Trails
There are more than 70 miles of hiking trails running through the state park, which makes up more than 80 percent of Mackinac. Because the entire island is less than 4 square miles, it’s easy to explore a lot of it in one day before taking a well-deserved rest in one of Mackinac’s charming hotels, resorts or B&Bs. Of course, there are so many trails that you’ll always have something new to see the next day.
Many of the island’s trails are great for biking or horseback riding, while some are just for hiking. To get you started, here are a few places on Mackinac you can hike this fall:
Featured Attractions
Anne’s Tablet
A favorite find, a world class vista a great story. These are the things that make Anne's Tablet a favorite Mackinac Island find. Anne's Tablet is an Art Nouveau sculptural…
Arch Rock
The most famous of the rock formations on the island, this arch towers above the water and is more than fifty feet wide. It attracts the vast majority of the…
Area Playgrounds
There are several playgrounds to while away the hours in at Mackinac State Park. Behind the Richard and Jane Manoogian Mackinac Island Art Museum is a cute playground with a…
Benjamin Blacksmith Shop
Originally built in the 1880s, Robert Benjamin and later his son, Herbert, ran a blacksmith shop into the 1960s. The contents of the shop were moved to the reconstructed building…
Crack In The Island
Geological formations are aplenty on the Island, and while this one might not be an A-Lister like Arch Rock, it’s still worthy of discovery. Traversing through the crack or pretending…
Downtown
Filled with unique shopping destinations, great dining, and the bustling activity of a waterfront town, Mackinac’s downtown is a flurry of horses, bicycles and shoppers. Go in and out of…
Fort Holmes
After the British and their allies captured Fort Mackinac during the War of 1812, they quickly built a small outpost and called it Fort George. When the Americans regained the…
Fort Mackinac
Founded during the American Revolution, the British captured the Fort in the very first engagement on American soil in the War of 1812. Inside, 14 original buildings, cannon salutes, bugle…
Grand Hotel Horse Stable/Carriage Museum
Located next to Wings of Mackinac Butterfly Conservatory, this working facility is home to Grand Hotel's 12 horses and is open to the public. It is a great way to…
Great Turtle Park
Great Turtle Park is located in Harrisonville and can be accessed via 6th or 7th Street off Cadotte Avenue or Cupids Pathway. Great Turtle Park currently houses a soccer field,…
Great Turtle Park Playground
Great Turtle Park is located in Harrisonville and can be accessed via 6th or 7th Street off Cadotte Avenue or Cupids Pathway. Great Turtle Park currently houses a soccer field,…
Horse in History Museum
Mackinac Horsemen’s Association is excited to showcase this compilation of photographs at the entrance of the Mackinac Community Equestrian Center (MCEC) showing Mackinac Island’s unique horse culture. From photos selected…
Kite Flying at Windermere Point
Let's go fly a kite or watch others fly kites at Windermere Point. Nearly every day you will see people taking advantage of the incredible Straits of Mackinac breezes with…
Little Stone Church
Little Stone Church, a Congregational Church located on Mackinac Island, Michigan, welcomes both residents and visitors to Sunday worship services. Although it is known as Little Stone Church, the official…
Mackinac Revealed
Mackinac Revealed: Experience True Mackinac with A Genuine Islander offering A Bluffs & Victorian Neighborhood Tour, a Forest Bike Ride to Natural Wonders, a Hidden Sights and a Specialized Insider…
Mackinac State Historic Parks
Mackinac Island State Park was the second established National Park before becoming Michigan's first State Park. Today, over eighty percent of Mackinac Island is State Park property, and most of…
Marquette Park
Marquette Park is a beautiful greens cape located at the foot of Fort Mackinac. It is part of Mackinac Island State Park and stands on the edge of Mackinac Island's harbor…
McGulpin House
This house has been opened to the public as a barebones restoration that shows how it would have appeared around 1820. The McGulpins were a working-class family who would not…
Original Butterfly House & Insect World
This 1800 sq ft tropical garden is filled with hundreds of live butterflies from four continents and is the 3rd oldest live butterfly exhibit in the United States.
Picnicking at Fort Holmes
A picnic at the highest point on Mackinac Island is a visual treat. Incredible views of the Mackinac Bridge, Light Houses and Round Island serve up the perfect venue.
Skull Cave
Believed to have been the hiding place for English fur trader Alexander Henry during Pontiac’s Rebellion in 1763, Skull Cave is a small and shallow cave on the central heights…
Somewhere In Time Gazebo
The Island’s Famous movie featuring Jane Seymour and Christopher Reeve featured a Gazebo, formerly on the grounds of the Grand Hotel. It’s since been moved, but you can see the…
Stone Skipping at Windermere Point
Windermere Point is a green scape where the art of stone skipping is practiced every day. You will find some perfect skipping rocks there or you be like the professionals…
Sugar Loaf
A massive rock nearly 75 feet above ground is locate at the center of the island, and is a great site to take in along with Fort Holmes and the…
The Forest
For sheer, intense beauty and grandeur, the Mackinac State Park is one of Mother Nature’s most awe-inspiring treasures. Encompassing over 80% of Mackinac Island, the park offers the following attractions.…
Top of Rock Views
Mackinac Island is a big limestone rock formation and getting to the many high points will be rewarded with world class views. Popular locations include Sunset Rock, Fort Holmes, Fort…
Walk the Island
The eight mile walk around the island will offer gorgeous views of the water, surrounding islands, the Mackinac Bridge, and offers a number of stops along the walk describing historic…
Wings of Mackinac Butterfly Conservatory
All ages can enjoy seeing hundreds of tropical and native butterflies beautifully dancing among lush plants, water fountains while sitting and taking in the gorgeous scenery around you and witnessing…
Mackinac Island Lodging & Accommodations
With over 1,600 unique lodging rooms, our Island is full of one of kind, family owned and award winning properties. The Island’s highly trained and courteous professionals want to make sure your stay is as comfortable and accommodating as possible.
Visitor's Guide
See all that the Island offers by viewing or downloading the Visitor's Guide yourself!
