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.

I thoroughly enjoyed my wanderings at River Bends Park, lots of options for your activities while…read morevisiting. I was on a limited time crunch today, so I stuck mostly to the main, paved trails (happily many sections of this path still ran through the woods); but there are hiking and/or biking trails branching off in many directions all throughout the property. Make sure to watch the trail signs, as some are for bikers only. River Bends is also a dog friendly park, note that they must remain on a maximum of a 6ft leash at all times. While I visited today with only my pupperoni, River Bends park is great for kids of all ages. There are a multitude of play areas for children, great to help wear out their energy. There is also a disc golf course that winds throughout the park, supplying players with beautiful nature views. You could also enjoy a BBQ on one of their charcoal grills, relax at a picnic table, or pavilions if you have a large group; nature watch on a nearby bench, our even try out a game of horseshoe. The park appeared well maintained, for the most part; although a few signs could use some repair. They have restroom facilities, and port-a-pottys available for use (although I did not enter them to speak of their cleanliness). You can find trash receptacles around every bend, so there's no excuse for lazy littering, and there is a main sign available showing you all of the trails and their difficulties. You can find this sign posted off to the side of the parking lot; which itself, had plenty of available spots. Definitely a favorite park to stop and enjoy, highly recommend.

I recently got into the whole #MTBProject thing. Bought myself a bicycle the price of a slightly…read moreused Ford vehicle. Hit the trails and joined a few Facebook groups. I've always seen the mountain bike trail on a Facebook post and so since my husband was driving up the area to group study with his cousin. I set up the bike rack and brung it along. Dropped him off at the starbuck and I came straight here. So the trail was rather pretty easy and laid back. None of the super high uphill climbs that'll destroy your quads, but it does have its moments. The drops were good and the course was rather nicely laid out. Theres even nice ramps and dips to make the trail lean over to the fun side. It's a bit short for the intermediate mountain bikers, but it's a ton of fun. I would run the trail again if given the chance. Thank you so much for reading my review. I hope this helps with your decision making experience. Enjoy your awesome yelptastic day!

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.

I'm so glad they added more parking because wow... this place blew up You can tell they didn't…read morefully expect how popular it would get. On those first nice days of the season? Forget it... it's PACKED. That said, it's honestly such a great park. The walking path is a really good, not too short where it feels pointless but not exhausting either. The landscaping is beautiful and feels really well taken care of, which makes a big difference. The playground is a huge hit with my kids, and the pond with the ducks is always a highlight. It just has that easy, relaxing vibe. Bathrooms are clean, there's a nice pavilion, and tons of open space for picnics or just letting the kids run wild. We keep going back... just maybe not on the very first sunny Saturday

Came here to walk a chilly fall Sunday, first time here and it was alright. Paved walkway for…read moreexercising and walking your doggo, little spots for picture taking (I counted 5 families taking photos), large playground and views of the Clinton River from a few bridges. Length of path is just about 1.4 miles for a loop.

This park is what you can see from the overpass in Oak Park, the seemingly mirage of lush trees on…read morean overpass seems unreal, it's quite real. You can see it on either side of the overpass. Heard it was created for the deer to be able to cross either side via the overpass, safely without becoming road kill. The best access to the park is by the Taubman apartments, blue signage. No street name. Parking lot to park and walk is behind the apartments and by the gate or entrance to the park. It's a nice, albeit noisy walk with the roar of the cars below.

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

There's no greater slice of heaven on Earth than the Paint Creek Trail. I still remember the first…read moretime 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.

One of my favorite places in Sterling Heights! It feels like you're a thousand miles away from the…read morecity, even though it's right around the corner. The trails wind through beautiful scenery with so much nature to take in, and the rivers running throughout make it feel peaceful and relaxing. Every visit brings something new to see, whether it's wildlife, changing seasons, or a different view along the trail. It's the perfect place to walk, clear your mind, and enjoy the outdoors. I've never left disappointed. Sterling Heights is home to an extensive trail system with river views and natural area.

We are avid walkers and love walking the trails in our local parks so when we were looking for a…read moredifferent place to walk, we discovered this one. It's located across the street from Henry Ford ll high school and is easily missed if you're not looking for the entrance driveway. The trail is part of the Clinton River Park Trail System which is a quite a nice trail to bike along if you're a biker. Whether you like leisurely walks on a paved trail or walking along the well worn and rugged dirt trails, it's a relaxing and nature filled walk to enjoy and explore. There were quite a few bikers traversing the trail as well. With the playground and ball field, it's a nice park for the family and people of all ages to have some fun. Bring your frisbees, footballs, baseballs and bats and enjoy what this park has to offer.

Just celebrated our daughter and her boyfriend in marriage on Friday night…read more From the time we sat down with the staff we were struck with a love of family, low key, non stressful questions and answers. We ended up booking and delighted how things turned out. The wedding and reception were planned together. What happened next was immeasurable. The day before the event we walked the grounds with Lois (staff) and how things were to be done. All this to accommodate the wedding party, staff, photographer and more. The ladies were able to use a special room to get ready the day of, completely with snacks and Mimosas and more. The guys, well we came ready, so the bar was open. The grounds for the outdoor wedding was clean and ready, the great weather made it even better. After the ceremony we were isolated for pictures that were ready before we even had to ask. All while our guests enjoyed the open bar and time to mingle. The food as many of our guests said was the best and largest presentation ever. The salad bar was huge and a lot of varieties for all. Our main courses were the Chicken Picata, Pasta, Salmon, breaded Shrimp, Prime Rib(carved) and a lot more. Not one complaint or issue. Later that night, sliders were served. If you went away still hungry, you may have a issue. At the end of the night, the staff helped us cleaning up, specifically our hand made centerpieces, all with a smile. This place is worth the drive with a beautiful backdrop of a well maintained grounds and talented and well trained staff.

Wonderful trails for walking, hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding. Fun for all ages:…read moreplayground, disc golf course, boat and mountain bike rental to explore Buhl Lake, volleyball, and horseshoes. Multiple event space for parties of all sizes including weddings (Buhl Estate, Adams Lodge, Pavilions, etc). You can camp here too!