Clinton River Trail, Pontiac - Pontiac, MI
Clinton River Trail: A Pet-Friendly Gem in Pontiac, Michigan
If you’re searching for a scenic place to enjoy the outdoors with your dog in Pontiac, Michigan, the Clinton River Trail offers unique, pet-friendly trails right in the heart of the community. This popular trail invites dog lovers to walk, run, or bike along its multiple sections, stretching west from Bagley St. to Keego Harbor. While not a traditional fenced dog park, this area is prized for its wide, walkable paths, accessibility, and welcoming atmosphere for both pets and families.
Dogs are allowed on-leash throughout the Clinton River Trail, making it an excellent spot for dog-friendly hiking and exercise. The path’s improvement over recent years ensures a smoother experience, and the trail is favored for its low usage and peaceful surroundings—ideal for those who want a quiet day out or to avoid crowds. Families also appreciate the nearby playgrounds and play sets, giving kids a place to enjoy while dogs get their outdoor time.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Are dogs allowed at Clinton River Trail? Yes, dogs are allowed on the trail as long as they are on a leash.
- Is the trail wheelchair accessible? Yes, there is wheelchair accessible parking available.
- Are there activities for kids nearby? Yes, there are play sets and playgrounds close to the trail.
- Is there parking available? There is a parking lot available at Bagley St., but some trail sections may have limited parking options.
- Are there walking or hiking trails connected to this park? Yes, Clinton River Trail is a connected trail system spanning multiple sections across Pontiac and beyond.
- How busy is the park on weekends? The park can get busy on Saturdays due to gatherings and parties, but tends to be quiet on other days.
- Is the park regularly cleaned and maintained? Reviews describe the park as clean, though some trail sections may be less maintained than others.
Reviews
Nice park. Clean and there are many play sets. People throw big parties here, so maybe avoid Saturdays if you’re looking for a quiet day at the park/on the trails. Overall very good atmosphere.
There are 4 nominal sections of the Clinton River Trail in Pontiac. Roughly you have the trail from Old Telegraph to Bagley (1) which is mostly gravel, the unimproved & indistinct sidewalk portion along South Blvd that gets you across Woodward to MLK (2), the improved sidewalk/bike path along South Blvd & Opdyke (3) that gets you to the Auburn Hills CRT and the hidden path through the city (4), behind the Amazon fulfillment center that terminates (or starts, depending on your perspective) at Jaycee Park on Walton Blvd. Someday they will get around to improving and uniting all of the sections. I kind of enjoy the low usage this trail sees. You can travel some sections and never see another person. Generally the trail is in poor condition, but that’s understandable. I have never felt unsafe making the transit through Pontiac on this trail. If you like adventure, find the hidden path. There’s a trestle bridge over the Clinton River just south of M-59 with no railing, just railroad ties that you can look straight through to the ravine below. You won’t find that in Rochester!
Not sure why this spot is on the map as a trail marker! There is no where to park around here. If you do have a way to get to this trail section, it is nice. I like that the path to the West is wide and it’s easy to walk two by two.
The trail from Bagley St. west to Keego Harbor was improved a couple of years ago and is now very nice.
Trail needs to be completed along original rail route. The current path along South Blvd. is incredibly bad, with rough pavement, traffic, missing sidewalks, and tons of broken glass.
The newly announced Pike St. route is really a downtown improvement project which will provide no benefit for trail users at all. It’s a disgraceful blatant bait-and-switch that should be stopped.
I love the trail. It goes through areas I often visit. I can walk, run, or ride a bike. Many of the crossings have pedestrian crossing lights that stop traffic. The surface is nice. The path is wide. The only negative I experienced was encountering swarms of gnats while riding my bike on the path just before sunset.