diff --git a/.changeset/large-eggs-help.md b/.changeset/large-eggs-help.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e310ad7645
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/large-eggs-help.md
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+---
+'@backstage/plugin-explore': minor
+---
+
+Introduce external route for linking to the entity page from the explore plugin.
+
+To use the explore plugin you have to bind the external route in your app:
+
+```typescript
+const app = createApp({
+  ...
+  bindRoutes({ bind }) {
+    ...
+    bind(explorePlugin.externalRoutes, {
+      catalogEntity: catalogPlugin.routes.catalogEntity,
+    });
+  },
+});
+```
diff --git a/.changeset/soft-months-invite.md b/.changeset/soft-months-invite.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..a6a20973e9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/soft-months-invite.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+'@backstage/plugin-catalog-react': patch
+---
+
+Introduce parameters for namespace, kind, and name to `entityRouteRef`.
diff --git a/packages/app/src/App.tsx b/packages/app/src/App.tsx
index 5b6f7b95fe..7acde03953 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/App.tsx
+++ b/packages/app/src/App.tsx
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ import {
   CostInsightsPage,
   CostInsightsProjectGrowthInstructionsPage,
 } from '@backstage/plugin-cost-insights';
-import { ExplorePage } from '@backstage/plugin-explore';
+import { ExplorePage, explorePlugin } from '@backstage/plugin-explore';
 import { GcpProjectsPage } from '@backstage/plugin-gcp-projects';
 import { GraphiQLPage } from '@backstage/plugin-graphiql';
 import { LighthousePage } from '@backstage/plugin-lighthouse';
@@ -79,6 +79,9 @@ const app = createApp({
     bind(apiDocsPlugin.externalRoutes, {
       createComponent: scaffolderPlugin.routes.root,
     });
+    bind(explorePlugin.externalRoutes, {
+      catalogEntity: catalogPlugin.routes.catalogEntity,
+    });
   },
 });
 
diff --git a/packages/core-api/src/app/App.test.tsx b/packages/core-api/src/app/App.test.tsx
index 5ceb123b06..b9fdf05444 100644
--- a/packages/core-api/src/app/App.test.tsx
+++ b/packages/core-api/src/app/App.test.tsx
@@ -50,23 +50,30 @@ describe('generateBoundRoutes', () => {
 
 describe('Integration Test', () => {
   const plugin1RouteRef = createRouteRef({ path: '/blah1', title: '' });
-  const plugin2RouteRef = createRouteRef({ path: '/blah2', title: '' });
-  const externalRouteRef = createExternalRouteRef({ id: '3' });
-  const optionalBarExternalRouteRef = createExternalRouteRef({
-    id: 'bar',
+  const plugin2RouteRef = createRouteRef({
+    path: '/blah2',
+    title: '',
+    params: ['x'],
+  });
+  const err = createExternalRouteRef({ id: 'err' });
+  const errParams = createExternalRouteRef({ id: 'errParams', params: ['x'] });
+  const errOptional = createExternalRouteRef({
+    id: 'errOptional',
     optional: true,
   });
-  const optionalBazExternalRouteRef = createExternalRouteRef({
-    id: 'baz',
+  const errParamsOptional = createExternalRouteRef({
+    id: 'errParamsOptional',
     optional: true,
+    params: ['x'],
   });
 
   const plugin1 = createPlugin({
     id: 'blob',
     externalRoutes: {
-      foo: externalRouteRef,
-      bar: optionalBarExternalRouteRef,
-      baz: optionalBazExternalRouteRef,
+      err,
+      errParams,
+      errOptional,
+      errParamsOptional,
     },
   });
 
@@ -85,14 +92,19 @@ describe('Integration Test', () => {
     createRoutableExtension({
       component: () =>
         Promise.resolve((_: PropsWithChildren<{ path?: string }>) => {
-          // eslint-disable-next-line react-hooks/rules-of-hooks
-          const externalLink = useRouteRef(externalRouteRef);
-          const barLink = useRouteRef(optionalBarExternalRouteRef);
-          const bazLink = useRouteRef(optionalBazExternalRouteRef);
+          const errLink = useRouteRef(err);
+          const errParamsLink = useRouteRef(errParams);
+          const errOptionalLink = useRouteRef(errOptional);
+          const errParamsOptionalLink = useRouteRef(errParamsOptional);
           return (
             <div>
-              Our routes are: {externalLink()}, bar: {barLink?.() ?? 'none'},
-              baz: {bazLink?.() ?? 'none'}
+              <span>err: {errLink()}</span>
+              <span>errParams: {errParamsLink({ x: 'a' })}</span>
+              <span>errOptional: {errOptionalLink?.() ?? '<none>'}</span>
+              <span>
+                errParamsOptional:{' '}
+                {errParamsOptionalLink?.({ x: 'b' }) ?? '<none>'}
+              </span>
             </div>
           );
         }),
@@ -100,14 +112,14 @@ describe('Integration Test', () => {
     }),
   );
 
-  it('runs happy paths', async () => {
-    const components = {
-      NotFoundErrorPage: () => null,
-      BootErrorPage: () => null,
-      Progress: () => null,
-      Router: BrowserRouter,
-    };
+  const components = {
+    NotFoundErrorPage: () => null,
+    BootErrorPage: () => null,
+    Progress: () => null,
+    Router: BrowserRouter,
+  };
 
+  it('runs happy paths', async () => {
     const app = new PrivateAppImpl({
       apis: [],
       defaultApis: [],
@@ -124,8 +136,10 @@ describe('Integration Test', () => {
       components,
       bindRoutes: ({ bind }) => {
         bind(plugin1.externalRoutes, {
-          foo: plugin2RouteRef,
-          bar: plugin2RouteRef,
+          err: plugin1RouteRef,
+          errParams: plugin2RouteRef,
+          errOptional: plugin1RouteRef,
+          errParamsOptional: plugin2RouteRef,
         });
       },
     });
@@ -138,25 +152,19 @@ describe('Integration Test', () => {
         <Router>
           <Routes>
             <ExposedComponent path="/" />
-            <HiddenComponent path="/foo/bar" />
+            <HiddenComponent path="/foo" />
           </Routes>
         </Router>
       </Provider>,
     );
 
-    expect(
-      screen.getByText('Our routes are: /foo/bar, bar: /foo/bar, baz: none'),
-    ).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(screen.getByText('err: /')).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(screen.getByText('errParams: /foo')).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(screen.getByText('errOptional: /')).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(screen.getByText('errParamsOptional: /foo')).toBeInTheDocument();
   });
 
-  it('should throw some error when the route has duplicate params', () => {
-    const components = {
-      NotFoundErrorPage: () => null,
-      BootErrorPage: () => null,
-      Progress: () => null,
-      Router: BrowserRouter,
-    };
-
+  it('runs happy paths without optional routes', async () => {
     const app = new PrivateAppImpl({
       apis: [],
       defaultApis: [],
@@ -172,7 +180,53 @@ describe('Integration Test', () => {
       plugins: [],
       components,
       bindRoutes: ({ bind }) => {
-        bind(plugin1.externalRoutes, { foo: plugin2RouteRef });
+        bind(plugin1.externalRoutes, {
+          err: plugin1RouteRef,
+          errParams: plugin2RouteRef,
+        });
+      },
+    });
+
+    const Provider = app.getProvider();
+    const Router = app.getRouter();
+
+    await renderWithEffects(
+      <Provider>
+        <Router>
+          <Routes>
+            <ExposedComponent path="/" />
+            <HiddenComponent path="/foo" />
+          </Routes>
+        </Router>
+      </Provider>,
+    );
+
+    expect(screen.getByText('err: /')).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(screen.getByText('errParams: /foo')).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(screen.getByText('errOptional: <none>')).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(screen.getByText('errParamsOptional: <none>')).toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+
+  it('should throw some error when the route has duplicate params', () => {
+    const app = new PrivateAppImpl({
+      apis: [],
+      defaultApis: [],
+      themes: [
+        {
+          id: 'light',
+          title: 'Light Theme',
+          variant: 'light',
+          theme: lightTheme,
+        },
+      ],
+      icons: defaultSystemIcons,
+      plugins: [],
+      components,
+      bindRoutes: ({ bind }) => {
+        bind(plugin1.externalRoutes, {
+          err: plugin1RouteRef,
+          errParams: plugin2RouteRef,
+        });
       },
     });
 
diff --git a/packages/core-api/src/app/App.tsx b/packages/core-api/src/app/App.tsx
index 9ab19b5588..3c58930709 100644
--- a/packages/core-api/src/app/App.tsx
+++ b/packages/core-api/src/app/App.tsx
@@ -50,14 +50,14 @@ import {
 } from '../extensions/traversal';
 import { IconComponent, IconComponentMap, IconKey } from '../icons';
 import { BackstagePlugin } from '../plugin';
-import { RouteRef } from '../routing';
+import { AnyRoutes } from '../plugin/types';
+import { RouteRef, ExternalRouteRef } from '../routing';
 import {
   routeObjectCollector,
   routeParentCollector,
   routePathCollector,
 } from '../routing/collectors';
 import { RoutingProvider, validateRoutes } from '../routing/hooks';
-import { ExternalRouteRef } from '../routing/RouteRef';
 import { AppContextProvider } from './AppContext';
 import { AppIdentity } from './AppIdentity';
 import { AppThemeProvider } from './AppThemeProvider';
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ export function generateBoundRoutes(
   const result = new Map<ExternalRouteRef, RouteRef>();
 
   if (bindRoutes) {
-    const bind: AppRouteBinder = (externalRoutes, targetRoutes) => {
+    const bind: AppRouteBinder = (externalRoutes, targetRoutes: AnyRoutes) => {
       for (const [key, value] of Object.entries(targetRoutes)) {
         const externalRoute = externalRoutes[key];
         if (!externalRoute) {
diff --git a/packages/core-api/src/app/types.ts b/packages/core-api/src/app/types.ts
index 701862601d..df4180c6e4 100644
--- a/packages/core-api/src/app/types.ts
+++ b/packages/core-api/src/app/types.ts
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
 
 import { ComponentType } from 'react';
 import { IconComponent, IconComponentMap, IconKey } from '../icons';
-import { BackstagePlugin } from '../plugin/types';
+import { AnyExternalRoutes, BackstagePlugin } from '../plugin/types';
 import { ExternalRouteRef, RouteRef } from '../routing';
 import { AnyApiFactory } from '../apis';
 import { AppTheme, ProfileInfo } from '../apis/definitions';
@@ -79,49 +79,39 @@ export type AppComponents = {
  */
 export type AppConfigLoader = () => Promise<AppConfig[]>;
 
-/**
- * Extracts the Optional type of a map of ExternalRouteRefs, leaving only the boolean in place as value
- */
-type ExternalRouteRefsToOptionalMap<
-  T extends { [name in string]: ExternalRouteRef<boolean> }
-> = {
-  [name in keyof T]: T[name] extends ExternalRouteRef<infer U> ? U : never;
-};
-
 /**
  * Extracts a union of the keys in a map whose value extends the given type
  */
-type ExtractKeysWithType<Obj extends { [key in string]: any }, Type> = {
+type KeysWithType<Obj extends { [key in string]: any }, Type> = {
   [key in keyof Obj]: Obj[key] extends Type ? key : never;
 }[keyof Obj];
 
 /**
- * Given a map of boolean values denoting whether a route is optional, create a
- * map of needed RouteRefs.
- *
- * For example { foo: false, bar: true } gives { foo: RouteRef<any>, bar?: RouteRef<any> }
+ * Takes a map Map required values and makes all keys matching Keys optional
  */
-type CombineOptionalAndRequiredRoutes<
-  OptionalMap extends { [key in string]: boolean }
-> = {
-  [name in ExtractKeysWithType<OptionalMap, false>]: RouteRef<any>;
-} &
-  { [name in keyof OptionalMap]?: RouteRef<any> };
+type PartialKeys<
+  Map extends { [name in string]: any },
+  Keys extends keyof Map
+> = Partial<Pick<Map, Keys>> & Required<Omit<Map, Keys>>;
 
 /**
- * Creates a map of required target routes based on whether the input external
- * routes are optional or not. The external routes that are marked as optional
- * will also be optional in the target routes map.
+ * Creates a map of target routes with matching parameters based on a map of external routes.
  */
-type TargetRoutesMap<
-  T extends { [name in string]: ExternalRouteRef<boolean> }
-> = CombineOptionalAndRequiredRoutes<ExternalRouteRefsToOptionalMap<T>>;
+type TargetRouteMap<ExternalRoutes extends AnyExternalRoutes> = {
+  [name in keyof ExternalRoutes]: ExternalRoutes[name] extends ExternalRouteRef<
+    infer Params,
+    any
+  >
+    ? RouteRef<Params>
+    : never;
+};
 
-export type AppRouteBinder = <
-  ExternalRoutes extends { [name in string]: ExternalRouteRef<boolean> }
->(
+export type AppRouteBinder = <ExternalRoutes extends AnyExternalRoutes>(
   externalRoutes: ExternalRoutes,
-  targetRoutes: TargetRoutesMap<ExternalRoutes>,
+  targetRoutes: PartialKeys<
+    TargetRouteMap<ExternalRoutes>,
+    KeysWithType<ExternalRoutes, ExternalRouteRef<any, true>>
+  >,
 ) => void;
 
 export type AppOptions = {
diff --git a/packages/core-api/src/plugin/types.ts b/packages/core-api/src/plugin/types.ts
index 711246f1f4..c3b64d8cb6 100644
--- a/packages/core-api/src/plugin/types.ts
+++ b/packages/core-api/src/plugin/types.ts
@@ -15,9 +15,8 @@
  */
 
 import { ComponentType } from 'react';
-import { RouteRef } from '../routing';
+import { RouteRef, ExternalRouteRef } from '../routing';
 import { AnyApiFactory } from '../apis/system';
-import { ExternalRouteRef } from '../routing/RouteRef';
 
 export type RouteOptions = {
   // Whether the route path must match exactly, defaults to true.
diff --git a/packages/core-api/src/routing/RouteRef.ts b/packages/core-api/src/routing/RouteRef.ts
index 67ff9bc1fb..eda16ccc91 100644
--- a/packages/core-api/src/routing/RouteRef.ts
+++ b/packages/core-api/src/routing/RouteRef.ts
@@ -14,19 +14,40 @@
  * limitations under the License.
  */
 
-import { RouteRef } from './types';
+import {
+  RouteRef,
+  ExternalRouteRef,
+  routeRefType,
+  AnyParams,
+  ParamKeys,
+} from './types';
 import { IconComponent } from '../icons';
 
-export type RouteRefConfig<Params extends { [param in string]: string }> = {
-  params?: Array<keyof Params>;
-  /** @deprecated Route refs no longer decide their own path */
+// TODO(Rugvip): Remove this once we get rid of the deprecated fields, it's not exported
+export type RouteRefConfig<Params extends AnyParams> = {
+  params?: ParamKeys<Params>;
   path?: string;
   icon?: IconComponent;
   title: string;
 };
 
-export class AbsoluteRouteRef<Params extends { [param in string]: string }> {
-  constructor(private readonly config: RouteRefConfig<Params>) {}
+class RouteRefBase {
+  constructor(type: string, id: string) {
+    this.toString = () => `routeRef{type=${type},id=${id}}`;
+  }
+}
+
+export class RouteRefImpl<Params extends AnyParams> extends RouteRefBase
+  implements RouteRef<Params> {
+  readonly [routeRefType] = 'absolute';
+
+  constructor(private readonly config: RouteRefConfig<Params>) {
+    super('absolute', config.title);
+  }
+
+  get params(): ParamKeys<Params> {
+    return this.config.params as any;
+  }
 
   get icon() {
     return this.config.icon;
@@ -40,12 +61,12 @@ export class AbsoluteRouteRef<Params extends { [param in string]: string }> {
   get title() {
     return this.config.title;
   }
-
-  toString() {
-    return `routeRef{title=${this.title}}`;
-  }
 }
 
+type OptionalParams<
+  Params extends { [param in string]: string }
+> = Params[keyof Params] extends never ? undefined : Params;
+
 export function createRouteRef<
   // Params is the type that we care about and the one to be embedded in the route ref.
   // For example, given the params ['name', 'kind'], Params will be {name: string, kind: string}
@@ -58,27 +79,47 @@ export function createRouteRef<
   params?: ParamKey[];
   /** @deprecated Route refs no longer decide their own path */
   path?: string;
+  /** @deprecated Route refs no longer decide their own icon */
   icon?: IconComponent;
+  /** @deprecated Route refs no longer decide their own title */
   title: string;
-}): RouteRef<Params> {
-  return new AbsoluteRouteRef<Params>(config);
+}): RouteRef<OptionalParams<Params>> {
+  return new RouteRefImpl<OptionalParams<Params>>({
+    ...config,
+    params: (config.params ?? []) as ParamKeys<OptionalParams<Params>>,
+  });
 }
 
-export class ExternalRouteRef<Optional extends boolean = true> {
-  readonly optional: boolean;
+export class ExternalRouteRefImpl<
+  Params extends AnyParams,
+  Optional extends boolean
+> extends RouteRefBase implements ExternalRouteRef<Params, Optional> {
+  readonly [routeRefType] = 'external';
 
-  private constructor({ id, optional }: ExternalRouteRefOptions<Optional>) {
-    this.toString = () => `externalRouteRef{${id}}`;
-    this.optional = Boolean(optional);
+  constructor(
+    id: string,
+    readonly params: ParamKeys<Params>,
+    readonly optional: Optional,
+  ) {
+    super('external', id);
   }
 }
 
-export type ExternalRouteRefOptions<Optional extends boolean = false> = {
+export function createExternalRouteRef<
+  Params extends { [param in ParamKey]: string },
+  Optional extends boolean = false,
+  ParamKey extends string = never
+>(options: {
   /**
    * An identifier for this route, used to identify it in error messages
    */
   id: string;
 
+  /**
+   * The parameters that will be provided to the external route reference.
+   */
+  params?: ParamKey[];
+
   /**
    * Whether or not this route is optional, defaults to false.
    *
@@ -86,14 +127,10 @@ export type ExternalRouteRefOptions<Optional extends boolean = false> = {
    * if they aren't, `useRouteRef` will return `undefined`.
    */
   optional?: Optional;
-};
-
-export function createExternalRouteRef<Optional extends boolean = false>(
-  options: ExternalRouteRefOptions<Optional>,
-): ExternalRouteRef<Optional> {
-  return new ((ExternalRouteRef as unknown) as {
-    new (options: ExternalRouteRefOptions<Optional>): ExternalRouteRef<
-      Optional
-    >;
-  })(options);
+}): ExternalRouteRef<OptionalParams<Params>, Optional> {
+  return new ExternalRouteRefImpl<OptionalParams<Params>, Optional>(
+    options.id,
+    (options.params ?? []) as ParamKeys<OptionalParams<Params>>,
+    Boolean(options.optional) as Optional,
+  );
 }
diff --git a/packages/core-api/src/routing/hooks.test.tsx b/packages/core-api/src/routing/hooks.test.tsx
index 94cd3a704d..0ada37b18d 100644
--- a/packages/core-api/src/routing/hooks.test.tsx
+++ b/packages/core-api/src/routing/hooks.test.tsx
@@ -38,10 +38,9 @@ import {
 import {
   createRouteRef,
   createExternalRouteRef,
-  ExternalRouteRef,
   RouteRefConfig,
 } from './RouteRef';
-import { AnyRouteRef, RouteRef } from './types';
+import { AnyRouteRef, RouteRef, ExternalRouteRef } from './types';
 
 const mockConfig = (extra?: Partial<RouteRefConfig<{}>>) => ({
   path: '/unused',
@@ -58,12 +57,19 @@ const ref1 = createRouteRef(mockConfig({ path: '/wat1' }));
 const ref2 = createRouteRef(mockConfig({ path: '/wat2' }));
 const ref3 = createRouteRef(mockConfig({ path: '/wat3' }));
 const ref4 = createRouteRef(mockConfig({ path: '/wat4' }));
-const ref5 = createRouteRef(mockConfig({ path: '/wat5' }));
+const ref5 = createRouteRef({
+  ...mockConfig({ path: '/wat5' }),
+  params: ['x'],
+});
 const eRefA = createExternalRouteRef({ id: '1' });
 const eRefB = createExternalRouteRef({ id: '2' });
-const eRefC = createExternalRouteRef({ id: '3' });
+const eRefC = createExternalRouteRef({ id: '3', params: ['y'] });
 const eRefD = createExternalRouteRef({ id: '4', optional: true });
-const eRefE = createExternalRouteRef({ id: '5', optional: true });
+const eRefE = createExternalRouteRef({
+  id: '5',
+  optional: true,
+  params: ['z'],
+});
 
 const MockRouteSource = <T extends { [name in string]: string }>(props: {
   path?: string;
diff --git a/packages/core-api/src/routing/hooks.tsx b/packages/core-api/src/routing/hooks.tsx
index 54490fb4f2..4d419485f6 100644
--- a/packages/core-api/src/routing/hooks.tsx
+++ b/packages/core-api/src/routing/hooks.tsx
@@ -15,19 +15,22 @@
  */
 
 import React, { createContext, ReactNode, useContext, useMemo } from 'react';
-import { AnyRouteRef, BackstageRouteObject, RouteRef } from './types';
+import {
+  AnyRouteRef,
+  BackstageRouteObject,
+  RouteRef,
+  ExternalRouteRef,
+  AnyParams,
+} from './types';
 import { generatePath, matchRoutes, useLocation } from 'react-router-dom';
-import { ExternalRouteRef } from './RouteRef';
 
 // The extra TS magic here is to require a single params argument if the RouteRef
 // had at least one param defined, but require 0 arguments if there are no params defined.
 // Without this we'd have to pass in empty object to all parameter-less RouteRefs
 // just to make TypeScript happy, or we would have to make the argument optional in
 // which case you might forget to pass it in when it is actually required.
-export type RouteFunc<Params extends { [param in string]: string }> = (
-  ...[params]: Params[keyof Params] extends never
-    ? readonly []
-    : readonly [Params]
+export type RouteFunc<Params extends AnyParams> = (
+  ...[params]: Params extends undefined ? readonly [] : readonly [Params]
 ) => string;
 
 class RouteResolver {
@@ -38,8 +41,8 @@ class RouteResolver {
     private readonly routeBindings: Map<RouteRef | ExternalRouteRef, RouteRef>,
   ) {}
 
-  resolve<Params extends { [param in string]: string }>(
-    routeRefOrExternalRouteRef: RouteRef<Params> | ExternalRouteRef,
+  resolve<Params extends AnyParams>(
+    routeRefOrExternalRouteRef: RouteRef<Params> | ExternalRouteRef<Params>,
     sourceLocation: ReturnType<typeof useLocation>,
   ): RouteFunc<Params> | undefined {
     const routeRef =
@@ -112,14 +115,14 @@ class RouteResolver {
 
 const RoutingContext = createContext<RouteResolver | undefined>(undefined);
 
-export function useRouteRef<Optional extends boolean>(
-  routeRef: ExternalRouteRef<Optional>,
-): Optional extends true ? RouteFunc<{}> | undefined : RouteFunc<{}>;
-export function useRouteRef<Params extends { [param in string]: string } = {}>(
+export function useRouteRef<Optional extends boolean, Params extends AnyParams>(
+  routeRef: ExternalRouteRef<Params, Optional>,
+): Optional extends true ? RouteFunc<Params> | undefined : RouteFunc<Params>;
+export function useRouteRef<Params extends AnyParams>(
   routeRef: RouteRef<Params>,
 ): RouteFunc<Params>;
-export function useRouteRef<Params extends { [param in string]: string } = {}>(
-  routeRef: RouteRef<Params> | ExternalRouteRef,
+export function useRouteRef<Params extends AnyParams>(
+  routeRef: RouteRef<Params> | ExternalRouteRef<Params, any>,
 ): RouteFunc<Params> | undefined {
   const sourceLocation = useLocation();
   const resolver = useContext(RoutingContext);
diff --git a/packages/core-api/src/routing/index.ts b/packages/core-api/src/routing/index.ts
index 100158c3c5..2a0685f583 100644
--- a/packages/core-api/src/routing/index.ts
+++ b/packages/core-api/src/routing/index.ts
@@ -19,12 +19,9 @@ export type {
   AbsoluteRouteRef,
   ConcreteRoute,
   MutableRouteRef,
+  ExternalRouteRef,
 } from './types';
 export { FlatRoutes } from './FlatRoutes';
-export {
-  createRouteRef,
-  createExternalRouteRef,
-  ExternalRouteRef,
-} from './RouteRef';
+export { createRouteRef, createExternalRouteRef } from './RouteRef';
 export type { RouteRefConfig } from './RouteRef';
 export { useRouteRef } from './hooks';
diff --git a/packages/core-api/src/routing/types.ts b/packages/core-api/src/routing/types.ts
index b21fa38052..69de5345a5 100644
--- a/packages/core-api/src/routing/types.ts
+++ b/packages/core-api/src/routing/types.ts
@@ -15,35 +15,51 @@
  */
 
 import { IconComponent } from '../icons';
-import { ExternalRouteRef } from './RouteRef';
+import { getGlobalSingleton } from '../lib/globalObject';
 
-// @ts-ignore, we're just embedding the Params type for usage in other places
-export type RouteRef<Params extends { [param in string]: string } = {}> = {
-  // TODO(Rugvip): Remove path, look up via registry instead
+export type AnyParams = { [param in string]: string } | undefined;
+export type ParamKeys<Params extends AnyParams> = keyof Params extends never
+  ? []
+  : (keyof Params)[];
+
+export const routeRefType: unique symbol = getGlobalSingleton<any>(
+  'route-ref-type',
+  () => Symbol('route-ref-type'),
+);
+
+export type RouteRef<Params extends AnyParams = any> = {
+  readonly [routeRefType]: 'absolute';
+
+  params: ParamKeys<Params>;
+
+  // TODO(Rugvip): Remove all of these once plugins don't rely on the path
   /** @deprecated paths are no longer accessed directly from RouteRefs, use useRouteRef instead */
   path: string;
+  /** @deprecated icons are no longer accessed via RouteRefs */
   icon?: IconComponent;
-  title: string;
+  /** @deprecated titles are no longer accessed via RouteRefs */
+  title?: string;
 };
 
-export type AnyRouteRef = RouteRef<any> | ExternalRouteRef<any>;
+export type ExternalRouteRef<
+  Params extends AnyParams = any,
+  Optional extends boolean = any
+> = {
+  readonly [routeRefType]: 'external';
 
-/**
- * This type should not be used
- * @deprecated
- */
+  params: ParamKeys<Params>;
+
+  optional?: Optional;
+};
+
+export type AnyRouteRef = RouteRef<any> | ExternalRouteRef<any, any>;
+
+// TODO(Rugvip): None of these should be found in the wild anymore, remove in next minor release
+/** @deprecated */
 export type ConcreteRoute = {};
-
-/**
- * This type should not be used, use RouteRef instead
- * @deprecated
- */
+/** @deprecated */
 export type AbsoluteRouteRef = RouteRef<{}>;
-
-/**
- * This type should not be used, use RouteRef instead
- * @deprecated
- */
+/** @deprecated */
 export type MutableRouteRef = RouteRef<{}>;
 
 // A duplicate of the react-router RouteObject, but with routeRef added
diff --git a/plugins/explore/src/components/DomainCard/DomainCard.test.tsx b/plugins/explore/src/components/DomainCard/DomainCard.test.tsx
index 9d409051f6..56a02a3642 100644
--- a/plugins/explore/src/components/DomainCard/DomainCard.test.tsx
+++ b/plugins/explore/src/components/DomainCard/DomainCard.test.tsx
@@ -15,13 +15,13 @@
  */
 
 import { DomainEntity } from '@backstage/catalog-model';
-import { render } from '@testing-library/react';
+import { renderInTestApp } from '@backstage/test-utils';
 import React from 'react';
-import { MemoryRouter } from 'react-router-dom';
+import { catalogEntityRouteRef } from '../../routes';
 import { DomainCard } from './DomainCard';
 
 describe('<DomainCard />', () => {
-  it('renders a domain card', () => {
+  it('renders a domain card', async () => {
     const entity: DomainEntity = {
       apiVersion: 'backstage.io/v1alpha1',
       kind: 'Domain',
@@ -34,9 +34,14 @@ describe('<DomainCard />', () => {
         owner: 'guest',
       },
     };
-    const { getByText } = render(<DomainCard entity={entity} />, {
-      wrapper: MemoryRouter,
-    });
+    const { getByText } = await renderInTestApp(
+      <DomainCard entity={entity} />,
+      {
+        mountedRoutes: {
+          '/catalog/:namespace/:kind/:name': catalogEntityRouteRef,
+        },
+      },
+    );
 
     expect(getByText('artists')).toBeInTheDocument();
     expect(getByText('Everything about artists')).toBeInTheDocument();
diff --git a/plugins/explore/src/components/DomainCard/DomainCard.tsx b/plugins/explore/src/components/DomainCard/DomainCard.tsx
index e5efc543b2..67bee13696 100644
--- a/plugins/explore/src/components/DomainCard/DomainCard.tsx
+++ b/plugins/explore/src/components/DomainCard/DomainCard.tsx
@@ -14,15 +14,14 @@
  * limitations under the License.
  */
 import { DomainEntity, RELATION_OWNED_BY } from '@backstage/catalog-model';
-import { ItemCard } from '@backstage/core';
+import { ItemCard, useRouteRef } from '@backstage/core';
 import {
   EntityRefLinks,
-  entityRoute,
   entityRouteParams,
   getEntityRelations,
 } from '@backstage/plugin-catalog-react';
 import React from 'react';
-import { generatePath } from 'react-router-dom';
+import { catalogEntityRouteRef } from '../../routes';
 
 type DomainCardProps = {
   entity: DomainEntity;
@@ -30,6 +29,7 @@ type DomainCardProps = {
 
 export const DomainCard = ({ entity }: DomainCardProps) => {
   const ownedByRelations = getEntityRelations(entity, RELATION_OWNED_BY);
+  const catalogEntityRoute = useRouteRef(catalogEntityRouteRef);
 
   return (
     <ItemCard
@@ -44,11 +44,7 @@ export const DomainCard = ({ entity }: DomainCardProps) => {
         />
       }
       label="Explore"
-      // TODO: Use useRouteRef here to generate the path
-      href={generatePath(
-        `/catalog/${entityRoute.path}`,
-        entityRouteParams(entity),
-      )}
+      href={catalogEntityRoute(entityRouteParams(entity))}
     />
   );
 };
diff --git a/plugins/explore/src/components/DomainCard/DomainCardGrid.test.tsx b/plugins/explore/src/components/DomainCard/DomainCardGrid.test.tsx
index bad3ca581b..ee06a50427 100644
--- a/plugins/explore/src/components/DomainCard/DomainCardGrid.test.tsx
+++ b/plugins/explore/src/components/DomainCard/DomainCardGrid.test.tsx
@@ -15,13 +15,13 @@
  */
 
 import { DomainEntity } from '@backstage/catalog-model';
-import { render } from '@testing-library/react';
+import { renderInTestApp } from '@backstage/test-utils';
 import React from 'react';
-import { MemoryRouter } from 'react-router-dom';
+import { catalogEntityRouteRef } from '../../routes';
 import { DomainCardGrid } from './DomainCardGrid';
 
 describe('<DomainCardGrid />', () => {
-  it('renders a grid of domain cards', () => {
+  it('renders a grid of domain cards', async () => {
     const entities: DomainEntity[] = [
       {
         apiVersion: 'backstage.io/v1alpha1',
@@ -44,9 +44,14 @@ describe('<DomainCardGrid />', () => {
         },
       },
     ];
-    const { getByText } = render(<DomainCardGrid entities={entities} />, {
-      wrapper: MemoryRouter,
-    });
+    const { getByText } = await renderInTestApp(
+      <DomainCardGrid entities={entities} />,
+      {
+        mountedRoutes: {
+          '/catalog/:namespace/:kind/:name': catalogEntityRouteRef,
+        },
+      },
+    );
 
     expect(getByText('artists')).toBeInTheDocument();
     expect(getByText('playback')).toBeInTheDocument();
diff --git a/plugins/explore/src/components/DomainExplorerContent/DomainExplorerContent.test.tsx b/plugins/explore/src/components/DomainExplorerContent/DomainExplorerContent.test.tsx
index f29ad2cd6a..cd3f2847c6 100644
--- a/plugins/explore/src/components/DomainExplorerContent/DomainExplorerContent.test.tsx
+++ b/plugins/explore/src/components/DomainExplorerContent/DomainExplorerContent.test.tsx
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ import { catalogApiRef } from '@backstage/plugin-catalog-react';
 import { renderInTestApp } from '@backstage/test-utils';
 import { waitFor } from '@testing-library/react';
 import React from 'react';
+import { catalogEntityRouteRef } from '../../routes';
 import { DomainExplorerContent } from './DomainExplorerContent';
 
 describe('<DomainExplorerContent />', () => {
@@ -71,6 +72,11 @@ describe('<DomainExplorerContent />', () => {
       <Wrapper>
         <DomainExplorerContent />
       </Wrapper>,
+      {
+        mountedRoutes: {
+          '/catalog/:namespace/:kind/:name': catalogEntityRouteRef,
+        },
+      },
     );
 
     await waitFor(() => {
@@ -86,6 +92,11 @@ describe('<DomainExplorerContent />', () => {
       <Wrapper>
         <DomainExplorerContent />
       </Wrapper>,
+      {
+        mountedRoutes: {
+          '/catalog/:namespace/:kind/:name': catalogEntityRouteRef,
+        },
+      },
     );
 
     await waitFor(() =>
@@ -101,6 +112,11 @@ describe('<DomainExplorerContent />', () => {
       <Wrapper>
         <DomainExplorerContent />
       </Wrapper>,
+      {
+        mountedRoutes: {
+          '/catalog/:namespace/:kind/:name': catalogEntityRouteRef,
+        },
+      },
     );
 
     await waitFor(() =>
diff --git a/plugins/explore/src/plugin.ts b/plugins/explore/src/plugin.ts
index 27573eaeb9..c5dd6644e7 100644
--- a/plugins/explore/src/plugin.ts
+++ b/plugins/explore/src/plugin.ts
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
 
 import { createApiFactory, createPlugin } from '@backstage/core';
 import { exploreToolsConfigRef } from '@backstage/plugin-explore-react';
-import { exploreRouteRef } from './routes';
+import { catalogEntityRouteRef, exploreRouteRef } from './routes';
 import { exampleTools } from './util/examples';
 
 export const explorePlugin = createPlugin({
@@ -37,4 +37,7 @@ export const explorePlugin = createPlugin({
   routes: {
     explore: exploreRouteRef,
   },
+  externalRoutes: {
+    catalogEntity: catalogEntityRouteRef,
+  },
 });
diff --git a/plugins/explore/src/routes.ts b/plugins/explore/src/routes.ts
index c41a53128f..fc7868c4c9 100644
--- a/plugins/explore/src/routes.ts
+++ b/plugins/explore/src/routes.ts
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
  * limitations under the License.
  */
 
-import { createRouteRef } from '@backstage/core';
+import { createExternalRouteRef, createRouteRef } from '@backstage/core';
 
 const NoIcon = () => null;
 
@@ -22,3 +22,8 @@ export const exploreRouteRef = createRouteRef({
   icon: NoIcon,
   title: 'Explore',
 });
+
+export const catalogEntityRouteRef = createExternalRouteRef({
+  id: 'catalog-entity',
+  params: ['namespace', 'kind', 'name'],
+});