An Outdoor Adventure on Mackinac Island

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With over 80% of Mackinac Island a state park--free of charge and open year round this is the perfect place for nature hikes, bicycle rides, kayak tours, sailing adventures, golf and just getting out to discover the natural gems of Mackinac.

The Island is a bikers paradise. Bicycles are available for rent in a wide array. Visitors will find single-speed, three-speed, five-speed, ten-speed, tandems, mountain bikes, kids bikes, beach cruisers, burly carts, tagalongs, child carriers--and more are all at your disposal. With over 70 miles of natural and paved trails inside Mackinac Island State Park, you can explore and discover its sun-dappled, verdant secrets for days on end. Mountain bikers will drool over our dirt trails, with terrains that range from flat to 300-foot steep bluff climbs. For visitors that want to bring their own bikes along will be glad to know that all ferry lines will transport them over to the Island for an additional fee.

New this year, Green Planet Extreme Adventures offers the Mackinac Island Eco & Geo Water Adventure guided paddling tour. Learn about the Great Lakes, Arch Rock, the eco system and geology while paddling in their tandem glass bottom inflatable kayaks. Viewing the island while paddling a kayak and peering into the emerald blue waters is an experience like no other.

Mackinac Island has always been a popular destination for sailing, and of course home to two historic sailing races, the Chicago Mackinac Race and the Bayview Mackinac Race. Sailboat rides and boat charters are available daily from the Mackinac Harbor. Or, if fishing is your sport, head out with one of the many charter fishing captains. Salmon, steelhead, brown trout and lake trout are often the catch of the day.

Pack the golf clubs and bring your A game as Mackinac Island features three golf courses and an executive putting course. At Grand Hotel, The Jewel offers two 9-hole courses the Grand Nine and Woods. Both are scenic with lush landscaping and perfectly manicured tees, fairways and greens. To play 18 holes, Grand Hotel provides a horse drawn carriage to transport golfers and their clubs between the two courses. Wawashkamo is Michigan's oldest golf course featuring rough terrain in the Scottish tradition resplendent with thistle and heather. A former War of 1812 battleground, the course is a National Historic Landmark and a State of Michigan Historic Site. Club rentals, including hickory stick clubs at Wawashkamo, and golf cart rentals available. Mission Point Resort hosts the Greens of Mackinac, where you can polish up on your putting game its an 18-hole, two-acre, executive putting course with sculptured greens that overlook the Straits.

Mackinac Islands outdoor fun isn't limited to summer. Avid winter snowsports enthusiasts will find that the Island s perfect for cross country skiing. From mid-December through March, visitors will enjoy some of Michigan's finest skiing.Trails are groomed to make skiing and snowshoeing the best. Rentals are available on the island.