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    River Bends Park

    4.1 (17 reviews)

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    happy trails
    Sofia S.

    If someone told me last year that I'd be mountain biking in 2020, I would've said no way. My bro kept asking me to try it, but I had zero interest. Since my gym delayed its opening, I thought I'd go once to humor him. That was a month ago and now I'm the one bugging him to ride. I like weaving between the trees on winding dirt trails (contemplative) interspersed with technical trail features (slight challenge). Bro will call out that it's getting "tetch-nical" and I laugh. I think one day we'll just shorten it to "tetch." He knows a bunch of different locations to ride in our area, so he picks the places and I follow, but River Bends Park was my idea. It has 3 levels of trails - green (easy), yellow/blue (medium) and red (difficult). Take a picture of the map at the trail head so you can find your way out if you get lost. I like it slightly better than Bloomer Park because it is a bit simpler to navigate but has more trail features like mini dirt moguls, an undulating wood ramp, and log bridges to name a few (yellow trail). The twisties from yellow 12-14 are what I look forward to on the ride. There are two entrances to the park. The western entrance is at the intersection of Hamlin and Ryan Road. I saw a skate park and tennis courts off to the right along with some baseball diamonds and a tot lot. For biking you can drive down to Patriot Field and it's a 3 minute bike to the trail head. You'll get to go on the bridge over the Clinton River. The eastern entrance is on 22 Mile and is directly across from the trail. The park has other recreational offerings like disc golf, trap/archery range and sledding, but I haven't seen the sled hill yet. I'm still too busy taking in the trails.

    Laurie P.

    I come here for the archery range. Only $6 to shoot for as long as you want. Their hay bales are pretty beat up, so I bring my own block target. No big deal. Open Thurs thru Sunday.

    Getting ready to run a NYE 5K! Whoop!
    Amy W.

    A safe place to run, bike, or hike and it's free? What's not to love? It's sort of a hidden gem that everyone will now know about. Beautiful trails. We will sometimes run from Riverbends to downtown Utica, eat and grab a drink then run back. Super fun! There aren't a lot of rest rooms, and only a few playscapes for the kids. But we always have a great time when we go.

    Who says rainy days aren't beautiful?

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    9 months ago

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    8 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    4 years ago

    I can't believe this park got 4 stars it's my favorite park and the best ever never clean and quiet nice

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    10 years ago

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    12 years ago

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    Ask the Community - River Bends Park

    When do they close?

    The park is open from sunrise to sunset. Most amenities and facilities located inside the park are closed by 8 p.m. or sunset, whichever is first.

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    Review Highlights - River Bends Park

    We will sometimes run from Riverbends to downtown Utica, eat and grab a drink then run back.

    Mentioned in 3 reviews

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    Bloomer Park

    Bloomer Park

    4.6(30 reviews)
    3.0 mi

    Bloomer Park is an excellent place for hiking and mountain biking. It's has technical mountain bike…read moretrails as well as moderate and casual. These levels are the same for hiking, so you can get a great workout regardless of experience level. There are multiple wood staircases of varying lengths, so it's great for stair climbing exercise. I've been coming here on/off for several years and have never had a bad experience. I've gone to other state parks where I've gotten swarmed by a lot of bugs, but for whatever reason, not at Bloomer. It's also great that it's located next to downtown Rochester, so food and drink after a casual stroll is accessible. I highly recommend Bloomer Park for hiking and biking activities.

    My family and I went to Bloomer Park for their recent, Fossils and Riverside Campfire event (cost…read morewas $10 per person). We had a great time. It was our first visit to this city park, and I was happy to see it was nicely maintained. We only stayed and hiked through a small section of the park, but it was very clean, bathrooms were available, there was a playground for kids, small grills in sections, bike repair areas could be found, and the trails had been recently upkept. The paths we followed were simple and good for families, although I would not recommend dragging a wagon or anything like that with you. There were easy to hike sections, as well as smaller, more off-road trails perfect for those that enjoy mountain biking. There was plenty of wildlife around to view, wooden bridges for crossing streams and marshy areas, and beautiful areas to relax near the Clinton River. It was honestly a great outing, and we'll definitely be back.

    Photos
    Bloomer Park - The park is beautiful in fall

    The park is beautiful in fall

    Bloomer Park - River next to one of the many trails

    River next to one of the many trails

    Bloomer Park

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    Rochester Park - Gorgeous mural on the side of a building within Rochester Municipal Park

    Rochester Park

    5.0(6 reviews)
    4.3 mi

    This is probably one of my absolute favorite parks! It's so large and winding, there are so many…read morepathways and things you can do here, and best of all, you can access it to and from downtown Rochester! I first started going to this park back when Pokemon Go came out all those years ago. I had no idea what this park was all about until that first day I was playing Pokemon Go and just kept following the path on the game's map and then suddenly I looked up and realized I had walked through all of the park and into downtown...all a stone's throw away from my apartment! That started my long-term love affair with this park. I have so many fond memories in here catching Pokemon, but also coming back here with friends and with my dog for walks, playing on the play structures, glancing at the tennis courts and wondering if I should play a bit, hammocking because there are so many great hammocking trees scattered throughout the park, shopping through ARTS & APPLES, ones of the greatest festivals in metro Detroit, and so much more. This park has something for everyone and is also very accessible right off of Paint Creek Trail as well. Parking around here can be interesting, but now that I no longer live at the apartments directly across the street from this park, I find that parking at the Rochester Hills Public Library in downtown Rochester is my favorite option. There is a path that leads all the way behind the library, along the creek, to Paint Creek Trail, with an offshoot to the Rochester Municipal Park, all just a 5 minute walk from the library! This is truly a wonderful park, for fun with your friends, family, and furry ones, in all four Michigan seasons, and I'll never stop enjoying it! :)

    Peaceful, beautiful park with lots of trails and great restaurants in the area. Love going here…read morewith my family.

    Photos
    Rochester Park - Arts & Apples 2023 in Rochester Municipal Park

    Arts & Apples 2023 in Rochester Municipal Park

    Rochester Park - Path along Paint Creek from the library towards Paint Creek Trail and Rochester Municipal Park

    Path along Paint Creek from the library towards Paint Creek Trail and Rochester Municipal Park

    Rochester Park - Impressive large sundial. Plaques on on the rocks have information about some of the local history of Rochester's early roots.

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    Impressive large sundial. Plaques on on the rocks have information about some of the local history of Rochester's early roots.

    Thelma Spencer Park - beach area with swimming roped off

    Thelma Spencer Park

    4.5(14 reviews)
    2.8 mi

    I've always loved this park. Great memories through the years with my kids. It's a great day with…read morethe family when you bring a picnic basket.

    Spencer Park is a hidden gem in Rochester Hills! It's my favorite park to spend a summer day with…read morefriends/family or by myself to a walk on the hiking path. It's open for swimming Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day with Lifeguards on duty from 8am to dusk. Last year they installed a new paved walking trail that goes around the lake. It's so much nicer than the old gravel pathway! It's approximately 1 mile around Carter Lake and it's perfect for getting your steps in. However, dogs are not allowed in the park even if they are on a leash during Memorial Day to Labor Day. During off season you can bring your dog on a leash to walk if you choose. Another strict rule to note is that no floatation devices are allowed in the water for swimming. It's a popular spot to go shoreline fishing and there's a fishing dock along with canoe, Kayak and paddle board rental. In addition, there are sand volleyball courts, tennis courts, basketball courts, barbecue grills, a concession stand, and a play structure. You could easily spend the whole day here and never get bored. It basically has all the same amenities that Stoney Creek offers but smaller. It cost $5 per day if you're a Rochester Hills resident or $10 for a non resident Monday through Friday and Saturday and Sunday a few dollars more $8 for resident and $15 for a non resident). You also can buy a season pass which i do every year. The season pass gets you into Bloomer Park as well. I highly recommend this local park to anyone who loves nature and the outdoors. Great for all ages and especially families!

    Photos
    Thelma Spencer Park
    Thelma Spencer Park
    Thelma Spencer Park

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    Whispering Woods Kiwanis Park - The leaf covered walking path

    Whispering Woods Kiwanis Park

    4.4(5 reviews)
    2.2 mi

    Two nice additions have been added to the park..... A Little Library to take or leave a book and a…read morefood pantry to contribute to or take something you may need. They're both located in the front near the park map, restrooms and basketball courts. There's also a tree near the playground where you can paint a rock at home and set it around the tree. This park is bustling at times during soccer and baseball seasons. With 2 play areas, a couple of covered pavilions offering shelter and shade and indoor restrooms in the front of the park, this is a perfect spot for small gatherings. There are two large grassy areas near the baseball diamond and in the soccer field where you can fly kites, or run with your pet or play any other activity. This is a park the whole family can enjoy with plenty to see as far as plants and trees and animals such as squirrels and birds and rabbits and we've even seen a couple of ducks. When you're in the wooded area walking the path, you forget for a few moments that you're in the middle of the township because it's so peaceful. Come and enjoy whether you want to take a few moments for yourself or have some quality family time. Hope to see you there!

    Very small park with two tiny trails. Was not enough for myself and my 4 yo on his bikeread more

    Photos
    Whispering Woods Kiwanis Park - If we are lost, do we pick up the stone, I mean phone?

    If we are lost, do we pick up the stone, I mean phone?

    Whispering Woods Kiwanis Park - This tree dog, I mean log is looking a little ruff!

    This tree dog, I mean log is looking a little ruff!

    Whispering Woods Kiwanis Park - I hope this old cottonwood tree survives from it's damage from the April 2025 windstorm

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    I hope this old cottonwood tree survives from it's damage from the April 2025 windstorm

    Holland Ponds Park - Blue Heron's nests

    Holland Ponds Park

    3.9(7 reviews)
    0.9 mi

    Holland Ponds is the best place for hiking! My friends and I love coming here with our dogs because…read morethere is a river through the entire place, which means plenty of opportunities for the dogs to swim! The park is also connected to the apple trail, which leads to Yates Cider Mill, so it's honestly the best place to spend an afternoon! The dogs have fun, the humans have fun, you can take a mid-hike break to fuel up with cider and donuts, and then head back through Holland Ponds! The only downside to the park is that it's close to a shooting range of some sort, far enough away that you can't see anything, only hear things, so for dogs that spook a bit towards fireworks and the like, they will be able to hear sounds that might make them a bit jumpy.

    I like this park for many reasons, but mainly because it has that true nature feel to it with so…read moremuch to look at and take in as you walk and meander it's trails. The main trail is gravel, but there are areas that veer off here and there along the way that take you off the beaten path and into some 'real' nature trails. With so much to offer, you can venture off and explore the foliage, ponds, wildflowers, rabbits, birds, frogs and the elusive (at least for me so far) Blue Herons. In fact this park is a Blue Heron Rookery and a nesting area for them as well. Look up into the trees while walking along their nesting areas because they build their large 3 foot by 3 foot nests high in the trees out of twigs. There are signs as well warning the public not to enter their sacred nesting areas. It's very quiet, serene and even a tad rustic compared to the other parks in the county. It does have benches along the way, but the grasses in mid summer have grown up and around some of them making them not so easy to sit on. They also have a small pavilion that once had a picnic table, but the table is now gone, so it's 'just a pavilion' hoping for another table one day so it can once again have visitors sit under it's covered and shady rest area. But why not carry one of those fold up chairs and heck, bring a picnic bag lunch and enjoy a quiet meal as you feel like you're in the middle of nowhere. Make sure to look up and side to side as you're traversing the trail because there are things to look at all around if you take the time to explore. You're so close to the city, yet so far away when you're in the middle of this park so take the time to enjoy all of it's offerings. There are areas where you can get a nice picturesque glimpse of the lily pads in the water and listen to the frogs croaking their tunes as you meander along the path. If you like the type of setting where you seem one with nature and you like a calm, serene setting, this park is a must to visit. Who knows, maybe you'll get lucky and see one or more of the Blue Herons. If not, there's always next time because this peaceful park is worth exploring when you want to get away from the city grind.

    Photos
    Holland Ponds Park - Blue Herons nesting.

    Blue Herons nesting.

    Holland Ponds Park - Blue Heron nests

    Blue Heron nests

    Holland Ponds Park - Turtley cool.... This log was the perfect spot to sunbathe

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    Turtley cool.... This log was the perfect spot to sunbathe

    River Bends Park - parks - Updated July 2026

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