'Tis the season for holly, jolly outdoor adventures - and we are stoked for them all! As you navigate the madness of the holidays, here are the top ten outdoor events near Detroit to guide you through this most festive of months. Happy holidays!
In case you haven't heard, it's the most wonderful time of the year...
And yes, not only because of the holiday season. The Expedition Detroit team is STOKED for a December that's JAM-PACKED with recreational opportunities in the Detroit area, which may come as a shock to some outdoor enthusiasts. Especially since we're waaaaay behind the curve here publishing this article on December 12th. Whoops.
To be fair, December can be a polarizing month - less in terms of Santa's homestead and more regarding attitudes towards outdoor recreation. The Winter Solstice hitting mid-month means that December brings the shortest and some of the coldest days of the year. Add in the seasonal work and holiday commitments, the net result is that the odds for experiencing bountiful outdoor recreation thin out a bit.
That, dear friends, represents the greatest gift that you will receive this month. December rings in opportunities for intrepid recreationists that simply do not exist mid-summer. Virtually empty running, hiking, and kayaking trails. Prime time for fat tire biking season. Expeditious snowshoeing and cross-country skiing routes. Fresh groomer tracks at Detroit's ski resorts. Extended hunting periods. An entire season ripe for outdoor innovation.
Put differently, December provides us all with two options: hibernate until spring, or fully embrace and capitalize on the gift that is winter in Detroit.
You already know which option we're choosing, so we're kicking off our winter expeditions with these awesome top ten outdoor events near Detroit for December.
1. Earn First Tracks at Detroit's Premiere Ski Resorts
Throughout December | Big Four Ski Resorts
Winter recreation invokes many different emotions, expectations, and memories. For certain members of the Expedition Detroit team, winter means claiming first chair rights and carving fresh tracks into a perfectly groomed ski slope. Yes, we of course love our backcountry terrain too, but there's nothing quite like a crisp groomer or a deep powder day at one of Detroit's four premiere resorts: Mt. Holly, Pine Knob, Alpine Valley, and Mt. Brighton.
As of the writing of this article, 3/4 of Detroit's "Big Four Ski Resorts" are open for riding! We state this with a little bit of a caveat - all four resorts are largely still in the snowmaking/accumulating process. Conditions are only going to heat up (er, cool down?) as this month progresses, so while we're waiting for the snow to fall we will be purchasing our lift tickets (relevant links here and here), sharpening our skis, and dreaming of those first sweet runs.
2. Run like Rudolph in a Holiday Race
December 7th | Throughout the Detroit Region | 9:30 a.m.
Remember those few extra pounds that you may or may not have packed on during Thanksgiving? Well, lucky for you, 2024's holiday race season didn't end with that Turkey Trot your in-laws dragged you out of bed to run. To the contrary, 'tis the season for Christmas-themed races, so you'll burn off those extra turkey pounds in no time.
The holiday race season, all of your favorite running Santas will be coming to towns across the Detroit region this Saturday, December 7th. Starting in Utica, the Eggnog Jog kicks off at 9:30 a.m. Dexter's annual "Holiday Hustle" then sprints off with their half marathon race at 11 a.m., followed by community-favorites 1 mile and 5K events respectively at 4 and 4:30 p.m. Last but certainly not least, Saline's "Merry Mile" closes out the festive racing at 5:30 p.m.
3. Gaze into the Cosmos at a Dark Sky Preserve
December 7th | Point Pelee National Park | 6:00 p.m.
Sometimes the best break from the frenzy of the holidays is to do nothing. Well, almost nothing - hiking through a national park to experience the best stargazing in the Detroit region definitely counts as doing something.
Fortunately for us, Point Pelee National Park saves the day yet again as our region's sole Dark Sky Preserve: the ideal location for gazing into the cosmos and tuning out the world for an extraterrestrial outing. 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.
The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC) will be onsite with telescopes to facilitate star gazing. RASC attendance is weather permitting as cloudy skies inhibit night sky viewing. Cloudy skies or clear, the park will be open until 12 am unless otherwise stated
4. Wander Into Winter with Expedition Detroit!
Throughout December | 11 Michigan State Parks and Recreation Areas
Detroit is a world-class, year-round outdoor destination - and our guided trips are curated to capitalize on each phase of our calendar trail conditions!
Beyond our typical offering of guided hiking, backpacking, and trail running adventures, this December we're excited to broaden our offering of guided night hiking safaris and - conditions pending - GUIDED SNOWSHOE TREKS! Both of these trips will provide snowshoes and headlamps for rent.
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 Services AND online store items...
5. Discover the 12 Birds of Christmas at Humbug Marsh
December 21st | Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge - Humbug Marsh Unit | 9 a.m.
Let's be honest - why just sing about a few festive birds when you can venture into our region's sole International Wildlife Refuge to experience the real deal? The Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge is hosting a free "12 Birds of Christmas" hiking and bird watching event at Humbug Marsh. Located along the Detroit River, Humbug Marsh is the last undeveloped mile of the Detroit River on the U.S. side of the border.
The guided hike 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. Rare birds on the viewing agenda include eagles, winter wrens, golden crowned kinglets, herons, and other migrating and resident water birds.
6. Book Your Escape from the Holiday Mayhem
All December | Throughout Detroit Region
Let's call a spade a spade: the holidays often provide some of the most stressful days of the year. A perfect storm of year-end burnout, financial stressors, and familial pressures. Oh, and constant reminders to be "merry" and "joyful" don't really ease the situation as much as carolers hope for (they actually tend to exacerbate it).
During times like these, our go-to remedy is a winter escape. Anything from an overnight at Green Lake's iconic yurt, a rustic cabin at Island Lake Recreation Area, Point Pelee National Park's "oTENTik" modern tents, or the best "glamping" destinations throughout the Detroit region. Basically anything to get you off-grid and in nature during this magically stressful time of year.
7. Experience the Winter Wonderland of Glenlore Trails
Throughout December | Glenlore Trails, Commerce, Michigan | 7 p.m.
This holiday season, Glenlore Trails invites you to step into "Aurora," an illuminated winter wonderland! Glenlore's magical night walk is filled with dazzling lights, interactive activations, and a special twist - magic wands that let you unlock hidden surprises along the trail.
Whether you’re looking for a fun family outing or a memorable date night, Aurora offers a truly immersive experience that will bring the holiday season to life! Aurora will be open from until December 29th.
8. Seize the Day on a Winter Solstice Hike
December 21st | Lake Erie Metropark | 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Winter is coming. For many, that may invoke a feeling of dread - or a signal to start looking at flights south. For Expedition Detroit, on the other hand, that means an opportunity to kick the "Friluftsliv" lifestyle into high gear. The Detroit region's generous snowfall and shorter days mean incredible skiing, snow shoeing, and night hiking opportunities. Plus, the fair-weather crowds leave our pristine natural environment virtually vacant.
And that all officially kicks off on December 21st - the "Winter Solstice" - which is also the shortest day of the calendar year.
This solstice, our friends at Lake Erie Metropark invite you to seize the fleeting daylight on their nature trails on an educational Winter Solstice Hike! The guides will dive deep into the why and how the winter solstice happens, and what that means for the natural world around us. This program is entirely outdoors, lasts approximately 120 minutes, will be spent on a leisurely walk with frequent stops. The hike will conclude at the Lake Erie Marshlands Museum. The planned path surface is dirt and gravel, mostly flat and level.
EXPLORE A NIGHT HIKE SAFARI WITH EXPEDITION DETROIT!
9. Stay in the Woods for Extended Whitetail Deer Season
Throughout December | Statewide in Michigan
Wait - you didn't think that whitetail deer season ended in November, right...?
If you did, don't sweat it. Most Michiganders only associate deer hunting with "primetime" firearm season during the last two weeks of November. However, deer season continues all the way until the very end of January. In fact, Detroit-region hunters have the most expansive and inclusive hunting opportunities in the entire state.
Here's a quick reference guide for the remaining schedule for deer season near Detroit:
Period | Dates | Equipment Regulations | Location |
Muzzleloader | December 6th - 15th | A muzzleloading rifle or black powder handgun loaded with black powder or a commercially manufactured black powder substitute | Statewide |
Antlerless Firearm | December 16th - January 12th | All firearm regulations apply | Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, Washtenaw, and Wayne Counties |
Urban Archery | December 1st - January 31st | Compound and crossbow; must wear hunter orange during firearm periods | Macomb, Oakland, Washtenaw, and Wayne Counties |
This season, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources has specifically called on lower peninsula hunters to play a critical role in the DNR's conservation strategy. More specifically, in order to alleviate the significant stress that an overpopulation of deer has levied upon the lower peninsula's ecosystem, the DNR is pleading for hunters to focus primarily on harvesting a doe. Increased doe harvests will also provide the long-term benefits of reduced cases of disease transmission, vehicle accidents involving deer, and destruction of farmland.
GEAR UP FOR THE SEASON WITH EXPEDITION DETROIT
10. Sprint into the New Year at the Belle Isle NYE Run
December 31st | Belle Isle State Park | 3 p.m.
Every New Year's Eve, we all find ourselves looking forward to a blank slate of opportunity. Races to be run. Trails to be explored. Memories to capture. And for the most part, all of those experiences lay just outside of our grasp - one ripped calendar page away from becoming a reality.
December 31st also provides us all with one last sweet, finite way of sticking it to the year that's on its way out. Regardless of whether you'll look back on 2024 as the best or worst year of your life, we can't think of a better way to close out this chapter than sweating it out on a New Year's Eve race.
This year, head down to Belle Isle for the annual New Year's Eve Run 5K! Set against the picturesque backdrop of Downtown Detroit, this annual run features a range of distances to accommodate all levels of runners and walkers. Participants enjoy a scenic route with stunning views of the Detroit skyline and the Detroit River, while festive decorations and a lively atmosphere add to the celebration. The event often includes post-race festivities such as music, food, and opportunities for socializing, making it a memorable way to ring in the new year.
Happy December to you all, and wishing you nothing but the best heading into 2024. We can’t wait to see you out there!
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.
Love the article Dan…looks amazing out there!!