to 621,000 in 2017 from a peak of 785,000 in 1998. The estimated number of hunters that have left the field is over 200,000 and growing since 2000. This problem is further compounded by the fact that Michigan's largest demographic of hunter - white men over the age of 60 - has constituted the leading consumer demographic for over 20 years. Stated differently, the exact same hunting participants, in their individual capacities, have largely carried the conservation torch since the early 2000s. Those consumers are almost 70 now. Not to be morbid, but their days in the woods - and the corresponding economic impact - are dwindling. Rapidly. Urbanization Demands Active Wildlife Management At this point in the article, certain readers may actually be celebrating the sunset of the Boomer generation's hunting participation. We can't fault you for that - as we noted earlier, hunting certainly isn't for every outdoor enthusiast. But please - don't pop the champagne yet. In fact, we implore you to utilize that energy towards brainstorming alternative conservation solutions to hunting. Why? Because a massive exodus of hunters would prove to be an ecological disaster for Michigan's outdoors, and especially the wildlife that are carefully managed, studied, and preserved through hunting programs. Especially with regard to whitetail deer, Michigan's herds are dangerously flourishing. The statewide deer population is estimated at 2 million deer, up 300,000 from a decade ago. Spurred on by warmer climates and hunter participation decreases, this ballooning population has caused a 6.6% increase in deer-related car accidents and a 59.6% increase in crop damage. This oversized herds are also wreaking havoc on forest floors, eliminating young trees, wildflowers, and plants that are essential for warding off invasive species. The Michigan DNR is also strongly concerned regarding the extent of disease emission that accompanies out-of-control and dense deer populations. The Michigan deer herd has two diseases persisting in it: bovine tuberculosis and chronic wasting disease. Bovine tuberculosis, a bacterial disease, causes concern because infected deer can give it to nearby livestock like cattle, and vice versa. Chronic wasting disease - a contagious neurological disease that affects deer, elk and moose - causes a degeneration of the brain resulting in emaciated "zombie deer" that behave erratically, lose bodily functions and ultimately die. Here's the kicker to all of these problems: they are entirely our fault. And by "our," I mean modern American society and our relentless urbanization. In short, "urbanization" involves converting rural land into suburbs - including the eradication of undesirable predators, animal and human alike. Urbanization inherently consists of habitat destruction, which for most species means displacement and necessary migration. Not so for the whitetail deer. To the contrary, deer populations thrive in urbanized, suburban environments. More specifically, the Detroit region's deer herds swell within fragmented "edge" habitats that often occurs with modern suburban developments (think tracts of trees between houses). Throw in an ample foraging supply from landscaping and hardly any natural predators, you have the perfect equation for disastrous population growth in the name of urbanization. Effectuating the Necessity of Hunting Now that we've inundated you with more hunting and deer management statistics than you could have ever hoped to learn, we're coming full circle to affirm the hard knock truth about hunting in Michigan - especially hunting near urbanized areas like Detroit: It's a multifaceted necessity for the sustainability of our outdoors. Arguably the most important recreational pursuit due to the ecological problems that we, collectively as a society, have carelessly created. In light of all of the rationales listed above, the Michigan DNR has for several years all but begged Michiganders to educate themselves on and participate in hunting. Especially as the older generation steadily exits the field, the DNR is actively trying to attract new hunters to regions like Metro Detroit through several unprecedented policy changes. These include lowering the minimum participation age, outreach and education programs, expanding Southeast Michigan's bow hunting season to January 31st, creating new hunting opportunities for Michiganders with disabilities, antler point restriction relaxation, and the virtual elimination of antlerless permits in the lower peninsula. For us at Expedition Detroit, we strongly encourage our community to support hunting either actively or passively by simply buying a license. While our sincere hope is that this article educates and influences every reader towards a more wholistic view on hunting, we recognize that getting every outdoor enthusiast on board with the recreational pursuit represents wishful thinking at best. No, our much more rational goal is simply to re-engage the narrative on hunting in the Detroit region by examining well-researched facts. Taking a deep dive into the rationales the support - no, demand - the necessity of hunting on a large scale for the ecological sustainability of our wild life and remaining wild places. We will never fault someone for not wanting to take an animal's life. But in light of the society that we've created, we need a significant percentage of our population to recognize immensity of benefits in doing so. Who knows - in the process you may even fall in love with this timeless recreational passion, just like the millions of Americans that seek solitude and adventure in the woods this time of year. This article briefly touches on the sensitive topic of gun violence in the United States - a public health epidemic that has exacted an immense emotional, economic, and societal toll within communities across our country. Gun violence is preventable: Expedition Detroit strongly encourages our community to educate themselves on the issue and advocate for common sense solutions that address the underlying causes, warning signs, and proliferation of gun violence in America.

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 - hence, 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 Shockingly accessible despite its expansive outdoor opportunities and colorful history, Kensington Metropark is conveniently located directly off of I-96, close to the "Trail Town" of Milford, Michigan. The MetroPark was named after the early-19th century town of Kensington, whose current park grounds were once home to a bustling farming community. Founded in 1832, the settlement grew and expanded to include a sawmill along the great Huron River, a bank, taverns, general stores and homesteads. Sadly, the town's lifetime was a short one. By the 1930s, Kensington essentially diminished to a ghost town due to financial troubles at the aforementioned bank, lack of a railway station, and a dam. In the 1940s, plans were made to transform the land into a nature lover's idyllic destination, and they started by building the dam that birthed the shining 1,200 acre Lake Kent. If you keep your eyes peeled, you can see the last physical remnants of the Village of Kensington's buildings along the Aspen Trail. Today, the Kensington Metropark boasts an impressive 4,481 acres full of opportunities for hiking, biking, running, picnics, boating, wildlife life photography, golf courses and beaches. But today, our focus stays on this favorite natural trail. HIT THE TRAIL Total Distance: 4.75 mi Elevation Gain: 207 ft Trail Rating: Moderate Route Orientation: Loop Parking Specifics: Parking available at the Nature Center; MetroParks Pass Required A favorable start to this trail involves the ease of parking and embarking right at the trailhead. You will begin your trek at the Nature Center: a bustling hub for wildlife photographers and bird feeding enthusiasts. Some guidelines to note: due to Kensington Metropark's abundance of wildlife - especially along the Fox, Chicadee, and Wildwing Trail Loops - this trail does not allow dogs, bikers or runners. That being said, do not fret - there are ample opportunities for those pooches, bikes and joggers at other locations around the park. This particular trail is meant to be enjoyed and savored from the vantage point of a peaceful, yet pleasantly challenging, hike. The trailhead is well marked right across from the Nature Center building itself. You will appreciate the frequent trail markers placed throughout the trail including an easy to read map. This journey almost feels like the unfolding of a storybook, moving from chapter to chapter, each one revealing its own unique habitat to explore. This trail's story starts in the marshes. The gravel path leads you along gentle curves and slopes for about half a mile, winding through marches and swaying reeds. To navigate the wet terrain, the name of the game here is wooden bridges. Lots of them. And pay heed to the warning signs - yes, they can be slippery. Keep your footing and continue onward, and you will be rewarded by the views of Kingfisher Lagoon, and the many birds flitting through the delicate perches. It may be hard to resist the allure of gorgeous side paths (specifically the number 15 trailer marker) which leads farther into the marshes. There you may be met by a gang of friendly songbirds looking for a handout. Remember, we are on the Chicadee Loop and it is aptly named! Next chapter, the meadows. Gravel fades to dirt, and the trees loom larger as the trail gains some elevation, and ushers you into hilly and lush meadows. Benches are tucked away, offering a stop for some rest and refection. There is beauty to be found here in all seasons, from the lush green of summer, the rusty crispness of autumn, or the frosty covered branches in a clean winters morning. The trail gradually steepens, ushering you through twisty hills to highest point of elevation, and into the heart of the loop - the vast forest terrain. For the next mile, the path weaves its way around trees, offering an engaging level of difficulty as you navigate the occasional rockiness and protruding roots. After 2.7 miles logged, you may wonder if you've seen all there is to see. But fret not traveler, you have more scenic views to discover! Emerging from the trees, you will notice the Nature Center off in the distance, and there is the option to take the path that gives you a nice quick shortcut back to the parking lot. But if you are up to log a couple more miles, continue on! You are now entering the final lake side chapter. This final mile and a half is fun and engaging, as your terrain will vary between dirt paths, dip back into the forest for leafy carpets, then meander closer to the water for serene views of waves and waterfowl. You may encounter a family of sandhill cranes, spot a shy doe through the trees, or meet more friendly song birds. As your adventure comes to a close, the final hurrah appears in the form of a water walkway. Sit and catch your breath, and immerse yourself in the full expanse of Wildwing Lake as you and commend yourself on a successful trek! WEEKEND BONUS TIPS Kensington Metropark is a prime choice for a weekend excursion. If this beautiful trail wasn't enough of an attraction, you have a seemingly unlimited selection of recreational activities. Where to begin within Kensington's "Can't Miss Experiences"... Be sure to stop in at the Nature Center for instructional and engaging exhibits. You can also mosey on over to the Farm Center, a 150 year old restored barn and working farm, that provides a glimpse back into Kensington's farming history through animals, exhibits and and special programs. Links aficionados can break out their 9 irons for a couple rounds of golf. Make plans for seasonal fun, including sledding and visits with Santa, or outdoor movie nights on a balmy summer evening. If you're looking for even more active recreation, then hit the water for some fishing, kayaking, beach chilling, splashpads, or a lakeside picnic. For land lovers, a paved 8.5 mile loop follows the shores of the massive Kent Lake - this loop represents a well-loved destination for bikers, walkers, and doggos alike. Oh, and once the snow hits, strap on your cross country skis to experience the course in all it's winter glory. 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 grand, festive finale of our #EmbraceTheDark Series, we invite you to join us in celebrating the shortest solar day of the year through one, two, or all of these top experiences for making the most of the 2022 Winter Solstice in Detroit's outdoors. Ladies and gentlemen, outdoor enthusiasts one and all, I've got good news: today is the best day of the year to get outside. Today is a weird day. A very, very short and cold day. The perfect day to carpe diem, because if you blink, well, you just might miss it. Today is December 21st, 2022, a.k.a. the "Winter Solstice," that marks not only the official first day of winter in the northern hemisphere, but also the shortest solar day of the year. The sun will rise today at 7:57 a.m., which is exactly an hour after this article is scheduled to be published. The sun will set at 5:02 p.m., providing us with exactly 9 hours, 4 minutes, and 46 seconds of daylight. The perfect timeframe to make every moment count in Detroit's outdoors. Before diving into our "Top Five Experiences," let's acknowledge one glaring contradiction: this #EmbraceTheDark article is not about the dark. If anything, it's about the fear of the dark - five ways to maximize the fleeting amount of daylight that greatly expands our ability to recreate uninhibited in the outdoors. So yes, we're breaking from the status quo a bit here - but given the natural human aversion to setting out for nocturnal expeditions, we figured most readers would appreciate ending this series on a brighter, sunnier note. Here are the top five experiences for experiencing the Winter Solstice in Detroit's Outdoors. 1. Watch the Sunrise from "The Tip" at Point Pelee National Park Spoiler alert: by the time that you are reading this article, a certain member of the Expedition Detroit team (who is also writing this article) will most likely be standing at the very tip of Point Pelee, recording a fleeting sunrise over the southeastern waves of Lake Erie. That's right, my friends - the single best way to kick off the shortest solar day of the year is by venturing to the single location where you are most likely to witness its genesis. A quick glance at our Destinations map will prove our point: "The Tip" at Point Pelee National Park in Ontario wins out as the most dramatic location to experience a sunrise in the entire Detroit region. Hiking out to Point Pelee, however, is just the tip of the ice burg (pun intended) for experiencing the national park. We've referenced Point Pelee numerous times throughout our articles - and plan on writing a feature soon - but Canada's second-smallest national park packs a massive recreational punch for outdoor enthusiasts of all genres. We're talking extensive marsh kayaking, beach hiking, pristine cycling, and world-class bird watching. Absolutely worth a full-day visit over the holidays if you're unable to make it out today to share the sunrise with me (and if you catch me while I'm visiting, don't be a stranger). 2. Opt Outside for your Morning Run With Covid-era restrictions long in remission, most of us have probably settled back into something similar to our circa 2019 workweek habits. Alarm clocks set to conventional times, morning treadmill runs, and standard commutes...you know the drill. However, on today of all days - and especially if your schedule still permits for somewhat flexible mornings - we highly encourage you to swap the treadmill for a real deal, trail run tomorrow morning. Why do we encourage you to hit the trail? Well, other than the immense physical benefits that trail running provides versus other forms of running, outdoor morning runs provide accentuated cognitive benefits like improved executive functions, memory, problem-solving, verbal fluency, decision making, inhibitory control, and sustained attention levels as the fatigue of the workday sets in. Just be sure to plan your base and mid-layers appropriately for temperatures projected for just above freezing. 3. Take Your Mid-Day Walk to a New Park Unable to get that morning run in? Eh, walk it off - but figuratively and physically. Tomorrow's "mid-day" point will hit at exactly 12:30 p.m., right in the dead center of most American workers' lunch hour. Regardless of where you work, we strongly encourage you to seize this rapidly diminishing moment of daylight to log out of work, leave your phone at your desk, and bask in at least 30 minutes of a work-free escape to the outdoors. Similar to a morning run, scientific studies have proven that recreating in the outdoors during the workday - even if such recreation comprises solely of a walk around a park near your office - immensely boosts productivity cognitive functions while decreasing hormones inducing stress, anxiety, and depression. These mental health benefits are further amplified when exploring new environments vs. familiar routes that you could probably sleepwalk. For your own sake, we challenge you to find a new park in your immediate vicinity that you can spend a "mental health walk" exploring today. Who knows, it may become your next go-to park for a mid-day walk...until next year's Winter Solstice prompts the discovery of another. 4. Bike the Trails Before the Storm In case you missed the headlines from the last few days (no, not the ones about the Lions' playoff hopes, although we're stoked about those too), a Christmas snowstorm is looming on the horizon. The precipitation will start as rain on Thursday, but then evolve to snow sometime Thursday night or early Friday morning. Meteorologists are currently predicting around 4 inches or greater of snow. If you're predominantly a skier or snowboarder, the 4+ inches of snow are a much-overdue blessing for building up the base snow levels needed to ride our region's backcountry lines (the resorts' snowblowers could also use a hand). For most mountain bikers (aside from fat tire riders), this news likely strikes as the final nail in the coffin for the 2022 MTB season. The frozen, grippy trails have been such a blessing over the last week, but alas, all good things must come to an end - especially with Thursday's rain forecast. Well, not quite yet. Today's Winter Solstice provides the majority of our MTB community with one last, glorious ride into the proverbial sunset. Is there a trail on your 2022 wishlist that for one reason or another you just haven't been able to hit? Good - today's the day my friend. There are no excuses left in this year. The sun is likely setting as you're reading this. The storms of tomorrow are looming. The trail is perfect now - right this very second. In fact, we'll forgive you the usually unforgivable sin of not finishing an Expedition Detroit article to grab your bike, buckle your helmet, and hit that elusive trial. 5. Watch the Sunset from a Chairlift When it comes to natural "mountains," Detroit's "Big Four" ski resorts only have so much terrain to work with. One of the very few natural drawbacks to recreating in the Great Lakes region vs. the Rocky Mountains or Appalachia. Regardless of that fact, there is one undeniable aspect of Detroit skiing that our resorts absolutely crush: night skiing. I don't care how many times you've skied or snowboarded at the Big Four, there's a childlike instinct that comes out when the giant lamps start to glow around sunset. Your legs could be shaking a bit after carving up the slopes all day, but when those lights start to illuminate the hill, a surge of new life springs from the illuminated snow. I'm writing from personal experience here - the Expedition Detroit team dusted off our skis for some inaugural turns at Alpine Valley Ski Resort last weekend, and oh boy - skiing under the lights just hits different. As we mentioned earlier, today's sunset is scheduled for 5:02 p.m. Fortunately for our resident night riders, each of the Big Four have special, discounted tickets that run from 3 p.m. until the resorts close. In other words, you should be on the slopes with plenty of time to maximize the Solstice's remaining daylight, caught a multi-colored #PureMichigan sunset, and burn the late-night oil churning turns under the lamps. Name a better way to close out the shortest day of the year - we'll wait. Regardless of whether you've been with us for a few months now or if this is your first Expedition Detroit read, you've probably caught on to a general high-level theme: we love the aspects of our environment that the vast majority of the mainstream outdoor community either ignores or straight-up, outright rejects. Major outdoor guide forums and retailers don't view Detroit as an international gateway to the outdoors? Fantastic - we're going to dig deep and highlight every park, trail, and retailer that provides access to world-class opportunities. Casual outdoor recreationists emigrate from our region every year once the temperature drops into the 30s and daylight diminishes a bit? No worries - we'll double-down and launch a series titled #EmbraceTheDark aimed solely at outdoor opportunities best experienced in the darkest and coldest of conditions. In a way, we're celebrating a Winter Solstice spent in the outdoors because this day encapsulates the values of this community. Making the most of every opportunity accessible to us. Not along any obstacles, whether those are man-made, environment-induced, or literally celestial like sunlight quantity, to affect your capacity for embracing and thriving in an outdoor lifestyle. Forcing us to face the reality that not all days are created equal, but that fact should motivate rather than discourage us from lacing up the running shoes, strapping on the helmet, or adding an extra layer before getting after it. There's definitely a formal definition for the word "Expedition," but I'm not going to Google it for this article. Let's each invent our own definition today, starting with "the maximization of every outdoor experience presented to you today." That's our expedition for this Winter Solstice - and we can't wait to see you on the trail.

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. 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. 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! 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!

Sunset marks the starting gate for a whole new genre of adventure, although with one major caveat: it's dark outside. Have no fear, outdoor enthusiasts - you will #EmbraceTheDark in no time with the following essential night gear for your next nocturnal expedition. Every adventure-seeker has been there at least once. You've done your research, selected the route, and are ready to hit the trail. Then, naturally, life intervenes. You receive an unexpected business call, a project falls through, family matters need attending to, and the net result is that your timely adventure plans become unfeasible - especially during these shorter, darker days. While many recreationists who fall victim to these circumstances opt to bail on their original plan, stocking your closet with the right gear can significantly mitigate the effect of daylight on your plans. Wait, let's rephrase that - the right gear will enhance your expeditions well beyond the constraints of daylight. Nighttime hikes, bike rides, runs, and even paddles just simply add an element of adventure that identical daytime ventures can't match. But there's obviously one glaring catch: you need the right gear to facilitate these nocturnal activities. A headlamp or flashlight is a clear necessity, but which variety or style of headlamp is best suited for our region? Which reflective gear is preferred for running, hiking, biking, or kayaking? Is it legally required to have certain gear for a particular activity? Don't worry, friends - we will answer all of those questions and more in this article. Expedition Essentials: Night Gear This article is a little bit of a "two-for-one special" since we're covering an #ExpeditionEssentials gear review for nighttime exploration. Unlike our typical gear reviews, we'll be breaking this category down by essentials for the following specific activities: hiking, running, mountain biking, and paddling. Yes, we at Expedition Detroit recognize that a lot of the following gear items can be used interchangeably between recreational activities. That being said, even items as fundamental as a headlamp vary in utility for sports like mountain biking vs. hiking. More on that in a bit. Hiking Gear Planning for a nighttime hike involves the lowest barriers to entry and most versatility of gear choices for new nocturnal adventurers, so we recommend starting with acquiring special hiking gear for exploring your favorite local trail post-sunset. Layered Clothing Start with the basics: you should always dress in layers, especially for the cooler-to-freezing temperatures that fluctuate in the Detroit region this time of year. If you start out before sunset, bring along an extra layer to pull on when the temperature inevitably starts to cools off. Here's a crash-course on layering: Base Layer ("underwear layer"): Arguably most important layer; goal is to wick sweat off your skin. 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. Any of these layers can be readily purchased from your local outdoor retailer or a leading national retailer like REI. Specifically for nighttime hiking, however, your outermost layers should be well-suited for the elements and have reflective qualities. We live in the north, so your middle layer at a bare minimum should provide enough warmth to handle freezing temperatures. Likewise, your outer layer should be waterproof for sleet and snowy conditions. For visibility purposes, also look for jackets that have reflective attributes like reflective logos and other hits that light sources will pick up. The final clothing items that you should include in your pre-night hike checklist are for your extremities. Regardless of whether your middle or outer layer features a hood, we always recommend a warm beanie or similar hat to cover your head and ears. Gloves or mittens are also an essential, especially if you plan to carry trekking poles with you. Last but certainly not least, don't forget warm and durable hiking socks to ground your trek. Headlamps There are very few absolutes in life, but this is certainly one: night hiking requires a good headlamp. Yes, you can also carry a flashlight (and may want to include a back-up one in your pack), but we strongly recommend a headlamp due to the versatility that it provides for your hands. As you may have noticed during past trips to your local outfitter, not all headlamps are created equal. Volumes of research exist breaking down the different attributes of hiking headlamps, with the key differentiators being beam type, light (lumens) output, beam distance, battery life, light modes, charge input (batteries/rechargeable), and weight. 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 hiking headlamp market. Snowshoe Bonus: Your night hiking gear will also suit for any snowshoeing adventures that you should definitely plan for this winter! The only caveat is that you should also purchase snow pants with reflective qualities, but otherwise your night hiking gear will serve you well despite trading the hiking boots for snowshoes. Who doesn't love a two-for-one special. Running Gear While running and hiking certainly belong in the same recreational family - let's call them "trail sport cousins" - night running vs. hiking gear differ in several major ways. The bulkier gear required for night hiking is both impractical and potentially hazardous for running. Night running gear includes the same reflective qualities as hiking gear, but otherwise must be lighter and better suited for extensive cardio workouts. The three most important factors for night running gear are visibility, warmth, and comfort. With visibility, a runner's goal should comprise of 360-degree visibility with equipment beyond just a headlamp. Especially if you prefer road running to trail running, you will significantly diminish the likelihood of injury from passing cars or distracted pedestrians if you wear equipment like one of the headlamps referenced earlier, plus additional illuminating gear like a reflective vest, LED "slap wrap" arm band, LED waist belt, and even a LED "LightSpur" heel wrap. Aside from the flashy LED apparel, your outermost layers - most likely a running jacket and your shoes - should also feature reflective qualities to catch high beams or other headlights. For warmth, base layers remain a runner's best friend. While you may recycle some of your hiking base layers for your runs, you should always start your runs slightly cold since your body temperature will heat up noticeably during your run (dress for 15-20 degrees warmer than the current temperature). With temperatures in the 30s, you should wear lighter base layers with a vest or a mid-layer top, tights, hat, and thin gloves. Last but certainly not least, colder night hikes require comfortable gear. If your base layers or accessories cause chaffing, inhibit mobility, or are simply too heavy, don't waste any time returning them for more comfortable fits. One extremely important gear item that should comprise of the utmost comfort quality is your socks. Trust us - your blister-less feet will thank you. Mountain Biking Gear When it comes to night MTB ventures, light is the name of the game. Beyond obviously acquiring a powerful front-facing headlight, you will also need to acquire a rear light (especially important if you plan on traversing main roads to reach the trail head). Yes, you need the red light - Michigan law requires nighttime cyclists to ride with a rear red reflector visible from 100 to 600 feet away, or a rear red lamp visible from 500 feet. When it comes to lights suitable for mountain biking, not all headlamps are created equal. The three most important aspects for deciding on a front-facing headlamp are luminosity, beam pattern, and mounting options. For the Detroit region's MTB trails, headlamps with at least 1,000 lumens should be adequate (note: this is significantly more than hiking/running headlamp lumens). For beam pattern, the easy rule to remember is that broader is better: the broader a light’s beam, the more of the trail it will illuminate, which in turn creates a much smoother riding experience. Also don't forget to review the beam's light color qualities before riding out in the dead of night. A "warmer," yellower light will help your eyes adjust to and identify trail details; a "colder," bluer light omits a glare that our eyes struggle to perceive while riding. Last, the two ideal mounting options for forward-facing headlamps are either a helmet-mounted light or a handlebars-mounted light. While there's some debate regarding which mount facilitates a better night ride, helmet mounts seem to have the edge based on the variability of light-placement options - especially if your trail of choice has several sharp, hidden turns. Or...hear us out...you could get both a helmet AND handlebar lights for unhindered illumination on the trail, which is the favored tactic for night riders willing to spend a little extra cash. The Specialized Flux 1250 headlight checks every box from our three-factor analysis, and as such earns our unsponsored endorsement. The headlight comes with both handlebar and helmet mounting options. Paddling Gear Contrary to popular belief, winter does not signal the end of paddling season. In fact, neither does the sunset of even the longest summer day. For any readers who strongly detest crossing paths with another human on the trail, a winter, nighttime kayak will certainly be your best bet for having one of the Detroit region's water trails all to yourself (although we strongly recommend paddling with another paddler). Similar to the other activities listed here, however, there are some essential gear purchases to make before launching into the water - some of which are mandated by law. Let's start with those legal reqs, shall we? The one universal requirement under Michigan law states that all unpowered 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. Michigan law also requires paddlers to carry either a wearable personal flotation device ("PFD") or a throwable PFD for each person on board a vessel. One more legal note for night paddling before I'll retire my lawyer side for a bit. While most of the Detroit region's inner waterways fall under Michigan state jurisdiction, the Great Lakes constitute international boundary waters and therefore fall under the U.S. Coast Guard's jurisdiction. As such, special regulations apply to 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 signals. Now that we have the legal requirements aside, all that remains for night paddling essentials is warm, water-proof or resistant clothing. As a general tip, 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 otherwise used for hiking, running, or biking. No need for an outer layer - your windproof, waterproof, and breathable drysuit takes care of that. Quick Safety Add-Ons Sport-specific gear aside, let's address the elephant in the article: night can make even the most passionate outdoor enthusiast uncomfortable, especially due to the increased risk of human or nature-induced harm. We absolutely understand that, so we wanted to share a few quick best practices for nighttime recreational safety (especially for newer recreationists): Always tell someone where you’re going. Day or night, you should let someone know where you’re heading just in case you don’t make it back in the time that you expect to. If possible, avoid going solo. Exploring at night can be intimidating and your mind can be your own worst enemy when you’re out there by yourself. Every snap of a twig or looming shadow can feel like a threat. If you’re just getting into hiking, running, or biking at night, go with a group of friends. If you're heading out to paddle, going with at least one other person should almost always be a prerequisite to even getting into the water after sundown. Bring a cellphone for emergencies. Understand that you can’t always count on getting cell service. Be observant. It’s easy to get turned around in the dark, even on a trail that you’ve traveled on several times during daylight hours. Watch for trail markers and turns. If you intentionally leave the trail for any reason, take mental notes on how to get back on track. When in the water - especially in busy waterways, which should be avoided at night if possible - stay on the lookout for other watercraft or potential obstructions. Slow down. Darkness makes terrain more challenging, even on your local, familiar trails. Slow down and don’t expect to travel at your daylight pace. Start on a familiar route. Especially if you’re new to night hiking, running, biking, or paddling, start on a trail that you’ve traveled many times during the day to minimize the lack of familiarity that may set in at night. Be ready for wildlife. Most nighttime wildlife encounters are casual (and pretty cool), but your sudden presence on especially a mountain bike may prompt an unexpected and defensive response from otherwise benign animals. Listen and look for animals, not only so that you can enjoy seeing them but also so that you can respond to any hostile encounters if necessary. Take advantage of a full moon. Have you ever hiked in the middle of the night without your headlamp on? It's truly an ethereal experience that nearly eliminates most of the darkness-related risks described above. 10/10 recommend. If you're still with us by now, you have our utmost respect and appreciation. This article turned out longer than anticipated, but we truly wanted to provide a comprehensive "one-stop-shop" for all matters related to nighttime adventuring. We hope that this article will prove useful for inspiring, equipping, and protecting the Detroit region's next legion of nocturnal explorers and outdoor enthusiasts. Whether we prefer it or not, our natural environment becomes shrouded in darkness for a solid portion of the year. Let's embrace that wholeheartedly, yet responsibly. This article provides the gear and knowledge to get your mind and body in the right place for nighttime exploration. All that's left now is to get out there. And, as always, we can't to see you out there.

Looking for a change a pace for the last night of the Thanksgiving holiday weekend? We've got you - our initial installation of our #EmbraceTheDark Series shines a spotlight on the best destinations for stargazing near Detroit. "Holy crap, Dan - you've gotta get out here!" Usually when my wife calls out to me from outside of a tent, red flags go off in my head. Animals. Intruders. Bugs. Something has inevitably gone awry on our backcountry expedition. Especially at night. But her tone last summer in the Colorado wilderness was different. You could sense the excitement - that she was witnessing something unique, ethereal, unnatural to our normal surroundings. As I came to discover moments later, she had discovered the unhindered brilliance of the cosmos. Nature's greatest light show. A perfectly starlit night with zero light pollution. Yes, we were camping in the heart of the Snowmass Wilderness of Colorado, hundreds of miles away from civilization. That complete absence of light pollution is unfortunately impossible to experience when trekking within a 1 hour's drive of a major international metropolitan area. That being said...nature remains indomitable. Just a few acres of unadulterated green space can create a noticeable decrease in light pollution. So, the Expedition Detroit research team (aka, yours truly) went to work scouring the best stargazing opportunities based on available clear sky charts and light pollution maps. Lo and behold, we found some gems hiding in plain sight. Perfect destinations for a starlit hike or romantic adventure. All within an hour's drive of Downtown Detroit. Happy stargazing, Detroit! 1. Point Pelee National Park | Ontario, Canada Canada’s smallest national park packs one hell of a punch for its size. One more accolade to add to its list is that Point Pelee National Park tops our list as the best stargazing opportunity in the Detroit Region, especially as you venture closer to its southernmost tip protruding into Lake Erie. Unsurprisingly, the Windsor Centre of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada designated Point Pelee National Park as a “Dark Sky Preserve'' in 2006. The park hosts regular “Dark Sky Night” events throughout the year, with the remaining two for 2022 taking place on November 26th and December 17th. 2. Waterloo State Recreation Area | Chelsea, Michigan Not to be outdone by our Canadian cousins, Michigan’s State Recreation Areas on the western frontier of Metro Detroit also provide ample stargazing vistas. Waterloo State Recreation Area is the foremost American park in the Detroit Region for enjoying a starlit night, although light pollution from Jackson does start to creep in around the park’s southeast sections. We recommend reserving a campsite at Green Lake to get the most bang for the experience, although only the Green Lake Yurt will be available for winter stargazing expeditions (other camping opportunities are also available depending on the season). 3. Pinckney State Recreation Area | Pinckney, Michigan You may have noticed this trend across our research too, but whenever Waterloo appears on a “Best Of” list, Pinckney State Recreation Area isn’t far behind (or vice-versa). The pattern holds true here - Pinckney’s fortunate location on the western rim of the Huron River watershed also provides the park with refuge from the light pollution of Detroit’s adjacent suburbs. Again, we highly recommend incorporating your stargazing into a weekend camping or backpacking trip to the park (the 33.9 mile Waterloo-Pinckney Trail over a long-weekend is our top choice). 4. Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge | Oak Harbor, Ohio The farthest destination on this list is absolutely worth the drive for its stargazing opportunities. The Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge in northern Ohio is miraculously located between the severe light pollution epicenters of Toledo and Sandusky (rollercoasters and wilderness don’t tend to mix well). Although far better known for its wildlife viewing and year-round recreational activities, the 8,100-acre wildlife sanctuary provides fantastic opportunities to catch quick glimpses of both rare species and shooting stars. Note that while the trails are only open from dusk until dawn, the sanctuary’s regulations allow for hunters and anglers to enter the sanctuary 1½ hours prior to Ohio’s legal shooting time and 1 hour after the legal shooting time. In other words, you can double your chances at success by pairing a deer hunting trip with a side of star hunting. 5. Hudson Mills Metropark | Dexter, Michigan Last but certainly not least, Hudson Mills Metropark closes out our list as the sole metropark to largely escape suburban light pollution. While Hudson Mills is located in the same relative “dark sky zone” as Waterloo and Pinckney State Recreation Areas, its convenient location just north of Downtown Dexter makes the park easily accessible for an evening outing from Ann Arbor or Detroit. Be sure to attend one of the park’s monthly “After Dark Series” events for guided nightlife and stargazing opportunities, with the last remaining for 2022 occurring on December 30th. What are your favorite stargazing locations in the Detroit region? Did we miss any that you typically frequent (we'll try to keep it a secret)? Please let us know in the comments section below!

In honor of the upcoming darkest month of the year surrounding the Winter Solstice, we are launching a new series focusing on the Detroit region's outdoor opportunities and gear that are best suited for exploring at night. Join us as we #EmbraceTheDark. Ah, you think darkness is your ally? You merely adopted the dark. I was born in it, molded by it. I didn't see the light until I was already a man, by then it was nothing to me but blinding. Was Bane referring to a possible upbringing near Detroit when he spoke these famous words in the 2012 film The Dark Knight Rises? We don't believe so, but he very well could have been. This may come as a shock to any recent transplants to Detroit, but we are heading into some very dark days. No, I'm not referring to figurative "darkness" like an economic recession, another variant, or period of political turmoil (i.e., normal life over the last few years). I'm writing of literal darkness. The absence of sunlight. Eleven and a half hours of complete, unadulterated night - nearly 3 times longer than the Summer Solstice. These may not be welcomed words for most outdoor enthusiasts, which is perfectly reasonable. Beyond the natural human aversion to poorly lit experiences, the dark and freezing conditions of Detroit's winter evenings are not well suited for the majority of adventure-seekers. Nighttime ventures require additional planning, gear, and often externally-driven inspiration before they could ever become a reality. In other words, exploring Detroit's wild places at night, during the least hospitable time of year, is way outside the lane of most recreationists. Anyone - or any company - that would flip the script and view darkness as an ally would have to be a little batshit (excuse the pun). On that note, reintroducing Expedition Detroit: darkness' newest ally. When we launched Expedition Detroit, one of our many goals included creating a platform that embraces our region's outdoor recreation opportunities in all of its purest forms. On the trail. In the water. Through the snow. Under a sweltering sun. And yes, in the midst of bone-chilling night. We especially wanted to highlight experiences that are uniquely Detroit - the moments that simultaneously invoke senses of adventure and pride in the wild places near home. As already discussed, Detroit gets dark in its coldest winter months. Very dark. And while many outdoor enthusiasts either hibernate or migrate away from this period, we whole-heartedly embrace it as one of Detroit's greatest outdoor opportunities. A cause for celebration. A recreational resource that has remained relatively untapped. Why is nighttime exploration worth doing - let alone celebrating? Well, beyond adding an extra element of adventure to each outdoor experience, venturing outside after sundown opens up opportunities that simply do not exist during the lighter, warmer periods of the year. The most crowded trails in easily-accessible parks like Maybury State Park suddenly become sanctuaries of solitude. Early sunsets mean greater viewing opportunities for nocturnal wildlife like owls, coyotes, raccoons, badgers, and fox. Your senses of hearing, smell, and even taste will benefit from the decreased visibility, meaning that you may find yourself in an even more immersive experience than your sunlit outings. Oh, and don't forget about the galactic light show above you that is quite literally only possible in the darkest of night skies. Whether you're hiking under a full moon or paddling under the Milky Way, the stars that define nature's first entertainment platform and navigation system are best enjoyed in these dark days. Winter is also the best season of the year to view one of nature's crown jewels: the Aurora Borealis phenomenon, commonly known as the "Northern Lights," which has recently been visible in the Detroit region's most remote areas. Here's the general game plan for our #EmbraceTheDark Series: DESTINATIONS. We will explore, analyze, and report back on the Detroit region's best trails for nighttime exploration. Our articles will provide logistical details, timetables for park hours, and the can't miss "trail gems" worth exploring. GEAR. Plummeting daylight hours and temperatures mean that your typical adventures will require more intentional gear choices. We will provide a breakdown of the essential nighttime exploration gear for every nocturnal adventure, plus the colder-weather clothing items that we recommend acquiring prior to your next venture. This article may prove useful for holiday shopping inspiration, too... EXPERIENCES. This series will predominantly highlight the Detroit region's best outdoor experiences for nocturnal adventures - especially during the change of seasons that occurs late November - mid-December. Hiking. Snowshoeing. Running. Skiing and snowboarding. Biking. Yes, even kayaking. Each of these recreational activities can be fully experienced (and maybe even enhanced) at night, and we're chomping at the bit to get into the field to prove this theory. STAR-GAZING. We will drill-down which areas within the Detroit region provide the best opportunities for viewing the cosmos with minimal light pollution. This will obviously not be an easy feat with one of North America's largest cities forming the epicenter of our area, but don't estimate the power of the Great Lakes and our region's outer rim of wilderness areas to shut the lights off. SKILLS. Last but certainly not least, we will also produce instructional content on the wilderness survival skills that are most practical and essential for nighttime, winter scenarios. These skills will include starlit navigation, fire and shelter building, obtaining water and food, layering, and signaling. The Expedition Detroit team is really excited to launch the #EmbraceTheDark Series and start leaning heavily into this most underrated of outdoor recreation seasons. We hope that you will join us by following along and providing your invaluable feedback in the comments. This platform is still very much in its infancy, so your thoughts, ideas, critiques, or general commentary has the potential to fundamentally influence the growth and trajectory of our operations. Our core goal is to create value for each member of Detroit's outdoor recreation industry - especially the Expedition Detroit community. Bring on the darkness. We can't wait to see you out there.

Welcome back to our #TrailTuesday Series! This edition loops around the wild trails nestled into the easternmost wilderness of Detroit's most beautiful island - Belle Isle Park. Join us as we rediscover Belle Isle's stunning Lighthouse and Blue Heron Lagoon trail! Trails inspire us. They encourage ingenuity, community, and continuity of connection. They challenge us to push our limits, reward us with stunning vistas, and congratulate us with post-hike brews. Trails provide the perfect venue for brainstorming business ventures, reimagining better futures, and letting go of past hurts and failures. Every trail innately carries these beautiful attributes, which in turn draws legions of outdoor enthusiasts to Metro Detroit's trailheads year after year. These benefits also explain why the Michigan, Canadian, and U.S. governments are investing millions into building and improving our regional trail system. For us at Expedition Detroit, we've found ourselves inspired on a daily basis by Detroit's greater trail system. The opening lyrics to U2's song "City of Blinding Lights" prophesies that "The more you see, the less you know," which we've found to be absolutely true while navigating the Detroit region's outdoor destinations. Every outing that originated with a specific agenda - "let's document a hike of X trail" - finished with three or more ideas for future article, collaboration prospects, or guided adventure opportunities. Even repeat hikes of a particular crowd-favorite trail like Brighton's Penosha Trail follow this trend. But of all the trails that have inspired us over the past year, one specific trail sticks out in my mind. In fact, I'd go as far as to say that the "Expedition Detroit idea" originated from this exact trailhead. A trail experience that provided the spark for a venture that ignited into this platform. The unwavering belief that Detroit's natural environs of pristine waterways, rugged moraine ridge lines, dense hardwood forests, lively marshes, and state of the art urban trails provide the ideal ecosystem for a revolutionary approach to developing our outdoor industry. Better yet, the hypothesis that all of those outdoor elements coexist within an interconnected, easily accessible, and increasingly dynamic geographic area. Yes, a single trail located in the dead center of our international environment, where every natural, cultural, and historic feature that makes Detroit a world-class outdoor destination comes together in just over 2 miles of shoreline loops, inspired those core beliefs. That trail is Belle Isle Park's Lighthouse and Blue Heron Lagoon trail. It's our pleasure to reintroduce Belle Isle and its most remote trail now. MEET BELLE ISLE PARK Where to begin with reintroducing a park as beloved, historic, complex, and iconic as Belle Isle Park... Dating back to the 1700s, Belle Isle's initial name was slightly less romantic than its current designation. The French referred to it as "Hog Island," stemming directly from the island's utilization as elaborate animal storage facility. In the following century, Hog Island's ownership evolved through bloodshed from the French to the British Crown in 1763, and subsequently from the British to the United States in 1783. It wasn't until the conclusion of the War of 1812, however, that Belle Isle passed into private ownership for the first time. The island became the private estate of General Alexander Macomb, Jr., and remained privately owned until the City of Detroit's acquisition in 1879. During this period of private ownership, the island forever ditched its "Hog Island" moniker in favor of "Belle Isle," a flattering nod to Miss Isabelle Cass, the daughter of Governor Lewis Cass. The name obviously stuck, especially due to the immensity of natural beauty contained within its 982 acres. Shortly after the City's acquisition, famed landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted - the same designer of Central Park in New York City - was hired to elevate Belle Isle into a world-class recreational destination. Starting in the 1880s, Olmsted's designs gradually transformed Belle Isle into not only the United States' largest island park, but a multi-faceted outdoor paradise fit for recreationists of every genre. Belle Isle became home in 1904 to the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory, the oldest continually running conservatory in the United States. Historic structures on Belle Isle also include the William Livingstone Memorial Lighthouse, Belle Isle Casino, James Scott Memorial Fountain, Detroit Boat Club, Belle Isle Aquarium, Belle Isle Nature Center, Dossin Great Lakes Museum, a municipal golf course, and a half-mile swimming beach. More recently, Belle Isle became a Michigan State Park maintained by the Department of Natural Resources in 2013. Ten years into the Michigan DNR's 30-year lease, Belle Isle has rebounded from decades of neglect due to the $20 million of improvements that the DNR has allocated to the park. The Belle Isle of 2023 represents Michigan's most-visited state park, complete with reimagined trails, playgrounds, and amenities designed to continually welcome generations of recreationists back to its shores. Now - let's get to the trail. HIT THE TRAIL Total Distance: 2.1 miles Elevation Gain: 22 feet Trail Rating: Easy Route Orientation: Loop(s) Parking Specifics: Parking available Ralph Wilson Gateway trailhead; Michigan Recreation Passport required for entry to Belle Isle Park Even before exiting your vehicle, you will know exactly where your adventure on Belle Isle's Lighthouse and Blue Heron Lagoon trail begins. Opened just recently in April of 2022, the Ralph Wilson Gateway - complete with its small plaza, park/trail kiosk, pergola, picnic tables, and massive "One World ... Under Michigan Stars" glass-and-steel sculpture - is as stunning a trailhead as you could ever wish for. Did the Michigan DNR, Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund, Land and Water Conservation Fund, and Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation create this ornate trailhead just for Belle Isle's Lighthouse and Blue Heron Lagoon trail? Eh, not necessarily. This multi-purpose, immaculate trailhead also serves as the southern terminus of the in-process Iron Belle Trail, the longest state-designated trail in the nation. The Iron Belle heads west from this gateway and stretches more than 2,000 miles across Michigan, along two separate hiking and biking routes, connecting communities between Belle Isle to Ironwood in the western tip of the Upper Peninsula. Some day, thousands of annual intrepid explorers will start their months-long journey from this very point, seamlessly zig-zagging across our beautiful state. But not today. Today you'll head through the sculpture's gateway and then turn immediately south on a natural trail directly the Windsor shoreline. For the next 0.3 miles, you will follow Belle Isle's southern shoreline in an eastern direction, oscillating between paved and natural trail towards the William Livingstone Memorial Lighthouse. This stretch will provide your best opportunity for catching glimpses of the freighters passing by, as well as glimpses into Canada. Also keep your eyes peeled for migratory birds, especially bald eagles that frequent Belle Isle throughout the year. Your first pass of the lighthouse will arrive at the 0.5 mile marker. Erected in honor of the long-time president of the Lake Carriers Association, this ornamental lighthouse was designed in 1930 by Hungarian sculptor Geza Maroti in Detroit's prominent Art Deco style. The 58-foot-tall lighthouse was sculpted out of Georgia marble – the only such structure in North America – and generates an 8600-candlepower beacon visible for up to fifteen miles. Unfortunately, as evidenced by the prominent fence, visitors are not allowed near or inside of the lighthouse... Blame the thieves that broke in and stole two of its four lamps one night in 1980. Past the lighthouse, keep heading north across the Blue Heron Lagoon bridge to breathtaking views of the lagoon, the Detroit River, Peche Island, and the great beyond of Lake St. Clair. Both Belle Isle and Peche Island are notable for several ecological, historical, and cultural reasons - not the least of which being that both islands are rumored to be haunted and/or cursed. Regardless of which supernatural overtones may or may not exist in the Detroit River's western stretches, the panoramic views from Belle Isle's easternmost point are enough to take your breath away - from awe, not from fright. Across the Blue Heron Lagoon Bridge you'll find Belle Isle's "Hipster Zone." No, it won't be flooded with man buns and Vampire Weekend tunes. Named after the "blink and you'll miss it" Hipster Beach - the site of a 1967 hippy beach party - this 0.9 miles of hiking along the lagoon's northern woods will provide some of Belle Isle's best wildlife viewing opportunities. From the lagoon's namesake great blue herons to the native whitetail deer that freely roam the island, keep you head on a swivel as you pass by Hipster Beach, loop around the zone's wetlands, catch a quick glimpse of Belle Isle's driving range, and double-back along the lagoon's northern shoreline. Don't miss a chance to check out the lagoon's peninsula via a natural trail at the 1.5 mile marker. Back over the Blue Heron Lagoon Bridge, the final 0.5 miles of hiking will guide you past the Livingstone Memorial Lighthouse again and along the lagoon's southern shoreline. Other than a brief 0.2 mile detour on a natural trail, you will follow the gravel Eugene and Elaine C. Driker Trail directly back to Belle Isle's landmark trailhead. WEEKEND BONUS TIPS In case you missed it, Belle Isle's connection to Downtown Detroit just got a MASSIVE upgrade. With the landmark opening of the Uniroyal Promenade on October 21st, Belle Isle now has direct trail access to the #1 riverwalk in the country: the Detroit Riverwalk. We could not more strongly recommend alloting all of the extra recreational time that you have towards exploring the rest of the riverwalk. In full disclosure, the Detroit Riverwalk is currently in a state of constant change - we are barely able to keep up with the near-daily updates regarding the expansion or further improvement of our beloved riverwalk. As of November 2023, the official Riverwalk Trail stretches roughly 5.3 miles from Ralph C. Wilson Centennial Park to Gabriel Richard Park. Ongoing projects will further expand the Riverwalk Trail both east and west along the Detroit River, so be sure to circle back to Expedition Detroit regularly as we continue to expand our coverage of this essential trail route at the heart of our region. The current iteration of the Riverwalk Trail starts at western edge of Ralph C. Wilson Centennial Park, right where W. Jefferson Avenue and Rosa Parks Boulevard meet. While the trail briefly connects to W. Jefferson Avenue around the Riverfront Towers, the trek rejoins the river just south of the former Joe Louis Arena site (RIP). Continue east as you venture past the skyscrapers of downtown, including memorable highlights like Huntington Place, the Detroit Princess Riverboat, Hart Plaza, the International Memorial to the Underground Railroad, and the Renaissance Center. With the towers of downtown behind you, the Riverwalk Trail leads directly into William G. Milliken State Park and Harbor, featuring the aforementioned direct link to the Dequindre Cut Greenway. To complete the trail, continue pressing east - past the Aretha Franklin Amphitheater, through Harbortown Marina and Mt. Elliott Park, and finally along the Uniroyal Promenade until reaching the finish line at Gabriel Richard Park. BOOK A GUIDED HIKE OF BELLE ISLE PARK WITH EXPEDITION DETROIT! 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!

Love. Snow. Outdoor recreation. If that trio sounds like an amazing time to you, then a February spent in Detroit's outdoors may become your new favorite month of the year - especially with these top 10 outdoor events for your enjoyment coming down the pipeline. Don't call it a comeback - winter in Detroit is finally hitting its stride, and February is picking up right where January left off. The "Big Four Ski Resorts" are, as the kids would say, bussin. Winter races are kicking off left and right. Primetime showcase events are coming to town. And our outdoor community has finally accepted that the cold has arrived, so we might as well embrace it wholeheartedly - especially during this most romantic of months. In case you're new here, we at Expedition Detroit love winter. As in a honeymoon phase, unbridled infatuation with winter. Yes, we know - that's an uncommon take for this coldest and darkest of seasons. We justcan't help our attraction to finding new backcountry ski lines, freshly groomed runs, and wide open trailheads. For our community members that don't necessarily ascribe to our winter appreciation fan club, don't fret; we get it. To make February a little more palatable, we've done some heavy lifting on curating this month's top ten outdoor events that every outdoor enthusiast should enjoy. Who knows, you also may end up falling in love with winter...maybe... 1. Defrost at CRAMBA's Snow Biking Festival February 4th | River Bends Park | 12 p.m. Arctic temperatures. Freshly groomed trails. Two fat tires ready to take them on. Layer up and embrace the frost, my friends - today is the Clinton River Area Mountain Bike Association's annual "¡Ay CRAMBA It's Cold Out! Snow Biking Festival." Join the CRAMBA and Southeast Michigan's fat biking faithful for an afternoon spent enjoying group rides, fat bike demos, hot bonfires, chili, and tasty beverages with a hundred of your new best fat biking friends. 2. Discover New Trails at Ojibway Nature Centre Throughout February | Ojibway Provincial Park | 10 a.m. When scavenging the Internet for exciting outdoor events, the Expedition Detroit team especially keeps an eye out for new frontiers for our predominantly American audience. This month, we're planning on heading over the border to Ojibway Provincial Park - just south of Windsor, Ontario - to explore new trails on one of the Ojibway Nature Centre’s guided hikes. The hikes cross various locations throughout the Ojibway Prairie Complex, including the original tallgrass prairie and oak savannah habitats of Black Oak Heritage Park, Tallgrass Prairie Heritage Park, Spring Garden Natural Area, and the Ojibway Prairie Provincial Nature Reserve. 3. Viva la Après at Detroit's Big Four Resorts Throughout February | Alpine Valley, Mt. Brighton, and Mt. Holly Ski Resorts Of all of the time-honored traditions associated with a ski trip, you would be hard-pressed to beat a good ol' fashion Après-ski. For the uninitiated, "Après" is loosely defined as any pre or post-ski activity that typically involves a healthy level of rivalry or debauchery. And don't, friends - the Big Four have plenty of Après to go around. While each of the resorts have their respective events going down, Alpine Valley Ski Resort has the two Après headliners this month with their 60th Anniversary celebration and a classic "Retro Night" event. 4. Support Conservation on a Guided Evening Hike February 10th | Avon Nature Preserve | 6 p.m. Just like any other undertaking in life, adding a higher purpose to outdoor recreation - such as supporting conservation while hiking, skiing, or hunting - undoubtedly makes the experience more memorable and enjoyable. This month, the Clinton River Watershed Council (the "CRWC") invites you to join in on one such opportunity: a guided hike through the Avon Nature Preserve, complete with a pre-hike coffee and hot cocoa bar. All proceeds go towards CRWC's mission to protect, enhance, and celebrate the Clinton River, its watershed, and Lake St. Clair. 5. Treat Yourself at a Winter Wellness Weekend Throughout February | Valade Park, Detroit, Michigan As much as we strive to facilitate a platform of eternal optimists, we're not oblivious to the spike in mental and physical health deterioration that Detroit winters can unleash. Fortunately for all of us, the amazing team at the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy have launched their Winter Wellness Weekends to tackle this community epidemic head on. Head down to Valade Park along the Detroit Riverfront for these free "WWW" events, whichj include "Power Polar Walks," dog-friendly "Pack Walks," and guided tour's of our nationally top-ranked international riverfront. 6. Rock Out at Red Bull Heavy Metal February 11th | Hart Plaza, Detroit, Michigan | 1 p.m. Ladies and gentlemen, if you can only attend one of these events during February, then we stop reading here: Red Bull's "Heavy Metal" downtown snowboarding event is the show for you. For one day only, the word's top snowboarding athletes will descend upon Hart Plaza for a masterclass in urban winter riding. Beyond the world-class showcase of talent, this event also promotes Detroit as an international destination for both urban and rural outdoor recreation. This event represents a win for our city, and we can't wait to witness greatness as the world's best snowboarders put on a show at Hart Plaza. 7. Earn the Couch at the Super 5K February 12th | Novi, Michigan | 8:30 a.m. Let's all recognize an indisputable fact: Super Bowl Sunday is an American national holiday, even if the Feds never formally acknowledge it as one. And, whenever there's a holiday, there will always be an appropriately themed holiday 5K run to support it. For the Detroit region, our premiere Super Bowl 5K run - the "Super 5K" - is annually hosted by our friends at RF Events. Lace up the shoes, burn some pregame calories, and earn that spot on the couch! 8. Clear some Calories for Fat Tuesday at the Paczki Run February 18th | Hamtramck, Michigan | 10 a.m. Fitness fanatics, brace yourselves - the paczkis and all of their delicious temptations are coming. Fortunately for all of us watching our waistlines this winter, the annual "Paczki Run" in Hamtramck provides an efficient outlet to clear out some caloric space before the pastries come calling. The 5K run guides participants on a tour of Hamtramck - "the world in 2 square miles" - before concluding a finish line stocked with beer and...you guessed it...fresh paczkis. 9. Embrace the WTF Lifestyle at Winter Trail Fest 2023 February 18th | Island Lake State Recreation Area | 11:30 a.m. Freezing temperatures. Snow-covered trails. Half-marathon trail racing event. If at least one of these descriptors gave you a "WTF?" sentiment coupled with curiosity, then congratulations - you've found the perfect mid-winter racing event. If logging serious miles in the dead of winter is moderately appealing to you, then we strongly encourage joining the off-season running faithful at the the third annual "Winter Trail Fest's" half-marathon or 5-mile race events. Bonus points if you also join in at June's "Summer Trail Fest Ultra and Half Marathon," appropriately acronymed "STFU." 10. Feel the Love at Cupid's Undie Run February 18th | Detroit, Michigan | 12 p.m. You really didn't think we'd end this "Events Article" without a Valentine's Day themed race, did you? Oh, and we found a good one. This year, strip down and feel the love (while probably going numb) at the "Cupid's Undie Run" through Downtown Detroit! Join thousands of runners in cities all across the U.S. to support patients affected by neurofibromatoses, a genetic disorder that causes tumors to grow on nerves throughout the body and affects 1 in every 3,000 births. The run appropriately starts with ample drinking and dancing to warm up, followed by a mile(ish) run in your best undies, before concluding with an epic dance party at the finish line. Keeping with the holiday spirit, we couldn't pass up an opportunity to tell you all - our growing, dynamic community - how much we love and appreciate you. Wishing you nothing but the best for this month and rest of the 2023 winter season. And, as always, we can’t wait to see you out one, two, or all of these events! 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.

Alright, it may have snowed yesterday, BUT the Detroit region's fall outdoor events calendar is STILL HEATING UP for an epic November! Here is the Expedition Detroit rundown of the top ten outdoor events that we're the most excited for this month. Happy Turkey Month! We're stating it for the record: November is the most underrated month for outdoor recreation throughout the entire year. While some recreationists may be tempted to view this month as a "shoulder season" - the transitory guide from the peak autumn colors of October to the fresh snowfall of December - we are immensely excited about the outdoor action that you can only experience during November, especially when it comes to these 10 premiere outdoor events. In the spirit of Thanksgiving, we would like to publish that we're extremely thankful for the hosts and vendors that brave the cooling temperatures to stage these end-of-season events. We invite you to share in our gratitude by joining in with one, two, or all of these top 10 outdoor events for November! 1. Burn Through the Trails at the Bonfyre Trail Fest November 4th | Waterloo State Recreation Area | 10 a.m. The trails at Waterloo Recreation Area will be set ablaze with excitement this upcoming Saturday morning during the Bonfyre Trail Fest! Bonfyre represents the last event of RF Event's fantastic "GOAT Trail Series" for the 2023 season, and will include 5, 10, and 18-mile trail races. The perks of this trail runner's dream event go far beyond the post-race beer garden, live music, and roaring bonfire - we at Expedition Detroit simply can't wait to run the famous, roller-coaster DTE Energy Foundation Trails again at Waterloo. We will see you across the finish line and at the bonfire - post-run beer naturally in hand. 2. Run the Stony Creek Marathon November 5th | Stony Creek Metropark | 8 a.m. Marathoners, rejoice! While most regions close up shop for racing season in October, the Detroit area has saved one of its best and most scenic for the tail-end of the year. Stony Creek Metropark will host its annual marathon event this Sunday morning, which also includes 5K, 10K, Half-Marathon, and 50K events. So whether you're trying to squeeze in one last 5K before the real end of the season - or have a crazy 50K itch that needs to be scratched for you wild ultra runners - the Stony Creek Marathon has the perfect race for you! 3. Hear a Hoot along a Special Owl Hike November 10th | Lake St. Clair Metropark | 7 p.m. Late fall in the Detroit region and its earlier sunsets provide incredible opportunities for wildlife viewing. Owls are especially active this time of year, and their melodic hoots and striking silhouettes complete the ambience of an idyllic evening in the woods. There's a slight catch, though - actually viewing these reclusive predators in their natural habitat provides a challenge in itself. Fortunately for all of us, the team at Lake St. Clair Metropark has dialed in their owl-sighting capabilities - and they're willing to share this most impressive of skillsets with the rest of us. On November 10th, head over to the metropark for their special "Owl Hike." The event will include a guided hike through Lake St. Clair Metropark's trails as the rangers call and listen for Great Horned and Eastern Screech owls. The event also includes a bonfire back at the Nature Center. 4. Run for the Fudge of It at the Kona Chocolate Run November 12th | Northville, Michigan | 9 a.m. Kona Running Company's motto is "Run for the Fun of It." Well, for this uniquely-chocolate themed final race of their 2023 season, Kona is inviting runner's of all skillsets to run for the fudge of it during its annual Kona Chocolate Run event in the beautiful "Trail Town" of Northville, Michigan. Sponsored by Guernsey Farms Dairy, this 5K/10K race will allow - no, encourage - runners to indulge their sweet tooth with a post-race chocolate bar, complete with hot chocolate, chocolate milk, cookies, pastries, candies, coffee, and more. 5. Get in the Woods for Whitetail Deer Opening Day November 15th | Statewide in Michigan Waking up on November 15th in Michigan is always an interesting experience. No, you're not hearing a delayed Fourth of July party or a Civil War reenactment kicking off at 7:30 a.m. on a Wednesday. You are in fact witnessing the "official-unofficial Michigan state holiday" - the opening day of whitetail deer firearm season. The most celebrated day of the year for hunters and the single most important day of the year for the Michigan DNR's conservation efforts. A festive experience that we at Expedition Detroit encourage all of our readers to participate in, even if that's just by purchasing a tag to financially support the DNR's operations and protection of our precious natural resources. Planning on heading into the woods this year? Please take a minute or two to review our "Opening Day Checklist" article prior to the 15th. For any non-hunters that plan on venturing into the woods on the 15th, please wear blaze orange outer clothing - especially if you plan on trekking through the woods around sunrise or sunset hours. Even if hunting is not permitted along your typical hiking route, the gun opener has a unique ability to draw out hunters of varying degrees of experience and ethics. Be safe, be seen. 6. Celebrate National Hiking Day November 17th | Throughout Detroit Region Did we need the prompt of a national holiday to celebrate hiking? No, of course not. Are we stoked that one exists and will therefore celebrate excessively? Yes, of course we will! In honor of the wealth of hiking opportunities that we have in our region, we at Expedition Detroit plan on hosting several guided hikes throughout the Detroit region on National Hiking Day. We will also be offering an exclusive discount code for ALL GUIDED TRIPS during the week of November 12th through 18th. Stay tuned..! REMEMBER: Please wear blaze orange on your National Hiking Day adventures since the holiday comes during the middle of the regular firearm season in Michigan). ENJOY A GUIDED HIKE WITH US AT PROUD LAKE RECREATION AREA FOR NATIONAL HIKING DAY! 7. Gaze into the Cosmos at a Dark Sky Preserve November 18th | Point Pelee National Park | 6 p.m. Before the frenzy of the holidays starts to kick in, why not treat yourself to a little preventative self-care by staring up into the great beyond? Well, fortunately for us, Point Pelee National Park in Ontario comes in clutch 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 the dropping temperatures at night, with amenities including extended visitor hours, seasonal star charts, and the combined natural beauty of the park and the cosmos. 8. Run in the Gobbler Gallop Hometown Series November 25th | Milford, Michigan | 8 a.m. Let's be honest - even the most hardened runners enjoy some well-earned rest & relaxation sometimes, especially when it comes to holidays. That being said, missing out on a tradition like a Thanksgiving weekend run also doesn't sit well with holiday-orientated outdoor enthusiasts. If only it were possible to sleep in on Thanksgiving Day, watch the Lions, enjoy your Thanksgiving meals, and THEN burn off the calories with a festive run. Call it a Thanksgiving miracle: our friends at Running Venture have crafted this EXACT holiday scenario for us all to experience! With Thanksgiving and Black Friday in the rearview mirror, head over to Downtown Milford on Saturday, November 25th, to run in RV's "Gobbler Gallop" race series. This year's series includes 1 mile, 4 mile, AND double event opportunities that wind out through downtown Milford, onto the beautiful Milford Trail, and finish back on Main Street. All event registrations include race swag like a custom beanie, medal, and refreshments. We'll see you at the starting line! EXCLUSIVE OFFER: All Expedition Detroit readers will receive 10% OFF OF THEIR RACE REGISTRATION with the code "ExpeditionDetroit"! Don't miss this opportunity to enjoy a fantastic event, explore one of our region's best "Trail Towns," AND save a few dollars while you're at it! 9. Express your Gratitude for our State Lands by Giving Back Throughout November | Various Michigan State Parks and Recreation Areas If you're reading this article, then we'd be willing to bet that you've enjoyed our Michigan State Parks and Recreation Areas thoroughly during "peak season" this year. In fact, you're probably still enjoying our trails that are decorated with brilliant foliage - and we hope that you'll join us in continuing to explore them well into the winter months. Our collective ability to enjoy year-round access to Southeast Michigan's pristine trails relies heavily on the work of a small group of individuals. Shockingly small. This Thanksgiving season, let's express our immense gratitude for their tireless efforts by volunteering at a DNR-led "Volunteer Stewardship Workday" event. The DNR will be hosting 5 across the Detroit region this November: Highland Recreation Area (November 4th), Bald Mountain Recreation Area (November 11th), Island Lake Recreation Area (November 12th), Belle Isle Park (November 18th), and Pinckney Recreation Area (November 19th). Work crew activities will focus on piling brush, stacking firewood, cutting invasive shrubs, and restoring wetlands. Rainboots or other waterproof boots are recommended for these events, and preregistration is required. 10. Hike under Fall Colors and Starlit Nights with Expedition Detroit! Throughout November | 11 State Parks and Recreation Areas The tail end of peak fall colors. Brilliant starlit nights. And a near absence of crowds. November may be the most underrated opportunity to experience Detroit's most beautiful, adventurous, and accessible trails. 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! 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, including our special trips like night hiking safaris, photography-specific treks, and eventually guided snowshoe, mountain biking, and kayaking trips. So, stay tuned friends. We can't wait to host you on one of our trips soon! P.S. Subscribers to our content get discounts on our Guided Services AND online store items... Happy November to you all - we can’t wait to see you out there! This article contains sponsored content for which Expedition Detroit has received compensation. Do you host an upcoming outdoor event that you would like to be featured in a future article? Awesome - we would love to hear from you! Please contact us at info@expeditiondetroit.com or (734) 821-6416 to discuss Expedition Detroit feature opportunities.

Written by Dr. Eric Reilly, here we thoroughly examine one of the most pressing health risks in the Detroit region - chronic physical inactivity - and the profound medical benefits of hiking your favorite trails! This Halloween, I wanted to share a true tale of terror that haunts the Detroit area’s medical community. A silent killer that moves undetected through each of its neighborhoods. A verifiable infliction that thrives within its host for years before it rears its ugly head. No, this isn’t a virus, parasite, or a mutated variant of the cordyceps fungus. This killer is chronic physical inactivity, and it’s running rampant throughout North America – and particularly in the Detroit region. THE VULNERABILITY OF THE DETROIT REGION This should hopefully not come as a surprise, but remaining active and exercising regularly is paramount in protecting your health. Regardless of your demographic, and especially in the Detroit region. Why? Because in terms of Metro Detroit's personal health, the deck is most likely stacked against us. For starters, our modern work schedules and physically latent jobs make active lifestyles immensely difficult to prioritize. The average working adult in the United States works 34.6 hours per week and the average commute in Metro Detroit is 55.2 minutes round trip. Crunching the numbers, it’s fair to estimate the average working adult in Metro Detroit spends roughly 32% of their awake time at work, allotting for 8 generous hours of sleep. However, it isn’t just the time spent at work, but also the type of work which plays a major role in one’s health. Some studies suggest sedentary occupations have high occurrences of heart attacks, strokes, and premature death. Even when away from the office, work and life in general can be mentally taxing. To cope with mental stressors, individuals may make poor food choices and adopt idle home habits, which can exacerbate negative health outcomes. Within the Detroit region, this particular issue is compounded since many areas fall into a “Food Swamp” classification, defined as communities that often have high-calorie, low-cost food options – in addition to financial constraints. Stated differently, Food Swamp conditions typically cause healthier food options to remain scarce or beyond the budget. As a result of these factors, mass routines of dormancy have spread a “physical inactivity epidemic” that is wreaking havoc across Michigan. Physical inactivity is one of the leading causes of common diseases such as high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, atherosclerosis, and heart disease. When uncontrolled, conditions such as diabetes can lead to serious ailments such as kidney failure, loss of limbs, and heart attacks. Nearly 25% of Michigan residents do not exercise monthly, 35.1% have high blood pressure, 34.7% are obese, 11.7% have diabetes, and 29% of all deaths are from cardiovascular disease. PITFALLS OF OVER-THE-COUNTER SHORTCUTS One could reasonably assume that simply taking medication will solve their medical problems, but medications alone may not fix the cause - and can have debilitating side effects. For example, common medications for high blood pressure cause the blood pressure to appear lower, but the underlying disease often still exists. Such medications can act as a short-cut for symptom management, but one should consider making long term changes – such as diet and exercise – to help reverse the disease. Just like on the trail, shortcuts in medicine can be dangerous. Without proper long-term disease management, the damage can compound and high blood pressure can lead to kidney failure, stroke, heart failure, and even death. While standard practices like surgery can solve some physical problems, all surgeries have risks and those risks grow exponentially when a patient presents with severe underlying conditions or disease. For example, obese patients undergoing surgery have higher risks of developing infections, kidney failure, blood clots, and unplanned hospital readmissions. If an obese patient is taking a GLP-1 agonist, they have increased risks of perioperative aspiration which can result in respiratory failure and death. One may assume the increased risks would lead to less surgery in obese patients but, to the contrary, the chances of having a knee replacement are 8 times higher for patients with a BMI over 30, and 28 times higher for a BMI over 35. Clearly, the safest journey through life is one which minimizes disease burden and the need for medical treatment. By preventing common diseases, such as high blood pressure and diabetes, one can reduce the risk of severe complications such as strokes, heart attacks, and kidney failure. Luckily, an easy and affordable way to help prevent and reverse common disease is through physical activity – such as hiking around Metro Detroit! TRAIL THERAPY FOR PHYSICAL LONGEVITY Now that we’ve hopefully scared any inactivity right out of you, let’s shift this article’s focus to how important physical activity is in preserving one’s quality and longevity of life. Better yet, let’s utilize a practical example to illustrate how you can incorporate a methodical approach to physical exercise into your recreational passions: hiking Island Lake Recreation Area’s Yellow Trail Loop. The Yellow Trail Loop is a 40 minute drive from downtown Detroit and spans 5.5 miles with 278 feet of elevation gain, which is enough of a hike to get anyone’s heart pumping. But, what does that exercise do? For starters, the average person burns roughly 100 calories for every mile walked. With elevation considered, walking this trail could burn roughly 500-700 calories. Regular exercise and aerobic activities - like hiking the Yellow Trail Loop - can provide phenomenal health benefits over a lifetime. Such a trail-centric lifestyle can cut the risk of coronary heart disease in half, lower blood pressure by up to 10 points, reduce insulin requirements in type-1 diabetes, reverse type-2 diabetes, lower cholesterol levels, decrease risks of colon cancer, enhance the immune system, reverse osteoporosis, and improve bone density. HIKE THE ISLAND LAKE YELLOW TRAIL LOOP WITH US THIS FALL! Hiking specifically can increase one’s baseline metabolic rate, which makes it easier to maintain weight loss – as opposed to dieting where weight can be regained easily. Hiking also releases stored endogenous catecholamines, which can relieve muscle tension and anxiety. Hiking can even improve sleep through sun-induced balance of circadian rhythms and regulation of hormones. Physical benefits aside, the mental benefits are immeasurable. Embracing nature, observing wildlife, appreciating the solitude, and removing oneself from the chaotic congested streets of everyday life can be soul cleansing. By definition, a hike is just a long walk on a trail. If the idea of a "hike" is insurmountable, then any aerobic activity – preferably outdoors – is a great substitute to reap similar health benefits. Even just a walk around the block helps more than sitting inside. The physical and mental health benefits of regular exercise, such as hiking, are clear. Life is busy and it is difficult to prioritize oneself, loved ones, work, diet, exercise, and everything else the world demands. Yet, it is even harder to manage those priorities when faced with personal health ailments. The keys to remaining healthy are regular doctor appointments, diet, and exercise. Even when feeling healthy - go in for an annual check-up with a physician, substitute the fried food for vegetables, and make efforts to increase your physical activity. Lace up the boots and try a new trail, or a bike ride, or even a walk around the block. Refer to Expedition Detroit to find inspiration for new local trails. Don’t be afraid to wake up early and catch a sunrise from a dew-dropped wooded path. The more you do it, the longer you will be able to keep doing it. As best stated by professional snowboarder Jeremy Jones, “…wake up early for a dawn patrol or jump into that cold mountain lake and send while you can.” Dr. Reilly is an anesthesiologist born and raised in Southeast Michigan. Dr. Reilly is currently an Attending Anesthesiologist & Clinical Instructor at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, Washington, as well as a Regional Anesthesia and Acute Pain Medicine Fellow at the University of Washington Medical Center. Outside of the hospital, Dr. Reilly is an accomplished backpacker, deep powder skier, and an invaluable early supporter of Expedition Detroit. He credits his grandfathers for teaching him the beauty and spirit of Michigan’s great wilderness. This article serves as an opinion piece to educate but should not be used as direct medical advice. Always consult your healthcare professional(s) before making changes to your medications, diet, or physical activity habits.