Snow Tubing Spots in Pure Michigan
Ahh, winter in Michigan. The perfect time to get out there and enjoy some of your favorite snowy activities, especially snow tubing!
Imagine zipping down a hill, breathing in the crisp cold air and taking in the beautiful Michigan scenery. If this sounds like the perfect way to spend an afternoon or even a weekend, here are five favorite sites to explore courtesy of Janelle Witting from The Awesome Mitten.
Timberlee Hills – Traverse City
Timberlee Hills claims the title of the biggest tubing/sledding hill in Michigan, and it definitely scores some points for being no-frills – there are no set lanes, no height restrictions, and a simple tow system to help you back up the hill for more rides. Double tubes are available, and you can get hot food at the café after a long day of adventure!
Stony Creek Metropark – Shelby Township
For those who live in Southeast Michigan, finding snow tubing nearby is difficult. However, there are plenty of sledding hills in the area, and two are at Stony Creek! You can find them near the Gladeview and West Branch picnic areas. Stony Creek even features a dedicated toboggan hill! You can also partake in snowshoeing and cross-country skiing for a full, fun winter day.
Shanty Creek Resort – Bellaire
Shanty Creek’s Alpine Tubing boasts eight snow tubing lanes, plus a tow to make repeat riding a breeze. Tickets can be purchased in one- or two-hour increments – but if you’re really hardcore, you can buy a tubing season pass! For those who want to explore other winter activities, Shanty Creek is chock full of opportunities, from skiing to dogsled rides.
Gladstone Sports Park – Gladstone
If you’re looking for a great snow tubing experience in the Upper Peninsula, look no further than Gladstone Sports Park. With the only return lift in the UP, it’s a must-visit for those who aren’t keen on the hike back up the hill. Plus, you can also go downhill skiing, ice skating, or take lessons through the lodge.
Snow Snake – Harrison
Snow Snake is a hidden gem in mid-Michigan. Along with several beginner and intermediate ski runs and a great lesson program, the snow tubing hill is a popular attraction. The facility also has a bar and grill on-site, plus packages including a stay at the nearby Doherty Hotel.
Treetops Resort – Gaylord
Schedule a session of thrilling winter adventure at the Treetops extreme tubing hill. The hill drops 80-feet over a distance of 400 feet, providing the perfect conditions for an exciting ride that’ll keep you coming back for more. Treetops tow rope will take you straight back to the top so you can experience spectacular tubing over and over again. You can also find fantastic skiing at this iconic Michigan destination.
Boyne Mountain Resort – Boyne Falls
Boyne Mountain’s Top Notch Tube Park is built to give you the ideal tubing experience, Their conveyor lets you relax in your tube while being brought to the top of the hill. With three lanes and a blanket of fresh snow in the prime of the winter season, this park should be a destination on your winter bucket list.
Hawk Island Park – Lansing
Hawk Island is home to everything from picturesque, snow-covered trails to exciting snow tubing, all near downtown Lansing. Hop in a tube and slide down one of the designated lanes on their 16-foot wide snow tubing hill, then ride the magic carpet back to the top to do it all over again. End the day warming up with a mug of hot chocolate around a campfire.
Boyne Highlands Resort – Harbor Springs
The tubing park at Boyne Highlands is home to an 800-foot long tubing run, which will send you racing over the snow for an unforgettable ride. Grab your tube and head back up the hill to do it all again. This tubing park is one of the highlights at Boyne Highlands for a reason!
Hanson Hills Recreation Area – Grayling
Hanson Hills Recreation Area has some of the best winter activities in Michigan, and their snow tubing hill is no exception. Their snow tube lift will take you straight to the top so you can glide down one of their exciting lanes with ease. Check out some of the other fun winter activities too, like skiing, snowboarding and snowshoeing.
Cannonsburg Ski Area – Belmont
Head to Cannonsburg Ski Area for the ultimate day of snow tubing just twenty minutes outside downtown Grand Rapids. With long, hilly runs are perfect for participants to be speeding the whole way down. Then take the magic carpet to the top. If you’re yearning for more winter adventure, check out their 21 skiing and snowboarding hills to make it the ideal action-packed winter day.
Echo Valley – Kalamazoo
A variety of downhill fun is waiting to be discovered at Echo Valley, which has extended its tubing hill to offer an even longer and steeper ride. A paved and heated walkway back to the top will make your return to the top a breeze. Plus, check out their tobogganing runs where you can reach up to 60 miles per hour before slowing to a stop. Then meet your toboggan at the top of the hill, as it is carried back up by a new overhead lift.
About the Author: Janelle Witting is a copywriter by trade, but you can usually find her reading Harry Potter books, eating Better Made chips, or snuggling with her rescue pups.