Outdoor Winter Activities in West Michigan
The calendar flipped to 2025, and at the same time, it feels like the weather flipped as well. Winter is full-blown here. The temperature has dropped, each morning you may need to scrape the snow off your car, and you find yourself ordering a hot latte—rather than an iced one.
To make the most of this season, you need to embrace the snowy weather and get outside. However, if you’re new to the region, you may not know all the snow-related activities there are! Keep reading to find your next wintery adventure to embrace the snow.
Ice Skating
Ice skating is a perfect idea for a winter date night or a hangout with friends. Back in 2023, my friends and I decided we wanted to try out ice skating on a regular basis. We each found an old pair of skates at local thrift stores. We hit the ice rink several times that winter in hopes of improving our skills.
Ice Skating Spots:
-Rosa Parks Circle, Grand Rapids
–Patterson Ice Center, Grand Rapids
–Muskegon Winter Sports Complex– ¼ mile ice skating trail
Snowmobiling
My favorite winter activity is snowmobiling. Being from Michigan, it is truly a gift that my family snowmobiled together every winter. To snowmobile, it takes a significant amount of snow for the trails to open. That’s why, Northern Michigan is best place to snowmobile.
–Map of snowmobile trails in Michigan
Snowmobile rentals:
- Snowblitz Snowmobile Rentals, Traverse City
- Cadillac Snowmobile Rentals, Cadillac
Pro tips:
Make sure the trails are open before traveling to the trailhead. This resource provides updates of when the trails are open. Typically, the area Facebook page will post updates of when the trails are open.
Snowshoeing
You may have noticed that walking through the snow takes extra energy. Luckily, wearing snowshoes allows you to walk on the snow—rather than sink into the snow. So, strap on a pair of snowshoes and hike an area trail.
Places to snowshoe:
–Indian Trails Golf Course, Grand Rapids- Rentals offered.
–Wittenbach Wege Center, Lowell- Rentals offered.
–Blandford Nature Center, Grand Rapids
–Pigeon Creek, West Olive- Rentals offered.
Pro tip: You don’t need to buy a pair of snowshoes, you can rent them. Bill & Paul’s Sporthaus offers snowshoe rentals.
Downhill Skiing
Have a free weekend? Go downhill skiing at the many different ski resorts in Michigan. Downhill skiing is our Executive Director’s favorite winter pastime. She loves meeting new people on the slopes.
Places to downhill ski:
–Cannonsburg, Belmont
–Caberfae, Cadillac
–Crystal Mountain, Thompsonville
–Boyne Mountain, Boyne City
–Bittersweet Ski Resort, Otsego
Pro tip: First time downhill skiing? Bill and Paul’s hosts learn to ski programs for all ages.
Cross-country skiing
An alternative to downhill skiing is cross-country skiing. It’s a great option to enjoy nature—at your own pace.
Places to cross-country ski:
–Palmer Park, Wyoming
–Indian Trails, Grand Rapids
–Pigeon Creek, West Olive- Rentals offered.
–Pickerel Lake Park, Cannonsburg
–Wahlfield Park, Alpine Township
Pro tip: Ottawa County Parks offers several cross-country ski lessons for all skill levels.
Sledding
Sledding: the perfect snow activity for a family who loves a thrill and a cheap option. To this day, some of my favorite childhood memories are from riding down the local park’s hill on a snowy day. Simply purchase a sled from a local store and locate the nearest hill (which is usually at the local park).
West Michigan parks with the best hills:
-“Charlie’s Dump”, the legendary spot at Rosewood Park with a cool history, Georgetown Township
–Beachwood Park, Muskegon
–Johnson Park, Walker
–Van Raalte Farm, Holland
–Belknap Park, Grand Rapids
Snow Tubing
Like sledding, snow tubing is a blast. However, snow tubing can usually only be done at a ski resort. Snow tubing can be a great alternative to the sometimes-intimidating downhill skiing.
Places to snow tube:
–Cannonsburg, Belmont
–Timberlee Hills, Traverse City
Ice Fishing
Fishing season isn’t just in the summer; You can also fish in the winter. Michigan has more than 11,000 inland lakes. Check out this resource to find your ice fishing spot.
Reminder: Always drill the ice with an auger before stepping out onto it. Check out Michigan DNR’s Ice Safety Resource to determine if it’s safe to walk out onto the lake.
Snow Luging
A more uncommon winter sport, the place to snow luge in West Michigan is the Muskegon Luge Sports Park. The track is only one of four snow luge tracks in the United States, and they teach you how to luge when you’re there.
In West Michigan, we are blessed with a “true” snowy season, and the best way to adjust to the snow is learning to love it. Hopefully, finding a wintertime activity to enjoy the outdoors will make you love the snow as much as we do!