HomeMichiganSterling Heights › North Clinton River Park

North Clinton River Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 324 Google reviews · Running trail in Sterling Heights, Michigan · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Mixed
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Tree cover
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from North Clinton River Park'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.

MixedShadedScenicDog-friendlyRestrooms

Scenic park featuring paved trails, picnic tables, a playground and river views.

What runners say about North Clinton River Park

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (324 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 4 mentions

“Very clean, beautiful paved and limestone trails, clean and functional boat launch, new park benches, and great little playground.”

🏞️ beautiful scenery 12 mentions

“Very clean, beautiful paved and limestone trails, clean and functional boat launch, new park benches, and great little playground.”

🐕 dog-walking favorite 3 mentions

“Wonderful place to walk the dog, go for a bike ride, eat a picnic, or bring the family to play.”

I literally brought a picnic basket and sat by the river! What a beautiful place! I walked for about 10 minutes through the trails and instantly found a nice place to relax. I saw some benches on my walk too. I am sure there's lots more to explore, so I can't wait to come back.

★★★★★ — Lizzie , May 2023

I feel so lucky to live just down the road from this park. I like to walk my dog there and take photos.

★★★★★ — Suzanne , Nov 2023

My favorite nature park in the area. Tons of trails to walk or bike, most through shade and wooded areas. The nature center is nearby, beautiful views of the Clinton River, and even a playground for kids ages 5-12. Picnic tables available, dogs welcomed on leash. No restrooms though.

★★★★★ — Andrea , Aug 2023

Very clean and beautiful park. Trails are always great for biking, hiking, or just walking. This is always a great place to go to have picnics. I love how the trails lead you to dodge park which over the past two years, it has been renovated with new parks, a splash pad(free to Starling Heights residents), new…

★★★★★ — Nigel , May 2019

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 324 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 15 mentions

“Very clean, beautiful paved and limestone trails, clean and functional boat launch, new park benches, and great little playground.”

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🚻 Restrooms 6 mentions

“There were no bathrooms by the playground.”

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🛣️ Paved surface 5 mentions

“Lots of paved and unpaved trails and a lot of things to look at, also think I saw a beaver in part of the lake which was nice to experience.”

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🐕 Dog-friendly 4 mentions

“Wonderful place to walk the dog, go for a bike ride, eat a picnic, or bring the family to play.”

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🌳 Shaded / tree cover 3 mentions

“Tons of trails to walk or bike, most through shade and wooded areas.”

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🌲 Natural surface / singletrack 2 mentions

“Gets pretty muddy if it has rained recently, so I would wait or take mud boots.”

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Plan your run at North Clinton River Park

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • 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.
  • ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
  • At the trailheadrestrooms — reported by runners
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
  • Websitesterling-heights.net
  • Phone+1 586-446-2700
  • Social Instagram · Facebook

Hours

Monday 8 am–10 pm
Tuesday 8 am–10 pm
Wednesday 8 am–10 pm
Thursday 8 am–10 pm
Friday 8 am–10 pm
Saturday 8 am–10 pm
Sunday 8 am–10 pm

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 North Clinton River Park

8700-8808 Riverland Dr, Sterling Heights, MI 48314

Get directions

Running trails near Sterling Heights

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

Sterling Heights Nature Center

4.8 ★★★★★ 128 reviews

Sterling Heights, MI

LoopPavedScenic

Family-friendly park featuring nature trails, a bike path, and educational facilities.

under a mile away

Ben Hadley Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 201 reviews

Sterling Heights, MI

PavedShadedDog-friendly

Playground, clean park featuring a swing set and slides, along with walking trails.

under a mile away

Clinton River Heritage Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 577 reviews

Utica, MI

Scenic

Casual, clean park with a playground and a picnic area, plus access to the Clinton River.

under a mile away

Farmstead Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 277 reviews

Sterling Heights, MI

PavedScenicDog-friendly

Playground and volleyball court for kids, as well as trails for walking and biking.

1.3 miles away

Clinton River Park North

4.7 ★★★★★ 895 reviews

Sterling Heights, MI

PavedScenicDog-friendly

Tranquil, wooded area & geocaching destination with paved pathways linking to a rail-trail system.

1.3 miles away

Dodge Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 4,340 reviews

Sterling Heights, MI

17 miPavedScenicDog-friendly

Recreation & sports park for volleyball, in-line hockey & picnics, with swings & an amphitheater.

1.6 miles away

All running trails in Sterling Heights, 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.