Novi: Trails, Parks and Culture

Novi offers a variety of ideas for active days and cultural discoveries. At Lakeshore Park, trails, a swimming beach on Walled Lake and a mountain bike trail take center stage. Other parks have their own distinctive features, from a fishing pier by the water to sculptures and a historic township hall building. When planning your trip, it’s worth first considering which of these experiences interest you most.

Trails for Biking, Hiking and Cross-Country Skiing

Lakeshore Park offers a range of ways to enjoy the outdoors. Wider trails are suitable for hiking, family bike rides and cross-country skiing. So if you’re planning a bike ride with children, you’ll find a different trail option here than on the mountain bike trail. The mountain bike trail is about 10 miles long and passes through varied terrain; it is described as suitable for riders with intermediate and advanced experience. The trail’s length and terrain profile give active visitors a concrete point of reference when choosing outings.

The ITC Corridor Trail is another option for hiking and biking. It is 4.66 miles long and runs through the City of Novi from north to south. The trail makes it possible to travel between different parks and communities. Its length and north–south route distinguish it from the mountain bike trail at Lakeshore Park. If you like to spend your days biking or walking, you can consider these trails as different parts of your outing plans.

Water and Park History

Lakeshore Park has a swimming beach on Walled Lake. At Pavilion Shore Park, amenities include walking trails, a fishing pier and seating by the water. Novi’s parks let you pursue different interests: a trail by the water, a place to fish or time at a swimming beach. Deciding which of these options you’d like to focus on can be a helpful starting point for planning your trip.

Pavilion Shore Park also has a distinctive history of former uses: it was once home to the Walled Lake Amusement Park and the Walled Lake Casino. This historical connection adds a glimpse of former entertainment venues to the park’s present-day character. You can include the park in your Novi explorations both for its trails and spots by the water and for its past.

Green Spaces and Recreation

Wildlife Woods Park covers more than 28 acres of fields and wooded terrain. Alongside these varied landscapes, the park has eight pickleball courts. This means the same park offers both natural areas and a specific sporting activity. When choosing an outing, you can take these different options into account, whether you’d rather explore a green space or play on a court.

Other recreational offerings include two NHL-size ice rinks at Novi Ice Arena. Jessica’s Splash Pad is located in Bosco Fields Park and opened in summer 2024. Ice skating at Novi Ice Arena and Jessica’s Splash Pad at Bosco Fields Park offer different options for your outing. Plan your excursions around the experiences that are most interesting to your travel group.

Art, Culture and History

Villa Barr is a place that highlights art and culture in Novi. Stone paths have been laid throughout much of the park so visitors can walk among the sculptures there. Here, you can combine art with a walk among the sculptures. For culture enthusiasts, Villa Barr offers a way to discover Novi beyond its trails and sports activities.

Fuerst Park also combines a park with a historic building: it includes a historic township hall building. If you’re interested in the history of public buildings, you can keep this feature in mind while exploring the park. Villa Barr and Fuerst Park thus offer different cultural points of interest, without requiring you to limit your Novi trip to a single theme.

Maple Syrup as a Learning Topic

At Tollgate Farm, a school and community program for high school students and adults explores the entire maple syrup production process in the sugarbush. The subject takes you beyond parks and outdoor activities to a firsthand look at how a food product is made. If you’re looking for cultural or practical learning opportunities as well as activities for your trip, this program is another aspect of Novi you can include in your plans.

If you’d like to explore more destination pages: Farmington Hills, White Lake Township, Lake Orion, Walled Lake, Royal Oak, Auburn Hills, Ferndale, Clarkston.

For the broader travel overview: Oakland.