The Great Lakes State
Michigan
Four national forests, the Pictured Rocks, and 11,000 inland lakes inside the greatest freshwater system on Earth.
Michigan at a Glance
Great Lakes Shoreline
Michigan has more freshwater coastline than any other state, with 3,288 miles of Great Lakes shoreline across the Upper and Lower Peninsulas
Four National Forests
Hiawatha, Ottawa, Huron-Manistee, and Chequamegon-Nicolet (shared with Wisconsin) cover nearly 3 million acres of Michigan forest
Pictured Rocks
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore features 15 miles of colorful sandstone cliffs rising 200 ft above Lake Superior's turquoise water
Isle Royale
Isle Royale National Park is a car-free wilderness island in Lake Superior, accessible only by ferry or floatplane
North Country Trail
The North Country National Scenic Trail crosses 1,150 miles through Michigan, its longest state segment
Sleeping Bear Dunes
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore was voted 'Most Beautiful Place in America' by viewers of Good Morning America in 2011
When to Visit
June through September. The Upper Peninsula gets heavy snow from November through April, with the forests mostly used for snowshoeing and skiing. Summer brings short but intense wildflower seasons and excellent fishing.
Top Activities
Gateway Cities
Marquette
Upper Peninsula hub near Hiawatha National Forest and Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, with a strong outdoor recreation culture and direct lake access.
Ironwood
Western Upper Peninsula town at the edge of Ottawa National Forest and the Porcupine Mountains, with ski resorts operating through April.
Cadillac
Lower Peninsula gateway to Huron-Manistee National Forest, with access to the Pere Marquette River and the Lake Michigan shoreline.
Did You Know?
Michigan's Upper Peninsula covers 29% of the state's land area but holds only 3% of the population, making it one of the least-dense regions east of the Mississippi.
The Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park contains one of the last large tracts of old-growth forest remaining in the Midwest.
Lake Superior's surface area is large enough to cover all of North and South America with a foot of water.
Michigan's Ottawa National Forest in the western Upper Peninsula contains over 900 miles of rivers and streams and more than 300 lakes.
The Kirtland's warbler, one of the rarest songbirds in North America, breeds almost exclusively in young jack pine forests in Huron-Manistee National Forest.