There's no greater slice of heaven on Earth than the Paint Creek Trail. I still remember the first time my boyfriend and I walked down it 4 years ago--it was mid-October and the leaves were turning golden reds and browns. We walked about a mile and a half into downtown Rochester Hills, passing by a police horse, a family of seven deer, and many bikers, runners, and walkers like us along the way. The path was clean, the nature was beautiful, and everyone we passed was just as happy to be enjoying this trail as we were. It's just as magical today as it was then. This trail is, in short, an absolute gem. If there was a list for best casual walking trails near a downtown in the US, this would top it. We've easily put thousands of miles of walking into that trail--which has its unique history of its own as a former railroad line. Through every season, from rain to sun to snow, we've been blessed to watch its beautiful trees and flora evolve throughout the years. The best part, however, is that everyone respects the beauty of it. There are trash cans spread out, but you'll never find a candy wrapper or doggy bag left in a stray bush. Bikers make themselves well heard before safely passing around a group of idle walkers. It's rare to hear runners blaring loud music, and I swear children are visibly calmer when walking through Dinosaur Hill with their parents. I genuinely believe every city in America's overall happiness levels would skyrocket if they had a trail like this. But that's what makes the Paint Creek Trail special--it's uniquely one of a kind in its simplicity and beauty. read more

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Beautiful walk - 8.9 miles if you walk the full trail according to the signage. Construction is happening now but there are detour signs along the way. read more

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This is a lovely trail but it's so heavily trafficked that it takes away from the respite from society and escape into nature I seek when I bike or walk trails. I biked the complete Paint Creek Trail back in March 2020 when Covid first completely upended everything and it was like a pedestrian superhighway. That, along with the fact that all the foliage hadn't budded yet led me to make a return trip last year. Fall seemed like the prettiest time to roll through as it's when the leaves are painted and indeed it was a sight to see and the crisp autumn air was invigorating. And though the trail wasn't as completely clogged with my fellow humans and their occasional canine companions there was still lots and lots of other nature seekers taking away from the nature. Maybe it was because it was the weekend and one of the last good weather days of the year but it seems PCT stays busy. Busy well beyond what I've encountered on the Clinton River Trail, Macomb Orchard Trail, West Bloomfield Trail and other trails here in southeast Michigan. The Polly Ann Trail just north of here definitely has a much more wilderness feel to it especially if you go as far as the muddy/grassy backcountry span in Lapeer County. Check out my Yelp review of that; I write a lot of these damn things! Still, it's a pretty trail and the length at 8.9 miles is just right for an out and back bike ride that's vigorous, substantial but not completely exhausting. (Though I cut my trip maybe a mile short of Lake Orion on my return tour.) If you're looking to avoid the thickest of the throngs of trail inhabitants I recommend starting at the Lake Orion terminus as the Rochester end is much more heavily trod upon. (Rochester is where I started both times as it's closer to me and it doesn't make much difference if you're planning on traveling the whole trail.) No complaints about the trail surface; it's easy riding. Bring hydration, yeah, as multiple reviewers have mentioned there's no water fountains but I always bring fluids when I go biking or hiking as it seems like most trails don't have water fountains. I usually don't even think to look and it seems a sign of how domesticated the Paint Creek Trail is that wandering suburbanites just expect water fountains at regular intervals. read more

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On this cold and snowing January day, I'm reminiscing about the beautiful autumn day I spent at Paint Creek Trail. I love this part of metro Detroit. It's still sparsely populated, quiet, and there are miles upon miles of trails that are perfect for walkers, runners, and bicyclists. Paint Creek Trail is 8.9 miles long. I have taken walks along this trail starting at Rochester Municipal Park as well as five miles further north at Oakland Township Parks and Recreation which also houses the Paint Creek Cider Mill. The trail is so scenic and it's a great space for quiet contemplation and to admire nature. I'm looking forward to returning to Paint Creek Trail in the springtime. read more

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We have been on this trail several times. Sometimes for races. Sometimes to run. Sometimes to walk. Today we were here to cheer on a friend who was running a Marine Corps Marathon. Virtually!! It's hard enough to run a virtual 5K. So running a full 26.2 without the support of fans cheering you on? Very difficult! So our friend's girlfriend set up a surprise and we were all on different mile markers cheering him on. We were set at the 25 mile marker. We got there early and had to sit and wait several hours. Than God for good company. It was so cold! But we cheered him on and went and grabbed some beers after! We were so happy to be able to help! read more

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The trails here are beautiful! They can get pretty busy, although people are very respectful of personal space. There's always tons of people walking - bonus, many have cute dogs to say hi to! - running, taking photos, and just having a great time in nature. It's been a really great thing to do on the weekends during all this pandemic business; it gets me out, gets the dog out, and it's nice to see some friendly faces, even if they are just saying "good afternoon" and "on your left" read more

Paint Creek Trail - Hiking Near Me - Rochester, Michigan

This trail is beautiful! I came here to run, parked in Rochester park. It has a playground and nice area to walk. But the trail itself gorgeous. I didn't feel tired because I was running and looking at all the nature, colors, and beauty. Deers came to me to say hi. People are walking, running, biking, taking pictures. If you need a long run - here it is. I loved this trail and will come back for a run or with my family to enjoy nature. read more

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Excellent trail for biking, walking, or running. We bike from Rochester to Lake Orion and back on a regular basis. LOVE this trail! It is filled with wildlife, people, and lots of trees. Nature at its best! read more

This trail is very walking, biking, and pet friendly! The locals exchange hellos while passing in the opposite direction-- expect to say hello 20 times more or less depending on how long you stay on the path. We never walked the entire way but the map indicates it goes straight into town (how cool!!) I expect the weekends are packed, so if you're bringing a dog who gets skittish around bikers and such, try a mid week early morning walk. It starts getting busier around 11 am and onwards. There are a few stops along the way, down a set of stairs for your dog to play on the river's water. My dogs had all the fun getting their paws wet and splashing around in the shallow waters. It's a great mid-walk break to cool them down. They do allow for fishing so please be careful to look for hooks and trash in case those before you are not responsible. But to be honest, I haven't seen an issue with that. read more

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This was a good ride. It was in the 80s in June. Rode this trail for the first time with my boyfriend. You get bits of sun and shade and even wind on this ride. Rode from the Rochester Library area to Lake Orion and ended at Cookies and Cream Ice cream! Ugh, it was so worrh it! Did 21 miles there and back There's a lot of people so be careful if you are on bikes. read more

Nice and Hugh park for walks, ride a bike, take beautiful pictures. Went there for a family pictures.

Fantastic park! It was very well manicured and looked after. The area for the ducks was great! The kids had a lot of fun at the playground section, and the paved paths made for a good walk, not to mention the actual trail. The free parking lot felt safe being right next to the police station. read more

Paint Creek Trail - Hiking Near Me - Rochester, Michigan

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Beautiful trail for biking, walking, running, or horseback riding. It goes from LO to Rochester. Very beautiful ponds and feilds and the creek itself is a great place to be. Even in the winter it has its own charm. There are some spots that people hang out on the trail that are likely to be safe, but if you are really a safety type person stay on the trail and bring a friend. read more

Paint Creek Trail - The path - Hiking Near Me - Rochester, Michigan

I used to love running here... that changed after they resurfaced the trail and effectively turned it into quicksand.... seriously the trail surface retains water and is constantly slop. Please go back to crushed stone! This current surface is not porous and so water does not drain. The mud on the lower ground at the shoulders of the trail is more dry... wtf! read more

Ran the entire trail during Chicago marathon training last year when I needed to do my longest run. I parked at the cider mill and went toward Lake Orion first. On my way back towards Rochester Hills I stopped at the cider mill restroom and got some water. The length is 8.9 miles so my run in total was close to 18 miles. It was nice to have the cider mill to stop at half way, but would like if there were a few more drinking fountains on the trail. Overall a scenic, nice path for a walk, run or bike ride. read more

There's something about being outside that's good for the inside of a person. Paint Creek Trail is that breath of fresh air we all need from time to time--a place for healing and discovery. Want to see wildlife up close? Look no further. Want a trail that keeps going and going and going? Here's 8.9 miles. Want to burn some calories? Sweat it out on the bike! Paint Creek Trail has almost everything you'd want on a trail: beautiful and varied scenery, deer and other wildlife, friendly people, clean grounds, and a safe atmosphere. During the summer I love to zoom down the trail on my bike when the sun is setting. Once fall rolls around and the air cools, I bring my camera and shuffle through the fallen leaves. With over 8 miles, there's always something new on this trail to be seen. Very often I've seen deer up close. Every once in a while the mounted police will ride through. More than once I've spotted chipmunks and woodpeckers. And the farther down the trail you go, the prettier it gets. If you're the type of person who feels safer on a trail with more people, Paint Creek is a good choice; it's one of the more populated trails. Fellow Yelpers have commented that the trail doesn't have enough water fountains--it's true. I've taken long walks here and needed a drink, but the nearest drinking fountain was a mile away. You'll have even worse luck with bathrooms; the only bathroom I've seen so far is one close to Lake Orion--much too far if you're on foot coming from Downtown Rochester. My best advice is to bring your own water and do your business before you get here. I prefer trails with denser woods and more challenging terrain--I'm a hiker. But there is still something satisfying about being on the Paint Creek Trail. It's the kind of nature trail where you can think and breath freely, and just take a load off. It's not perfect, but it's still a nice place to get away from all the noise. read more

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Great path for bike riding. Everyone we encountered on the trail was friendly. We rode from Rochester to the Paint Creek Cider Mill (and stopped for a donut) then back. The scenery is beautiful and on our ride we saw lots of wildlife. I can't wait to hit the trail again. read more

Love this trail! I travel a lot and when on the road, I try to find good,safe walking trails. Not knowing the areas, sometimes this can be a little scary. This trail had tons of walkers, runners, bikers, fisherman, families and was very well maintained. The scenery was great, and I like that it was not paved. Better for the knees. I saw plenty of water fountains and restrooms. I'm from Ohio and have never seen a bike path w/ water or bathrooms. The only negative, if you are running for time, there are spots you have to stop to cross busy streets. Sometimes it takes a while for the lights to change. I was good with it. Gave me time to rest read more

I love the Paint Creek Trail. It's fun to bike, and also nice for walking or running. if you're biking I suggest starting in Rochester and going toward Lake Orion due to the slight uphill gradation. read more

One of the prettiest trails around for bike riding. Usually will see a couple of deer and other wild life while on the trail and the scenery is beautiful. The trail is not paved but very smooth which the only drawback is that you are quite dusty when you are done with the ride. Got caught in the rain one day and was covered with mud from head to toe but still had a fantastic time! We usually park in Rochester and either stop in Lake Orion for some refreshment before heading back or there are lots of great places in downtown Rochester. read more

I wish I lived closer so I could run/walk/bike this trail more often! The full distance one-way (per the website) is 8.9 miles. We biked starting from the Rochester Municipal building (there was ample parking from this location) to the Paint Creek cider mill 4 miles down the trail. It was a really nice ride; the path is nice, smooth and flat and while the path had more people on it than I expected, everyone was very courteous. And getting a glass of cider and a donut at the half-way point was great. The path is pretty shaded and there are some off-shoot paths you can take, and there is also access to a nature center a short distance from the Rochester Municipal building. You have to cross a couple of roads, but they are more rural and not very busy and all of the drivers we encountered stopped for the people crossing even though you have a stop sign along the path. I can't wait to come back and do the whole trail! read more

What a great way to spend an afternoon! I walked 5 miles on this trail. It was wide enough that both bikers and walkers can use the trail without any difficulty! It is secluded yet not so much that it feels unsafe! read more

Well maintained and clean. I liked that there were frequent benches and trail markers, but I didn't like the complete lack of drinking fountains on the trail. Other than that, it's a great place for kids, dogs, and adults. read more

Love this trail. We ride it all the time to get ice cream at the cider mill in Goodison.

Totally love the trails and park but the amount of brown recluse spiders under the bridges is absolutely ridiculous. About 50 under each bridge. I looked up and nearly had a heart attack read more