Take Family Fitness to the Trails

In a time when video games and computers consume most of our children's time and attention, fitness should be one of our top priorities. If you are looking for the perfect place to enlist your family in physical activity together, the Huron Valley Trails are a good place to start. This is a set of connecting paved trails that link Wixom to South Lyon. It is a safe path that is great for developing family fitness.

The trail begins at Lyon Oaks County Park and stretches west to Milford Township. There is a fork in the path at 1-96. You can go towards South Lyon, which is a smooth, flat surface, making for an easy ride. This route ends at Dixboro Road between 9 Mile and 10 Mile. The other direction will lead you west towards Kensington Metro-Park and Island Lake State recreation area. The hills on this portion of the trail make it a bit more challenging,

The path was created as a non-motorized, shared path for the community. This trail is perfect for professional bikers, novice riders and families alike. It's also wheelchair accessible.

Because it is fully paved, the trail is great for:

Mountain biking
Hiking
In-line skating
Cross-country skiing
Walking
Running

The asphalt paving on the route is a nice feature because you don't have to worry about dodging rocks, swerving around standing puddles or avoiding eroded areas of the path. It takes the fun out of riding when you have to stop to carry your children and their bikes over a bad area on the path. Yet, this is often necessary on dirt paths.

The trail is a good way to get in touch with nature. In addition to the trees, flowers, birds and other natural life visible on the well-groomed trail, you can stop to enjoy one of the parks linked by the trail.

Park Amenities include:
Sandy beaches
Swimming
Nature center
Petting farm
Picnic areas
Boating
Fishing

The scenic Huron Valley Trail itself runs more than 10 miles. When combined with the other parks in system there are more than 25 miles of paved trails.
The Huron Valley Trail System includes:
Lyon Oaks County Park
Lyon Township Community Park
Kensington Metro-Park
Island Lake Recreation Area

Kensington Metro-Park offers a beautiful setting all year and is especially colorful in the fall. It is not unusual to see wildlife there, including the occasional deer. Its 8 miles of paved track is a good conditioned course that is circular, unlike the rest of the Huron Valley Trail. This park also requires those using the path to wear a helmet for safety.

Island Lake features two smaller paths with varying difficulty that can be ridden together in a loop. The paths are well maintained for dirt paths. Though the trails are not technically correct, they are not recommended as much for families as they are for practicing mountain bikers.

The Huron Valley Trail offers a fun, relaxing ride for the family. It's also easy to find something to do along the way, either at the are parks or within the community.