Welcome to March: the epitome of "shoulder season" recreation where days can start with a morning cycle and finish with powder skiing. As you navigate this most unpredictable of months, here are the top 8 outdoor events near Detroit for capitalizing on March's recreational opportunities!
Shoulder. Season. There are no better two words for describing what Detroit region recreationists experience in March when trying to plan for a full day of outdoor experiences.
If you're a glass-half-full kind of person, then March should represent your favorite month of the year. For the next few weeks, you could have an opportunity to run on dry trails in the morning and snowshoe through powder in the evening. Or embrace a crisp morning hike before basking in the warmth of a mid-afternoon kayak. Our most coveted parks are still largely vacant of warmer-weather crowds. The most sought-after river routes or campsites are available for your recreational leisure.
Oh, and as a cherry on top, most Michigan state park drinking regulations don't take effect until April 1st. Sláinte.
On the other hand...March has a tendency to kind of suck. This month often too warm to ski at the Big Four Resorts, too cold to paddle, too muddy to bike, too early to hunt...etc., etc. If navigated poorly, recreationists can easily find themselves simply trying to survive a period of recreational purgatory.
We at Expedition Detroit align ourselves with the pro-March agenda. Conditions be damned, we're firmly in the friluftsliv, "there's no such thing as bad weather just bad clothing" crowd. However, especially for the "March Deniers" among us, we thought that we'd curate this list of Top 8 Outdoor Events to help ease your passing from winter into spring!
1. CLOSE OUT SKI SEASON AT DETROIT'S BIG FOUR RESORTS
Early March  | Alpine Valley, Mt. Brighton, Mt. Holly, and Pine Knob Resorts
The arrival of spring in the Detroit region is bitter sweet. On the one hand, warmer temps tend to open up the full arsenal of Metro Detroit's recreational opportunities. Kayaking, mountain biking, mud-less trail running...you name it, our region's got it.
On the other...R.I.P. ski season. Especially a "true winter" ski season like this year's.
Don't stow away your twigs and boards yet! The "Big Four" resorts will most likely start closing down around March 16th, so get your final turns in for the 2024-25 season while you still can. As an extra season-ending bonus, here are some spring-themed events occurring at each resort this month:
Inaugural Pine Knob Park Festival: March 8 - 9th, Pine Knob Ski & Snowboard Resort
Beach Day Celebration: March 9th, Mt. Holly Resort
Cash Cup Rail Jam with Exodus: March 15th, Alpine Valley Resort
Mount Brighton Closing Weekend: March 14 - 16th, Mount Brighton Resort
2. EXPLORE A WINTRY LANTERN HIKE AT ISLAND LAKE
March 8th  | Island Lake State Recreation Area  | 6 p.m.
Guided lantern hikes have become a wintertime staple on a few select trails throughout the Michigan State Parks system. Fortunately for us in the Detroit region, one of those lucky trails includes Island Lake's stunning Hickory Ridge Trail.
For the last time this season, the Friends of Island Lake State Recreation Area invite you to enjoy the winter wonderland of Hickory Ridge hiking during a special Lantern Hike. This self-guided loop hike spans 1.5 miles, and the trail is completely lit by lanterns. Hikers are encouraged not to bring any headlamps or other lights, as the lanterns and moonlight will help guide you through the trail.
Hikers can hit the trail at any time between 6:00 and 9:00 pm before the lights are taken down. Dogs are allowed on the trail but please make sure they stay on a leash.
EXPLORE ISLAND LAKE STATE RECREATION AREA WITH EXPEDITION DETROIT!
3. Run for the Gold at a St. Patrick's Day 5K
Throughout March | Throughout Detroit Region
There's only one time of year where waking up to any song by the Dropkick Murphys is not only acceptable, but culturally-respectable. As well as slamming a pre-race Guinness. Or kissing anyone with freckles or red hair, assuming that their green t-shirt of choice explicitly invites said kiss.
That beautiful time of year, my friends, is St. Patrick's Day - a day of remembrance of the "Old Country" for us Irish, acceptable debauchery, bag-pipe filled music, crowded pubs, and a festive leprechaun-themed 5K races. Detroit's oldest and most Irish neighborhood, Corktown, will be hosting its 42nd running of the "Corktown Races" on March 16th. Other fantastic St. Paddy's-themed races include RF Events' "Shamrocks & Shenanigans" on March 9th in Ann Arbor, the "Lucky Leprechaun Race" on March 15th in Utica, and "Run for the Gold" on the same day in Pinckney.
4. Celebrate Detroit's Outdoors on "313 Day"
March 13th  | Robert C. Valade Park, Detroit Michigan  | 3:13 p.m.Â
DE-TROIT! Our city has a lot to be proud of heading into 2025, ESPECIALLY with regard to our ever-expanding trail system and the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge. As such, there's no better place to celebrate the city this "313 Day" than along the Detroit Riverfront at Valade Park!
Next Thursday, head downtown for a family-friendly celebration of all matters Detroit. We're talking music, comedy, trivia, poetry, activities, food, prizes and so much more - all along Detroit's award-winning riverfront. Additional amenities include a 3.13-mile run with We Run 313, food from Smokey G’s Smokehouse and Detroit Panzerotti, and Detroit-themed drinks & specials from the Valade Shed Bar.
5. Earn your Slice of Pi(e)
March 14th  | Flat Rock, Michigan  | 6 p.m.Â
For most of us, when you think of a "special day in March," you probably think of St. Patrick's Day. Obviously. But, if you time-travel back to your middle school years (apologies in advance), we all remember that one kid who came to school on March 14th, with a chocolate-chip pie under their arm, decorated in icing with one archaic symbol that you haven't thought of since your geometry exam: π.
"Ah, that's right," you should be thinking right about now. "Pi day."
Pi - the Greek trigonometric symbol that mathematically represents the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter - is shorthand calculated as "3.14." As such, March 14th is celebrated as "Pi Day" among mathletes and athletes alike due to its correlation with the number. While Pi Day is internationally-recognized as a day to commemorate math, we at Expedition Detroit choose to celebrate by extending our typical weekly 5K by 0.04 miles.
Head over to Flat Rock, Michigan for the Flat Rock Pi-Day 5K, where runners can choose from from either a timed, competitive 5k run/walk or recreational 1-mile run/walk along the beautiful Downriver Linked Greenways and neighboring streets of Flat Rock. All proceeds from the event support the Flat Rock Education Foundation, a non-profit community organization committed to promoting growth and excellence within the Flat Rock Community School District.
6. Look to the Skies at North America's Premiere International Wildlife Refuge
March 16th  | Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge | 9:00 a.m.
Head down to the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge for a "Birding Field Trip"! Hosted by the Refuge and Detroit Bird Alliance, this experience explores the last undeveloped mile of the Detroit River on the U.S. side of the border. The trip will traverse native prairies, native shrublands, forests with a unique mosaic of 300-400 year old oaks mixed with hickory and ash, diverse wetlands, and beautiful Humbug Island. You will also look for warblers, other songbirds, as well as migrating and resident water birds.
The Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge in Trenton - North America's first international refuge - just recently announced a 20-acre acquisition. The Refuge already encompasses more than 6,300 acres of marshes, coastal wetlands and islands and stretches along 48 miles of shoreline on the lower Detroit River and western Lake Erie.
7. Close Out Flannel Season with a Lumberjack Festival & Pancake Run
March 21st - 23rd | Detroit, Michigan | 10:00 a.m.
Flannel. Flapjacks. Finish lines. Can you think of a better trio for closing out "Flannel SZN" in the Detroit region? We sure can't, and we think that whoever thought of this Lumberjack-themed festival & race at the DNR's "Outdoor Adventure Center" deserves a raise.
As the final act of the OAC's "Lumberjack Days Festival," the festive "Lumberjack 5K and Pancake Breakfast" race will traverse the Dequindre Cut, starting in front of the Outdoor Adventure Center. The course is flat and fast, and the race's "swag" includes a custom medal, lumberjack buff, free entry to the Outdoor Adventure Center beginning at 10 a.m., and a big pancake breakfast. All participants are encouraged to wear their best flannel apparel and sport their best lumberjack beard.
8. Gaze into the Cosmos at a Dark Sky Preserve
March 22nd  | Point Pelee National Park  | 7:30 p.m.Â
The days may finally be getting lighter, but the stars at Point Pelee National Park - the single best stargazing destination in the Detroit region - still shine as bright as ever! Point Pelee's "Dark Sky Nights" are especially catered towards star-gazing tourists willing to brave near-freezing temperatures at night, with amenities including extended visitor hours, seasonal star charts, and the combined natural beauty of the park and the cosmos.
BONUS: Explore Your State Parks with Expedition Detroit!
All March  | 11 Michigan State Parks and Recreation Areas
Winter hibernators, rejoice! The return of warming temperatures means that you can leave those extra layers at home - while also not worrying about crowds, bugs, or 5 p.m. sunsets.
In other words, RIGHT NOW is the perfect time to find your next favorite trail - and the Expedition Detroit team knows just where to lead you!
Check out our current offerings of guided trips covering the Detroit region's most beautiful state parks. This March, we are planning a select offering of guided hiking, night hiking, and - in the event of a surprise blizzard - snowshoeing day trips throughout Metro Detroit. For anyone interested in our guided snowshoe treks, note that we offer no-risk reservation transfer options for any treks that are cancelled due to conditions.
In other words, we guarantee that you will enjoy a world-class outdoor experience!
The Expedition Detroit team is proud to represent the Michigan DNR's largest commercial provider of guided hikes, backpacking expeditions, and trail running coach across ELEVEN of the Detroit region's most pristine state parks and recreation areas. Each of our guides has the field experience, wilderness first aid training, park knowledge, and outdoor passion that you can - and should - expect from any world-class trail experience.
P.S. Subscribers to our content get discounts on our guided trips AND online store items...
Explore Brighton State Recreation Area with Expedition Detroit!
Do you host an upcoming outdoor event that you would like to be featured in a future article? If yes, then we would love to hear from you! Please contact us at info@expeditiondetroit.com to discuss Expedition Detroit feature opportunities.