5.0Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore(2.173 reviews) - Beautiful scenery by land or water; big sandy beaches Monday: 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM Bodies of Water • National Parks • Nature & Wildlife Areas • Parks
Park located on the shoreline of Lake Superior encompassing cliffs, dunes, waterfalls and lakes.See more..
This national park includes a 35-mile stretch of beach on Lake Michigan for swimming plus 13 hiking trails.See more..
5.0Presque Isle Park(994 reviews) - Rock jumping State Parks • Nature & Wildlife Areas • Parks
Finished out a day of mtn biking with a few jumps into Lake Superior. Easy to do, not too high, and water was about 68 degrees so very pleasant. Parking can be tight and the area is closed to newly entering cars on Weds from 6 pm to 8 pm. See more..
The Original Mackinac Island Butterfly House is the 1st of its kind in Michigan, and the 3rd oldest LIVE butterfly exhibit in the United States. The world-renowned facility has 1800 sq ft of tropical garden filled with hundreds of live butterflies from four continents. After a relaxing visit with the butterflies, take some time to check out Insect World, where you will be amazed at the size of the insects that live in the tropical regions of the world. On display are 14″ walking sticks and 6″ centipedes, along with giant beetles and spiders. The current record setter for the world’s “heaviest bug” is also found here. Regular Season Hours: 10 am – 7 pm Prior to Memorial Day, After Labor Day: 10 am – 6 pm *Last admittance is 30 min prior to closeSee more..
4.5Matthaei Botanical Gardens(400 reviews) - Beautiful and well organized! Nature & Wildlife Areas • Gardens
A 300-acre garden with a variety of outdoor displays and nature trails for exploring.See more..
5.0Palms Book State Park(311 reviews) - The Sea of Fall Colors State Parks • Nature & Wildlife Areas • Geologic Formations
This park is famous because of the Big Spring. It's not the only attraction of this place. Especially during the fall, when colors are changing. you have great opportunity to see so many beautiful spots with crazy-beauty colors. You can take many trails through the woods and you will be surrounded by the nature. You have to pay the fee, but it's very "symbolic number". I recommend this park. RomanPSee more..
Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary is a 4,300 square-mile marine protected area dedicated to protecting the Great Lakes and their rich history. The cold, fresh water of Lake Huron has preserved a nationally significant collection of nearly 200 historic shipwrecks in and around the sanctuary. Dive in and begin your sanctuary exploration at the visitor center - the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center in Alpena, Michigan - or visit the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Trail, a network of unique outdoor experiences along the sanctuary’s coastline. Experience the individual shipwrecks of Thunder Bay through recreational diving, snorkeling, and paddling at many of the shipwreck sites. Thunder Bay also provides an opportunity for anglers to target many fish species. Commonly caught fish in this area include walleye, bass, northern pike, yellow perch, trout, salmon, and whitefish. Come learn about the rich history of the Great Lakes region at Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary!See more..
We were traveling up north and wanted to visit the beaches of Lake Huron, and we were not disappointed. We stopped in at Bay City, MI and took in one of the beaches at Bay City Rec Area. Wonderful beach to walk and take friends to take in some sea shells and have lunch. Plenty of places to take the kids as well.See more..
4.5Kalamazoo Nature Center(167 reviews) - Beautiful location, Trust map ratings Monday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Nature & Wildlife Areas
Our first visit was... interesting but that is solely on us. We were looking for an outdoor activity and weren't quite prepared. It was $7 an adult to enter, $6 age 55 up. We were given a map for trails and directed to the parking area and visitor center. Easy to navigate from lot to Center, offering ramp and steps. The dome area is slated for renovations soon. There's a children area and a rotating screen displayed coming events, camps, and a small gift shop inside, and a deck w seating outside. Re the trails: TRUST the difficulty ratings of the trails. We chose a more difficult route and missed a trail marker (or a few), we took a wrong turn and ended up a bit lost so it took longer than expected. Thankful for the benches! Will go again, but will be better prepared... and better watch the trail markings! See more..
4.5Millennium Park(112 reviews) - Jack O Lantern World Nature & Wildlife Areas • Parks
The Jack O Lantern World exhibit was wonderful and well worth the admission fee. The exhibits were outstanding and very entertaining for kids and adults. My only suggestion was to have a wider walkway at the start of the exhibit to reduce the large amount of congestion.See more..
4.5Carlson's Fishery(111 reviews) - I recommend stopping here while in Fishtown (Leland) Nature & Wildlife Areas
We’ve been coming here for the last (3)years. We stay in Traverse city. I usually will get the smoked whitefish and 1/2 pound of smoked fish sausage. I love them both. We’re going to come up again in September,See more..
4.5Fernwood Botanical Garden and Nature Preserve(109 reviews) - A lovely Botanical Gardens along the St. Joseph River. Not far from Benton Harbor, MI. Monday: Nature & Wildlife Areas • Gardens
5.0Chippewa Nature Center(99 reviews) - Very Nice Nature Center Monday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Nature & Wildlife Areas • Hiking Trails
We enjoyed our visit to the Chippewa Nature Center. Inside were some interesting displays. Saw lots of wildlife out of the Wildlife Observation window, but nothing on the River side. Enjoyed a short walk on the Arbury trail.See more..
4.5Grass River Natural Area(92 reviews) - Beautiful and quiet nature walks abound! Nature & Wildlife Areas
We are always looking for ways to enjoy the natural beauty wherever we vacation. This series of hiking trails did not disappoint. They are clearly marked and the visitor's center had friendly personnel, who made a point to ask about what we wanted to do and see in the area. She directed us to beautiful Barnes Park on Lake Michigan and to a public beach access on Torch Lake, as well as an Antrim County park and hiking area which also had Lake Michigan beach access.See more..
4.5Rosy Mound Natural Area(92 reviews) - No dogs. Wonderful hiking through gorgeous woods to lovely bluffs and Lake Michigan Spent 2-3 hours Nature & Wildlife Areas • Hiking Trails
Wonderful hiking through gorgeous woods to lovely bluffs and Lake Michigan. Surprisingly rugged topography with many stairs but a good workout. No pets allowed so no dog poop or overly friendly dogs jumping on you to worry about. We went on a weekday during the Fall so it wasn't too crowded and they didn't charge for parking but I imagine that parking in the very small lot would be difficult to find.See more..
I came here not really knowing what to expect. I came on an overcast day in the morning, so that might have helped. But the scenery and wildlife were amazing. The trails and roads are built high and kind of act like solid boardwalks going through wetlands. They have a few different habitats which contributes to the variety of wildlife. I saw lots of herons (a couple different species), egrets, sandhill cranes, ducks, thrushes, flickers, and warblers. Also saw deer, frogs and beaver. There are a few trails that were surpisingly not muddy. The auto tour is really cool. The only thing to note is that it is one way. So once you commit, unless you want to try and go against traffic on a narrow one way road, you are committed (it's only 6.5 miles but people stop and slow down along the way). Bring binoculars and bug spray, be ready to pull off (in the designated areas) if you are driving, and try doing the hike. I did the Bayou and it was really cool. And it is free!See more..
We are from Indiana and visit Northern Michigan every year. My husband and I actually were married at this Duck Park, and it is absolutely beautiful. The flowers are gorgeous and it is such a wonderful back drop from your wedding photos. Worth the stop!See more..
4.5Rock Harbor(79 reviews) - Beautiful island getaway! Neighborhoods • Nature & Wildlife Areas
Harbor area where boats arrive bringing visitors to Isle Royale National Park where you will find a visitors center and the Rock Harbor Lodge.See more..
4.5Blandford Nature Center(76 reviews) - Nature walk Monday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Nature & Wildlife Areas
Blandford Nature Center is a non-profit that features 143 acres of land and wildlife. There is a Wildlife Center and Interpretive Center that is open M-F 9 to 5 and Sat. Noon to 5, as well as 4 miles of trails that are open from dawn until dusk.See more..
4.5Elizabeth Park(73 reviews) - Great park to visit! Spent 1-2 hours Nature & Wildlife Areas • Parks
This is a great park to visit! This is a great park for families, couples, friends, etc. The water view is beautiful. The walking trails are nice. This is perfect for working out. It is a pretty big park, but you will eventually find your way around everything. Parking is also free here.See more..
This is a cute little nature preserve. There are some nice easy walking trails most are wooden walkways. you can go out on a raised deck over the dunes with a great view of the lake. They also have the cutest nature center, really great for families. See more..
5.0Outdoor Discovery Center(68 reviews) - Quality facilities and learning opportunities for kids Monday: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM Spent 2-3 hours Nature & Wildlife Areas
The Outdoor Discovery Center is part of a 501 (c)(3) non-profit education and conservation organization that was founded in the year 2000. Our parent organization is the ODC Network. Our purpose is to advance outdoor education and conservation in West Michigan. More than 75,000 people annually visit ODC Network sites to walk the trails and view the wildlife. The Outdoor Discovery Center is free and open to the public and offers many diverse programs that help foster the concepts of wildlife management, conservation, outdoor education and preservation. The 155 acre nature preserve has 4 miles of trails and several distinct habitats. The 2015 addition of a visitor center makes the facility ideal for visiting during any season. The building boasts a diverse taxidermy collection of North American wildlife with other wildlife exhibits. It also has a collection of wildlife and nature-themed canvas prints by local photographers.See more..
5.0The Oden State Fish Hatchery(64 reviews) - Interesting place! Monday: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Nature & Wildlife Areas
We were here with our daughter, SIL and granddaughters. They had visited last year and the kids loved it. We enjoyed the river cut out and seeing the huge fish in the ponds. We had brought quarters to buy fish food and were disappointed that it wasn't available, but thought this was probably due to Covid and hopefully that will be available next time!See more..
4.5Island Lake State Recreation Area(62 reviews) - Giant park, great for every outdoor activity State Parks • Bodies of Water • Nature & Wildlife Areas
Both times I've come have been for mountain biking. I'm a newb at it so I considered it terrifying - which I guess means the mountain biking trails are great :) We parked at the beach both times, of which there was people swimming, fishing, and kayaking. Lots of walkers and regular street biking trails as well. See more..
4.5Sarett Nature Center(55 reviews) - Great find off the beaten path Monday: Nature & Wildlife Areas • Nature & Wildlife Tours • Playgrounds
My husband and I stopped here with our young son on our way to St. Joseph. This is a very informative and clean nature center. The employees were wonderful with our two year old. I can't wait to return in the summer to see the butterfly exhibit. See more..
Waterloo Recreation Area is a beautiful place to visit all year round ... but, in the Fall it's spectacular!!! The Fall Colors are breathtaking and for folks that live in Southeastern Michigan it's an easy drive to get there ... and all others should include it in their weekend or vacation plans!! See more..
4.0Pontiac Lake Recreation Area(45 reviews) - Instant Favorite for camping! Spent More than 3 hours Nature & Wildlife Areas • Parks
Looking to take out our new pop up, we settled on Pontiac Lake Rec. Area not expecting much. Boy, were we wrong! PLRA is a huge park with fishing, horse trails, boating, archery, firing ranges and soooo much more! We paid $19 for the night plus another $15 for firewood. The site we chose was deep in the trees and exactly what we were looking for! We stopped by the camp host's site for coffee. The hosts, Karen and Roy were outstanding! Gracious, kind, and generous don't ever scratch the surface. While visiting, 3 Sandhill Cranes came by for a visit. In the photo I've posted, the crane is about 5' away from us. If you camp here, you really need to pay these wonderful hosts a visit. Great site, awesome hosts, remarkable park, close to home with that far away feeling, and for a fraction of what a hotel stay costs; truly a hidden gem!!! We are looking forward to our next trip to the PLRA! We stayed here in a Popup Trailer. See more..
Great property with plenty of options and opportunities for exercise and family time. IncludingDisc Golf.See more..
4.0Ionia State Recreation Area(44 reviews) - Beautiful Area with Poorly Marked Trails Nature & Wildlife Areas
Great Campground, the sites are pretty big and spread apart with good shower/restroom facilities. The equestrian trails are poorly marked and it’s very easy to get lost down a path as there are little trail markers to tell you where you are going. Beautiful fall colors and not crowded on trails. Overall would go definitely go back, but the state needs to upgrade their maps and put in more signs.See more..
4.5De Graaf Nature Center(39 reviews) - Enjoyable few hours Monday: Nature & Wildlife Areas
We decided to visit this nature center since it was free and we wanted to do a little walking in the woods. We started the visit with a nice quiet picnic lunch at the center. The center is tucked back in next to a house so it's not real noticeable. After lunch, we went inside the building to have a look. GREAT place for kids!!!! Our kids are 23 and 19, but we all enjoyed it very, very much!! After viewing the live and stuffed animal exhibits, we ventured out on the trails. The trails were short enough for young hikers, but pretty enough for all. We saw black squirrels and a young deer while hiking. We have never seen black squirrels before so that was interesting to us. This is a wonderful place for a family to visit!!! It's hard to believe that it is free. We did put a small donation in the jug that day. Definitely a place to stop and visit!! A great place to teach children about nature, our land, animals, and our living world!!See more..
Over the past couple months I made several hikes oh the trails available in the park. During the summer, the dense trees, well maintained trails and beautiful scenery mad for a peaceful, meditative walk. In the last couple weeks I was able to return for an Autumn Colors hike with the Sierra Club. The changes were incredible and breathtaking. The bright reds, deep oranges and mellow browns truly make you believe in the existence of a greater power. Come for a visit and appreciate the beauty of Livingston County.See more..
4.5Caseville Park(35 reviews) - Super clean Nature & Wildlife Areas • Parks
Love this beach. It is super clean and bathrooms were also clean. We enjoy getting to walk out to the sand bars.See more..
4.5W.K. Kellogg Bird Sanctuary(34 reviews) - Up Close with Nature Monday: Spent 1-2 hours Nature & Wildlife Areas
The W.K. Kellogg Bird Sanctuary was founded in 1927 and is an important stopover for migrating birds, especially waterfowl. The Sanctuary has 180 acres of trails, fields, forests, and lake habitat, and hosts many programs and events throughout the year. The W.K. Kellogg Bird Sanctuary’s mission is to conserve native habitat for migratory and resident birds and through research, education, and outreach help people gain environmental awareness about our past, present and future.See more..
In the middle of the city, but out of the city. Beautiful hiking in pure nature lots of animals and ponds, swamp , clean air . Going 2-3 times a weekSee more..
4.5West Bloomfield Nature Reserve(32 reviews) - What a treasure! We fell into this park, on a whim and ended up spending the better part of the afternoon exploring. Nature & Wildlife Areas • Hiking Trails
I would highly recommend this to anyone who just wants a sweet walk in nature, with a pond and beautiful foliage.See more..
4.5Al Sabo Preserve(32 reviews) - hiking into the woods Spent 1-2 hours Nature & Wildlife Areas • Hiking Trails
visiting our daughter on the west coast of Michigan we took a hike through the trails. It's a casual and well-maintained trail and a great spot for a fall hike. The park was particularly busy, but the weather was perfect and I would expect nothing less on a day like that.See more..
COVID-19 update: Wearing a mask in the Bunker Interpretive Center is required if you are not fully vaccinated. Please KEEP YOUR DOG AT HOME so that our sensitive wildlife will feel protected in their home and stay visible for you to enjoy. The Ecosystem Preserve features 44 public acres of forest, wetlands, and native gardens. Over a mile of walking trails are open every day from dawn to dusk. The Bunker Interpretive Center is a LEED-certified education center open M-H 9am-4:30pm, and features interactive seasonal displays. A variety of educational programs for all ages are offered throughout the year.See more..
4.5McCourtie Park(28 reviews) - Save this property! It is a treasure! Spent 1-2 hours Bodies of Water • Nature & Wildlife Areas • Parks
What an incredible piece of history! Kudos to the township and park department for maintaining such a treasure. Built in the 19th century and still a wonder! Herb McCourtie was a very generous man AND must have had a huge streak of fun in him to want to create these detailed concrete trees and bridges to look like wood. Of course, it helped that his business was Concrete! And HUGE beautiful birdhouses that accommodate over 200 birds. Do read up on the history prior to visiting as it will enrich the time you spend here.See more..
5.0ForMar Nature Preserve(27 reviews) - Love For-Mar! Monday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Nature & Wildlife Areas • Parks
When there is not a pandemic, they have wonderful programs. We have been pretty bored since we cannot go many places during this time. We go to For-Mar a couple times a week to walk the trails and enjoy nature. You may see deer, turkeys, geese, frogs, turtles, snakes chipmunks and more on your visit if you’re looking! No pets allowed. There is also a tree house that was featured on tv but once you’ve seen it a couple of times, it’s not that exciting. We go mostly to look around the pond. There are also a couple of bridges.See more..
4.5Howell Nature Center(26 reviews) - Great Experience!! Nature & Wildlife Areas
My husband and I were introduced to the Howell Nature Center when Fox 2 News aired two segments featuring two Howell Nature Center residents--a snow owl and an eagle. The Howell Nature Center has an animal clinic that provides treatment to animals injured in the wild. If the animals cannot be reintroduced to the wild, they will provide a permanent home for them. The animals have large habitats where they can roam and enjoy life. The Howell Nature Center gives visitors the opportunity to see animals they would not normally see. They also offer educational programs and overnight stays for groups of children. We definitely recommend the Howell Nature Center. They do good work!!See more..
4.5Deerfield Nature Park(25 reviews) - Great hiking in beautiful woods and river Spent 2-3 hours Nature & Wildlife Areas
◾picnic areas ◾4 covered pavilions ◾covered bridge and 2 swing bridges ◾artesian well ◾591 acre park located along the banks of the Chippewa River ◾Two 18 hole disc golf course ◾8 miles of hiking/bicycling trails ◾cross-country skiing (groomed trails) ◾sledding hill ◾sandy swimming beach ◾fishing along the Chippewa River ◾kayak / canoe launch/ ◾volleyball and horseshoes ◾Two disc golf coursesSee more..
Dahlem is Jackson's Nature Place where everyone is welcome to experience, study and enjoy nature. With five miles of hiking trails on 280 acres of conserved ecosystems containing butterfly trails, community gardens, forests, grasslands, streams, marshes and ponds, visitors can enjoy a guided hike or experience the natural wonders on their own. The 3/8 mile Nature for All Trail is specially designed for visitors with limited mobility. Dahlem offers year-round environmental educational programs and free seasonal festivals and events.See more..
staff very knowledgeable it is a nice wilderness place to go if you don't ever get to see this but if you have seen the woods before it may be boringSee more..
4.5Hidden Hill Family Campground(23 reviews) - Hidden Hills Family Campground should be considered a Hidden Gem Monday: 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM Nature & Wildlife Areas
The campground was beautifully kept. Nice big sites and lots of shade. Everything was super clean. A place for the kiddos to play. Kangaroo jumping pad and a water slide in addition to the playground. The owners go out of their way to make your stay enjoyable. Trails to walk, a camp store, laundry room, full hook up sites and plenty of quiet. They come around and pick up your trash if you set it in front of your site. They also deliver your wood when your purchase it. If we could do 10 stars, we would. See more..
Always a fun place to go. Grounds are nice to walk. Showcase ponds are fun for all ages. Great interpretive center and tours. Check their website for activities. They do at times have free fishing for kids. You always have to see the large sturgeon in the showcase pond.See more..
To get to the wilderness area you do go down a dirt road for about 6 miles and the parking lot is small but there is parking along the road as well. The hike to the beach is a bit long but so pretty and quiet. Once out to the lake the water is so many colors of blue and great for swimming.See more..
This is simply a must stop natural area for anyone passing through or visiting Manistee, Michigan on the shores of Lake Michigan. Nature trails, wild life, an amazing arboretum featuring Champion Sequoia Trees and more. 1,300 feet of accessible, walkable, beautiful Lake Michigan shoreline - - sugar sand beach and stones for enjoying. 75 acres with three trail systems - easy to moderate. Free. Donations appreciated. Open year round. Sunrise to sunset. Flush toilets and water on site in warmer months. No toilets or water in winter - -pipes would freeze. Shelter house and information center is open year round. Picnic area. No Pets and No Smoking on property. Dogs on leashes are permitted on trails on east side of Lakeshore Road...not on the beach side. This is a very popular place for birders to visit. You may see white tail deer, Cooper's Hawk, bald eagles.See more..
Nice beach but unfortunately some previous visitors had left lots of bottle and cans around a fire pit, rude. Pack out your trash! The beach itself was really quiet and beautiful. See more..
