The Dequindre Cut Greenway – Detroit, Michigan - Atlas Obscura

The Dequindre Cut Greenway

This railway-turned-greenway provides a pedestrian link in downtown Detroit and celebrates urban artwork. 

440
448

This is a two-mile stretch of lonely and disused land made beautiful.

Its long history speaks to Detroit’s industrial heritage. A railroad was laid down along this corridor in the 1830s by a precursor to the Canadian National Railway. The route saw plenty of traffic over the following century, when the city was a burgeoning industrial center.

By the 1980s, though, the railroad had closed to both pedestrian and freight traffic, and the line’s fate was uncertain. 

In 2009, the tracks were replaced by a paved greenway, much of which is below street level. The 20-foot-wide path links the city’s bustling Eastern Market district with the waterfront, and the route is a pretty spot for an afternoon amble or bike ride, streaking past colorful murals and graffiti.  

Know Before You Go

For information about bike rentals, visit wheelhousedetroit.com, or stop by a self-serve MoGo station to participate in the city's bikeshare program. Find locations at mogodetroit.org.

Community Contributors

October 9, 2010

Make an Edit Add Photos
In partnership with KAYAK

Plan Your Trip

From Around the Web