Daily milking demonstrations take place in the Dairy Barn at the Wolcott Mill Metropark Farm Center. This 250-acre working farm is home to live cows, chickens, goats, pigs, sheep, ducks and horses. Macomb County is also home to three Huron-Clinton Metroparks: Lake St. Clair, Stony Creek and Wolcott Mill.
Trails between downtowns, the shoreline and the river
The Macomb County trail network is open year-round to residents and visitors. All trails open one hour before sunrise and close one hour after sunset. This gives you a clear timeframe for planning your day; trail length and scenery vary depending on the route you choose.
The Macomb Orchard Trail stretches 23.5 miles through seven communities in northern Macomb County and provides access to several downtowns, including Romeo, Armada and Richmond. At nearly 10 miles, the Freedom Trail is shorter; it passes through urban, residential and natural landscapes and offers views of the Lake St. Clair shoreline.
Together, the Clinton River Park Trail and River Bends Trail offer 12 miles of paved paths through River Bends Park and along the Clinton River; both are part of the Iron Belle Trail. River Bends Park also has two-track and singletrack trails for cyclists.
By the water: beach, lake and paddling route
Lake St. Clair Metropark has a 600-foot sandy beach on Lake St. Clair and a 3.75-mile, flat, paved trail. This trail connects to the Freedom Trail along Metro Parkway. At the heart of Stony Creek Metropark is 500-acre Stony Creek Lake, where visitors can go boating, fishing and swimming. A 6.2-mile paved hike-and-bike loop runs around the lake.
A longer paddling route is also described on the Clinton River: its main branch is navigable by paddlecraft for 32 miles. For destinations within Lake St. Clair Metropark, the Metropark Express pilot program, in partnership with SMART, is connected to on-demand SMART Flex service from the Gratiot & 15 Mile bus stop. Check whether the service is currently operating before you travel.
Nature on different scales
The Anna Wilcox and Harold Warnes Memorial Nature Sanctuary covers 44 acres and features a trail, a small creek and diverse wildlife. At 913 acres, the W.C. Wetzel State Recreation Area is considerably larger; it is largely undeveloped and has 3.3 miles of hiking trails. The two locations therefore differ both in size and in the landscape features described.
The Nature Center at Lake St. Clair Metropark features exhibits on the history of the French voyageurs and their role in the Great Lakes region. It also introduces visitors to Michigan's protected wetland habitat through interpretive exhibits, live animals and taxidermy displays.
Mill history and public art
The historic Wolcott Mill grist and feed mill operated from 1847 to 1967. The Wolcott Mill barn serves as a museum, where antique equipment tells the story of American barns. The Farm Center's agricultural focus and the mill's former use offer two different perspectives on Wolcott Mill.
A digital map of public art in Macomb County covers all 27 communities and helps visitors discover local sculptures, paintings, murals and other art forms. It offers a way to complement visits to natural and historic sites with art in public spaces.
Discover more destinations: Warren, Harrison Township, Roseville, St Clair Shores, Sterling Heights, Mount Clemens, Clinton Township, Fraser, Utica.
For the main travel overview: Michigan.
