Detroit River Walk, Detroit, MI
Detroit River Walk, Detroit, MI
The Detroit River Walk is a nice and popular place to visit in Detroit. It's a stretch of boardwalk being developed in downtown Detroit on the Detroit River for visitors to walk, jog, bike, and enjoy the beautiful view of the Detroit River and Windsor. It's written in many places there are plans for it to extend from the Ambassador Bridge to Belle Isle, but at the time this was written in the summer 2013, I only know the walk to extend east from Joe Louis Arena west to Riopelle Steet and the William G. Milliken State Park and Harbor (formelly Tricentennial State Park and Harbor), in one continuous boardwalk, which is about 1.3 miles according to Google Maps Distance Measurement Tool (cool feature).
You can walk around the William G. Milliken State Park and Harbor, which is nice and then on to and through Chene Park, then all the way onto Mt Elliot Park (just before the Belle Isle Bridge) which is distance of 2.6 miles as-the-crow files, but actually quite a bit longer since you will have to leave the consistent river walk and walk on Atwater and Wright Streets which run parallel to the river to get all the way to Mt. Elliot Park. Along the way, you would pass some old, abandoned industrial/commercial areas, parking lots, as well as very nice establishments such as the famed Rattlesnake Restaurant, the USDA Administration Building, the Roberts Riverwalk Hotel, Everest Institute Detroit, the Harbortown Complex (very nice place to live with a marina, ponds, etc.) and the U.S. Coast Guard.
There are a number of places to park if you plan to visit the RiverWalk. I would first try the free parking lot off Atwater between Rivard and Riopelle Steet. From there, you will enter the boardwalk around the middle of it where the concession stand and carousel is. I also like to park at the Renaissance Center parking garages, but this will cost you money. At the east end of the RiverWalk, there is also free parking across the street from Chene Park. For a complete list of parking, there is a link below to all parking locations.
Amenities
- Fishing
- Biking
- Bicycle rental (including two-person bikes)
- Paved jogging, walking boardwalk
- Riverfront
- Concessions (ice cream, drinks, etc.)
- Bathroom
- Carousel ($2)
- Access to Renaissance Center, Joe Louis Arena, People Mover, Chene Park, Hart Plaza, Detroit Princess Riverboat (for cruises), Diamond Jack Riverboats (for cruises)
- Large Deroit River Days Festival (rides, major concerts, tall ships, etc.)
- Foot fountain
- Wetlands
- 63-foot William G. Milliken Lighthouse
Contact Information
Jefferson Avenue between the Renaissance Center and Chene ParkVehicle Permit Required: No