You don’t always need a plan to have a good walk. Sometimes you just head toward the water and let Windsor do the rest.
The riverfront trail that curves along the Detroit River is one of Windsor’s quiet triumphs—never loud, never flashy, just always there. Whether you start from the base of Ouellette or wander in from University Avenue, the path unfolds in layers: grass, sculpture, skyline, ship.
I walked it this morning with coffee in hand and no destination. Just a few steps in, the city behind me felt like background noise. It’s that kind of walk—casual, but absorbing.
The Sculptures Are Strange, In the Best Way
Somewhere between Festival Plaza and the Art Gallery of Windsor, you start noticing the shapes. Big ones. Metal ones. Ones you’re not quite sure are facing forward. The Windsor Sculpture Park isn’t a formal gallery—it’s a walk-through, free-range art encounter that surprises you with weirdness when you least expect it.
There’s a giant hand. A rusted-out ribcage. A tilted cube that seems to hover just enough to make you nervous. None of them come with much explanation, and that’s part of the fun.
It’s not a sightseeing checklist. It’s something to notice while you walk.
Nature, Skyline, and a Hint of Detroit
One of the quiet thrills of this path is the view. To your left: the river, wide and usually slow, occasionally stirred up by a lake freighter pushing past. To your right: a mix of Windsor skyline and tree canopies. And across the water: the Detroit skyline—close enough to feel real, distant enough to feel imagined.
You’ll see joggers, cyclists, dog walkers, and occasionally a wedding photo shoot. But the pace of the place is gentle. It doesn’t demand attention. It just rewards it.
Final Stretch
Eventually, the walk becomes whatever you want it to be. You can stop at a bench and watch boats. You can keep going past the Ambassador Bridge and see how far your legs will take you. Or you can turn around and get another coffee.
No pressure. No plan.
That’s the best kind of local explore.
Know another great Windsor walk? Reach out—we’re always up for a wander.
