Owned and managed by the Paint Creek Trailways Commission (PCTC), the Paint Creek Trail is an 8.9 mile linear park, located in northeast Oakland County. It was the first Non-Motorized Rail-to-Trail in the State of Michigan, as it was converted to a trail from the former Penn Central Railroad. Open to the public since 1983, the Paint Creek Trail receives over 100,000 visitors annually. The non-motorized Trail is 8 feet wide, and traverses through Rochester, Rochester Hills, Oakland Township, Orion Township and the Village of Lake Orion.
The Paint Creek Trail is an 8.9-mile (14.73 km) linear hiking trail in northeast Oakland County, Michigan, connecting Rochester, Rochester Hills, Oakland Township, Orion Township, and Lake Orion. As Michigan's first rail-to-trail conversion, this historic 8-foot-wide paved path follows the former Penn Central Railroad corridor through scenic woodlands, wetlands, and charming communities at a moderate elevation of 297 feet. With over 965 panoramic scenes and attracting 100,000+ annual visitors since 1983, hikers enjoy easy terrain perfect for walking, running, and year-round outdoor recreation.