Dear Friends,

These are exciting times for the Clinton River Trail (CRT) and Friends of the Clinton River Trail (FCRT). This newsletter highlights several initiatives to extend, beautify, and repair the trail. By the end of this summer, we will celebrate the opening a segment of the North Spur in Pontiac and the completion of major repairs to the trail in Rochester. We will host and participate in events along the trail, including the exciting return of the Fall Classic, our annual walk or ride fundraising event taking place on Sunday, September 27. Be it in support of improvement projects, repairs to the trail, or events, FCRT works with the owner-cities and key partners to ensure the CRT is an amazing community amenity for all of us to enjoy!

To do what we do, we need your participation and feedback. Trails don’t just happen; people make them happen. FCRT continues to be a 100% volunteer organization that exists only because of the passionate support of individuals like you. If you enjoy trails, get involved. Support us with your time, share your ideas on how we can improve the trail, volunteer for an event or make a donation. FCRT accepts donations through the Community Foundation of Greater Rochester, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. All donations go directly to support the trail and can be made through our website - www.clintonrivertrail.org - or by clicking the Donate buttons throughout this newsletter. Help us make the Clinton River Trail a safe and enjoyable place for everyone. FCRT meets the last Tuesday of every month, usually at the Auburn Hills Community Center at 7pm. Stop by and join us!

Josh Eichenhorn,

President FCRT

Friends of the Clinton River Trail is excited to announce the return of its annual Fall Classic ride and walk fundraiser.  FCRT will host a family friendly, non-competitive ride/walk on Sunday morning, September 27, 2026.  Families with strollers, young riders, or pets might consider a 1-mile or 3-mile walk or ride.  Options from 8 to 25 miles will be available for experienced participants.  The Fall Classic event starts and finishes at the Kiwanis Pavilion in the Rochester Municipal Park.  Make sure to pre-register before August 31st to guarantee your event t-shirt.  Individual start times are flexible beginning at 9am, but everyone is encouraged to return to the park around 11am for post-ride events and refreshments.  The cost is $35 per individual, children 12 and under are free.  Proceeds from this event go toward helping improve the Clinton River Trail.  We look forward to seeing you in September!

Some FCRT members likely recall the legendary Burma-Shave roadside advertising campaign that used sequential signs to convey a message to passers-by.  FCRT is using the same approach along the trail to encourage users to practice good trail etiquette.  Signs will be popping up along the trail in various places welcoming trail users and reminding them to be courteous.  Hopefully everyone will take note of:  Welcome to the Trail, Keep the Trail Clean, Announce When Passing, Watch Your Speed, Keep Pets on Leash, and Enjoy the Trail.

As a reminder, trail use is limited to non-motorized and generally class 1 e-bikes.  Whatever your form of transportation, please look out for and be courteous to all trail users.

Over time the river had elbowed its way to the north and eroded the retaining wall supporting the trail just east of the Diversion St. Trailhead. That led to the collapse of a good portion of the trail surface. Repairs have now been made and the trail mostly re-opened. Some brief closures may still be expected as final restoration of the area is completed.

Opening this fall, the new North Spur Extension of the CRT in Pontiac provides a view of the city that few have previously seen. From the new HAWK crossing at Opdyke Road, the trail heads west then north up to the Clinton River. Along the way it passes by Murphy Park and Spring Lake.

The North Spur will lead trail users up to the Eastway Drive and Michigan Avenue intersection in a residential area. The plan is to eventually continue the trail along Pike Street across the City and connect with the existing CRT at Bagley. The present sidewalk-based route along South Boulevard will remain the official CRT path until the Pike Street connection is complete.

The CRT will soon have a new respite area where it intersects with the Downtown Rochester River Walk, thanks to a generous donation from the Michigan Trails & Greenways Alliance (MTGA) in memory of Patrick J. Kennedy. This busy location, where the Iron Belle Trail departs CRT and heads north toward the Paint Creek Trail, has been expanded to accommodate two new benches, a trash receptacle and a historic brick surround at the base of the directional sign.

Left: Trail condition just after the washout. Right: Repairs in progress.

The Clinton River Trail has been closed in Rochester between the Letica Trailhead and Dequindre Road since 2024 and contractors are working on repairs for the 120 foot wide gap in the trail near Mile Marker 1/2. Contractors continue to build layers of compacted soil to fill this gap and also install a new 36” culvert to control the maximum water level in the pond. The trail closure and posted detour will remain in effect until the contractor has completed all work in the area. Note that the Macomb Orchard Trail on the east side of Dequindre Road is also closed due to installation of a new 96” water main. The City of Rochester posts updates on the CRT repair progress on their website.

Improving the safety of major road crossings has long been a priority for FCRT. Opdyke (shown above) and Hamlin are the two latest crossings in the process of being upgraded to a High-intensity Activated crossWalK – or HAWK beacon.

Drivers and trail users can learn more about how a HAWK beacon works from this video or our Facebook post.

FCRT’s long-term plan is to improve safety and reduce conflict at all major road crossings via some combination of high visibility crosswalks, crossing aids – RRFB, HAWK beacon, or traffic signal – and grade-separated solutions – bridges or tunnels.