A new 5.8-mile path now loops around Belle Isle, giving walkers, runners, and cyclists a safer way to enjoy the island and connect directly to Detroit’s riverfront.
This project is part of the Iron Belle Trail, Michigan’s signature trail network and the longest state-designated trail in the country. The Iron Belle stretches more than 2,000 miles, beginning on Belle Isle and ending in Ironwood, near Michigan’s border with Wisconsin in the far western Upper Peninsula.
The Belle Isle segment is considered the southern starting point of the trail. Users can leave the island via the MacArthur Bridge, connect to the Detroit Riverwalk, and continue onto other greenways and bike lanes leading out of the city. From there, the trail follows a mix of off-road paths, paved routes, and sidewalks that wind through dozens of communities before reaching the U.P.…