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I am always surprised by what I find when I explore in detail areas that I think I know well.  One of these places is Tate Park.  I travel between Adrian and Ann Arbor often, so I am quite familiar with the park right across US-12 from Clinton’s McDonald’s.

At first glance, the park looks like the traditional ball-field style park that are a dime-a-dozen in Monroe and Lenawee Counties.  And, indeed, there is a nearly one-mile developed park loop in Tate Park.  If one starts at the main parking area, a visitor can walk a complete circle using half-dirt/half-pavement access roads.

The north and western sides of this loop are not terribly scenic.  However, the southern park boundary follows a small tributary of the River Raisin.  It is quite interesting as it dodges in and out of the trees and ripples over rocks and deadfall.

When the stream enters the main river, a walker on this main loop should head north along the River Raisin for great views along a canoe launch backwater and on the newly-installed pedestrian bridge along US-12.

From here, park visitors can head into Downtown Clinton.  I like to cross US-12 and walk on the north side to Tecumseh Road.  This brings a visitor past a bar, an antique shop, an old, still-operational discount movie theater and the delightful Clinton Inn.

At Tecumseh Road, I cross US-12 and head back west through the downtown to Division Street.  Division is a pleasant residential area with sidewalks.  Eventually, Division turns into Railroad Street.  The road is aptly named because a walker will see the engine and cars for the Southern Michigan Railroad that takes tourists between Clinton and Tecumseh.  The road does not have sidewalks at this point, but the railroad right-of-way is so large on the west side that there is ample space to walk in the grass and avoid traffic.

At the south end of Railroad Street, a visitor will see the Southern Michigan Railroad right-of-way head to the south away from public roadways.  I know that there have been discussions in the past about extending Tecumseh’s excellent urban trail system along this bed to Clinton.  The still-operational Southern Michigan Railroad has not been able to allow pedestrian access for liability reasons.

Currently, a walker should head west on a pathway between the Village of Clinton sewage treatment plant and the town compost piles.  The route is actually quite pleasant considering the industrial state of the area.

At the River Raisin, a walker needs to move south for a bit along a utility road and cross the river on a neat one-lane utility bridge.  From here, a walker follows the River on its western banks north to a reconnection with the main Tate Park loop and the original parking lot.

The biggest hiking surprise in this area, however, is the large island that sits at the center of the River Raisin between Tate Park and the logging company that operates on the east banks of the River Raisin.  There is nearly a mile of trail on the island.  Trails follow the entire edge of the island and four cut-off spurs make loops of varying lengths possible.

The terrain on the island is pleasantly rustic.  Trails are composed of dirt and mud.  Forest and brush follow the entire hike, but allow for excellent river views.

A wonderful pedestrian bridge provides access from Tate Park and two small pedestrian bridges connect the island to the river’s eastern bank.  One moves directly towards a somewhat ramshackle Cub Scout cabin.

In the future, I intend to explore Clinton’s Riverside Cemetery and a nebulous area to the north of the town’s grocery story for additional hike mileage.

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