One of my favorite places to walk is on our rails to trails system here in Michigan. There are so many rails that have been turned into trails. I have been fortunate to live near so many. For this post, we will focus on the ones in Oakland County. These trails all connect or at least they will shortly.
We will start at the Polly Ann Trail, which starts in Orion Twp at Joslyn Rd just south of Waldon Rd. There is no parking near this start. It is a short distance up the trail to parking at the Civic Center Park where you can access the trail. The trail wanders north through Oxford while passing by various bodies of water, woods, crossing some roads, both paved and dirt. While in Oxford the trail crosses a major road via a bridge.
In Orion Twp there is a connector from the Polly Ann Trail to the Paint Creek Trail that goes along Clarkston Rd and has a crossing into Camp Agawam, a former Boy Scout camp and now a township park. The Paint Creek Trail starts downtown Lake Orion and goes to Rochester. On the trail you will go by a pond that has a couple of areas for you to get off the trail to fish or put in a kayak. The water is not very deep though with tree branches in it, so if you stick around long enough you may catch a turtle sunbathing. Traveling south on the Paint Creek Trail you will come across signs from the old rail line. Plus, just off the trail is Paint Creek Cider Mill where you can get cider and donuts or a nice lunch or dinner.
When you get to Rochester there’s a short trail through town that connects to the Clinton River Trail. The trail follows Paint Creek, goes under Rochester Rd, and around the library. Then there’s a short walk to where it hooks up with the Clinton River Trail. You have the option of going to the left or right. To left will take you to the Macomb Orchard Trail as you cross over into Macomb County. When going to the right you will be on the winding trail that takes you under one freeway and over another which then puts you in the city of Pontiac.
I don’t walk in the city of Pontiac, but will pick it back up in Sylvan Lake. This then ties in with the West Bloomfield Trail. There are quite a few traffic crossings through the Sylvan Lake area. Once you cross over Orchard Lake for the 4th time you will have a longer stretch without a heavy traffic crossing. Also, along the trail you will have the chance to slow down and read the signs about the area. Lots of historical information on those signs. This trail ends at Haggerty Rd.
The next trail that ties in is not quite done as of this writing. It’s the Michigan Airline Trail. You’ll be able to continue through to Wixom Rd when this is finished, including going over M5 on a nice bridge. You’ll go through Commerce, Walled Lake and Wixom. I haven’t been on this section yet, because although there is asphalt down, it is not ready for people to be walking, running and biking on it.
Let’s Go Walking Some Oakland County Michigan Trails. Still want to go further? You’ll have to take the sidewalk down Wixom Rd to Pontiac Trail and then head west to Lyon Oaks where you can pick up the Huron Valley Trail. This trail will take you to Island Lake Recreation Center or to South Lyon. Either way, you have quite the ride ahead of you. These are great trails to go running, walking and biking.