How many under 5 km hikes are listed near Detroit?

24 routes currently meet both this guide’s filter and the directory quality gate. Each submitted route has a traceable source, mapped geometry and sampled elevation data.

What is the average distance and ascent?

The average mapped distance is 2.2 km with 11 m (36 ft) of recorded ascent. The longest route in this set is 4.4 km.

How are the routes ordered?

Pebble Creek Ravine Trail currently ranks first. Ordering uses the directory score and route-data completeness; it is not a claim that editors have field-tested every route.

Does an easy rating mean beginner-safe?

24 routes in this set are rated easy from distance and elevation measurements. The model does not verify exposure, surface, crossings, closures or current weather, so confirm those separately.

Hiking Trails Under 5 km near Detroit

The directory currently contains 24 quality-checked routes matching this guide near Detroit. Their average mapped distance is 2.2 km and average recorded ascent is 11 m (36 ft); the longest route in the set is 4.4 km.

This subset represents 73% of the 33 quality-checked routes near Detroit. Its average distance is 2.2 km, compared with 4.7 km across the full local set.

Every route in this set has a mapped distance of 5 km or less. Time and suitability still depend on ascent, surface and conditions. Within this set, 24 routes (100%) are rated easy, 0 (0%) are rated hard or expert, and 11 (46%) are recorded as loops. Ratings are computed from available distance and elevation data and do not establish current terrain or access.

Data refreshed September 2026

Choose by the details

How do these routes differ?

A closer look at the first 6 routes in this page’s default ordering. These comparisons describe this sample, not the entire destination or a field-tested recommendation.

Shortest mapped distance in this sample

1.5 km

Connector Trail

Compare the climbing too; shortest does not necessarily mean easiest.

Lowest recorded ascent in this sample

0 m

Pebble Creek Ravine Trail

6 of 6 have ascent data. Missing measurements are excluded.

Return logistics

2 recorded loops

Check start and finish for every option. An unknown shape does not mean a loop, and a loop does not establish access to its start.

Plan the return journey →

Distances follow stored route lines; ascent and time are estimates. Current access, surface and technical difficulty need separate checks. How to turn a comparison into a shortlist.

Easy

Pebble Creek Ravine Trail

Michigan · United States

Distance: 1.9 km
Typical duration: 24 min

River
Canyon and gorge

Easy

Lake Plain Prairie Trail

Michigan · United States

Distance: 3.9 km
Typical duration: 48 min

Lake
Alpine meadow

Easy

Connector Trail

Michigan · United States

Distance: 1.5 km
Elevation gain: 7 m
Typical duration: 19 min

Easy

Orion Thru-way

Michigan · United States

Distance: 3.9 km
Typical duration: 49 min

Long-distance path

Easy

Bluebird Loop

Michigan · United States

Distance: 4.2 km
Elevation gain: 25 m
Typical duration: 55 min

Easy

Dragon Loop

Michigan · United States

Distance: 4.2 km
Elevation gain: 30 m
Typical duration: 55 min

Easy

Lupine Loop

Michigan · United States

Distance: 1.1 km
Elevation gain: 7 m
Typical duration: 14 min

Easy

Trail Loop B

Michigan · United States

Distance: 2.0 km
Elevation gain: 17 m
Typical duration: 27 min

Easy

Turkeyfoot Trail

Michigan · United States

Distance: 0.7 km
Elevation gain: 7 m
Typical duration: 10 min

Easy

Bluebird Meadows

Michigan · United States

Distance: 1.3 km
Typical duration: 17 min

Waymarked route

Easy

Linking Trail

Michigan · United States

Distance: 2.0 km
Elevation gain: 12 m
Typical duration: 26 min

Waymarked route

Easy

Pond Trail

Michigan · United States

Distance: 1.2 km
Elevation gain: 6 m
Typical duration: 16 min

Waymarked route

Easy

West Loop

Michigan · United States

Distance: 1.1 km
Elevation gain: 6 m
Typical duration: 14 min

Waymarked route

Easy

Buhl Lake Loop

Michigan · United States

Distance: 4.0 km
Elevation gain: 26 m
Typical duration: 53 min

Lake

Easy

Fossil Hill Loop

Michigan · United States

Distance: 2.6 km
Elevation gain: 35 m
Typical duration: 35 min

Easy

Connector Trail

Michigan · United States

Distance: 3.8 km
Elevation gain: 40 m
Typical duration: 51 min

Easy

Trail Link

Michigan · United States

Distance: 0.8 km
Typical duration: 10 min

Easy

Trail Loop C

Michigan · United States

Distance: 1.7 km
Elevation gain: 6 m
Typical duration: 21 min

Easy

Trail Loop E

Michigan · United States

Distance: 4.4 km
Elevation gain: 36 m
Typical duration: 58 min

Easy

Trail Loop H

Michigan · United States

Distance: 2.5 km
Typical duration: 32 min

Easy

Trail Loop I

Michigan · United States

Distance: 1.6 km
Typical duration: 20 min

Easy

Red Trail

Michigan · United States

Distance: 0.5 km
Elevation gain: 6 m
Typical duration: 7 min

Easy

Red-tail Run

Michigan · United States

Distance: 1.5 km
Typical duration: 19 min

Easy

Yellow Trail

Michigan · United States

Distance: 0.6 km
Typical duration: 7 min

The shortlist, side by side

The ten highest scoring routes on this page, so you can compare effort before opening any of them.

Distance, ascent, walking time and difficulty for the top routes
Route	Distance	Ascent	Time	Difficulty	Best season
Pebble Creek Ravine TrailMichigan	1.9 km	0 m	24 min	Easy	April to October
Lake Plain Prairie TrailMichigan	3.9 km	0 m	48 min	Easy	April to October
Connector TrailMichigan	1.5 km	7 m	19 min	Easy	April to October
Orion Thru-wayMichigan	3.9 km	0 m	49 min	Easy	April to October
Bluebird LoopMichigan	4.2 km	25 m	55 min	Easy	April to October
Dragon LoopMichigan	4.2 km	30 m	55 min	Easy	April to October
Lupine LoopMichigan	1.1 km	7 m	14 min	Easy	April to October
Trail Loop BMichigan	2.0 km	17 m	27 min	Easy	April to October
Turkeyfoot TrailMichigan	0.7 km	7 m	10 min	Easy	April to October
Bluebird MeadowsMichigan	1.3 km	0 m	17 min	Easy	April to October

Pebble Creek Ravine Trail, Lake Plain Prairie Trail, Connector Trail currently rank highest in this filtered set according to the directory score. Open an individual route to inspect its mapped line, elevation profile, data source and planning caveats. Check live access, conditions and local rules with an official source before travelling.

Frequently asked questions

Plan with more confidence

All planning articles →

Choosing a route

How to choose a hike beyond the difficulty label

Compare distance, climbing, route shape and missing information to build a shortlist that fits your day.

Read article →

Understanding the map

Read an elevation profile without misreading the climb

Understand total ascent, net height change, profile scale and the section breakdown on each mapped route.

Read article →

Planning your day

Build a hiking time plan with room for your own pace

Separate moving time, climbing allowance and stops, then explore how changing your assumptions changes the plan.

Read article →

Related guides

Other shortlists covering the same area or the same kind of terrain.

How do these routes differ?

Shortest mapped distance in this sample

Lowest recorded ascent in this sample

Return logistics

Trails

The shortlist, side by side

Frequently asked questions

How many under 5 km hikes are listed near Detroit?

What is the average distance and ascent?

How are the routes ordered?

Does an easy rating mean beginner-safe?

Plan with more confidence

How to choose a hike beyond the difficulty label

Read an elevation profile without misreading the climb

Build a hiking time plan with room for your own pace

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