Looking for the best winter adventures in Michigan? For snowy adventures from the best places to snowshoe in Michigan, to Michigan’s most beautiful winter hikes, here are the best winter adventures in Michigan!

why this blog? hi there! My name is Maddy, and I’ve lived most of my live in the Great Lakes Region, working as an outdoor adventure guide & guidebook writer. I grew up in Michigan, spending almost every summer and many winters at my Grandparents cabin in the woods in Northern Michigan. Once I hit college, I started to spend every weekend all winter exploring the beautiful state with my friends. I love Michigan and all of the adventure it has to offer, and I’m so happy to show you around!

note: this blog post uses affiliate links! that means if you choose to make a purchase based on my recommendation, I make a small kickback at no additional cost to you.

Catch a sweet, sweet Michigan winter sunset to kick off your winter road trips and adventures! Winter adventures in Michigan start at home, and can be as simple as catching the local sunset!

What to pack for Outdoor Winter Adventures in Michigan:

Winters in Michigan are very snowy and can be cold! Here’s what to pack for Michigan winter adventures:

• Good wool baselayers! I recommend Smartwool baselayers; after five years of sea kayak guiding and expedition paddling, these last much longer than any other baselayer I’ve owned.
• Fleece midlayers: the key to happy winter adventure is layers! After my wool baselayers, I add a layer of fleece. I only add fleece pants when the temperature is below zero; otherwise I’ll sweat too much.
• Wool sweaters! I usually get my wool sweaters from antique stores or knit them myself, but you can also find cute wool sweaters from Fjallraven.
• A down jacket! Depending on temperature, I’ll either bring my super warm, subzero ready parka, or a thinner down layer if it’s above freezing.
• Fjallraven Keb Trousers: Fjallraven pants for winter hiking, snowshoeing, and skiing are such a great investment as an outer layer! 10/10 recommend.
• Granite Gear Perimeter 35 as a winter hiking pack, snowshoes, XC skis, winter hiking boots, microspikes, emergency bivvy, Garmin InReach, First Aid Kit, and a shovel to keep in your car for when you inevitably get stuck
• The Midwest Adventure eBook Bundle for all of the best hiking trails, paddling routes, hidden campsites, beaches, all-season itineraries, and so much more!

The Best Winter Adventures in Michigan:

From snowshoeing the Sleeping Bear Dunes to the Tahquamenon Falls and Northern Lights, here are the best things to do outside in the Michigan Winter!

1) Sled the Sleeping Bear Dunes Dune Climb

Did you know the Sleeping Bear Dunes’ Dune Climb, a strenuous and popular summer hike, turns into a winter wonderland when the snow comes!? Grab a sled and hike up a Sand Dune for some incredible, scenic sledding! Sledding the Sleeping Bear Dunes is easily one of the most incredible Michigan winter Adventures!

A park pass is required in the Sleeping Bear Dunes.

2) Snowshoe or hike Wilderness State Park

Looking for a unique winter adventure in Northern Michigan? Grab your snowshoes or skis and head to Wilderness State Park, tucked away at the northernmost edge of the Lower Peninsula. Be sure to pick up a recreation passport before visiting Michigan’s State Parks.

With both shoreline and woodland trails, Wilderness State Park is easily one of the most magical and remote outdoor winter adventure in Michigan where you can experience solitude and the magic of a Great Lakes winter.

3) Visit frozen Tahquamenon Falls State Park

If you’re looking for a Michigan winter wonderland, cross the Mackinaw Bridge and head to Tahquamenon Fall State Park! This iconic state park and waterfall is easily one of the most beautiful places in Michigan for winter hiking and adventures.

Did you know winter camping is allowed in Tahquamenon Falls State Park? Tahquamenon is easily one of the best winter camping destinations in the Great Lakes.

Be sure to pick up a recreation passport before visiting Michigan’s State Parks.

4) Snowshoe the Grass River Natural Area

Looking for a beginner-friendly let immersive snowshoeing path in Northern Michigan? Head to the Grass River Natural Area, near Bellaire, Michigan, to snowshoe snow-covered pines, watch migrating birds, river otter, and view the spring-fed streams which seldom freeze.

In my opinion, this short little hiking path through a sedge meadow is one of the best hikes in Michigan. This path includes interpretive signs and in the summer the boardwalk is accessible to people using wheelchairs.

Grass River Natural area in the winter vs the summer.

Learn more about Michigan’s Grass River Natural Area here.

5) Cross Country Ski near Boyne Mountain

Strap on your cross country ski’s and head up to Boyne Mountain to hit the trails! Boyne mountain has 35 kilometers of XC ski trials to explore, downhill skiing, snowtubing, and so much more!

Cross country skiing is one of the best ways to get outside and enjoy the snowy midwest winters!

6) Visit Short’s Brewery

Looking for the best brewery in Northern Michigan? Pop into Short’s Brewery in Bellaire, Michigan, right at the heart of the snow capital of the Lower Peninsula!

The only thing better than Short’s beer & food is the adorable town of Bellaire itself!

Visiting beautiful Bellaire, Michigan? Check out this four-season guide to adventure in Bellaire, one of Michigan’s best kept secrets!

7) Snowshoe the Sleeping Bear Dunes Pierce-Stocking Scenic Drive

Perhaps the single best outdoor winter adventure in Michigan is snowshoeing the Sleeping Bear Dune’s National Lakeshore’s Pierce-Stocking Scenic Drive. This 7.4-mile loop is a beautiful drive in the summer, and open only to snowshoers and skiers in the winter.

Here, you can strap on your snowshoes and explore the snowy pines, dunes, and beautiful overlooks of Lake Michigan. A park pass is required in the Sleeping Bear Dunes.

Read about the best things to do in Michigan’s Sleeping Bear Dunes

8) Catch the Northern Lights from the Headlands International Dark Sky Park

Looking for a unique winter experience in Michigan? Head to the Headlands International Dark Sky Park and watch the winter sky and the Northern Lights. Late winter and fall are the best times of year to see the northern lights, as they are more active during the equinox and it’s dark enough early enough.

For the best chances of seeing the northern lights, download the aurora tracker app. Note that while the grounds of the Dark Sky park are open all day and night, camping is not allowed and it is requested that visitors use only red light headlamps and no flashlights.

9) Winter Hike the Manistee River

Michigan’s Manistee River is home to some of the most scenic hiking and snowshoeing in the state! Many sections of the North Country Trail run along the Manistee River, and the potential for winter hiking and snowshoeing is endless.

For detailed routes on backpacking, snowshoeing, and canoeing along Michigan’s Manistee River, check out the Midwest Adventure eBook bundle

10) Snowshoe the Sleeping Bear Dunes Dunes Climb to Lake Michigan

While the Sleeping Bear Dunes Climb in the summer is a difficult, hot hike over four miles of sand dunes to reach Lake Michigan, in the winter it becomes a winter wonderland! While the hike is still difficult, the ice and snow makes it much easier to traverse than loose sand.

In my opinion, winter is the best time of year to hike the Sleeping Bear Dunes Dune Climb. Here, you are unlikely to encounter many other hikers, and the views are incredible!

Remember! Do not venture out on the Lake Michigan Ice Shelf! No ice is safe ice. See diagram of ice shelf dangers here.

A park pass is required in the Sleeping Bear Dunes.

11) Snowshoe frozen lakes

One of the best things to do in the winters in Michigan no matter where you live (so long as your lakes are frozen solid, of course) is snowshoeing frozen lakes! I love to snowshoe at sunset especially.

Remember!! No ice is safe ice. Use your own best judgement when venturing out on ice, and research local ice safety. While footprints and tracks on ice may look like indications of safety, they are not. Ice that held yesterday will not necessarily hold today.

12) See the Blue Ice at the Straits of Mackinaw

One of the coolest things to do in Michigan in the winter is to head up to Mackinaw mid-late February to see the blue ice form in the Straits! Blue ice forms when freezing temperatures cause ice to thicken slowly, and then the strong wind and currents in the Straits of Mackinaw break that ice into shards.

For more on how to see blue ice in Northern Michigan, check out this article!

13) Build an ice-skating rink

Looking for a Michigan adventure on your local lake or pond? Build an ice-skating rink! (Again, note that no ice is safe ice and use your own best judgement).

Check out more on how to build an ice-skating rink in your own backyard!

14) Visit Charlevoix, Michigan

If you’re looking for one of the coziest winter getaways in Michigan, look no further than the small Lake Michigan town of Charlevoix. Here, grab lunch at the Weathervane, walk down to the adorable Charlevoix lighthouse, and check out the adorable, independently-owned Round Lake Bookstore.

Charlevoix is one of my favorite small towns in Northern Michigan, and growing up visiting here was always such a special treat!

15) Winter Kayaking and Canoeing in Michigan

For a unique winter activity, consider going for a snowy paddle! While experienced paddlers with drysuits will have fun winter paddling on their own, did you know you can book guiding winter rafting trips in Michigan?!

Best Winter Rafting Destinations in Michigan:

• Winter rafting on the Jordan River
• Winter rafting on the Pine River
• Winter rafting on the Sturgeon River

Learn about how to dress and winter kayak safety here!

16) Go Winter Camping in Michigan

Did you know you can go winter camping in Michigan? Winter camping can be a magical experience with the right gear! Check out this beginner’s guide to winter camping.

Winter camping can be a magical experience. For beginners, I recommend starting with winter car camping before moving on to winter camping.

17) Visit the Keweenaw Peninsula

Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula gets around 300 inches of snow in a winter! This makes the Keweenaw one of the best winter destinations in Michigan for skiing, snowshoeing, frozen waterfalls and more!

Check out this full guide to the visiting the Keweenaw Peninsula in the winter!

Best Places in Michigan to Winter Camp:

• Wilderness State Park rustic cabins
• Tahquamenon Falls State Park
• Porcupine Mountains backcountry wilderness yurts
• Muskegon State Park
• Warren Dunes State Park

Love reading about the best winter adventures in Michigan? Keep exploring the Great Lakes Region and beyond!

• Check out the 17 Best Winter Destinations in the Great Lakes
• Plan your next adventure and read about 9 Michigan Road Trip ideas
• Check out the 30 best things to do in the Pictured Rocks

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