Michigan · best-of list
The 9 Best Outdoor Spots in Michigan
All 9 outdoor spots our route editors picked in Michigan, across 5 destinations, gathered in one list. 2 spots on this list appear on more than one of our routes.
Our curated picks
9 outdoor spots in Michigan, grouped by destination. Destinations with the most picks come first; this is not a ranking.
Belle Isle 2 picks
Belle Isle Park
Belle Isle · On our Detroit New Year's Eve route
A 982-acre island state park with riverfront paths, woods and skyline views back to downtown.
Tip: Walk or bike over the MacArthur Bridge for free entry; cars need a Recreation Passport.
Photo: TracieMichelle · CC BY-SA 4.0
William G. Milliken State Park
Belle Isle · On our Detroit New Year's Eve route
Urban state park on the RiverWalk between downtown and Belle Isle, with a lighthouse and wetland paths.
Tip: Pair it with the RiverWalk for a flat first-day walk back toward downtown.
Photo: Chris Woodrich · CC BY-SA 4.0
Detroit 2 picks
Belle Isle Conservatory
Detroit · On our Frankenmuth & Detroit route
Glass-domed conservatory on Belle Isle with palms, cacti and a seasonal flower show, warm on a cold day.
Tip: Check hours before you go; it is usually closed early in the week.
Photo: TracieMichelle · CC BY-SA 4.0
Detroit RiverWalk
Detroit · On our Great Lakes Hidden Gems route
Waterfront path from Joe Louis Arena site to Gabriel Richard Park, with views to Windsor.
Tip: Rent a MoGo bike to cover more of it.
Photo: Asim Nabi · Google
Holland 2 picks
Holland State Park
Holland · On our Michigan Lake Shore route
Wide Lake Michigan beach at the channel with views of the red Holland Harbor Light.
Photo: Mitchell Demey · Google
Mount Pisgah Dune Boardwalk
Holland · On our Michigan Lake Shore route
Stairway and boardwalk up a dune for views over Lake Macatawa and Big Red.
Photo: Laura Baumgras-Pearce · Google
Mackinac Island 2 picks
Arch Rock
Mackinac Island · On our Great Lakes Hidden Gems route + 1 more
Limestone arch 146 ft above the water, reached by stairs or a bluff road.
Tip: Take the stairs up from the bike loop.
Photo: WMrapids · CC0
Fort Holmes
Mackinac Island · On our Great Lakes Hidden Gems route + 1 more
Island's highest point with views over the Straits and the Mackinac Bridge.
Tip: Bike or walk up through the state park interior.
Photo: Notorious4life · CC0
Sleeping Bear Dunes 1 pick
Empire Bluff Trail
Sleeping Bear Dunes · On our Michigan Lake Shore route
1.5-mile round trip through woods to a boardwalk on a high bluff.
Photo: Steve Post · Google
How we picked these
Every entry is a stop on at least one of TripsCircle's hand-curated routes, chosen by our route editors, who wrote the reason to go shown with each place. These are our curated picks, not a scored ranking: we haven't rated or reviewed them against each other. The list is grouped by destination, and within each destination places that appear on more routes come first.
Prices ($ to $$$$) and visit lengths are rough guides from our route notes, not quotes. Check opening hours before you go.
About this list
How did you choose the outdoor spots in Michigan?
Each one is a stop on a TripsCircle route that our editors built by hand, and each comes with a written reason to go. This page shows all 9 of them. They are curated picks, not a ranked score.
Which part of Michigan has the most outdoor spots on this list?
Belle Isle, Detroit, Holland and Mackinac Island lead with 2 each; the other picks are spread across 1 more destination.
Are any of these free?
8 picks on this list are marked free in our route notes: Arch Rock, Fort Holmes, Belle Isle Park, Belle Isle Conservatory, William G. Milliken State Park, and more. Check ahead, since parking or special exhibits can cost extra.
More lists for Michigan
Best outdoor spots nearby
Destinations on this list
- Belle Isle 2 on this list
- Detroit 2 on this list
- Holland 2 on this list
- Mackinac Island 2 on this list
- Sleeping Bear Dunes 1 on this list
Turn this list into a plan
Open a curated route in TripsCircle, add the spots your crew wants, vote with polls and keep everyone on one shared itinerary.