Route: Paint Creek Trail (MI)

The Paint Creek Trail is an 8.9 mile trail located in northeast Oakland County. It was the first Non-Motorized Rail-to-Trail in the State of Michigan, as it was converted to a trail from the former Penn Central Railroad. Open to the public since 1983, the Paint Creek Trail receives over 100,000 visitors annually. The non-motorized Trail is 8 feet wide, and traverses through Rochester, Rochester Hills, Oakland Township, Orion Township and the Village of Lake Orion. It also allows horses on some sections. 98% of the trail is crushed limestone, the rest is asphalt. If you start in Lake Orion, you will be going “downhill” as the grade drops by 2%. 

Sites along the way include the Paint Creek Cider Mill (stop for donuts & cider after), Royal Oak Archers (an archery range), the beautiful Rochester Park & several nice bridges crossing over the Paint Creek where you may see fly fishers. You can see wildlife on the trail including deer, squirrels and look for the occasional harmless garter snake. 

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