Great Lakes Trails Could Add $5 Billion Yearly

A new study estimates expanded trail networks across Southeast Michigan and the Great Lakes region could bring substantial annual economic gains.

Updated on Nov. 12, 2026 in Hiking

Wide view of a paved trail curving along a sandy Great Lakes shoreline beside calm blue water, with a cable-stayed bridge in the distance under a clear sky. — A proposed Great Lakes trail network could generate $3.75 billion to $5 billion in annual economic benefits, according to a new study of Southeast Michigan's greenways effort. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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A study projects that expanding Great Lakes trail networks could generate $3.75 billion to $5 billion in economic benefits each year. The findings point to tourism and natural-resource access as drivers, as a regional greenways effort tied to the Gordie Howe International Bridge pedestrian and cycling link opens a new cross-border route.

Why it matters

Earlier greenway projects stalled for lack of funding, so a coordinated regional push with matching grants could determine whether planned trails are completed. For Michigan residents and visitors, a connected network would expand access to outdoor recreation and local tourism spending.

The Great Lakes Way includes about 160 miles of greenways and 156 miles of water trails, with roughly 65% of trail mileage usable today. The $25 million raised by the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan for greenway grant matching remains the main funding source, and the study's full methodology for its benefit estimate was not detailed.

The players

Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan

A regional philanthropic organization that raised $25 million to provide matching money for greenway grants in the area.

Gordie Howe International Bridge

A cross-border bridge connecting Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, that includes a toll-free pathway for pedestrians and cyclists.

The details

The study examined a project meant to connect residents and visitors with natural resources while encouraging tourism across Southeast Michigan and the broader Great Lakes region. The effort grew from a greenways initiative that began more than two decades ago, and its long-term vision is a network stretching from Port Huron to Toledo, Ohio, with the eight Great Lakes states discussing a system that could mirror Canada's Great Lakes Waterfront Trail.

More than two decades ago: The greenways initiative behind the current trail network began.
Annual: The study estimates $3.75 billion to $5 billion in economic benefits per year.

Roadmap

Michigan's trail plan is modeled on Canada's Great Lakes Waterfront Trail, which the eight U.S. and Canadian Great Lakes jurisdictions have discussed as a basis for a broader shared network. The effort reflects a wider push to turn shoreline routes into a connected regional recreation and tourism system.

Hikers and cyclists planning trips along the Detroit Riverwalk, which is nearly five miles long, can now consider the toll-free Gordie Howe bridge pathway for a cross-border route into Windsor. Trail users should check which sections are currently usable, since only about 65% of the existing trail mileage is open.

The takeaway

Expanding trails depends on steady matching funds, so readers interested in Michigan's outdoor network should watch how grant money is distributed. Connected routes tend to draw more visitors than isolated segments, which makes sustained investment central to the projected benefits.