50+ Places To Go Outdoors in Winter in Southeast Michigan

Republished with updates on December 30, 2020.

Recent studies show kids ages 8-18 spend an average of 53 hours a week using entertainment media. Even though I adore technology, I have big limits when it comes to my kids. I find that fact pretty freaky. What happened to going outside to play and explore?

I get it…It’s cold in winter. But that is no excuse. As a parent, getting out in the cold takes a lot of work, but its rewards far outweigh the negatives in my book; for starters, it enhances mood and wears kids out. Win-win.

Try one of these 50+ Places To Go Outdoors in Winter in Southeast Michigan and have some fun making memories together this season!

The list below features spots for cross-country skiing, sledding, ice skating, snow tubing and more, specific to the Ann Arbor, Detroit, Flint and Lansing areas.

RE-PIN HERE

50+ Places To Go Outdoors in Winter in Southeast Michigan

Until I started digging around, I had no idea there was so much to do. Bundle up and get planning an adventure today! {Please check the websites linked for more information, including pricing. For additional hiking ideas, check out this list.}

Flushing County Park {Flushing} — Cross-country skiing

Linden County Park {Linden} — Intermediate sledding and a toboggan hill, cross-country ski trails, and a snowmobile area

For-Mar Nature Preserve {Burton} Hiking trails, snowshoeing {rentals available}

Richfield County Park {Davison} — Cross-country ski trail and snowmobile area

Toboggan Hill {Lapeer} — Expert snow sledding hill

Burchfield Park {Holt} — Sledding hills, snow tubing, cross-country skiing {rentals available}

Granger Meadows Park {Lansing} — Cross-country skiing and sledding

Harris Nature Center {Okemos} — Hiking, Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing {rentals available}

Hawk Island Park {Lansing} — Snow tubing {rentals available}

Woldumar Nature Center {Lansing} — Hiking, coss-country skiing trails

Brighton Recreation Area {Brighton} — Hiking, cross-country skiing

Island Lake Recreation Area {Brighton} — Hiking, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling

Oaken Transformations Poetry and Sculpture Walk {Brighton} — Hiking {during the week only}

Mt. Brighton {Brighton} — Downhill skiing and snowboarding

Huron Meadows Metropark {Brighton} — Hiking, cross country skiing {rentals available}

Genoa Park {Howell} — Sledding hill

Howell Nature Center {Howell} — Sledding hill and explore the Wildlife Nature Park

Lakelands Trail State Park {Pinckney} — Hiking, cross-country skiing

Pinckney Recreation Area {Pinckney} — Hiking, cross-country skiing

Warren City Square Ice Rink {Warren} — Outdoor ice rink with skate rentals available

Lake St. Clair Metropark {Harrison Township} — Ice fishing, ice skating, ice hockey area available

Civic Center Park {Clinton Township} — Sledding hill

Stony Creek Metropark {Shelby Township} — Ice fishing, sledding/tobogganing, cross-country skiing {rentals available}, ice skating, snow kiting, snowboarding

Maynard Memorial Park {New Baltimore} — Ice skating rink and sledding hill

Blakes Farm {Armada} — Outdoor ice rink with skate rentals available

Alpine Valley {White Lake} — Downhill skiing and snowboarding

Auburn Hills Ice Skating Rink {Auburn Hills} — Free outdoor ice skating rink; bring skates

Bald Mountain Recreation Area {Lake Orion} — Cross-country skiing and snowmobiling

Bloomer Park {Rochester Hills} — Cross-country skiing, sledding and tobogganing {plus heated restrooms!}

Yates Park {Rochester Hills} — Cross-country skiing

Paint Creek Trail {Rochester Hills} — Hiking, fishing

Spencer Park {Rochester Hills} — Ice skating and cross-country skiing

Innovation Hills {Rochester Hills} — Hiking, fishing

Clinton River Trail {Rochester Hills} — Hiking, fishing

Dodge #4 State Park {Waterford} — Cross-country skiing

Highland Recreation Area {White Lake} — Hiking, cross-country skiing

Holly Recreation Area {Holly} — Cross-country skiing

Indian Spring Metropark {White Lake} — Cross-country skiing, sledding and tobogganing

Jesse Decker Park {Lake Orion} — Sledding hill

Kensington Metropark {Milford} — Ice fishing, birding, ice skating, cross-country skiing {equipment available for rent}, sledding/tobogganing and snowboarding

Lyon Oaks County Park {Wixom} — Cross-country skiing, hiking

Mt. Holly Ski and Snowboard Resort {Holly} — Downhill skiing and snowboarding

Ortonville Recreation Area {Ortonville} — Cross-country skiing and snowmobiling

Pine Knob Ski and Snowboard Resort {Clarkston} — Downhill skiing and snowboarding

Pontiac Recreation Area {Waterford} — Cross-country skiing and snowmobiling

Proud Lake Recreation Area {Commerce Township} — Cross-country skiing and snowmobiling

Meininger Park {Royal Oak} — Free outdoor ice skating rink; bring skates

Seven Lakes State Park {Holly} — Cross-country skiing, hiking

Riley Park Ice Skating Rink {Farmington} — Outdoor ice skating rink with skate rentals available

Independence Oaks {Clarkston} — Cross-country skiing {rentals available}, ice skating, ice fishing

Waterford Oaks County Park {Waterford} — Sledding

Buhr Outdoor Ice Arena {Ann Arbor} — Open air rink for ice skating

Curtiss Park {Saline} — Cross-country skiing, hiking

Independence Lake County Park {Whitmore Lake} — Ice fishing, ice skating, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and disc golfing.

Mill Pond Park {Saline} — Cross-country skiing and sledding

Rolling Hills {Ypsilanti} — Sledding, cross-country skiing {rentals available}, snowshoeing and disc golf

Tefft Park {Saline} — Sledding, cross-country skiing and ice skating

Waterloo Recreation Area {Chelsea} — Cross-country skiing

Campus Martius Park {Detroit} — Visit the rink at Campus Martius for open-air ice skating. Rentals available.

Crosswinds Marsh {New Boston} — Hiking, cross-country skiing

Lake Erie Metropark {Brownstown} — Ice fishing, sledding/tobogganing and cross-country skiing

Lower Huron Metropark {Belleville} — Ice fishing, ice skating and cross-country skiing

Maybury State Park {Northville} — Hiking, cross-country skiing

Willow Metropark {New Boston} — Ice fishing, cross-country skiing and sledding/tobogganing

What did I miss? Where are your favorite spots for outdoor fun in winter in southeast Michigan?