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Detroit RiverWalk
Scenery: 5 stars
Trail Condition: 5 stars
Children: 5 stars
Difficulty: 1 star
Solitude: 1 star
GPS TRAILHEAD COORDINATES: N42° 19.541' W83° 3.166'
DISTANCE & CONFIGURATION: 2-mile out-and-back
HIKING TIME: About 1 hour or less
HIGHLIGHTS: Detroit River; skyline views of Windsor, Ontario, Canada; Hart Plaza; General Motors global headquarters
ELEVATION: 583 feet at trailhead, with no significant rise
ACCESS: Daily, 6 a.m.–10 p.m.; no fees or permits required
MAPS: at detroitriverfront.org
FACILITIES: Restrooms (seasonal), picnic areas, bike rentals, café
WHEELCHAIR ACCESS: Yes
COMMENTS: The path can be very crowded during lunchtime and summer evenings. Watch out for bicyclists.
CONTACTS: 313-566-8200; detroitriverfront.org
Overview
One of the newest developments in downtown, the Detroit RiverWalk opens up a vast stretch of the riverfront to the public. The well-maintained path offers panoramic views of the scenic Detroit River and the Windsor skyline, and it passes directly by the General Motors global headquarters at the Renaissance Center.
Route Details
Strolling along the Detroit RiverWalk, you may find it hard to believe that the city didn’t realize until very recently what a jewel the turquoise-shaded river is. Once home to industrial plants, silos, and other buildings, much of the riverfront is being converted into promenades, parks, and public spaces.
The crown jewel, of course, is the Detroit RiverWalk, an expansive walkway that runs along the river and will eventually stretch 5.5 miles from the Ambassador Bridge on the city’s western edge to Belle Isle, an island park on the east.
More than half of the walk has been completed, though portions remain separated by vacant remnants of the past. The best bet is to start the Detroit RiverWalk at its western edge near Joe Louis Arena, and you can park along the street running next to the stadium. The promenade parallels the Detroit River with separate lanes for walkers, hikers, bicyclists, and inline skaters. Expect to find plenty of people crowding the promenade during the warmer months, as well as fishermen lined along the rails, casting their nets into the fast-moving river.
Heading east along the riverfront, the promenade passes below Philip A. Hart Plaza, an open, mostly hard-surfaced park. This is the approximate landing site of Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac, who in 1701 founded the settlement that eventually became Detroit. Today the park is the site of festivals throughout the summer and is noteworthy for several sculptures, including a statue of Cadillac, as well as the Horace E. Dodge and Son Memorial Fountain, designed by Isamu Noguchi.
The Renaissance Center, the global home of General Motors, will catch your attention as you continue east. You’ll find plenty of people sitting along the concrete steps leading up to the Winter Garden, and in the summer months, diners enjoy their meals at the outdoor patio at Andiamo, a well-known Detroit restaurant. The tallest and central tower is home to the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center, the tallest all-hotel skyscraper in the Western Hemisphere. The surrounding four towers are occupied by GM and other automotive-related companies.
The promenade continues to Rivard Plaza, home to a Great Lakes–themed carousel, a water-jet fountain and pool, a map of the Detroit River system (made of granite), and a vertical glass map of the entire St. Lawrence Seaway. Walkers also will find a bike rental store, a concession stand selling Michigan-inspired fare, and restroom facilities. There are plenty of tables and chairs for outdoor dining.
At the plaza’s eastern edge is William G. Milliken State Park and Harbor, formerly known as Tricentennial State Park, Michigan’s only state park in an urban area. The 31-acre park contains a marina, and a 63-foot conical lighthouse marks the entrance. Retrace your steps along the river back to the starting point.
If you’re more adventurous and wish to extend your walk beyond the state park, continue walking along Atwater Street. Although this stretch veers from the riverfront, it is part of the RiverWalk. You’ll pass the southern entrance of the Dequindre Cut Greenway as you head due east. The RiverWalk, however, officially ends—for now—at Chene Street, beyond the entrance of Chene Park. To reach the next completed stretch of the RiverWalk, continue walking another block or so along Atwater Street to Joseph Campau Street. Turn right and head past the gatehouse to the riverfront. The promenade continues past Stroh River Place, the former Omni hotel, and the United Auto Workers–General Motors offices to Mount Elliott Park. Adding this stretch creates about a 3.5-mile one-way trek from the beginning point at Joe Louis Arena.
Nearby Attractions
GM’s Winter Garden offers restaurants, shops, and other services. Coach Insignia, the restaurant atop the RenCen, is open in the evenings for dinner. The restaurant offers a panoramic view of the city, the river, and neighboring Windsor, Ontario. The glass elevator to the 72nd floor runs up the outside of the structure. It’s about a 0.5-mile walk from Hart Plaza to the city’s new center, Campus Martius, which features a small park with an outdoor café. In the summer, there are concerts, and in the winter, the grassy area is turned into an ice-skating rink.
Directions
From downtown, the RiverWalk is accessible from Hart Plaza right off Jefferson Avenue on the riverfront. To walk from one end to the other, start at either Rivard Plaza on the eastern end or at Joe Louis Arena on the west end. Heading east on Jefferson from Woodward Avenue, past the Renaissance Center, turn right onto Rivard Street. Turn left onto Atwater Street. A parking lot will be on your right. To reach the entrance near Joe Louis, head west on Jefferson Avenue and drive past the Renaissance Center, Hart Plaza, Cobo Center, and Joe Louis Arena. Third Street is immediately after Joe Louis. Turn left on Third Street. Parking is available along Third Street and Steve Yzerman Drive, a service drive to Joe Louis that runs parallel to the river.
From Ann Arbor, take US 23 north/M-14 east to Plymouth. M-14 becomes I-96. Continue about 20 miles on eastbound I-96 toward Detroit. Follow signs for M-10/Civic-Cobo Center. Merge onto M-10 and continue toward Civic Center/Cobo Center. Take Exit 1A, West Jefferson Avenue. Go straight, crossing Jefferson onto Third Street. Parking is available along Third Street and Steve Yzerman Drive, the service drive to Joe Louis and Cobo Center.
