Most people think winter in Michigan means hiding indoors until April. Those people are missing out.
Sure, it’s cold—sometimes painfully so—but winter here opens up a whole category of activities you literally cannot do any other time of year.
Some of them involve going fast down hills, some involve sitting very still on frozen lakes, and some involve just walking through landscapes that look completely different under snow and ice.
Here are seven things you should try at least once before writing off Michigan winters entirely.
1. Ice Fishing
If you’ve never sat on a frozen lake waiting for fish to bite, you’re either smart or missing out—I’m still not sure which.
Michigan has over 11,000 inland lakes, and ice fishing offers opportunities to catch bluegill, perch, walleye, northern pike, and crappie during the winter season.
You can go full minimalist with just a bucket and an auger, or you can rent an ice shanty with a heater and basically camp on the ice.
Lake St. Clair and Hamlin Lake were recently named among the top 10 spots in the U.S. for ice fishing, and places like Houghton Lake and Saginaw Bay are longtime favorites.
Michigan even has a Free Ice Fishing Weekend on February 14-15, 2026, if you want to try it without committing to a license.
2. Snowmobiling
Michigan has over 6,000 miles of designated snowmobile trails, which is either exciting or terrifying depending on your comfort level with going fast on machines.
The Upper Peninsula is snowmobile country—places like Houghton, Marquette, and the Keweenaw Peninsula get buried in snow and the trails stay rideable well into March.
You can rent sleds if you don’t own one, and plenty of towns up north have built their entire winter economy around snowmobilers stopping for food, gas, and lodging.
It’s loud, it’s cold, and if you’ve never done it before, you’ll probably be sore the next day.
But it’s also one of the few ways to access remote areas in winter that would be impossible to reach otherwise.
3. Eben Ice Caves
The Eben Ice Caves are natural ice formations within the Rock River Canyon Wilderness in the Upper Peninsula, and they’re breathtaking during winter.
Water seeping from the rock face freezes into massive icicles and formations that look like something out of a fantasy movie.
The hike to the caves is about a mile through snowy woods, and you’ll want traction cleats or ice spikes on your boots because the trail gets slippery.
There’s no cost to visit, though donations are accepted for parking.
4. Witnessing Blue Ice at Mackinac Straits
Blue ice is a rare phenomenon that occurs when pressure causes lake ice to compress, creating stunning blue hues.
It happens at the Mackinac Straits when chunks of ice pile up and compress into these translucent, bright blue formations.
It’s not guaranteed every winter, and even when it happens, you need to time it right because conditions change.
When you do catch it, though, the photos are unreal. Just don’t get too close to the edge—this is still Lake Huron in January, and falling in would be a very bad day.
5. Winter Festivals
Michigan takes winter festivals seriously, probably as a coping mechanism. World of Winter in Grand Rapids runs from January 9 through March 1 and is the largest winter festival in the U.S.
This festival features art installations, live music, and food around downtown. It’s free, which makes it even better.
There’s also Zehnder’s Snowfest in Frankenmuth with ice carving competitions, the Michigan Tech Winter Carnival in Houghton (which has been running for over a century), and dozens of smaller festivals across the state.
The Michigan Tech Winter Carnival features outdoor games, snow and ice sculptures, comedy sketches, and performances.
For 2026, the theme is “Through Ice and Snow To Space We Go!”
These festivals are a good way to experience winter without committing to anything too physically demanding.
6. Snowshoeing
Snowshoeing is one of the best ways to immerse yourself in Michigan’s winter landscapes, with many local nature centers offering snowshoe rentals.
Places like Blandford Nature Center in Grand Rapids and Chippewa Nature Center in Midland rent snowshoes when conditions are right.
It’s basically walking with extra steps—literally, since the snowshoes make you pick up your feet differently—but it lets you explore trails that would be impossible to hike in deep snow.
Some places even do candlelit snowshoe hikes on Friday evenings, which sounds romantic until you realize you’re still trudging through snow in the dark. Still worth it, though.
7. Dining in Igloos
This one’s weird but surprisingly popular. Hop Lot Brewing Company in Suttons Bay has an Igloo Village that creates a cozy atmosphere for dining with friends and family during winter.
They’re heated, so you’re not actually eating in freezing temperatures, but the novelty of sitting in an igloo with a beer and some food is enough to make it memorable.
Other places around the state have picked up on this trend, too, so if you’re in northern Michigan during winter, keep an eye out for igloo dining options.
It’s the kind of thing you do once just to say you did it.
The Bottom Line: Frozen Toes, Great Stories
Look, Michigan winters are long and cold and sometimes depressing. But they’re also kind of magical if you’re willing to leave the house.
These activities won’t make you love winter—let’s not get carried away—but they might make you tolerate it better.
And honestly, ice fishing in a heated shanty with friends or watching ice carvers work at a festival is a lot more interesting than scrolling through your phone on the couch for three months straight.
Just dress warm, check conditions before heading out, and give winter Michigan a shot. You might be surprised.
Featured image credit: Ryan Jake Jakubowski via Facebook