# Travel >> Types of Travel >> Ski Trips

Winter Activities in Michigan: Embrace the Cold

Michigan's winter (Dec–Mar) transforms the Great Lakes State into a playground for cold-weather enthusiasts. With reliable snow, frozen lakes, and vast public lands, options abound.

❄️ Outdoor Adventures

Ice Skating

Rockefeller Ice Rink (Detroit) – Campus Martius Park, downtown vibe
Ann Arbor Ice Cube – Olympic sheets, public skate, hockey
Grand Rapids Ice Arena – Multiple sheets, lessons
Outdoor rinks: Campus Martius (Detroit), Rosa Parks Circle (GR), Campus Martius (AA), many town squares

Snowshoeing

Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness (Manistee NF) – Lake Michigan dunes, solitude
Sleeping Bear Dunes NL – Dunes, forests, lake views
Porcupine Mountains WSP – Old-growth, rugged, backcountry
State/County parks: Most have marked trails; rentals at visitor centers

Cross-Country Skiing

Vasa Trail (Traverse City) – 27 km, groomed, classic/skate, races
Noquemanon Trail Network (Marquette) – 50+ km, superior grooming, UP reliability
Au Sable River Trail (Mio) – Scenic river corridor
Huron-Manistee, Hiawatha, Ottawa NFs – Hundreds of km total

Downhill Skiing / Snowboarding

Boyne Mountain / Highlands (Boyne Falls) – Largest in MI, 60+ runs
Crystal Mountain (Thompsonville) – 58 runs, spa, golf
Caberrfae Peaks (Cadillac) – Historic, affordable, night skiing
Mount Bohemia (Lac La Belle, UP) – No grooming, extreme, lake-effect snow
Marquette Mountain, Pine Mountain, Ski Brule, Big Powderhorn – UP gems

Sledding / Tubing

Indian Springs Metropark (Clarkston) – Dedicated hill, tow rope
Kensington Metropark (Milford) – Lighted, warming shelter
Belle Isle Park (Detroit) – City views, multiple hills
Echo Valley (Kalamazoo), Timber Ridge (Gobles) – Tubing parks

Winter Camping

Tahquamenon Falls SP (Paradise) – Frozen falls, UP snow
Porcupine Mountains WSP – Yurts, cabins, backcountry
Isle Royale NP – True wilderness (ferry/seaplane access winter)
State forest dispersed camping – Free, rugged

Fat Biking / Ice Fishing / Snowmobiling

6,500+ mi snowmobile trails (UP = paradise)
Ice fishing: Lake St. Clair, Saginaw Bay, Houghton Lake, UP lakes
Fat bike groomed trails: Marquette, Copper Harbor, Grand Rapids

🏠 Indoor Escapes

Museums: Detroit Institute of Arts, The Henry Ford (Dearborn), Michigan Science Center (Detroit), GRAM (Grand Rapids), Air Zoo (Kalamazoo)
Performing Arts: Detroit Symphony, Fox Theatre, Wharton Center (MSU), Interlochen, local theaters
Sports: Pistons (LCA), Red Wings (LCA), Lions (Ford Field), Griffins (GR), College hockey (MTU, NMU, MSU, UofM, WMU)
Spas/Wellness: Kohler Waters Spa, MotorCity Casino Spa, Grand Hotel (Mackinac), numerous day spas
Shopping: Somerset Collection (Troy), Great Lakes Crossing (Auburn Hills), Downtown districts (Ann Arbor, Traverse City, Marquette)
Breweries/Wineries: 400+ breweries (Founders, Bell's, Short's, Dark Horse); 150+ wineries (Leelanau, Old Mission Peninsulas)