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The Great Outdoors

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Turkey hunting in Michigan: spring drawings, guaranteed licenses, and fall birdsHow Michigan's spring turkey drawing works, the guaranteed no-drawing licenses, the new three-unit system for 2026, and the fall season.
Visiting G'chi-dikibi (Kitch-iti-kipi)Northwest of Manistique, Michigan's largest natural freshwater spring can be viewed from an accessible, self-propelled raft at Palms Book State Park.
Walleye, pike, bass, muskie and panfish: Michigan's everyday fishThe fish in most Michigan livewells — default seasons, sizes, and limits for walleye, pike, bass, muskie, perch, and panfish, plus the famous exceptions.
Warren Dunes: the 240-foot sand mountains next doorWarren Dunes State Park in Lake Township stacks 240-foot dunes over three miles of Lake Michigan beach — one of Michigan's most-visited parks.
Waterfowl hunting in Michigan: the four things you need, and where the ducks areMichigan duck and goose hunting: the license-stamp-HIP-steel checklist, the three-zone seasons, and the state's managed waterfowl areas.
Where can I ride? Michigan's trails, forest roads, and county roadsThe five kinds of land in Michigan ORV law: trail widths, state forest roads, county ordinances, frozen lakes, and the official maps that show where each rule applies.
Where to boat and paddle: launches, harbors, and your lake's own rulesMichigan's 1,300-plus public launches, the Great Lakes harbor network, and the local lake ordinances that are this hub's version of 'check your water.'
Where to fish in Michigan: access is the superpowerPublic launches, piers, the keep-your-feet-wet river rule, the DNR's free maps and stocking database — and the icon waters every Michigan angler should know.
Where to hunt in Michigan: seven million acres of public landState forests, game areas, national forests, Commercial Forest land, and the Hunting Access Program — where you can legally hunt in Michigan and how to find it.
Wild edibles beyond morels: berries, nuts, and the leave-the-plant ruleThimbleberries, black walnuts, chanterelles — what you may gather on Michigan's public land, why ramps and fiddleheads aren't on the list, and the protected plant with its own licensing rules.
Yes, there's a ski resort in OtsegoBittersweet Resort in Otsego Township has been southwest Michigan's ski hill since 1982, with six chairlifts and lights for night skiing.
Yes, you can camp for free in Michigan — here's how to do it legallyDispersed camping on nearly 4 million acres of state forest land is free and legal with three rules: the right land, a mile from campgrounds, and a posted registration card.
Black Lake and the sturgeon seasonUnder Michigan's sport-fishing rules, Black Lake is the only place where anglers may spear lake sturgeon, during a tightly controlled winter season.
Bois Blanc, the island time forgotBois Blanc Island is a remote, wooded Mackinac County island with dirt roads, state forest, inland lakes, and quiet shoreline.
Cheboygan State Park and the Lake Huron shoreCheboygan State Park gives Benton Township a quiet Lake Huron shoreline, with beach, woods, camping, and the old Cheboygan Point Light site.
Clear Lake State ParkClear Lake State Park north of Atlanta offers a clear spring-fed lake, camping, paddling, fishing, ORV access, and elk-country quiet.
Fishing Sleeping Bear: Lakes, Fish, and the Rules That MatterSleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore holds more than 90 native fish species and some great fishing spots — here's what licenses and permits you'll need, and which waters are worth your time.
Forty Mile Point and the Hoeft shoreRogers Township's Lake Huron shore includes P.H. Hoeft State Park, the Huron Sunrise Trail, and the Forty Mile Point Lighthouse.
Glen Lake: Two Depths, One Glacial StoryGlacier-carved Glen Lake sits inside Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, split into a 130-foot-deep Big Glen and a shallow Little Glen, with public access for swimming, paddling, and fishing at the Little Glen Lake Picnic Area.
Harsens Island and the St. Clair FlatsHarsens Island in Clay Township sits in the St. Clair Flats, a remarkable freshwater delta of marshes, canals, wildlife, and freighter views.
Lake Leelanau: Two Basins, One LakeLake Leelanau runs as two connected basins — North Lake Leelanau near Leland and South Lake Leelanau — joined by the Lake Leelanau Narrows before draining to Leland's waterfront at M-22.
Les Cheneaux: sheltered channels and a wooden-boat traditionClark Township is the mainland gateway to a 36-island Lake Huron archipelago, sheltered boating channels, and an antique wooden-boat show that began in 1978.
Lewiston and the Twin LakesLewiston and the Twin Lakes anchor Montmorency County's southwest resort country, with lakefront, golf, fishing, and four-season recreation.
Loda Lake: the only wildflower sanctuary in a national forestThe Forest Service calls Loda Lake the National Forest System's only wildflower sanctuary, with short loops through woods, wetland, and old farm ground.
Michigan's first paved rail-trailHart is the northern end of the William Field Memorial Hart-Montague Trail, Michigan's first paved rail-trail.
Mullett Lake, Burt Lake, and the resort townsBurt Lake and Mullett Lake anchor Cheboygan County's Inland Waterway lake country, with Indian River, Topinabee, and two state parks.
Naubinway at the top of Lake MichiganThis small Garfield Township community has built an identity around Lake Michigan's northern shore, its working fishing port, and a marina marker that makes the claim visible.
New Era's farm countryNew Era sits beside Oceana County farm-country destinations like Lewis Adventure Farm & Zoo and Country Dairy.
Newaygo on the Muskegon River: choose your access firstUse Newaygo as a lower Muskegon River access hub: Riverfront Park for an easy first look, Bridge Street or Henning Park for launches, and current river checks before a float.
Ocqueoc Falls: accessible path, trail loops, and rustic campingDNR calls Ocqueoc the Lower Peninsula's largest waterfall and the nation's first universally accessible falls. Expect a paved approach, four trail loops, and rustic camping.
Onaway State Park on Black LakeOnaway State Park gives North Allis Township 158 acres of Black Lake shoreline, camping, swimming, rock outcroppings, and a three-mile trail.
Rockport: sinkholes, fossils, and a dark-sky shoreRockport pairs a former limestone quarry and sinkholes with fossil hunting, Lake Huron access, and a designated dark-sky preserve. Download the DNR maps before exploring.
St. Clair's riverfrontSt. Clair's riverfront offers Palmer Park's boardwalk, close-up freighter watching, and the restored St. Clair Inn.
The Brown Trout FestivalAlpena's Michigan Brown Trout Festival brings a long-running Thunder Bay fishing tournament and summer waterfront events to the city each July.
The High Country Pathway and the sinkhole countryThe High Country Pathway crosses Montmorency County through remote state forest and ties toward the sinkhole country near the Presque Isle line.
The Inland WaterwayCheboygan is the Lake Huron doorway to the Inland Waterway, Michigan's longest connected chain of inland lakes and rivers.
The Lake Michigan shore and the Cut River BridgeBrevort anchors a quiet Lake Michigan shore of US-2 beaches, dunes, Hiawatha National Forest, and the nearby Cut River Bridge.
The Pere Marquette: where America's brown trout beganThe Pere Marquette River near Baldwin is where brown trout were first planted in American waters, and it remains one of Michigan's great trout streams.
The Port Huron to Mackinac sailboat raceEvery July, Port Huron hosts the start of the Bayview Mackinac Race and its Boat Week celebration.
The Silver Lake sand dunesMichigan DNR describes Silver Lake's 450-acre ORV area as the only place east of the Mississippi where visitors can drive directly on sand dunes.
The Sinkholes Pathway and karst countryThe Sinkholes Pathway near Shoepac Lake shows off Presque Isle County's karst country, deep forest, and unusual collapsed limestone terrain.
The Sleeping Bear Heritage TrailThe only bike trail in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore — about 22 miles of mostly paved path through rolling hills, dunes, and forest, open to cyclists, walkers, and winter skiers.
Thompson's Harbor State ParkThompson's Harbor State Park protects a wild Lake Huron shoreline in Krakow Township, with quiet trails, dwarf lake iris, cabins, and dark skies.
White Cloud and the North Country TrailWhite Cloud is a North Country Trail town on the edge of the Manistee National Forest, with easy access to hiking, rivers, and lakes.
Wolverine and the Sturgeon RiverWolverine and the surrounding Nunda and Wilmot township countryside sit on the fast, trout-filled Sturgeon River.
Caberfae Peaks: the ski hill that opened in 1938Caberfae opened to the public on January 16, 1938, after the Civilian Conservation Corps, U.S. Forest Service, Cadillac Chamber, and local volunteers built a winter-sports area southwest of Cadillac.
Ludington State Park and the Big Sable Point LightLudington State Park stretches between Lake Michigan and Hamlin Lake, with dunes, trails, beach, river paddling, and the Big Sable Point Light.
The Manistee River and the Hodenpyl backwaterThe upper Manistee River and Hodenpyl backwater make the Mesick area a quiet Wexford County gateway to big woods, trout, and paddling.
The Muskegon headwaters and the Dead Stream countryEastern Missaukee is Muskegon River headwaters country, with Reedsburg Dam, Dead Stream Flooding, and state forest land.
Arcadia Dunes and the southern cornerArcadia Dunes, Watervale, orchards, and quiet farm country define Benzie's southwestern corner.
Arcadia: the bluffs, the dunes, and a famous flyerArcadia's Lake Michigan bluffs, golf course, dunes, marsh, and Harriet Quimby history shape the far northwest corner of Manistee County.
Bear Lake, Copemish, and the countrysideNorthern and inland Manistee County mixes Bear Lake, old railroad villages, Manistee Lake, farms, and wooded acreage.
Crystal LakeCrystal Lake is Benzie County's clear, deep centerpiece, with a 19th-century canal accident behind the sandy shoreline seen today.
Grand Traverse Bay and cherry countryGrand Traverse Bay, Old Mission Peninsula, cherries, orchards, and wineries shape the county's bay-shore townships.
Inland Leelanau: Cedar, Maple City, and the farm countryCedar, Maple City, orchards, vineyards, farms, and wooded acreage define the quieter inland side of Leelanau County.
Long LakeLong Lake is Grand Traverse County's largest inland lake, with wooded islands, loon habitat, and in-demand lakefront west of Traverse City.
Onekama and Portage LakeOnekama's Portage Lake harbor, Lake Michigan beaches, and famous 1871 Cut make it a classic Manistee County resort community.
Point Betsie and the south end of Sleeping BearPoint Betsie, Platte Bay, and the lower Platte River anchor Benzie's wild Lake Michigan shore.
Sleeping Bear DunesSleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore protects Lake Michigan shoreline, towering perched dunes, inland lakes, historic villages, and a paved heritage trail.
The Leelanau wine peninsula and the bay shoreThe Leelanau Peninsula's Grand Traverse Bay shore, vineyards, orchards, Suttons Bay, Peshawbestown, and Greilickville shape this side of the county.

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