Highland Park is a popular walking destination for exploring Michigan’s natural beauty. It sprawls across 5,900 acres of forest, marshes, rolling hills, and along the state’s southern shores. It touts a vast number of picturesque spots that are ideal for immortalizing on social media. Here are three of our favorite Instagram-worthy trails around Highland Park.
1. Cedar Creek Trail
Cedar Creek Trail is a genuine hidden gem in the suburbs of metropolitan Detroit. It runs 2.75 miles along Cedar Creek and the Haven Hill lake, through forests, marshes, and wetland areas and over a few welcome hills. Ideal for the average hiker, the terrain is relatively moderate to traverse. Pick up the trailhead at the Haven Hill Gatehouse or the opposite end of the trail at Teeple Lake.
2. Historic Haven Hill Trail
If you’re looking for a moderately challenging walk that’s both dog-friendly and educational, discover the Historic Haven Hill Trail. A short, 1.4-mile round trip path, it meanders it’s way to the Instagram worthy Henry Ford estate. Drive-up Haven Hill to the former entrance of the property and leave your car in the Circle parking lot.
Take the path up the hill to photograph the ruins. It’s rumored to be a bit of a climb from post number 7 to the Carriage House. This impressive log lodge was home to Ford’s caretakers and still stands at the edge of the hill today. Further up the slope, discover the foundation of the sprawling Haven Hill Lodge with it’s resilient, massive Vermont fireplace.
Follow the foot trail down the ridge to what remains of the pool, toboggan run, and tennis courts that feature clay imported from France. The best time of year to capture these ruins on camera is late October or early November when the leaves drop off the many trees, and visibility vastly improves.
3. Highland Park Foot Trails
The Highland State Recreation Area offers photography enthusiasts approximately 16 miles of trails to explore and shoot. This well-maintained network of trails consists of four loops labeled A, B, C, and D. Each path is well-marked and offers walkers a choice of different difficulty levels to accommodate different stages of fitness.
Hop on the trailhead from Livingston Road and pick your adventure. The A loop runs 3.8 challenging miles over hilly terrain with many steep climbs and drops, while B loop, the longest circuit, travels 5.9 miles and offers experienced hikers several long climbs. Keep your camera handy. You might catch a glimpse of a variety of wildlife, including deer, near the trail.
The C loop is another relatively short jaunt at 2.4 miles. However, it’s considered a very technical hike with a variety of tight dips and a rocky landscape. The 3.9-mile D loop is also best for experienced hikers due to large rock formations and steep hills you’re required to traverse.
Highland Recreational Area at 5200 Highland Road in White Lake is the ideal destination for Insta-worthy trails. Grab your camera, lace of your shoes, and head outdoors today. Which path will you explore first?
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