Bridge & border
What you need to know to cross between Windsor and Detroit on the Gordie Howe International Bridge path, and to come back the same day.
Bridge facts checked against the official path page on November 2, 2026. Always check closure notices before you ride.
Hours
The path is free and open every day: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. from April 1 to October 31, and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. from November 1 to March 31. Entry closes one hour before closing time.
Hours can change because of border operations, scheduled closures, extreme heat or cold, snow, ice, maintenance or emergencies. Closures are posted on the bridge authority’s homepage and social channels.
| Season | Open | Last entry |
|---|---|---|
| April 1 to October 31 | 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. | 7 p.m. |
| November 1 to March 31 | 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. | 3 p.m. |
The path, in numbers
- Length
- 3 km
- 1.8 miles, booth to booth
- By bike
- 20 min
- 45 min on foot, plus border time
- Grade
- 5%
- Steep in places
- Speed limit
- 20 km/h
- 12 mph. Walkers have the right of way
Allowed
- Bicycles, cargo bikes and trikes, folding bikes
- Pedal-assist e-bikes with no throttle, where assist cuts out at 32 km/h (19 mph)
- Walkers, joggers and runners
- Mobility devices for people with disabilities
Not allowed
- Throttle e-bikes and faster e-bikes
- E-scooters, e-skateboards, Segways, hoverboards, one-wheels
- Skateboards, roller skates and inline skates
- Pets (identified service animals are allowed)
- Drones, speakers, alcohol, cannabis, smoking and vaping
The path is one lane shared by both directions, 3.6 m wide, with concrete barriers between you and the traffic lanes, high fencing on both sides, emergency call stations and lighting. Signal before you pass and ride single file past walkers. Groups of 20 or more must tell the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority their crossing time in advance.
Entrances: 4389 Sandwich Street, Windsor, ON and 6524 West Jefferson Avenue, Detroit, MI.
Border documents
The documents you need depend on your citizenship and immigration status, so check the official rules for your own situation before you go.
You go through U.S. inspection before you leave the path in Detroit, and Canadian inspection before you leave it in Windsor. You need documents that let you enter the United States and then re-enter Canada (or the other way round), and ID for every child with you. We do not list documents here on purpose: a list that works for one rider can be wrong for the next.
- Entering the United States: U.S. Customs and Border Protection
- Entering Canada: travel and ID documents (CBSA)
- CBSA border checklist: what to declare and what you cannot bring
Common surprises: cannabis cannot cross the border in either direction, even where it is legal. Pepper spray made for people is a prohibited weapon in Canada. Both countries ask you to declare $10,000 or more in cash. The CBSA checklist covers the rest.
Parking & trailheads
There is no parking at either end of the bridge. The bridge authority points drivers to the Malden Park trailhead in Windsor and the Clark Park trailhead in Detroit.
-
Downtown Windsor riverfront
The long way: the whole Windsor riverfront and the Sculpture Park before the bridge.
Paid city garages and lots near Pitt Street. Rates vary; check posted signs.
Plan from here -
Malden Park trailhead
The bridge authority’s Windsor trailhead. Shortest ride to the bridge from Canada.
Trailhead parking, listed by the bridge authority. Check signs on site.
Plan from here -
Mic Mac Park
A park lot on Carmichael Road, a short ride from Malden Park.
Park lot off Carmichael Road. Check posted signs and hours.
Plan from here -
Clark Park trailhead
The bridge authority’s Detroit trailhead, next to Mexicantown. Start here to ride Detroit only.
Trailhead parking, listed by the bridge authority. Check signs on site.
Plan from here
Bikes & rentals
Bring your own bike if you can. If you rent, tell the shop you plan to cross the border before you pay: many rentals and share bikes cannot leave their city or country.
E-scooters and throttle e-bikes are not allowed on the bridge path at all, so most share scooters are out. Pedal-assist e-bikes are fine if they have no throttle and stop assisting at 32 km/h.
Any part of a route can be walked instead. The bridge takes about 45 minutes on foot.
Safety & route notes
Ride with lights, lock your bike well at every stop, and check the weather, air quality and bridge notices before you leave.
- Carry more than one lock. A hard U-lock through the frame and each wheel, plus a cable or chain to secure the whole bike, is a good habit at every stop.
- Some legs use streets with traffic and painted bike lanes; others use off-road trails. Follow posted signs and the traffic laws of the country you are in.
- Air quality near the bridge and industrial areas can be poor on some days. Check Environment Canada or AirNow before a long ride.
- Keep an eye on the time in Detroit. If you miss the last entry, there is no other way to ride or walk back across the river; other crossings are for vehicles, and any bus or taxi has its own schedule, rules and border check, and may not take bikes.
- As in any big city, stay aware of your surroundings, keep valuables out of sight and ask a border officer if you have a safety question.
Route lines on this site follow OpenStreetMap bike data along the creator’s ride notes and are suggestions, not official trail guidance. Conditions change. Ride at your own risk.