The Burgess-Shadbush Nature Center is the beginning of two shorter trails through the woods. The Upper Trail is 1/4 Mile long and loops back towards the nature center building. The Lower Trail is 1/2 Mile long and leads to the Clinton River and Scout Camp Site. Featuring a boardwalk section, the Lower Trail is abundant with great nature like the Skunk Cabbage and Trillium plants.

Download the trail map here.

Shelby Township’s newest park, Chief Gene Shepherd Park is located on 23 Mile Road, east of Dequindre. In addition to the playground area, indoor restrooms, access to water, sand volleyball, and bocce ball, there is also a paved walking and jogging trail around the park.

Shelby Township’s beautiful Heritage Garden sits adjacent to a 2.5 acre spring-fed lake. This facility was completed in the fall of 1975 as part of a Shelby Township Bicentennial Committee project, and features a .4 mile trail that leads along the lake and through the garden.

At long last the public will be able to find and trace the original pathway of the Clinton and Kalamazoo Canal. This canal was started in 1838, the year after Michigan gained statehood.

The Clinton Kalamazoo Canal Trail runs through Holland Ponds along the canal for 2.21 miles through the 200-acre park featuring ponds and a range of wildlife and plants.

Holland Ponds is known for it's heron population.

This 14-acre park features a 1.5 mile paved trail that runs around the baseball fields, basketball courts, tennis courts and the playground area.

You can also access Heritage Gardens and the paved trail there from the park.

The Mae Stecker Park Onyx Tree Trail is a joint effort between the Shelby Township Parks, Recreation and Maintenance Department and the Beautification Committee. Enjoy the beauty of nature through the trees found on this trail. The trail is located at Mae Stecker Park at 8600 24 Mile Road and is unpaved.

Named for the rich assortment of fruit trees in southeast Michigan, this trail cuts a 23.5-mile arch across the northern portion of Macomb County. Located within Shelby Township lies 3.2 miles of trail. Regardless of where you begin, the entire route is relatively flat.

Beginning on its eastern end, the trail starts out in an urban landscape in the heart of Richmond. At the trailhead park, you'll find a gazebo, restrooms, picnic tables, and benches. Out of the city, the trail enters the countryside, passing through lots of fruit orchards, crop fields and dairy farms.

The western end feels like northern Michigan with its dense tree canopies. A few miles from trail's end in Shelby Township, you will cross the Clinton River over a bridge that has large platforms on each side, where you can stop and view the pastureland and the Clinton River. At this western end, the Macomb Orchard Trail connects to the 16-mile Clinton River Trail, which, in turn connects to the the 9-mile Paint Creek Trail.

Trails in Shelby Township's River Bends Park include The 22 Mile Picnic Park trail, which is part gravel, part paved and approximately 2.5 miles. Other trails include the Shadbush Trail, Fisherman Trail and the Old Boy Scout Trail.

All River Bends Park trails are open to foot and bicycle traffic only. No vehicles other than those of the rangers are allowed on them.

At its July 21 meeting, the Shelby Township Board of Trustees unanimously approved a plan forthe Shelby Township Local Connector to unite River Bends Park and the Macomb Orchard Trail.

The Local Connector cements Shelby Township on the statewide Iron Belle multi-use trail system.

Residents don’t need a bike rack on their car to access parks; 4,500 homes and 15,000 residents can now use the Local Connector to access River Bends Park, and 7,350 homes and 24,300 residents will have access to the Iron Belle Trail from their home.

The Local Connector will also connect the township south through River Bends Park to downtown Utica, east to Lake St. Clair Metropark, west along the Clinton River Trail to downtown Rochester and north to the Paint Creek Trail and downtown Lake Orion.

Shelby Township's Hike and Bike Trail contains two miles of paved trail that runs parallel to 26 Mile Road. The trail begins at Dequindre and runs to Shelby Road, where it then heads into Stony Creek Metropark.

Walkers, bicyclists, and inline skaters can enjoy free access to Stony Creek by entering through the park roads and the Shelby Township Hike and Bike Trail.

Get that “up north” feeling without leaving the suburbs at top-rated Stony Creek Metropark. Extending across Oakland and Macomb counties, 4,461 scenic-acres abound with opportunity for outdoor recreation all year long. Spend an afternoon boating or swimming in 500-acre Stony Creek Lake. This is prime fishing country with a state record crappie caught here. Hike, bike, run or inline skate through lush woodlands, serene wetlands and tallgrass prairies. In the winter, walk, cross-country ski or snowshoe across marked trails.

Stony Creek's trails feature over 40 miles of paved and unpaved paths, including the main bike loop, mountain biking trails, hiking trails, and nature trails.

Nestled among the numerous soccer fields, baseball diamond, basketball courts and two handicap accessible, environmentally friendly playscapes lies 1.6 miles of a paved walking and biking trail in Whispering Woods.

Located on Schoenherr Road just south of 26 Mile Road in Shelby Township, this 45 acres southern floodplain forest is one of Michigan’s most endangered habitats. The sanctuary, which is owned and maintained by the Michigan Nature Association, provides food and shelter for many animal species. It benefits humans by providing areas for water overflow to prevent upland flooding.

The four trails throughout the sanctuary cover nearly a mile and include footpaths and bridges.

More on the Michigan Nature Association

The Woodall Bike Trail is a paved trail approximately 1.6 miles in length.

The Woodall Park trail is open to foot and bicycle traffic only. No vehicles other than those of the rangers are allowed on them.