Looking for places to get outside this winter? Well, the Ann Arbor area has tons to offer. The surrounding parks, with snow-covered trees and icy ponds and rivers, offer breathtaking views of Michigan’s wildlife. And you don’t have to go far to take in the beauty of the Great Lakes State–we’ve identified five great places in and around Ann Arbor where you can escape into luscious, icy wonderlands.
Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images
Rolling Hills Park, known for its water slides, lazy river, and wave pools in the summer months, stays open year-round and offers three miles of maintained cross country ski trails in the wintertime–including a flatter, shorter trail for beginners as well as a lengthier trail with varied terrain. There’s also a half-mile torch-lit ski trail, perfect for early sunsets.
An equipment rental shop has skis, toboggans, and partial ski equipment all available to rent by the hour or two hours.
Rolling Hills Park
7660 Stony Creek Rd.
Ypsilanti, MI 48197
Contact Rolling Hills at (734) 484-9676 for more information.
Hudson Mills Metropark offers twelve miles of trails, six of which are groomed year-round. Enjoy trails for all skill levels, and take in views of the Huron River. If you’re there on a weekend, stop in the Ski Touring/Activity Center, which offers a heated lounge, food service, and restrooms. On weekends you can also rent equipment by the half day.
Also, if you’re a fan of ice fishing, Hudson Mills’ location on the Huron River offers a prime opportunity for catching smallmouth and largemouth bass.
Hudson Mills Metropark
8801 N. Territorial Road
Dexter, MI 48130
Contact Hudson Mills at (734) 426-8211.
Photo courtesy of mlive.com
Got the itch to ski, even when there’s not much snow outside? Huron Meadows Metropark, located just south of Brighton, has a 1k loop that’s coated with man-made snow all winter long. That’s in addition to nearly fifteen miles of groomed trails of easy-to-moderate terrain, as well as nine miles of moderate terrain with rolling hills. Open on weekends, Huron Meadows’ Ski Touring Center offers ski rentals and has a heated lounge, restrooms, and snacks.
Huron Meadows Metropark
8765 Hammel Road
Brighton, MI 48116
Call Huron Meadows at (734) 426-8211.
If you’re more the trailblazing type, check out the Lower Huron Metropark. Cut into untouched snow and pave your way along flat terrain. Follow the scenic beauty of the Huron River, or seek out the serenity of more wooded areas. The park also offers two natural ponds that, when frozen, host hockey games and family-friendly open skates.
Lower Huron Metropark
40151 East Huron River Drive
Belleville, MI 48111
Contact Lower Huron Metropark at (734) 697-9181.
Park Lyndon connects to the Waterloo-Pinckney Trail and offers nearly 50 miles of winding, narrow trails that are enticing to experienced cross country skiers and snowshoers alike. The glacier-carved, hilly terrain also includes two miles of marked nature trails.
Park Lyndon
18801 North Territorial Road
Chelsea, MI 48118
Contact Park Lyndon at 734-971-6337.
