18 Facts that Prove Michigan is an Outdoor Enthusiast Paradise

There’s no doubt Michiganders have a lot of state pride. Ask almost any one of us, and we’ll tell you how fond we are of this place. Topping most of our lists of reasons to love Michigan is the natural beauty that surrounds us everywhere. You’re never more than a two-hour drive from the shores of at least one of the Great Lakes. If we have a hankering to go explore the woods, there’s always a forest near by. Fishing, boating, hiking, skiing, swimming, it’s all just down the road. But you don’t just have to take our word for it. Here are 18 facts that prove Michigan is a great place for outdoor lovers.

1. Michigan is the 11th largest state in the Union land wise. There’s lot of territory to explore here.

2. It has over 19 million acres of forest. Want to get lost in the woods? You can do that here.

3. 41.5 percent of Michigan is made up of water. Be sure to pack your swimsuit when you come!

4. It has 3,052 miles of coastline. By they way, all of our coastline is fresh water. No salt here.

5. Four of Five Great Lakes are in Michigan. Parts of Lake Michigan, Huron, Superior and Erie all lie within our borders. Lake Ontario in Canada is the only one we can’t claim.

6. There are 11,000 inland lakes. As you can see, we have no shortage of lakes.

7. There are over 78 islands in the Great Lakes. May of them are accessible by ferry including Mackinac, Isle Royale, Drummond, Manitou and Grand Island.

8. At one time Michigan had 247 lighthouses. 124 remain today. Many are accessible by car or short hike. Some even offer tours of the interior.

9. There are 1,220 public beaches. Just one more friendly reminder, don’t forget your swimsuit!

10. There are 153 species of freshwater fish in Michigan. If you’re an angler, come on over!

11. We have more than 500 charter fishing businesses. You can go fishing even if you don’t have your own boat.

12. There 11 peninsulas in Michigan, including the major Upper and Lower Peninsulas. We have so many peninsulas, our peninsulas have peninsulas.

13. Every place in Michigan gets some snow each year. Houghton, the snowiest place in Michigan, has 90 days with snowfall and receives about 207 inches of snow on average every year.

14. Because of all of our snow, we have 51 ski areas with a combined 260 lifts and 1,000 runs.

15. If you prefer flat terrain, there are also 3,000 miles of cross-country ski trails.

16. If speed is your thing, there are 6,204  miles of maintained, interconnected snowmobile trails in Michigan.

17. Cyclists, don’t feel left out. There are 13,00 miles of bike trails here.

18. Finally, if you need a place to sleep after playing outside all day, between state and private campgrounds, there are almost 160,000 campsites in Michigan.

There’s something for everyone to enjoy in the great outdoors of Michigan!