Detroit Riverfront

Easy to get to and a wonderful spot to just relax and take in the scenery. Super close view of Canada if you're wanting that. The walking area is very spacious and gives lots of room for groups if you have one. Overall it was a wonderful stop on our little trip. Would highly recommend.

Amazing, Beautiful place to come and relax and enjoy family and friends. This was my first trip to the river front while visiting Detroit and it will not be my last. They have a bar on the riverfront that plays music and they have a fairy that will take you along the lake. There is also a concert venue where they have concerts scheduled throughout the summer. This is a place you should go and check out. I Highly recommend this attraction.

I am a lifelong Detroiter and this is my second time ever coming to the Riverfront. The first time was about 5 years ago and they have enhanced it so much! It is amazing. So much seating and the views are breathtaking. Also an amazing place to walk, jog, ride a bike, walk a dog, etc. Highly, highly recommend.

This place is great, clean, spacious with beautiful views. But not sure if it’s just me , I felt it’s easy to miss an exit and reach Canada through Detroit Windsor tunnel. So stay alert if you are visiting for the first time especially with GPS. Detroit riverfront has been voted as the best river walk in US. Well, it can be argued but this one defiantly is a great contender. Just make sure it’s warm and clear to make the most of your visit.

Gorgeous river and lots to see and do along the way. If it had been a little warmer I definitely would have rented a bike to cruise more of it. Guess we have to go back!

This was a very pretty riverfront to walk along. I love how they have places to sit, bikes to rent, a carousal, and a playground. They have a spot where you can also grab food. You can see Canada on the other side of the river, which was really neat.

Although i explored the place in extreme winter but its nice stretch along the river for running, biking with your friends and family or alone(the best time for yourself). You can have scenic view of lake cum river and windsor Canada.

Consistently voted one of the best riverwalks in the nation and getting better every year. New construction is expanding the length of the riverwalk. Make sure to check our the Heart Plaza, the Outdoor a Adventure Center and Belle Isle which are all within walking distance. Belle Isle connects to the riverfront trail through several blocks along Jefferson which includes a dedicated bicycle lane to and across the MacArthur bridge onto the island.

I didn't realize how extensive the Detroit Riverwalk is -- from Gabriel Richard Park to Ralph C. Wilson Centennial Park. Wow! That's 1 hour and 40 minutes worth of walking but, I didn't walk it. I just realized there was another side to the Detroit Riverwalk that I have never experienced until today. This Riverwalk is vibrant, beautiful, and well kept from what I have seen. Across the river you can see Windsor, Canada.

The Detroit River Front Conservancy continues to develop the Detroit River Front into a recreational pathway Detroit citizens and surrounding communities can be proud of. The Belle Isle stretch recently opened and the William Davidson section is under construction. Pros: Great place to walk and bike anytime of the year Cons: Poor signage in some areas, lost pathway near the Coast guard building and near the Belle Isle Bridge

It's amazing to me that you can see Canada from Detroit! (I am not very savvy at geography, so things like this, which should be obvious to any semi-educated adult, are usually a revelation to me.) One of the best places to see Canada, and the Detroit River, and the Detroit skyline, is here on the Detroit RiverWalk. The RiverWalk -- also called the Riverfront -- goes from Belle Isle to Rosa Parks Boulevard. That's three miles! It's a pretty long stretch. I had children with me when we visited, so we only walked a portion of it. We parked near the carousel (it was free parking when we visited) and walked for as long as my kids' little legs would carry them, which was probably about half a mile. But the portion of the RiverWalk that we did walk upon had wide well-paved walkways, chairs and benches every so often, and a geometric climbing structure that my kids enjoyed playing on. The RiverWalk was very clean and felt safe, and most importantly, it was a nice, free place to go to enjoy the fresh air and sunshine. The portion of the RiverWalk that we visited also had a playground near it, and a carousel and snack bar. The carousel and snack bar weren't open when we were there (late winter). I think they're only open during the warmer months.

The Riverwalk was a great experience for our entire group. There's free parking and the area is well-kept. We also noticed security/police presence and felt safe the entire time. The water is beautiful! We were able to get a great view of Canada and we saw several ducks up close and personal. It was a hot day but there was a nice, cool breeze. This is definitely a great location for walking or bike riding. There's an area to purchase snacks and tables/chairs for eating or just relaxing. The public restrooms were surprisingly clean also. This is definitely a must see place.

Not sure if this was complete or not when we got here. But it's a gorgeous view of the water that apparently stretches across the Joe Louis Area to Milliken State Park right along the Detroit River. Perfect to get your walk/jog in or walk dogs. Saw a lot of families and couples strolling along here. As you know, I love a great view of water/nature and this satisfies that in spades. Well done Detroit!

Enjoyed a casual walk along the water Easy parking, and free with limit of two hours Convenient concessions next to parking Nice way to spend 1/2 hr or so with views of Canada

Spent a beautiful afternoon by the river over the weekend. We were able to park steps away even during several events. The family loved watching all of the boats and even a cruise ship go by. We went for a nice snack and got some ice cream near the merry-go-round and for a "tourist" area it was only a few dollars for each treat. I really enjoyed all of the natural trails paired with art, educational pieces, and play structures for children to climb on. I grew up coming to the plaza and now they have made it even more accessible for all.

Great to place for all ages to visit! We went on a rainy Sunday morning and it was perfect! It wasn't busy at all and I was surprised at the child-friendly spaces along the river to let little ones climb, crawl, or learn more about the area. I would have appreciated more places to grab a quick bite to eat along the way, but that was the only hiccup. It's an overlooked spot for going for a stroll by yourself or with loved ones. Don't forget to wave to Canada!

One of the unique things about Detroit as a city is that it's one of very very few cities that can probably say 1) they can see Canada across a small river and 2) that they look SOUTH to see Canada just across that river and it's allllll thanks to our gorgeous and seemingly endless RiverWalk! I first started walking the RiverWalk pretty consistently back when Pokemon Go came out. There are SO MANY GOOD POKEMON along the river because it's such a high traffic area. It was so great. But despite my hype over Pokemon Go significantly diminishing, I'll still find myself coming to the RiverWalk often because it's just such a lovely place to walk. I have found myself on multiple occasions bringing friends and family here that haven't been to Detroit in a while. This is such a nice place to start the day in downtown. I could truly spend a whole day here walking up and down the RiverWalk, but probably my favorite way to zip up and down it is on a scooter. There are miles and miles to this RiverWalk and you really haven't experienced it fully until...well...you've scooted all the way up and down it! It's truly so wonderful and basically all parts of the RiverWalk are my favorites, it's hard to pick any one spot. If you find yourself in Detroit, especially on a good weather kind of day, coming to the RiverWalk is always ALWAYS a good idea!

This place is ok. It gives you a marvelous view of the Detroit River and Canada. It is relatively clean, but could be a bit better. It is a decent place to ride bikes and jog, however walking is a different story. Look out, you can get hit by a bike, a skate board, or a scooter. There are some pricy garage parking nearby. I would recommend finding a metered street spot though. You may have to walk a little further, but you will save quite a few bucks though. The walk does have benches along it where you can sit and look out at the water. The Underground Railroad Monument is located on the RIverwalk along with a riverboat that you can take a cruise on, for a fee. I did not see any security or law enforcement presence while I was there, which supports the many security concerns surrounding the walk, especially at night. The word on the street is to go here at your own risk at night. Not the best river walk that I have been on, but it does provide an awesome view. The water is a pretty turquoise and the Canada skyline is amazing to see. This is another must see if you find yourself in Downtown D-town.

Very cool and beautiful walk along the River (hence the River walk name). Gives you stunning views of the River and the city of Detroit. Also gives you a close look at the country of Canada as it is just on the other side of the River. For now it is as close as I've personally been to leaving the country. So that was kinda cool. My favorite portion was just behind hart plaza as it had some cool monuments and the Detroit princess which is a massive steam boat you can check out. All in all cool area. Good exercise, stunning scenery and great photo ops.

The paved walkway that spans the city's downtown is reasonably wide and flat and offers views of the Canadian side of the distinctively turquoise river. There was one playground area with bathrooms and water fountains towards the northern side. Most of the buildings adjoining the riverwalk were closed to the public in what seems part of an endless set of restrictions. There were a few objects of note along the way. I tend to agree with others that I wouldn't mess around here after dark, but it is a good walk on a nice day.

This walkway made me think of home with its urban landscape by the river. It has expanded over the years with additional sculptures. More please. I recommend parking by the carousel, Cullen Plaza, with free parking. Also visit the GM building. Shade is hot real estate on a sunny day. Not enough trees when the sun is blazing. Rivard Plaza is the spot where community events take place. Enjoy the breeze when you can and enjoy the view of our neighboring country.

Voted the best riverwalk in the country for a reason. Spanning more than 3 miles, it's a beautiful walk along the Detroit River, with beautiful sunsets and views of Canada too. Lots of green space, art, rides for kids, fountains, parks and other interesting things along the way, including the iconic Hart Plaza. I love spending hours here. Lively and peaceful at the same time. In 2021 it was named the Best Riverwalk in the country in the USA Today/10Best Reader's Choice Awards competition.

The river walk is amazing and great. No lie. I'd love to give it 5 stars, but it shuts down at 10pm. That's just messed up. Want to go on a nice evening stroll after dinner downtown on a Friday night? Great. Just don't plan to do it along the super scenic, amazing part of Detroit where it seems most natural to do so.

Perfect day and had a perfect walk along the river. Look right across and see Canada. You can watch ships coming in and leaving. Also you can watch vehicles going over the bridge to and Frome the USA.

Jamie W. and I missed this promenade on my first trip to his hometown of Detroit because it was the dead of winter and probably covered in ice. Besides, parts of the walkway were closed for repairs. We came back months later when the weather was ripe for a waterfront stroll, certainly not an original idea as hundreds of people had the same thought. Compound that thought with bikes, skateboards, hoverboards, segways, and motor scooters with jet skis on the river. With all the traffic, Jamie and I basically became moving targets for anything that moved faster than us, whether headed directly toward us or coming right behind us. People weren't really paying attention to the separate lanes marked in the pavement . Still, the walk was mostly pleasant, showing off a more commercially thriving part of a struggling city, and it stretches uninterrupted for 5-1/2 miles from Ambassador Bridge to Belle Isle. Hey, you can see Canada across the river. RELATED - Exploring Detroit? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: http://bit.ly/2Jt7MiE

Detroit's RiverWalk is a perfect activity for the family. There's a large parking lot near the carousel that's free and spacious. A cafe is nearby selling food, snacks and drinks. Carousel rides are $1 per ride keeping kids entertained. A trail goes along the Detroit River leading to public art, exercise machines and offering views into Canada. On a nice summer day, it's a fun family activity. Just be mindful of bikers on the trails.

This has become such a cool area in the last decade or longer. I love that they've built it up and cleaned it up. I could definitely walk along here for hours and look over the water and look back at our progress and improvements to the city scape. It's on beautiful days and nights where I love taking a walk along here and people watching and just enjoying the scenery in life.

Relaxing workout! Especially during the week- less traffic ;). Closes at 10pm though!

I absolutely love going downtown to the Riverwalk. Rather is just spending the day down there, relaxing looking out at the water or just walking the Riverwalk. I've always enjoyed it.

I was impressed with the RiverWalk and what a beautiful stretch of land that Detroit is harboring. We parked on the street by the DNR Outdoor Adventure Center. No issues with parking even with it being a busy Sunday afternoon. We took our stroll down the river and was surprised with how much there is to do and see. Good signage about native plants/species along with other educational information. Good place for kids with little areas to play and explore. A ton of chairs and benches were along the water and everyone was enjoying the views. We found a nice shaded spot under some trees to sit and relax. We came to the concession stand and bar area which was very nice - Cullen Plaza. Good selection of food - not award winning - but it will help fill you up. They had pizza, hot dogs, ice cream, etc. I was also impressed with the tiki bar area for those adult looking to get an adult beverage. Nice bathrooms as well in this area. You can also enjoy a ride on the carousel. We spent about 2 hours on the RiverWalk and did not even walk all the way to the end. I can not wait to see what the future holds for the RiverWalk, as I know they are trying to expand. And yes, we felt safe! My only complaint was that I did not notice any recycling bins.

Really pretty area along the Detroit River. It's well kept up and has plenty of space for walking, biking, and so on.

The river walk is a fantastic way to enjoy the river, views of Detroit and Canada (Windsor), and more. We went in the spring but I'm guessing the opportunities for boating or other activities are plentiful. What a great amenity to have in the city!

Very nice stroll along the Detroit River with Canada's Caesar casino in plain view. Clean street. Clean river. Friendly locals.

Didn't get to see all of this River Walk, but we walked around a portion where you could walk up to a lighthouse. People also dock their boats here. It's free and you can ride bikes or scooters too. I also saw some folks fishing! What a calming thing to do! You could see Belle Isle and Canada from here! We found free parking in a lot and then walked over. There was a couple taking engagement pictures and a few others taking in the scenery. It's very clean here. Signs all over the place telling you to recycle or pick up after yourself. No wonder the river is so clean too! It's so close to an area they are trying to gentrify, so we saw some nice apartments as well as some abandoned buildings which I'm sure someone will buy up.

I love the Riverwalk. It's free and beautiful and peaceful, and just one of the many lovely things about Detroit. It's one of the first places I got to see and explore in Detroit, and this river unlike may others (Hudson, Chicago, etc.) is so beautiful and blue. It lacks the more mundane greens I've seen in more polluted rivers. It's amazing to be able to see Canada across the river, and if you walk long enough, you can run up a hill and feel like you're barely in a city. The Riverwalk is truly a treasure, and a great place to go running, wandering, or just sit and catch your breath. I hope to be able to see it in the summer, but even in the chilly autumn, it was beautiful and breathtaking.

Always find your happy. C-19 has hit North America. I've decided not to bring up how we arrived here because the people not running the office some of us elected them to do. That being said it was a woosa day relaxing and mindful.

In a span of two summers, a lot of changes/improvement had been made to make RiverWalk a favorite destination for bikers, joggers, pets and tourists. You might want to come early in the morning for free parking. Or you may spend at least $5 or more for private parking within the area. Thirsty or hungry, you can take a seat and have a bite of pizza, a burger or enjoy ice cold drinks and ice cream from the concessionaires open for the summer at the shaded area. There's a restroom for both genders. Expect a line during peak hours. 2 locks are broken out of the 3 cubicles of the female restroom. There's hand soap dispenser, tissue paper, and decent sink to sanitize your hands. Clutter on the floor. For kids to enjoy, there's the dancing fountain, the merry-go-round and sand bar. At the very end of the pier, I noticed a couple of budding fishermen. No bike? You could rent the two wheeler for a fee. The bike rental is located near the shed. There's no bike path when we cross the shed, towards the fountain, and all the way to the arena. We pedaled extra careful so we don't hit pedestrians and pet dogs.To avoid human traffic, there's an option to take the side street of Atwater. The view of the deep water, overlooking Canada is calming to the eyes. You might want to sit down in any of the benches and spend the entire day or afternoon listening to nature, feed the birds or maybe people or nature watching. This place is one of Detroit's finest!

Really nice riverfront area! I'm from St. Louis and seeing how nice the riverfront area is makes me hopeful that our revitalization projects currently in progress will be just as nice. There are river cruises, parks, fishing and boat docks, playgrounds, trails, a beautiful carousel, and a restaurant/consession stand. I heard that from some locals that the riverfront has been getting updated in phases, and i think that the end result will be great if its current state is any indication.

When most people think of Detroit, especially downtown Detroit, they don't think of something scenic. They probably imagine a dirty, crime-ridden, polluted, industrial city. The Detroit RiverWalk is the complete opposite of that. When we visited on a Friday afternoon, the temperature was in the 80s, there was a cool breeze off the river, and we saw nothing but blue skies, bright sunshine, and people from all walks of life (locals, tourists, business people, old, young, all races) enjoying their time in the sun. People were walking their dogs, riding bikes, walking or jogging with their friends and family, relaxing in the shade, playing in the splash pad, or just taking in the views like my fiancee and I were. The Detroit RiverWalk reminds me of the Chicago Riverwalk and Chicago's beaches. There are wide, clean, and nicely-paved paths that are well-lit and teeming with activity. The RiverWalk, which is operated and maintained by the Detroit RiverFront Conservancy, is planned to be 5.5 miles. At the time of writing this review, about 3 miles are developed. The RiverWalk extends, in piecemeal, from Ambassador Bridge at the west end to Belle Isle Park at the east end, with the Detroit River paralleling to the south. Facing south across the river, you see Windsor, Ontario, Canada. We only saw the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the RiverWalk. We spent most of our time on the promenade in front of (or behind) the GM Renaissance Center. This area contained a nice, extra-wide, brick pathway, benches, lamps, a splash pad, tiered step seating, multiple greenspaces with trees, potted plants with colorful flowers, waste baskets, and even a cool map of the world on the ground. This was a beautiful, vibrant space. Lots of kids were running around and playing in the splash pad's large fountain. If you've ever been to Atlanta, it's a lot like Centennial Olympic Park's Fountain of Rings (splash pad). On the river, we saw several boats go by. Some were tour boats, both from the US and Canada (you can tell by the flags on the boats), and some were small personal yachts. Across the river, we saw Caesars Windsor along with a bunch of other interesting or tall buildings. This stretch of the RiverWalk happens to face a fairly developed stretch of Windsor. Of course, the RiverWalk is an ideal place to take pictures. If you're in the area I described above, then you might as well check out the adjacent GM Renaissance Center too. There's an indoor shopping mall, food court and restaurants, hotel, a GM "museum" of sorts, and more just steps away. If you're in Detroit and have never been to the RiverWalk before, it's definitely worth checking out.

Amazing what Detroit has done to this place. A safe place for everyone to walk, run, sit, read a book and enjoy! Great job Detroit!

Always a great place to walk along side the river. Tons of people over the weekend. Great place to add your steps in or even roller blade your way. You can even ride your bike or pick up a scooter, whichever way you choose, you can go wrong. The weather was perfect to watch the boat and small yachts. You can see beautiful Canada while walking the RiverWalk. There's so many new restaurants in the downtown area, you can't go wrong. Just find a place to park and start walking and enjoy downtown. If you like fishing, there's a few spots and an area to fish. There's also a kiddy section with a giant sand box, laid out like a mini beach with a few rides and food area for them. There's even a little water area for them to jump around in for them to cool off and get splashed on.

It's such a pretty sight to see people actually walking around and enjoying Downtown detroit. Gone are the myth that downtown is dirty and dangerous and there's really nothing there. There's a lot of things to do now. Whatever you may fancy,, from walking around, sitting down, people watching, spending time with the family, to biking and skateboarding. The Riverwalk is now a force to be reckoned with. It is now, by far the biggest draw for people to come in and spend time in the city. And I'm very very glad that it is now an awesome place to be. It's definitely some place where you can take someone visiting the city and show them how "dangerous" Detroit really is. DANGEROUSLY fun that is. Take a bike, skateboard and those super cool hover boards,, see the sights, the people and the things to do here in Detroit. I guarantee you'll love the heck out of it. That and it's hella dog friendly. Weeeeeeee!!!

Incredible river walk. I walk my dog here regularly. Loads of space. There's a fountain that your dog can drink out of or cool off in. No one's ever had a problem with her taking a quick dip on a hot day (except for one grump security guard one morning). Very clean

Very beautiful and very busy! I would go by the other reviews about going early; I went with my sister who is the type you have to lie to about what time you want to leave. We got there around 3 pm and had fun riding around the block a few times just to find parking; I would definitely take advantage of letting pedestrians cross the road so you can read the signs in/around the parking lots cause as we walked we found a lot of sign that said "you could park here during the weekend." I mainly dragged my sister here so I could get into photography mode; obviously great spot for that since we saw about 5 different photographers. I would be careful about cyclists/runners since they kinda expect you to move out of their way. I was super shocked that the bathroom lines weren't long but they are very hot and only had 2 stalls in the one I went into plus they have a hazardous container which was weird. The water fountains were clean and had cold water. The line for ice cream was insane! But kudos for having alcohol drinks for adults. I would also be like the smart people who brought chairs and had cute little picnics especially if you plan on staying for a few hours.

Detroit's beautiful RiverWalk is Pokemon friendly! If you love Pokemon Go aka PoMonGo aka PM-G AKA POGO, you will love this place. There are sooooo many Pokestops! RiverWalk is also a great place to hold hands with a gal or to throw a catch with your closest pal. Riverwalk is a nice place to bring your elders to catch the boats and the nice breeze. RiverWalk is a safe place for the family and also very children friendly. Riverwalk has many places where you can take a silly selfie, sit down and enjoy a picnic, and share tales of Ye Olde City and folklore of Detroit. ***TIP*** A lot of people rag on Detroit, but when my friend from NYC came to visit, he stated that Detroit's Riverfront area smells so much more fresher than New York's stinky Hudson River. He also loved how blue the river was. So F*** yeah!!! Up your's New York, lol.

Upon completion it is Detroit's hope that the RiverWalk will cover 5 1/2 miles of ground, rivaling Chicago's and San Antonio's famed Walkways. Currently only part of Phase I (the east) is completed from Joe Louis Arena to Rivard Park, with the intent of extending to Belle Isle. Phase II (to the west) connecting Joe Louis Arena to the Ambassador Bridge is in the works. It is a nice, clean walk and has great potential. Let's hope it does not go away the way Asian Village did! On a high note: the Riverfront Canine Club meets at Rivard Plaza every Sunday at 10 am thru September 28th. Bring your leashed pooch for a stroll along the river and meet other dog lovers (and maybe recruit some new Yelpers?!).

Love coming here for a walk or just to chill out. There is usually a descent police presence which is a great thing. Important to keep the riff raff out and also groups of young teens. They are planning to expand this to bell isle which is amazing

5.5 miles of the beauty of Detroit on one side, and Canada on the other side. It was a wonderful breeze coming off the water as people cycled, walked, and simply enjoyed themselves on this lovely day. I truly enjoyed seeing the boats and hearing the music, and I'd definitely come back again.

I love walking along the Riverwalk. When the weather is nice, a walk here can't be beat. But it can get breezy during certain months so dress warmly. The view looking over to Canada is beautiful. I haven't been here nearly enough times. Hopefully, I will get a chance to attend a festival on the Riverwalk this summer.

My family was traveling to Michigan for a wedding and we decided to take a few days to explore the area. We really enjoyed the Riverwalk and all the scenery that came with it. It was a great opportunity to take photos and take in the cool breeze. If you are in the Detroit area, you must drive to the Riverwalk and walk by the river.

When I first arrived to Detroit, my friend took me for a tour of downtown, which included the RiverWalk. Absolutely beautiful with great views of Canada and the Detroit River, great walking paths and sitting areas - perfect for friends, couples, families to walk along during all times of the year (although winter might be kind of cold!). There were a few cool things about the RiverWalk such as the birdhouse-like boxes that housed books for people to borrow, read, return and/or exchange with, as well as the painting "replicas" scattered along the riverfront for people to admire and learn. It's almost like going to the library or an art museum (but free!), but along the water. This access to art and literature definitely is a good thing because it helps to boost literacy rates and promotes the arts/education. The RiverWalk has a public, free parking lot near the east end, which is pretty awesome. To my knowledge there aren't any time limits either. So if you're lucky and you can find a spot, you can stroll the RiverWalk all day and night if you wanted to.

A gorgeous spot along the Detroit River that's worth a visit if you haven't been in a while. It's beautifully manicured with loads of things for people and families to do. Carousels and fountains (that the the kids to play in on hot days) for the youngsters and beautiful views for walking, biking, or jogging for adults. Summertime brings River Days, a wonderful festival with rides and other special events. There's also Rockin' on the Riverfront for awesome free concerts each summer from national acts. Like others have said, I do wish that it was a bit longer but the Riverfront Conservancy has done a fantastic job revitalizing this space and I know they have more up their sleeves for the future (including the hope to expand the Walk). Just heard the news this week that they got a grant to connect all the greenways like the Dequinder Cut and such which will hopefully bring more people to the space and make it easier for people to connect. I'm looking forward to what the future will bring but I'm thrilled to enjoy the beautiful space as is for the time being!

One of the best uses of the Detroit riverfront area. The Riverwalk is a great place to walk or bike and enjoy the beautiful Detroit river and our neighbors in Canada. The Riverwalk is pet and family friendly and there is always events, concerts etc going on. You can see the Detroit Princess, Joe Lewis Arena, and the Ren Cen all on your journey. There is ample parking and restrooms. Be sure to let the kids ride the merry go round and play on the playground, and of course don't forget to grab a dog, ice cream cone and enjoy a great day.

A must see in Downtown Detroit! We started our walk at Campus Martius, to Hart Plaza and entered the Riverfront from there. The Riverfront is vibrant with many people, and sculptures, boats, and many other things to see. If you enter at the Hart Plaza entrance I encourage you to walk by the Cobo Center and Joe Louis arena and also make it towards the GM buildings and beyond. During the walk there are also many benches, great pictures scenes and entertainment. Around the GM building and "Port Detroit" the charm and ambiance is at a high level and you really get a feel for the Motor City. As we continued we reached a park area with many families relaxing and an outdoor yoga class going on. As you continue on the Riverfront you will see greenery, marshes, and an abundances of beautiful views and treasures to walk through. We were lucky to we here on a warm sunny day and enjoy one of the many great attributes in Downtown Detroit.

To the skeptical first time visitor of Detroit (who has heard nothing but how much of an economically depressed shithole that the city is), RiverWalk is a shining symbol of what the city is actually made of. The Dequindre Cut Greenway (separate review) deposits walkers and bikers right at a grassy path leading to the center of RiverWalk. The 63-foot William G. Milliken Lighthouse, a petite version of the Tawas Point Lighthouse built in 1876, greets you on the left. On the right is a shaded picnic area, where people may be playing Motown music and enjoying a cookout. Directly ahead is the sparkling teal of the Detroit River, flowing from lakes Erie and Huron and dividing the U.S. from Canada, which possesses the opposite banks. Apropos to Canada's regard of their neighbors to the South, a rather hideous and tall building with a neon sign reading "CAESARS" jeers from their shores. In 2007, when I spent a single night in Detroit and my host drove me to see the sights, RiverWalk was still just a nascent plan. The only things that were there at the time were a new age looking pavilion shelter blazing white under the sterile streetlamps - that and a whole lot of busted concrete with weeds growing out of it. She told me that the Detroit RiverFront Conservancy (http://www.detroitriverfront.org/) was going to transform the entire stretch of waterfront into something great. I nodded, but it was hard to imagine. Today, the Conservancy can lay claim to the stunning results of their years of effort. The results are truly a dance through the imagination - better than most realities. The odd barge or fleet of Jetskiiers floats or zips by on the water. Juvenile trees rustle in the cool breeze, shading whistle-clean benches placed considerately beneath their shelter. People stroll quietly down a wide, white concrete lane devoid of crowds, cigarette butts, pigeon shit, dog shit, or litter. A little girl drops her ice cream cone, cries, then smiles as her big brother hands her his. At GM Plaza, kids and their guardians splash around a foot fountain made of zig zagging lines of spouts in the ground. Without warning, the jets spurt up to 6 feet or more, making crystalline columns of water that you cannot help but walk through, shrieking and soaking wet. Even dogs that were previously afraid of water accidentally learn that they dig the relief from the heat. The core of Detroit's skyline towers above, and classical music drifts into the air from elevated Bose speakers. Who knows what hands are playing the music, or where; the sounds seem to come from the air itself. Farther down, people sit all gussied up, waiting to board a four-story steamboat for some fancy event or another. A group buzzes by quietly on Segues. Follow them, and you arrive at a tall platform with a snail-like spiral ramp that doubles as stairs, accommodating anyone who wants to stand above for a higher view of the river. At the silent back of the Joe Louis Arena (home of the Detroit Redwings) is a bunch of grass that is so clean and thick that you can lie down completely with no hesitation that you will encounter fecal matter, pests, or dirt. The walk back is just as good, except this time, you might hop around the granite world map in front of the GM building, and stop at the RiverWalk Cafe for a kiddie cone for less than 2 bucks, realizing that it must be for some pretty damn big kids because there are about three pounds of Mackinac Island Fudge is packed into the cone. From your seat, you laugh through your chocolate high at the carousel across the way - the designers let the people choose, and the result is a motley crew of water creatures and fantastical designs. Far more interesting than the usual gilded horses. On the way home, while your companion disposes of her dog poo with "mutt mitts" conveniently dispensed at the side of the path, you see a bird flying straight towards a tree, rings spread out, its shoulders as red as lasers. You scream, "What is that?!?" Why, a Redwing, of course.

Great attraction and love the beautiful views. The river walk offers such a great way to see the city and Windsor. Wish they offered more commercial properties for dining and shopping like they do in the French quarters or a boardwalk. Love that they have many events and live music along the river walk as well. Great to see Detroit revitalize with the river walk as the centerpiece of Detroit.

I can't believe I have lived in Detroit for three years and today was the first time I've made it out to the Riverwalk! It is so pretty and clean! If I took a picture of myself at the Riverwalk and sent it back home I am sure no one would think its the D. There are little benches and seats with a carouse on the routel. Now if I can find a good place to park I will be coming here more often!

Such a great place to clear your mind! If you've ever want to walk alone for a bit and just think, this is the place to do it. But not just that, I also go here to chat up my friends after food or drinks at a nearby restaurant or after a date. It's well kept and there are no janky gate pieces that compromise your safety. I love going further east on the RiverWalk (park on Jos Campau and walk south toward the river) because it's a less populated than right near the Ren Cen. When you go down to this point of the RiverWalk, you'll notice that there is no connection between the Chene Park area and the area near Joseph Campau street. It catches some bikers/skaters off guard because they want to continue down the RiverWalk but can't. They've started restricting access after a certain time at this point of the river, it used to be open all night (or maybe they just didn't have enough hands on deck to make sure there was no access). I guess it's for the best, but once upon a time, I really enjoyed late night walks down there.