HomeMichiganRochester Hills › Clinton River Trail

Clinton River Trail

4.6 ★★★★★ 47 Google reviews · Running trail in Rochester Hills, Michigan · Open 24 hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Mixed
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Open 24 hours

Confirmed from Clinton River Trail's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

MixedOpen 24hScenicFlat & fastHillyRestroomsTrailhead parking

What runners say about Clinton River Trail

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (47 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 3 mentions

“Very nice and very well maintained trail for sure.”

🏞️ beautiful scenery 5 mentions

“It is such a scenic route and I always find myself stopping to admire the views!”

So beautiful :) one of my favorite places! I love the side trails along the river. It’s definitely worth exploring :) lots of hidden gems!

★★★★★ — Madison , Dec 2024

This trail is awesome for hiking or biking. Clinton river is also a great fishing river. We always see lots of wild life.

★★★★★ — Alan , Feb 2024

Restroom at this trailhead A great trail for seeing nature. A good portion if the trail is paved, and a crew is working on fixing and re-paving more areas. This is part of the lake to lake trail that will take you all the way across Michigan.

★★★★★ — K , Aug 2022

Converted into a trail from a former railroad, this trail goes for several miles crossing multiple counties for both biking and walking. There are several trailheads along the way. We use the map AllTrails to get into different trailheads each time to enjoy the vast scenary in various places.

★★★★★ — Rengesh , Aug 2019

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 47 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🏞️ Scenic views 8 mentions

“It is such a scenic route and I always find myself stopping to admire the views!”

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🅿️ Trailhead parking 7 mentions

“Restroom at this trailhead A great trail for seeing nature.”

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🛣️ Paved surface 5 mentions

“A good portion if the trail is paved, and a crew is working on fixing and re-paving more areas.”

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Flat & fast 3 mentions

“Nice and flat to focus more on what’s around you.”

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🚻 Restrooms 3 mentions

“Restroom at this trailhead A great trail for seeing nature.”

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⛰️ Hills / elevation 3 mentions

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🪨 Crushed gravel / limestone 2 mentions

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Plan your run at Clinton River Trail

The practical stuff

  • AccessOpen 24 hours — no gate to beat, so a 5am or a 10pm run both work
  • SurfaceMixed — more than one surface along the route, so check the segment you plan to run
  • DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
  • At the trailheadparking, restrooms — reported by runners
  • Websiteclintonrivertrail.org
  • Social Instagram · Facebook

Hours

Monday Open 24 hours
Tuesday Open 24 hours
Wednesday Open 24 hours
Thursday Open 24 hours
Friday Open 24 hours
Saturday Open 24 hours
Sunday Open 24 hours

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find Clinton River Trail

Rochester Hills, Michigan

Get directions

Running trails near Rochester Hills

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

Leach Road Trailhead

4.5 ★★★★★ 24 reviews

Rochester Hills, MI

under a mile away

Innovation Hills

4.7 ★★★★★ 1,919 reviews

Rochester Hills, MI

MixedLitScenicDog-friendly

Large park with a river running through it, plus a paved trail & a nature-themed playground.

under a mile away

River Woods Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 513 reviews

Auburn Hills, MI

PavedScenicDog-friendly

Manicured, leafy park featuring a network of maintained trails, plus a playground & picnic shelter.

under a mile away

Riverside Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 1,441 reviews

Auburn Hills, MI

MixedScenicDog-friendly

Riverfront park with play equipment, a footpath, picnic shelter, barbecue facilities & canoe launch.

1.3 miles away

Stage Nature Center

4.7 ★★★★★ 628 reviews

Troy, MI

2 miMixedScenic

100-acre natural area with hiking trails & an educational building with many programs.

1.7 miles away

Auburn Hills Multi Sports Field

4.8 ★★★★★ 12 reviews

Auburn Hills, MI

2.2 miles away

All running trails in Rochester Hills, MI →

Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.