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 MAC’s Regional Vision Plan for the Detroit Heritage River Water Trail identifies corridors along the Detroit, Huron, Rouge, and Raisin Rivers suitable for recreational water trails – “blueways” – for canoeing and kayaking and associated improvements. The Regional Vision Plan is presented at a conceptual level but with enough detail to identify potential connections to major regional resources and attractions, including existing and planned greenways, parks, cultural facilities, commercial districts, significant historic and natural features, as well as opportunities for fishing, camping, and bird watching.
Features of the Regional Vision Plan
One of the more important aspects to planning the Detroit Heritage River Water Trail is assessing the level of access to the waterways - places where a canoe or kayak can be launched now and sites where launches could be located in the future. The Regional Vision identifies a total of 51 existing and planned access points along the four rivers. Character zones were identified along  the trails based on observations of existing land use adjacent to the river. All riverfronts along the Detroit Heritage River Water Trail are color-coded according to what a kayaker may encounter as he or she paddles along the river. Some of these character zones have an urban or industrial feel, some a residential, while others are notable for their historic or natural qualities. Click here to view the Detroit Heritage River Water Trail Regional Vision (Note: Links open a new window. Move mouse pointer over the poster image and click the box that appears in the lower right of the image to enlarge the view.) To download the Detroit Heritage River Water Trail, you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader. >> Download the PDF Poster (20.8 MB) To obtain a hard copy of the Detroit Heritage River Water Trail, please contact MAC at mac@mac-web.org or 313.961.2270
It is essential that any canoe/kayak trip based upon this VISION GUIDE be developed by an experienced planner who can identify the risks and hazards of the trip and determine whether the canoeist or kayakers have an appropriate level of skill and experience and the proper equipment for the trip. Unpredictable conditions, high winds, and fluctuating water levels may occur throughout the trip. For example, the Detroit River, a major international waterway, poses danger to small watercraft from large ships which navigate its waters, and has a strong downstream current (towards Lake Erie). Canoeing and kayaking can be dangerous and should be undertaken with care. Canoeists and kayakers should utilize appropriate navigational charts and follow all safety precautions, including wearing personal floatation devices at all times.
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