It’s no wonder USA Today readers consistently rank the Upper Peninsula as one of the best snow destinations in America. With over 200 inches of snowfall from December through March — and often into April — there are piles of thrilling adventures and calming tranquility waiting outside every U.P. door. Best of all, many of these activities are free. Here are 11 ways to take a much-needed break without spending a fortune.

 

Discover why the U.P. is one of the best winter vacation values

Coming to the U.P. in the winter has its advantages — fewer people and fewer out-of-pocket expenses. Our hotel rates, dining, recreational activities, entertainment and shopping experiences are some of the best values between the winter holidays and spring thaw. Include several of these activities in your itinerary and your vacation costs will plummet even lower!

Cross-country ski or snowshoe on hundreds of miles of pristine trails

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Bond with family and friends on miles of groomed cross-country ski and snowshoe trails, suited for all levels and abilities. In national and state forests and state, county and community parks, you will glide by spectacular views of Lakes Superior, Michigan and Huron, scenic snow-frosted woods, rivers and inland lakes. Several community trails and state parks let you borrow their snowshoes free of charge during open hours.  

One of the most magical experiences is to ski at the state parks that offer lantern-lit cross-country ski and snowshoe evenings in January, February and March. Enjoy the warm lantern glow in the woods and end your evening relaxing with refreshments next to a roaring bonfire. It’s a great opportunity to meet people who share your passion for these silent sports!

Another free way to enjoy winter is skijoring. Step into your cross-country ski bindings and let your snow-loving dog pull you along our powdery trails. LEARN MORE


Ride in the Midwest’s fat tire biking hub

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When the fat tire bike trend started to snowball, bike riders in the Upper Peninsula began packing it into every spare minute. Fat tire enthusiasts describe this sport as a cross between riding a bike and a horse. In Big Snow Country we describe it as exhilarating. 

You can pedal everywhere in the U.P., but Marquette is the fat tire bike hub of the Midwest with its 60 miles of groomed trails and plenty of rental shops. Its Noquemanon Trail Network offers different rides ranging from kids/beginners to dual slalom. It is one of only two trail systems in Michigan and only 16 nationwide to receive EPIC Trails Status from the International Biking Association. LEARN MORE


Explore magical ice caves

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Disney’s FROZEN has nothing on the Rock River Canyon Ice Caves, better known as the Eben Ice Caves. The massive ice curtains form when melting snow runs over the cliff and freezes. It’s very similar to the large ice formations along Munising’s Grand Island National Recreation Area and parts of the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore but the Eben Caves are easier to access. However, reaching the caves requires hiking 0.75 miles on a trail with steep ups and downs. Outfit your boots with ice cleats and use cross-country ski poles for balance on the trail and in the icy caves. LEARN MORE


Feeling gutsy? Go ice climbing

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Marquette may be the hub of fat tire biking, but Munising is the mecca of ice climbing. Not only does this Lake Superior town host the Michigan Ice Fest in early February, but it is home to towering ice walls that double-dare the gutsiest climbers to scale them. Another popular icy ascent is Hogback Mountain in Marquette. Eager to prove your grit? Here are two helpful maps:
Munising Ice Climbing Map
Marquette & Central U.P. Ice Climbing Map


Visit these nine must-see frozen waterfalls

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The U.P. is home to hundreds of waterfalls that turn into ice sculptures between November and March. Their serene stillness gives a whole new dimension to this season! Add visiting these nine waterfalls to your bucket list. LEARN MORE


Drive, hike or snowmobile to our lighthouses

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Over 40 lighthouses can be seen along the three Great Lakes’ coasts. Many are still accessible in the winter by car, snowshoes or snowmobile. Seeing these historic beacons stand against winter’s blue or steel-gray skies, defying the icy waters, is truly breathtaking. Choose at least two to visit before you return home. LEARN MORE


Plan your winter vacation around these two freebies

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Free Entrance to the National Parks Day

Enjoy an entrance fee-free day in mid-January when our nation celebrates the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. This is a perfect day to visit Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and go snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, ice climbing and ice formation and wildlife viewing. 

Free Fishing Weekend

Always held on the Saturday and Sunday of Presidents Day Weekend, Michigan waives all fishing license fees on these two days for residents and non-residents. It’s a great weekend to try ice fishing for the first time or share your shanty with family and friends. LEARN MORE


Stargaze or watch the Northern Lights

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The night sky over the Upper Peninsula is one of the darkest in the world. Look up anywhere and you will see more of our awe-inspiring universe. Unimpeded vistas of Lake Superior’s horizon also make this an ideal place to watch the Northern Lights during the winter months. 

One place that offers stellar views is the Upper Peninsula’s only certified International Dark Sky Park, the Keweenaw Dark Sky Park near Copper Harbor. Headquartered at the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge, the stargazing grounds are free and open to the public nightly. LEARN MORE


Warm up in story-filled museums and cultural centers

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Our land and waters are steeped in stories shaped by generations of Native American families, European explorers, adventurous sailors, pioneering entrepreneurs, courageous soldiers and men and women undaunted by the dense wilderness. You can immerse in their lives at several free museums. Two of the newest are the Webster Marble: Inventing the Outdoors Museum and the U.P. Military Museum in Escanaba. EXPLORE MORE

Join in our free winter fun, week after week

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In the winter, we are not couch potatoes in the U.P. We always find reasons to be together — hopefully, this winter with you as well. In our online events calendar, find free ways to get into the holiday spirit. Watch parades, visit our antique Christmas village in Escanaba or be wowed by the nightly Ore Dock Holiday Laser Light Show in Marquette from Thanksgiving Day weekend to the end of December. Or come from January through March for our Mackinac Bridge antique snowmobile crossing, Michigan Tech University’s Winter Carnival, Marquette’s midnight dog sled run and the hilarious Trenary Outhouse Classic race. MORE EVENTS


Capture the iconic scenes and wildlife of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula

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The Mackinac Bridge becomes a stunning winter wonder in the Upper Peninsula, its snow-dusted spans rising above icy waters. For photographers, one of the best vantage points is Straits State Park, where the bridge’s illuminated structure contrasts beautifully with the frosty surroundings. Snowstorms cast it in a dramatic silhouette, while clear nights offer reflective opportunities against the frozen straits. Similarly, the snow-covered forests of Hiawatha National Forest and Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park are transformed into tranquil, fairytale-like settings. These wooded areas become a canvas of light and shadow, where dawn’s golden glow or foggy conditions add depth and mystery to every shot.

Wildlife and icy landscapes create another layer of magic to winter photography in the U.P. At Seney National Wildlife Refuge or along remote trails, deer, bald eagles and vibrant foxes offer striking contrasts against snowy backdrops. Using a telephoto lens helps capture their resilience without intrusion. Meanwhile, the frozen shores of Lake Superior, especially at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, showcase ice caves, frosted cliffs and frozen wave formations that seem otherworldly. Golden-hour light brings out their vivid contrasts, while night photography captures these icy wonders under starry skies or the Northern Lights. Both wildlife and icy terrains highlight the Upper Peninsula’s winter as a season of beauty and survival.

Spending some money upfront multiplies your free opportunities in the U.P.

These three annual investments add more value to your winter vacation:

  • Michigan Recreation Passport. This gives you free, year-round access to all Michigan (Upper and Lower Peninsula):
    State parks, recreation areas and trails 
    Boating access sites
    State forest campgrounds
  • Non-resident recreation passports are good from Jan.1 to Dec. 31.
  • Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Annual Pass: This pass is good for one year from the month of purchase and admits the purchaser and passengers in a single, private, non-commercial vehicle as often as you can visit. 
  • Snowmobile Registration and Trail Permit: Poll after poll, sledders rank the Upper Peninsula as one of, if not the best snowmobiling destination in the United States. To ride, you must register your sled here or have proof of your home state’s registration. You must also purchase an annual trail permit good from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30. With this permit you can ride thousands of miles of state-designated trails, public roads and public lands (where authorized) in the Upper and Lower Peninsulas. State-designated trails are open from Dec. 1 to March 31.  

Simplify your planning with this map and trip builder

Use this interactive map to help you see where several of the free things listed above are located. Then build your trip with this easy-to-use online planner, adding where you want to visit, what you want to do and where you plan to stay and eat. You can then review or change your schedule and share it with others. 

 

Wherever you stay in the U.P., you’re close to free winter fun

While we can’t offer free lodgings, we do offer rates that fit your vacation budget and the amenities you want. Our accommodations are within a day trip of the free things you want to do this winter — and several have trails and free activities outside your door! 

To get the dates you want, make your reservations now. And if you want additional ideas of free things to do near your lodgings, contact us today. Our insider advice is free, too. 

Book your room now

 

Share your memories with U.P. travelers

We would love to see photos from your antiquing adventures! Use our hashtag #uptravel for an opportunity to be featured on our social media, website or in our marketing materials. You can also upload your photos to our content collector below.