There are plenty of fun things to do in Michigan, including making snowshoes and driving along Brockway Mountain Drive. Visitors typically rave about Michigan’s beautiful fall foliage, yet the Great Lake State is beautiful year-round. Winter is an especially magical time to visit Michigan and explore the beautiful forests, hiking trails, and lakes. In fact, Michigan is one of ten states that sees the most snow each year, with an impressive average of 60.66 inches of snowfall each winter.
The Upper Peninsula, in particular, is the ultimate winter destination, as it gets up to 300 inches of snow each season! The outdoor winter activities in Michigan are also unmatched. Visitors and locals alike enjoy hiking, skiing, sledding, and snowshoeing in the Mitten State. Michigan offers so many winter activities guaranteed to make guests’ time in Michigan truly magical.
10 Watch Snowmobile Racing
Michiganders take their outdoor activities seriously, and snowmobiling is no exception. Renting a snowmobile and going for a drive is fun but watching an intense snowmobile race is even more thrilling. From December-March, there are plenty of races to attend. The Midwest International Racing Association website contains all the dates and times of upcoming races. Bundle up, grab a warm beverage, and cheer on the neon-clad racers as they speed along the icy track.
9 Go Ice Climbing
Another thrilling outdoor adventure is ice climbing. Ice climbing involves scaling giant ice formations using ice axes, a harness, and special boots. Visit Peabody Ice Climbing in Fenton, Michigan, for an unforgettable ice climbing experience. This attraction features a 35-foot ice tower and a 70-foot ice tower, and all skill levels are welcome. There is also no need to purchase expensive climbing equipment, as Peabody Ice Climbing provides boots, helmets, crampons, harnesses, and ice axes.
- Address: 12326 Foley Rd, Fenton, MI 48430
- Hours: Hours vary based on weekly weather conditions
- Cost: Day pass- $25, gear rental- $20 or $5 per item
8 Ski Down The Slopes
Another magical winter activity is skiing, and Michigan is home to numerous stellar ski resorts. The state’s heavy snowfall makes it a prime ski location. Boyne Mountain Resort in northern Michigan is one popular resort. This ski resort features 60 runs, 12 lifts, seven terrain parks, and 415 acres of skiable land. Some visitors love the rush of speeding down the steep slopes, while others prefer to glide leisurely through the cross-country trails.
- Address: 1 Boyne Mountain Rd, Boyne Falls, MI 49713
- Hours: Wednesday-Saturday (and holiday periods) 9 am-9 pm
7 Try Fat Tire Biking
There are plenty of cool international destinations where cyclists should go biking, but travelers do not need to be avid bikers to enjoy Michigan’s outdoor activity of fat tire biking. This popular winter sport is a great way to explore nature. The fat tires reduce ground pressure and make bikers feel as if they are floating above the path. The main difference between fat bikes and traditional mountain bikes (besides tire size and pressure) is fat bikes are designed for soft terrain. Some popular fat tire biking trails are Betsie River Pathway, Cadillac Pathway, and Bald Mountain Recreation Area- South Unit Trail.
6 Eat Inside An Igloo
Experience winter magic when dining out by eating inside an igloo. There are plenty of charming restaurants in Michigan that allow guests to eat inside a clear igloo. Hop Lot Brewing Co. in Suttons Bay was one of the first Michigan restaurants to offer igloo dining. Guests reserve the igloo ahead of time, then have 75 minutes to enjoy a meal in the unique space. While icy igloos are cold, these man-made igloos feature ionized furnaces to keep guests nice and toasty.
- Address: 658 S W Bay Shore Dr, Suttons Bay, MI 49682
- Hours: Sunday-Thursday 12-8 pm, Friday-Saturday 12-9 pm
- Tip: The igloos are popular, so place a reservation at least two weeks in advance
5 View Frozen Waterfalls
When planning the perfect vacation in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, be sure to add “view frozen waterfalls” to the itinerary. The UP’s waterfalls are breathtaking during the warm summer but look even more unique and magical when frozen. The rushing water freezes into long icicles, creating interesting shapes. Some must-see falls include Munising Falls, Au Train Falls, and Laughing Whitefish Falls. Munising Falls is located in the westernmost part of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. While the best time to visit Pictured Rocks is during the fall season, the icy waterfalls are beautiful in their own way and worth visiting.
4 Explore Ice Caves
Another magical, icy feature of northern Michigan is ice caves. These natural creations are technically not true caves but rather walls of ice formed along cliff edges. The Upper Peninsula is home to the beautiful Eben Ice Caves. These caves are free to visit, and the trail to the caves is about ¾ mile long. Visitors enjoy wandering around between the long, sharp icicles, as well as stopping to pose for a few photos in front of these ice formations.
- Address: Frey Rd, Deerton, MI 49822
3 Walk To A Lighthouse
Yet another magical winter activity to do in Michigan is to walk to a lighthouse. Michigan is home to 129 lighthouses, and there are plenty of beautiful and incredible lighthouses worth visiting along the Great Lakes. Manistee North Pierhead Lighthouse in Manistee is a popular choice among winter travelers, as the chilling Lake Michigan waters spray onto the pier to create unique icicles. Ludington North Breakwater Lighthouse is another popular choice. Built in 1924, this steel-plated lighthouse looks magical when surrounded by floating chunks of ice.
2 Participate In A Polar Plunge
A popular winter fundraising event in Michigan is the Polar Plunge. For this event, participants plunge into freezing waters to raise money for Special Olympics Michigan. To participate in this event, a person must register, raise $100+, then take the plunge and jump into the freezing water! Polar Plunges are taking place all over Michigan January-March. A few participating towns are Marquette, Grand Traverse Bay, Grand Rapids, and Detroit. For those unable to bear the thought of jumping into the icy cold waters, consider donating and attending a Polar Plunge to cheer the participants on.
1 Attend A Winter Festival
A magical winter activity that does not involve jumping into freezing water or riding around on a fat tire bike is attending a winter festival. One must-visit winter fest is the Downtown Winter Ice Festival in Sault Ste Marie. This yearly event features over 50 ice sculptures scattered around the beautiful downtown. Visitors are also able to watch skilled sculptors use chainsaws and chisels to create wonderful works of art right before their eyes. Other exciting winter festivals include Michigan Tech’s Winter Carnival and Grand Haven Winterfest.