HomeMichiganAuburn Hills › River Woods Park

River Woods Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 513 Google reviews · Running trail in Auburn Hills, Michigan · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Paved
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from River Woods 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.

PavedScenicDog-friendlyRestroomsWaterQuiet

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

What runners say about River Woods Park

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (513 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 9 mentions

“We helped to clean up what beer cans, plastic"doobie" pre-roll containers, multiple small chip bags.”

🏞️ beautiful scenery 14 mentions

“Beautiful mixture of dirt and concrete trails through the forest area that is by the Clinton River.”

🌾 quiet & peaceful 5 mentions

“Very beautiful place for family, relaxing clean and quiet.”

Great place for a walk. This leads to the Clinton River Trail. It also has access to the river, so you can go fishing or wade in the water. There is a great pavilion were people can gather and grill together.

★★★★★ — K , Sep 2022

Beautiful park! The pavilion is lovely with a fireplace and grills on either side of it. There are several small built in tables under the pavilion too. The bathrooms and drinking fountain have been spotless every time we visit. Great basketball court and playground.

★★★★★ — Adrienne , Jul 2018

Nice place clean for the most part, as far as being clean from pets the main areas of the park were pretty much free of dog 💩 but if you happen to venture off the main trails and walk the less traveled trails I seen quite a bit of dog 💩 around the smaller trails, other then that and also being on the smaller side it's…

★★★★★ — James , Oct 2025

Clean playground and park, beautiful view of Clinton River especially from the bridge. Paved paths are great for strollers however short they are.

★★★★☆ — Breanna , May 2022

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 513 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 17 mentions

“Beautiful mixture of dirt and concrete trails through the forest area that is by the Clinton River.”

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🤫 Quiet / uncrowded 5 mentions

“Very beautiful place for family, relaxing clean and quiet.”

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🛣️ Paved surface 3 mentions

“There is a large paved path for walking all around the scenic park including a beautiful bridge over the Clinton River.”

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🚻 Restrooms 2 mentions

“The bathrooms and drinking fountain have been spotless every time we visit.”

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🚰 Water fountains 2 mentions

“The bathrooms and drinking fountain have been spotless every time we visit.”

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🐕 Dog-friendly 6 mentions

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Plan your run at River Woods Park

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • SurfacePaved — asphalt or concrete. Fast and predictable, runnable year-round, and fine with a stroller
  • 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 trailheadrestrooms, water — reported by runners
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
  • Websiteauburnhills.org
  • Phone(248) 370-9353

Hours

Monday 8 AM–8 PM
Tuesday 8 AM–8 PM
Wednesday 8 AM–8 PM
Thursday 8 AM–8 PM
Friday 8 AM–8 PM
Saturday 8 AM–8 PM
Sunday 8 AM–8 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 River Woods Park

300 River Woods Drive, Auburn Hills, MI 48326

Get directions

Running trails near Auburn Hills

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

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.

under a mile away

Leach Road Trailhead

4.5 ★★★★★ 24 reviews

Rochester Hills, MI

under a mile away

Clinton River Trail

4.6 ★★★★★ 47 reviews

Rochester Hills, MI

MixedScenic

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.

1.7 miles away

Auburn Hills Multi Sports Field

4.8 ★★★★★ 12 reviews

Auburn Hills, MI

1.9 miles away

Clinton River Trail

4.7 ★★★★★ 126 reviews

Auburn Hills, MI

50 miMixedShadedLit

Area for hiking and biking with a paved trail and a public restroom.

1.9 miles away

All running trails in Auburn 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.