Can you please tell me about this trail…I am a triathlete who is looking for a safe place to ride, but somewhere I can ride with some speed. From what I understand this trail is all paved from Northville to Canton, is that correct?? Is the pavement conducive to a road/tri bike? Where is the best place to park? Can I connect to metro-park systems? Thanks in advance
The metro trail is paved from Novi to Van Buren Township, from I-96/Novi Rd to I-94/Hannan Rd. There is some construction that is causing temporary closures. One is betweeen Koppernick and Ford Rd, and the other will be from Van Born Rd south to I-94. The Koppernick/Ford Rd section should reopen by mid-August.
Hines Dr is the connector between the “north” trail and “south” trail. Road bikes use the metro trail regularly.
Parking depends on where you are coming from. There are MDOT parking lots at the Meijer on 8 Mi Rd and on Ann Arbor Rd behind the Denny’s restaurant. There is parking on Hines Dr. Unfortunately, the Cherry Hill rest area that many people use is presently closed (until November). There are other unofficial spots along the trail to park.
There is not a direct connect to the metro parks at this time. At the end of the trail at Hannan and I-94, you can take Hannan Rd south to connect to the parks. MDOT is working on the direct connection to the parks south of Northline Rd. We do not have a time table at this time. Since there is road construction south of Van Born that affects the trail you will have to follow detours until November.
We post construction updates on this site as we receive them.
Enjoy the trail.
First, we must apologize for missing this post. The trail can be accessed at I-94/Hannan Rd (just north of the Metro Parks) or using Canton’s Lower Rouge Trail to connect at Michigan Ave. The Lower Rouge Trail is not good for road bikes. You can access that trail at Canton Center Rd south of Palmer.
Am coming inform out of town. Want to access path from south and ride north. Will be on road bike. How does the path look? And how far can I ride? Will be wanting to do a April trip.
The trail is in good shape from I-94/Hannan Rd north to the end of the trail at I-96/Meadowbrook Rd. It gets a little tricky around the Hines Dr connector. If you need help understanding that section, let us know.
Though people do ride the trail south of I-94, it is not recommended for a road bike because of the trail condition. You could park in Huron Metro Park, take the path out of the park onto Hannan Rd. Ride Hannan Rd north until you see the trail on your right at the I-94 overpass.
I rode it all the way to northline last year… went around the bridge construction and somehow lost it at northline….i know it goes further south near huron river drive but was unkept….will it be improves this year in that region?
Northline Road south for about 6 miles to Huron Dr and the metro parks will be completely redone next year. MDOT is in the design phase of that section this year with construction starting next spring.
I am looking for a path to rollerblade on as I train for an inline marathon. I live in Ann Arbor but feel like this path is my best/closest option. Is there a section of the path that has better paving than other sections? Where would be the best place to park and access the trail coming from Ann Arbor? Thanks!
The trail from I-94 to Hines Drive has been completely redone and has long stretches without having to cross roads. The connector trail at Ford Rd is in rough shape though. You can access the trail at any road that crosses I-275. The Cherry Hill rest stop on northbound I-275 is another place to access the trail.
I would like a map of the trail so I can train for my upcoming 3-Day walk.
Sandy… did you find the map links ok on this site? If not, let me know and I will send you what I have.
Diane
I see “Hannan Rd.” in Romulus is misspelled on the map as “Hannah Rd.”
Thank You! I corrected it
Can you please tell me about this trail…I am a triathlete who is looking for a safe place to ride, but somewhere I can ride with some speed. From what I understand this trail is all paved from Northville to Canton, is that correct?? Is the pavement conducive to a road/tri bike? Where is the best place to park? Can I connect to metro-park systems? Thanks in advance
The metro trail is paved from Novi to Van Buren Township, from I-96/Novi Rd to I-94/Hannan Rd. There is some construction that is causing temporary closures. One is betweeen Koppernick and Ford Rd, and the other will be from Van Born Rd south to I-94. The Koppernick/Ford Rd section should reopen by mid-August.
Hines Dr is the connector between the “north” trail and “south” trail. Road bikes use the metro trail regularly.
Parking depends on where you are coming from. There are MDOT parking lots at the Meijer on 8 Mi Rd and on Ann Arbor Rd behind the Denny’s restaurant. There is parking on Hines Dr. Unfortunately, the Cherry Hill rest area that many people use is presently closed (until November). There are other unofficial spots along the trail to park.
There is not a direct connect to the metro parks at this time. At the end of the trail at Hannan and I-94, you can take Hannan Rd south to connect to the parks. MDOT is working on the direct connection to the parks south of Northline Rd. We do not have a time table at this time. Since there is road construction south of Van Born that affects the trail you will have to follow detours until November.
We post construction updates on this site as we receive them.
Enjoy the trail.
What is the best way to connect to the trail from Ypsilanti?
First, we must apologize for missing this post. The trail can be accessed at I-94/Hannan Rd (just north of the Metro Parks) or using Canton’s Lower Rouge Trail to connect at Michigan Ave. The Lower Rouge Trail is not good for road bikes. You can access that trail at Canton Center Rd south of Palmer.
Am coming inform out of town. Want to access path from south and ride north. Will be on road bike. How does the path look? And how far can I ride? Will be wanting to do a April trip.
The trail is in good shape from I-94/Hannan Rd north to the end of the trail at I-96/Meadowbrook Rd. It gets a little tricky around the Hines Dr connector. If you need help understanding that section, let us know.
Though people do ride the trail south of I-94, it is not recommended for a road bike because of the trail condition. You could park in Huron Metro Park, take the path out of the park onto Hannan Rd. Ride Hannan Rd north until you see the trail on your right at the I-94 overpass.
I rode it all the way to northline last year… went around the bridge construction and somehow lost it at northline….i know it goes further south near huron river drive but was unkept….will it be improves this year in that region?
Northline Road south for about 6 miles to Huron Dr and the metro parks will be completely redone next year. MDOT is in the design phase of that section this year with construction starting next spring.
I am looking for a path to rollerblade on as I train for an inline marathon. I live in Ann Arbor but feel like this path is my best/closest option. Is there a section of the path that has better paving than other sections? Where would be the best place to park and access the trail coming from Ann Arbor? Thanks!
The trail from I-94 to Hines Drive has been completely redone and has long stretches without having to cross roads. The connector trail at Ford Rd is in rough shape though. You can access the trail at any road that crosses I-275. The Cherry Hill rest stop on northbound I-275 is another place to access the trail.