04/28/2026
Under-the-Radar Small Towns in Michigan Worth the Stop
By Ashley Pichea
# # Northern Lower Peninsula
- **Arcadia** – Arcadia Dunes (hiking, mountain biking), Lake Michigan beaches, fishing, Arcadia Lake for kayaking/canoeing
- **Frankfort** – Point Betsie Lighthouse, Lake Michigan beaches, hiking at Crystal Lake, biking on Betsie Valley Trail
- **Rogers City** – Lake Huron access, kayaking, fishing, hiking at Hoeft State Park, biking on North Eastern State Trail / High Country Pathway
- **Houghton Lake** – Boating and fishing (largest inland lake in MI), hiking at nearby Higgins Lake area, snowmobiling in winter
- **Au Gres** – Au Gres River kayaking/canoeing/fishing, Point Au Gres Park on Lake Huron, hiking, birding, hunting
# # Mid-Michigan
- **Mt. Pleasant** – Chippewa River (kayaking, canoeing, fishing), Deerfield Nature Park (hiking & biking trails), golf
- **Owosso** – Shiawassee River for kayaking and canoeing, DeVries Nature Conservancy (hiking, snowshoeing, XC skiing), Kiwanis Trails, Collamer Park (kayaking, fishing on Hopkins Lake)
- **Flushing** – Flushing Township Nature Park (3 miles of trails, boardwalk, observation deck), Flushing County Park (1-mile biking/walking trail, tennis, ball diamonds), Riverview Park
- **Ionia** – Ionia State Recreation Area (camping, hiking, horseback riding, fishing, disc golf, hunting), Fred Thwaites Grand River Trail / Ionia River Trail (3 miles along Grand River, fishing deck, boat dock)
- **St. Johns** – Sleepy Hollow State Park (Lake Ovid hiking, fishing, boating), Fred Meijer Clinton-Ionia-Shiawassee Trail, multiple mountain biking trails
# # West Michigan / Lakeshore
- **Zeeland** – Upper Macatawa Natural Area (612 acres, hiking, biking, birding), Helder Park trails, Macatawa River Greenway (paved multi-use trail)
- **Rockford** – Rogue River Nature Trail (boardwalk along river), Rogue River Park (hiking, fishing), Rockford Dam, kayaking on Rogue River
- **Fremont** – Branstrom Park (108 acres, hiking, biking, disc golf, XC skiing), Duck Lake State Park, Fremont Lake Park, Fremont Town and Country Path
- **Greenville** – Flat River Scenic Trail (paved, hiking/biking), Fred Meijer Flat River Trail, Edwards Creek & Shearer Road mountain bike trails, multiple city parks
- **Hastings** – Thornapple River (kayaking, canoeing, tubing via U-Rent-Em Canoe Livery), Tyden Park (trails, volleyball, basketball, river access), Charlton Park, Barry County trail network
# # Southwest Michigan
- **St. Joseph / Benton Harbor** – Lake Michigan beaches, Silver Beach, paved waterfront trail, kayaking, Jean Klock Park hiking
- **Saugatuck / Douglas** – Saugatuck Dunes State Park (hiking on dunes), kayaking on Kalamazoo River, Oval Beach, biking, Mount Baldhead
- **South Haven** – Lake Michigan beaches, South Pier Lighthouse, Kal-Haven Trail (hiking/biking), kayaking on Black River
- **Allegan** – Allegan State Game Area (hiking, hunting, birding), kayaking on Kalamazoo River, Allegan County parks
- **Coldwater** – Coldwater Lake State Park (400 acres, hiking, swimming, fishing), Chain of Lakes (100+ lakes for boating, kayaking, fishing), Linear Park trail
- **Berrien Springs** – Love Creek Nature Center (hiking/biking trails), Galien River County Park trails, Madeline Bertrand County Park, Warren Woods
- **Sister Lakes** – All-sports lakes (boating, kayaking, paddleboarding, water skiing, fishing), swimming, Dewey Lake, biking around the lakes
- **Niles** – Indiana-Michigan River Valley Trail (34 miles), Riverfront Park on St. Joseph River (boating, fishing, walking trails), Brandywine Creek Nature Preserve, Madeline Bertrand Park
# # Southeast Michigan
- **Clawson** – Walkable downtown, small urban parks — limited outdoor rec (more of a walk/shop/dine town)
- **Dundee**
