Detroit RiverWalk, Detroit, Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

The Detroit RiverWalk is a public promenade and string of parks along the north bank of the Detroit River in Detroit, Michigan. It turns what was once a working industrial waterfront into a place to walk, cycle and sit by the water, with Windsor, Canada, in view across the river. It is looked after by the Detroit RiverFront Conservancy, a nonprofit set up in the early 2000s.

The story behind it

For generations Detroit's riverfront was given over to docks, warehouses, factories and industry, and the public had little access to the water. The RiverWalk grew out of a long effort to change that, led by the Detroit RiverFront Conservancy and its partners, who reclaimed stretches of shoreline and joined them into a continuous path.

The result is a route of roughly five and a half miles that links plazas, green spaces and pavilions between downtown and the area near the Belle Isle bridge. Because the river here is the border between the United States and Canada, you are looking at another country while you stroll, and freighters often pass close to the shore.

What to look for

• The view south across the Detroit River to the Windsor skyline, which is a reminder that Canada is only a short distance away.
• Passing freighters and other boats on the river, which is still a busy shipping channel.
• The shift in character along the path, from busy downtown plazas near the Renaissance Center to quieter green spaces further east.
• The places where the RiverWalk meets other routes, such as the Dequindre Cut greenway, which brings walkers and cyclists in from the city.

Tips for your visit

• Allow an hour for a relaxed stroll of one section, or longer if you want to cover more of the route or stop to sit by the water.
• Late afternoon and early evening give the best light on the water and the Windsor skyline, though mornings are quieter.
• The RiverWalk is an outdoor public space, so you can walk it without a ticket. Check current opening hours for any attractions, cafes or events along the way.
• Downtown Detroit is close by, so it pairs easily with a walk through the streets near the river, and wearing comfortable shoes makes it a pleasant way to link the two.

See it on a quest

If you would rather have a reason to look closely, play Murder Mystery: Death in the Shadows in Riverwalk, Detroit. You reach the RiverWalk on foot as one stop of a longer route through the area, the app tells you about each place as you arrive, and you solve a puzzle based on what is in front of you. The murder mystery theme gives the waterfront walk a purpose beyond the view. It is a paid quest, and one ticket covers the whole group. You can start whenever you like, with no guide and no group to join.