As you follow the curve of the Huron River along the paved Hike-Bike Trail look for the kiosk near the comfort station. Enjoy the Huron River view, observe fish, turtles, snakes, frogs, mink, beavers and more. Click here to view park map.

Head towards the newly constructed kayak launch on the Hike-Bike Trail to find the kiosk. Take a moment to familiarize yourself with the new launch and convenient access to the Huron River it offers. Enjoy the river view, observe fish, turtles, snakes, frogs, mink, beavers and more. Click here to view park map.

Challenge Trail Option 1:
Along the paved Hike-Bike Trail near the Activity Center, head towards the new Pickleball Courts to find the kiosk. The Pickleball Courts were installed with a generous donation by a sole donor and construction was completed in the Fall of 2025. If you don’t have paddles and balls, be sure to stop in the Activity Center to barrow some out free of charge.

Challenge Trail Option 2:
As you pull into the Activity Center parking area, you will observe a trailhead kiosk to the right. There, you will find the Trail Challenge kiosk. Be sure to check out the back of the kiosk where there is a bug hotel courtesy of a local Eagle Scout. Accessibility Note: An Action Trackchair is available to rent for free at the Activity Center from September 1 – November 25. Click here for full details and to reserve online.

Click here to view park map.

Enter through the south entrance and head towards Cedar Ridge. There you will find a paved walkway near the comfort station that will take you to the kiosk. If you want to enjoy a nature hike after you’ve located the kiosk, we recommend the nearby Hidden Lake Bend Trail. All trails in this park are rustic trails with uneven, natural surface. Click here to view park map.

Look for the kiosk along the paved Hike-Bike Trail, near the entrance to the golf course. Enjoy beautiful wildflower-dotted views of the restored prairie while listening to the relaxing sounds of grassland birds such as the Eastern Meadowlark. On the way, rest under the canopy of the large oak tree, which supports hundreds of native animal species. Accessibility Note: An Action Trackchair is available to rent for free at the Park Office from March 1 – May 26. Click here for full details and to reserve.

Click here to view park map.

Challenge Trail Option 1:
Keep your eyes open for the kiosk as you explore the paved Hike-Bike Trail between Martindale and Mitten Bay.  Also be on the lookout for the birds, aquatic mammals, and many other creatures that thrive along the east shore of Kent Lake, which is a stretch of the Huron River that flows through Kensington Metropark. You may also notice a temporary disc golf course set up in preparation for the PDGA Disc Golf World Championship being held in late August.

Challenge Trail Option 2:
From the Nature Center parking lot head to the trailhead and start at marker 1, head toward marker 16 on the Deer Run Nature Trail. The trail winds beneath the shade of oaks and hickories, past the rich, damp tamarack swamp to the north and along the rustling, buzzing cattail marsh of Kingfisher Lagoon to the south.  When you discover the kiosk, keep your eyes open for the rare red-headed woodpeckers that frequent the old tree snags that rise from the wetlands all around you. Accessibility Note: GRIT Freedom Chair or Action Trackchair available for free at the Nature Center. Click here for full details and to reserve.

Click here to view park map.

From the Marshlands Museum parking lot, you can choose your own adventure – locate the kiosk from the Hike-Bike Trail or the Cherry Island Nature Trail by heading south. The kiosk location is near the Lotus Bed Area. The large American Lotus flowers that fill this area in late-July and early-August only grow in a few areas in the entire state of Michigan. This state Threatened, perennial creates a beautiful muse for photographers, artists, and nature enthusiasts from all over the region.

Hike-Bike Trail –                                   Cherry Island Nature Trail –

Click here to view park map.

Challenge Trail Location 1:
From the main parking lot, head towards the beach and look for the kiosk between the Beachside Grill and Beach Shop, in a raised circle of trees. From here you can explore all the plaza area has to offer.

Challenge Trail Location 2:
From the Daysail parking lot head toward the gravel path to the overlook. You will find the kiosk in the overlook and great views of wetland life. Accessibility Note: The overlook is accessible but the nature trails connected to the overlook are natural surface and uneven terrain.

Click here to view park maps.

Challenge Trail Location 1:
From the south parking lot at Tulip Tree area, head east on the Hike-Bike Trail to find the kiosk.  If you bring your pup continue the trail to the new Off-Leash Dog Area, where your furry friend can enjoy space to run, a water filling station, and sitting areas to relax after running off all that energy.

Challenge Trail Location 2:
From the Bobwhite Nature Trail, head over the foot bridge to enter the tail.  Head west on the loop to find the kiosk. From the earliest Skunk Cabbage to the latest Goldenrods and Asters, Bobwhite Trail is a tapestry of colors for most of the year. The Swamp White Oak, Red Maple and Wild Black Cherry that line the trail help give this rustic trail a vibe all-its-own.

Click here to view park maps.

Challenge Trail Location 1:
From the Nature Center parking lot, follow the Hike-Bike Trail to the fork in the trail by the repair station. Go left and you will find the kiosk. The 3-acre pond you see is located on Sky-come-down Trail. One of four nature trails in the Nature Study Area of Oakwoods Metropark, the pond is home to numerous species of fish, turtles and an important rest area for migrating waterfowl in the spring and fall.

Challenge Trail Location 2:
Park in the canoe/kayak launch parking lot. Jump on the Butterfly Viewing Nature Trail to find the kiosk. The trail is .25 miles. The plants that fill the Butterfly Viewing Trail attract a wide variety of butterflies, moths and other insects. Butterflies, like Monarchs, Tiger Swallowtails, Satyrs and more, intermingle with numerous species of grasshoppers, bees, wasps and leafhoppers; all looking to find a suitable plant for laying eggs and finding food. Enjoy the colorful arrangement provided along this path.

Click here to view park maps.

Challenge Trail Location 1:
Park in the first parking lot on your left as you enter Oakgrove and make your way to the entrance for the Off-Leash Dog Area to find the kiosk. Be sure to bring your pup to play or extend your walk along the Hike-Bike Trail!

Challenge Trail Location 2:
From the Trolley Trails parking lot head toward the trailhead. Walk east toward intersection #2 to find the kiosk. These are a multi-use system of trails enjoyed by both mountain bikers and hikers. The Trolley Trails use a portion of the old interurban light rail system created in the early 1900’s to move people and goods to and from Detroit and the surrounding area. These trails wind through wooded areas, over hills and across small wood bridges and offer spectacular fall views.

Click here to view park maps.

From the Washago Area, you will head south to the paved Hike-Bike Trail to find the kiosk along the Big Bend area of the river. This area of Big Bend is the site of a unique shoreline project designed to reduce erosion, create habitat, and allow for easier navigation for canoers and kayakers. Bald Eagles, Osprey and other birds-of-prey; along with White-tailed Deer, Muskrats and Mink can often be seen from this wonderful view along the Huron River. Click here to view park maps.

Challenge Trail Location 1:
Farm Center – 65775 Wolcott Rd. Ray, MI 48096
Park in the main Farm Center parking lot and head into the Farm.  Walk past the large Diary Barn on your left.  Look for the kiosk on the trail between the sheep and horse barns. Our 250-acre working farm brings you face to face with live animals, including cows, chickens, goats, pigs, sheep, ducks and horses. Daily cow milking at 10 a.m.

Challenge Trail Location 2:
North Branch Trails – 21690 27 Mile Rd. Ray, MI 48096
Park in the parking lot and enter the trail at the trail head. Hike east to find the kiosk. This trail system is 4.25 miles and dose have port-a-johns and picnic tables.

Click here to view park maps.

The Trail Challenge will run from May 1 to October 31, but registration will close on October 24 to give participants time to complete Challenge Trails before the program ends on October 31. Any Challenge Trails logged and selfies uploaded after October 31 will not be counted towards the challenge or the prize incentives.

The cost to participate is $35 per person and you will receive a custom Trail Challenge keychain and passport.

Then you can earn additional incentives by completing Challenge Trails. For each park Challenge Trail you complete you will earn a custom charm to add to your keychain AND if you complete Challenge Trails in all 13 parks you will receive a 2027 Metroparks Annual Vehicle Pass so you can keep exploring the trails for another year.

NEW – Bonus Challenges can be completed as well to earn a limited-edition Trail Challenge T-shirt. Three out of four bonus challenges must be completed by October 1 to receive a T-shirt.

If you earn any additional Challenge Trail prizes, these will be mailed to you in November. Remember they will be mailed to the address in your Metroparks account that you registered with originally.

All ages are welcome to register and participate.

You can also sign up your dog! For $10, register your furry trail buddy and they will get a custom trail challenge bandana. Dogs will not earn additional incentives. When you register you will see the dog tag graphic button after you to add the Trail Challenge to your cart, at the bottom of the screen.

If you missed it during registration, visit the main trail challenge webpage and scroll to the button for a button to link you register your dog.

First, you need to set your leaderboard name. Check your email for your registration confirmation and instructions on how to set this before hitting the trails.

You receive your keychain and passport by visiting a Metroparks Office, during regular business hours, and showing your registration receipt on your phone or in hard copy. Then go out and hit that park’s challenge trail and you are on your way to great prizes. You can find the park office nearest to you by visiting our website. All park office hours are listed in the information for each parks.

If you registered a dog, you will pick up your dog’s bandana at the Metropark Office as well.

After you register to participate, you will receive an email receipt, there is an attachment to the receipt that provides the instructions on how to set your leaderboard name.

Each time you visit a Challenge Trail sign kiosk, you will be asked to scan a QR code at that kiosk and submit a leaderboard form while you’re standing at the kiosk. You will use the same phone number and display name each time you log Challenge Trails, and the leaderboard will automatically update. You MUST complete this Challenge Trail submission form while at the Challenge Trail kiosk.

If you run into issues submitting your form, email hilary.simmet@metroparks.com with your phone number, display name and selfie. Our team will make sure your park visit is counted toward the Tail Challenge.

Registered participants receive a custom keychain and can earn additional incentives by visiting Challenge Trails and uploading selfies at the Trail Challenge kiosk on it. Challenge Trail selfies are uploaded through the online leaderboard submission form. It is accessed by scanning a QR code at each Challenge Trail sign kiosk.  When the leaderboard updates the participant will have a badge on the leaderboard for each challenge trails selfie that is uploaded.

For each park Challenge Trail you complete you will earn a custom charm to add to your keychain AND if you complete Challenge Trails in all 13 parks you will receive a 2027 Metroparks Annual Vehicle Pass so you can keep exploring the trails for another year.

There are two Challenge Trail options at some parks, but participants only need to complete one challenge trail in every park (13 parks) to earn the 2027 Annual Pass.

You can earn a limited-edition Trail Challenge T-shirt by completing three out of four challenges. These challenges must be completed by October 1 to earn the T-shirt. Submission forms for three Bonus Challenges are on the Bonus Challenge section of the Trial Challenge website.

Challenge Trail incentives are mailed out in November for those that earned them.

Yes, this year if you complete 3 out 4 Bonus Challenges you earn a limited-edition Trail Challenge t-shirt.

Full details are available on the Bonus Challenge webpage.

For each registered participant from your Metroparks Account, you will complete the Display Name form using the phone number for them you indicated during registration and then create a new display name for that participant.

Display names must be created each year you participate.  It can be the same from previous years, but it must be set up each year you participate.

When you are at the kiosk to submit your selfie, scan the QR code and enter the phone number, a list of display names will populate that are associated with the phone number. Choose the correct username and complete the form.  Each participant will need to upload their own selfie through the form to be added to the Leaderboard AND to earn the incentives. So, even if you take a group photo that photo needs to be uploaded to each registered participant.

We use your phone number to make sure your leaderboard name is unique and that we are adding Challenge Trail badges to the correct registered participant on the leaderboard. This ensures you earn the correct incentives and prizes.

You can look at all park maps by clicking here. Or you can stop by the park office for a hard copy map.

You can find Challenge Trails on the event webpage by clicking here. Staff within the park office can also help direct you.

You can use one if you wish, but you don’t need one, and you can’t link it directly to our leaderboard at this time. However, you will be required to use a smart phone to take a selfie with the Challenge Trail signs, scan a QR code and submit those selfies while out on the trail in order to earn badges and incentives.

You can visit  the following link and follow the steps to turn on location services, https://www.lifewire.com/turn-on-mobile-location-services-4156232.

On your smart phone, make sure location services is turned on, then rescan the QR code on the sign or refresh the page.

If you run into issues submitting your form, email hilary.simmet@metroparks.com with your phone number, display name and selfie. Our team will make sure your park visit is counted toward the Tail Challenge.

You are certainly not required to. However, submitting a selfie to verify you were at a challenge trail is the ONLY way to earn the incentives. If you choose not to take this step, you will not be eligible to receive those prizes.

No, the annual pass for this year is not part of what you receive for registering for the Trail Challenge. But you can earn the 2027 annual pass but completing a Challenge Trail in all 13 parks. So you will need to purchase an annual pass for 2026 or a daily pass when you enter the park.

If you purchase the daily pass consider the Trade Up Program. Here is how it works. January 1, 2026 through Labor Day (September 1, 2026) you can keep your daily Metropark pass(es) and use them to trade up to an annual pass. That means, you can present your daily pass(es) for a full-face value credit off your annual pass. Two daily passes gets you twice the credit. Three gets you three times the credit… And four, you got it, means you can trade up for a regular annual pass at no additional cost for residents of the five counties we serve – and just an additional $5 for non-residents.

Bring your receipt, electronically or hard copy to a Metroparks Office during regular business hours and you can pick up your custom dog bandana.

Be sure to review the pet-friendly trail options for each park before your visit so you know which Challenge Trail to visit. You can find the list by clicking here.

You can reach out to Hilary Simmet at hilary.simmet@metroparks.com or 810.494.6037.