Hiking & Trails

Nicknamed "Tree Town", Ann Arbor has earned its reputation as an urban oasis - boasting as many hiking, biking, boating and fishing areas as world-class restaurants and cultural attractions. Paddle down the Huron River Water Trail in a kayak or canoe, mountain bike through the Waterloo State Recreation Area and view the sand hill crane migration, or hike around the University of Michigan's Matthaei Botanical Gardens for horticultural inspiration. You're sure to find an Ann Arbor area trail that invigorates and delights you.

The 20,000-acre Waterloo Recreation Area is the largest state park in the Lower Peninsula. The park is well known for its mountain biking trail, the DTE Energy Foundation Trail.

The Border to Border Trail (B2B Trail) is the ideal way to explore the beauty that Ann Arbor, Dexter, Chelsea and Ypsilanti has to offer. The non-motorized trail runs all through the county, following along side the Huron River in most areas. Read more about the Border to Border Trail. 

With it's expansive trail system and reputation as a premier mountain biking destination in the state, Chelsea has been named a Pure Michigan Trail Town in 2023. 

From the historical ambiance of Dexter to the riverside trails of Ypsilanti, and from pastoral Manchester to the downtown parks of Ann Arbor, the entire area is filled with recreational activities ready for you to explore. 

Use the DNR map to discover new hiking locations for trail adventures in Michigan.