Northern Oakland County: a state park, a trail, and a lot of water

NORTHERN OAKLAND COUNTY. Dodge No. 4 State Park sits on 139 acres along Cass Lake in Waterford, with trails for hiking and birding alongside the water access. The Paint Creek Trail runs 8.9 miles of crushed limestone through Rochester, a route paddlers and cyclists both use to reach the water.

The region's waterways stretch from the lakes around Clarkston and Lake Orion to Lake Angelus, a small city built entirely around its lake, and the Clinton River, which draws anglers and paddlers. Waterfront restaurants and bars line several of the routes, giving visitors a reason to stop before heading back out.