Outdoors · One day

Ride On! Detroit on Two Wheels, From the Dequindre Cut to the River

Saturday market, a sunken old rail line full of graffiti, a lighthouse on the river, a guided group bike ride, a Rivertown pint and a Belle Isle sunset.

stops: 8
length: One day
areas: 7

The riverfront runs for miles, an old rail line has become a greenway, and a crew of locals takes visitors out on group rides most Saturdays. Start on foot or on your own bike at Eastern Market, follow the Dequindre Cut down to the river, join a guided ride on the RiverWalk at noon, then wind down with a beer and Belle Isle.

Saturday

09:00
Eastern Market
Eastern Market
Start at the Saturday market: historic sheds, growers, food stalls and murals. Have breakfast here, because the rest of the day keeps you moving.

Walk or ride down onto the Dequindre Cut and follow it south to the river.
10:00
Dequindre Cut Greenway
Riverfront / Eastern Market
A former below-grade rail corridor turned greenway: bridges, retaining walls and graffiti everywhere. The point isn't one photo spot, it's the ride itself, cutting through the city below street level.

The park is a few minutes from the south end of the Cut.
10:45
William G. Milliken State Park and Harbor
Riverfront
A state park right on the downtown riverfront: the 63-foot white lighthouse echoes the one at Tawas Point, surrounded by wetlands, a harbor and views over to Canada. Admire the lighthouse from outside; don't count on going up.

Head west on the RiverWalk.
11:15
Detroit Riverwalk
Riverfront
A short stretch of RiverWalk toward Cullen Plaza, with Windsor across the water. It can feel cooler and windier by the river, so bring a layer.

The Wheelhouse shop is right here on Cullen Plaza.
11:45
Wheelhouse Detroit
Downtown / Rivertown
Wheelhouse has run themed rides from this RiverWalk shop since 2008: a Belle Isle loop, architecture, auto heritage, Corktown, music, the Underground Railroad and, in October, a haunted ride. Tours run about three hours, and they handle everything from the guide to the rental bike.

After the ride, walk a few minutes east into Rivertown.
15:30
Atwater Brewery — Detroit Tap House
Rivertown
You earned it: Atwater's Detroit taproom on Jos Campau Street has a rooftop terrace and a food menu, so the post-ride beer can turn into a late lunch.

Ride or walk east on the RiverWalk all the way to Gabriel Richard Park.
16:45
Gabriel Richard Park
East Riverfront
The RiverWalk's eastern starting point, right beside the MacArthur Bridge to Belle Isle: a fountain, butterfly gardens, fishing outlooks, a brick walking labyrinth and a birding station with four spotting scopes. A good breather before you roll across the bridge.

Walk or ride across the MacArthur Bridge to Belle Isle.
17:30
Belle Isle Park
Belle Isle
A roughly 982-acre island park in the middle of the river, with woods, shoreline and the James Scott Memorial Fountain. At sunset the skyline looks its best. Driving in? You'll need a Michigan Recreation Passport.

Head back downtown from here; the riverside route is lovely in the evening.

Good to know

Wheelhouse Detroit runs public tours most Saturdays from April through October: book on their site, and if you don't have a bike, ride a rental.
Other days, try a RiDetroit e-bike tour (six riders minimum) or Detroit Segway Tours, which runs spring through fall.
Walkers and cyclists share the Dequindre Cut, and not every cross street has a ramp, so check the official map for access points.
We couldn't confirm a 2026 schedule for Slow Roll's community rides, so don't build your day around it.