Where to Winter Stargaze in Michigan
Michigan is home to some of the best winter stargazing spots for solitude and an endless view of the night sky — and we want to help you find them. It’s time to bundle (and look) up!
As winter rolls through Michigan, a less-experienced nighttime wonder unfolds above — a celestial spectacle transforming long and dark nights into a stargazer's paradise. Against the backdrop of snow-covered landscapes and frozen lakes, constellations shine with intensity at dark sky parks and remote nature preserves across the lower and upper peninsulas.
Travelers can venture — even in the thick of winter — through Michigan's wondrous wilderness to soak in star-studded views of the dark sky. You just need to know where to look.
6 Scenic Destinations to Stargaze This Winter
Here are six shoreline stops, scenic preserves and dark sky parks for taking in a view of the stars across Pure Michigan in the winter (and all year long).
1. Keweenaw Dark Sky Park – Copper Harbor
Head to the very tip of the Keweenaw Peninsula for one of the most remote spots to view the stars in Michigan. Surrounded by seemingly endless and untouched wilderness, the Keweenaw Dark Sky Park sits on the sprawling grounds of the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge. You can navigate 11 miles of trail to find your own slice of stargazing paradise. Just be sure to bring a headlamp and keep your eyes peeled for snowy owls up high and snow-shoe hare tracks on the trail. Warm up in between stargazing inside the cozy log cabin lodge, open to the public 24 hours a day.
Lake effect snow off the shore of Lake Superior hits early and often. Upwards of 273 inches of thick snow blankets this region throughout the winter. Don’t miss out on ski or snowboard trip to Mount Bohemia during the day to take wickedly steep runs at Voodoo Mountain, which features the steepest ski run in the state: a vertical drop of close to 700 feet.
2. Headlands International Dark Sky Park – Mackinaw City
As the winter descends on the Straits of Mackinac, take in a view of the night sky from Headlands International Dark Sky Park. The 550-acre stretch of pristine woodland sits on two miles of undeveloped Lake Michigan shoreline. The Headlands was named one of the first 10 International Dark Sky Parks in the world in 2011. Today, it’s one of the best spots to see the stars come winter — and if you’re lucky — the northern lights too.
You’ll spot the towering shadow of the 7,400-foot-long Mackinac Bridge, the longest suspension bridge in the Western Hemisphere, two miles east of Headlands International Dark Sky Park. Star seekers can cross over the bridge for more spectacular views in St. Ignace from spots like Straits State Park and Bridge View Park. Plus, these popular parks are less crowded during the night and during winter months.
3. Dr. T.K. Lawless Park – Vandalia
Want to take a nighttime cross-country ski adventure to view the night sky? Dr. T.K. Lawless Park in southwest Michigan is the place to embark on this unique winter adventure. The park features over seven miles of groomed trails for all levels of skiers across 850 acres of forest. Bring your skis and venture out to clearings around the park for epic views of the night sky. If you’re more of a resort skier or snowboarder, check out Swiss Valley Ski & Snowboard Area, a short 12-minute drive north of Dr. T.K. Lawless Park. Here you’ll find a cozy lodge, 12 trails and two terrain parks across the 60 acres of skiable terrain.
4. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore – Empire
The Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is one of the most popular spots to soak in views over Lake Michigan in the summer. But come winter, this spot takes the cake for one of the most spectacular dark sky viewing sites in the entire state. Take a winter dune climb for an elevated observation lookout with nothing but the skies above. Several public beaches also offer beautiful spots to look at the stars, including Glen Haven Beach on the edge of Sleeping Bear Bay, Platte River Point Beach and the lesser-visited Peterson Beach. You won’t regret the effort to catch a glimpse of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore’s breathtaking views of a star-filled night sky — even if all the climbing takes your breath away.
5. Negwegon State Park – Alpena
Michigan’s lesser-visited shorelines along Lake Huron are not only secluded but also stunning when winter hits. The 4,000-acre park Negwegon State Park in Alpena on the east side of the state earned its Dark Sky Preserve designation in 2016, along with neighboring parks Rockport State Recreation Area and Thompson's Harbor State Park in Presque Isle County. If you’re into winter hiking, we recommend Negwegon State Park for its stunning 8 miles of Lake Huron lakeshore trails and 1-mile secluded beach. This rustic and undeveloped hidden treasure will make you feel like you’re the only one soaking in the night sky. And if you stay out long enough, you’ll be the first to catch the sunrise in the Michigan.
6. Lake Hudson Recreation Area – Medina
Cold-weather RVers and strong-willed winter campers can head to Lake Hudson Recreation Area for off-season camping at this year-round recreation area near the southern border of Michigan. The designated Dark Sky Preserve is a stone’s throw from metropolitan cities like Detroit and Ann Arbor, but provides complete solitude and spectacular views of the stars. Believe it or not, this hidden gem park was the first in Michigan’s state park system to receive the Dark Sky Preserve designation in 1993 for its excellent night-sky viewing.
Don’t worry about light pollution caused by other campers dampening your dark sky viewing. This campground has a strong reputation for ensuring all guests are courteous and minimize lights at their campsites and in their cars, and the property uses special light fixtures with motion sensors to prevent unnecessary light pollution.
About the Author: Erica Zazo is a Chicago-based freelance writer who loves to write about adventure travel in her home state of Michigan and beyond. Follow her adventures on Instagram.