All Trails Lead to Dexter

Written by Kiff Hamp, Huron Waterloo Pathways Initiative

It’s a good time to visit or live in Dexter, especially if you’re an outdoor recreation enthusiast! This fall through the end of 2025 will see major developments in the Washtenaw County-wide Border to Border Trail (B2B Trail) in and around Dexter - an amazing trail town full of passion for our community’s recreational assets. Work is progressing toward Ann Arbor, where next year we anticipate the long-awaited Barton-Bandemer Tunnel under the railroad. The tunnel will link the B2B Trail to Huron River Drive and the Ann Arbor-Dexter corridor.

The trail recently opened its newest stretch along Huron River Drive, a 1.3mile segment connecting Dexter-Huron and Delhi Metroparks. This exciting expansion includes 4.7 miles of trail into downtown Dexter from Ithe east and

all three Washtenaw County Metroparks (Delhi, Dexter Huron, and Hudson Mills) via the B2B Trail. Conveniently, the Dexter Cider Mill lies along the route, allowing for a perfect fall day on the trail, complete with fresh cider and donuts.

This year has brought the completion of a segment of trail along Dexter-Chelsea Road from Wylie to Parker Roads. This segment, which includes a bridge over a branch of Mill Creek, leads directly to the Miller Smith Preserve (no bikes are allowed in the preserve itself), and moves the western leg of the B2B Trail within a half mile of downtown Dexter.

Perhaps the most anticipated Dexter-focused project is expected to begin construction in 2025 - connecting the trail into downtown Dexter from Parker Road at Dexter Chelsea Rd via a bridge over Mill Creek. The project team is rehabilitating the historic Bell Road Bridge as the official route over Mill Creek. The bridge was first installed north of Dexter in 1891 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The bridge will have a new home as part of 3 miles of trail west of Dexter and a key component of the connection to Chelsea. Once the Dexter connection is finished, only 1.4 miles (Lima Center to Dancer Roads) stand between a completed non-motorized route from Dexter to Chelsea.

When these projects are completed, the B2B Trail will connect downtown Dexter from the east, west, and north - making Dexter a three-way Trail hub further cementing its place as one of the best trail towns in our area.