Michigan Air Line — paved Mettala Park return
Michigan · Rail-trail
From the operator-mapped Gunnar Mettala Park trailhead take the main Air Line EAST toward Walled Lake for up to two miles and retrace. Walk street crossings. Do not turn west into the downtown Wixom street/railroad interface or add the parallel road route.
Plan your ride
- Location
- Wixom · Michigan
- Ride length
- Up to 4 miles return
- Ride format
- Out and back
- Surface
- Paved main rail trail; ordinary streets and park footpaths excluded
- Road crossings
- Yield to walkers and slow at junctions. Stop and look at every street crossing; do not use traffic lanes to bypass a closure.
- Elevation
- Gentle former-rail course with local ramps and crossings.
- Starting location
- Gunnar Mettala Park public Michigan Air Line trailhead, Wixom, MI
Selected outward cap and the same return; turn earlier at the actual route end or a barrier. Parking walks are extra.
Named mapped trail/park reference, not the exact selected public entrance, parking lot or driving route. Use the separate written public start.
Michigan Air Line — paved Mettala Park return — detailed guide
Source review: 2026-10-22. A dated source review does not guarantee current-day conditions.
A selected outing on a documented improved bicycle route. Follow the stated public start and course.
Start and parking
Start: Gunnar Mettala Park public Michigan Air Line trailhead, Wixom, MI.
Actual operator map marks Gunnar Mettala Park as a trailhead with public parking, restrooms and repair/water symbols. Amenities are not guaranteed operational; use signed open ordinary park visitor spaces.
Ride and distance
Selected ride: Up to 4 miles return. Format: Out and back.
Ride: From the operator-mapped Gunnar Mettala Park trailhead take the main Air Line EAST toward Walled Lake for up to two miles and retrace. Walk street crossings. Do not turn west into the downtown Wixom street/railroad interface or add the parallel road route.
Selected outward cap and the same return; turn earlier at the actual route end or a barrier. Parking walks are extra.
Surface and effort
Paved main rail trail; ordinary streets and park footpaths excluded. Gentle former-rail course with local ramps and crossings.
Crossings and shared use
Yield to walkers and slow at junctions. Stop and look at every street crossing; do not use traffic lanes to bypass a closure. Yield to pedestrians, keep right, and slow at blind corners. Stop at barriers; never use a traffic-road detour to bypass a trail closure.
Hours, costs and access
Use daylight and obey posted trail, park and parking hours. Follow current public visitor-parking terms; reserved activities and events have separate conditions.
Reviewed 2026-10-22. Manager describes the completed seven-plus-mile route and ongoing ShearWater trailhead enhancements with a fall 2026 target. A target is not an amenities completion announcement. This selection starts at Mettala and excludes the downtown Wixom street connection shown separately on the map. This is a source review, not a same-day inspection. Recheck the linked manager before travel.
Map and Directions
Use the named public start and its posted parking signs. The map reference identifies the facility or selected trail area; it is not a surveyed parking stall or navigable route line. Bicycle and e-bike rules can differ; only ordinary bicycle use is established unless noted.