10 Secluded Michigan Islands That Feel Like A Different World
Michigan sits surrounded by the Great Lakes, the world’s largest freshwater lake system by surface area, which means it’s also home to hundreds of islands that most people have never even heard of.
Some of these islands are so remote and untouched that stepping onto their shores feels like entering a completely different dimension where time moves slower and nature takes center stage.
Whether you’re craving an escape from the daily grind or just want to explore places that feel worlds away from the mainland, these secluded spots offer adventures that range from wild and rugged to peaceful and historic.
Get ready to discover ten Michigan islands that will make you feel like you’ve traveled to another world entirely.
1. Beaver Island
Beaver Island, Lake Michigan, Charlevoix County, MI 49782—this place is basically what happens when you take all the best parts of island living and plop them into the middle of Lake Michigan.
Getting there requires a little-over-two-hour ferry ride or a tiny plane, which automatically filters out the tourists who just want to snap a quick selfie and leave.
Once upon a time, this island was ruled by a self-proclaimed king named James Strang, who somehow convinced hundreds of followers to join his Mormon sect here in the 1850s.
These days, the only royalty you’ll find are the bald eagles soaring overhead and maybe a few locals who’ve perfected the art of island time.
The entire island spans about 55 square miles, making it the largest island in Lake Michigan and plenty big enough to get delightfully lost on quiet roads.
Rent a bike or a golf cart and cruise past lighthouses, beaches, and forests that look like they belong in a fairy tale.
The island’s main town, St. James, has a population closer to 145 people (with the whole island around 600), so you’ll quickly become a familiar face at the local bakery.
Fish, kayak, or just sit on a beach and contemplate how you’re going to break the news to your boss that you’re never coming back.
Beaver Island doesn’t just feel like a different world—it practically insists on it.
2. Drummond Island
Drummond Island, Lake Huron, Eastern Upper Peninsula, MI 49726—welcome to Michigan’s wild child, where rugged beauty meets serious off-road adventures.
This island sits so far east in the U.P. that it’s practically waving at Canada across the water.
A quick car ferry from De Tour Village gets you there, and suddenly you’re in a landscape that feels more like the Scottish Highlands than the Midwest.
Drummond Island covers about 129 square miles of land (and roughly 249 square miles total when you include surrounding water), making it Michigan’s second-largest island and a paradise for anyone who loves ATVs, hiking, or just exploring places where cell service becomes a distant memory.
The island’s limestone bedrock creates dramatic cliffs and unique rock formations that look like nature’s own sculpture garden.
History buffs will geek out over the fact that this island was once contested territory between the U.S. and Britain after the War of 1812.
Spoiler alert: we won, and now you get to enjoy its 150 miles of shoreline without any international incidents.
Wildlife here includes everything from black bears to rare orchids, so keep your eyes peeled and your camera ready.
The island’s small year-round population of around 973 people means you’ll have plenty of space to roam without bumping into crowds.
Drummond Island doesn’t do fancy resorts or tourist traps—it does authentic wilderness with a side of friendly locals.
3. Sugar Island
Sugar Island, St. Marys River, near Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783—don’t let the sweet name fool you, because this island is pure, unfiltered tranquility with zero added sugar coating.
A car ferry runs regularly from Sault Ste. Marie (for a fee), making it one of the most accessible escapes on this list.
The island got its name from the sugar maple trees that blanket the landscape, turning the entire place into a fiery masterpiece every autumn.
About 650 hardy souls call this island home year-round, braving winters that would make a polar bear think twice.
Sugar Island stretches about 18 miles long and offers a mix of farms, forests, and shoreline that feels refreshingly uncomplicated.
There’s something wonderfully old-fashioned about a place where people still wave at passing cars and nobody’s in a hurry to get anywhere.
The island’s location in the St. Marys River means you can watch massive freighters cruise by while you’re fishing from shore—it’s like having a front-row seat to Great Lakes shipping without leaving your lawn chair.
Birdwatchers flock here (pun absolutely intended) for the incredible variety of species that migrate through the area.
Bring your kayak, your fishing pole, or just your sense of wonder, because Sugar Island specializes in simple pleasures.
This island proves that sometimes the best adventures are the quiet ones.
4. Neebish Island
Neebish Island, St. Marys River, Eastern U.P., MI 49788—if Sugar Island is the accessible cousin, then Neebish is the mysterious hermit who only shows up at family reunions.
This skinny strip of land runs about 15 miles long but never gets much wider than a mile, making it feel like you’re on a secret nature preserve that forgot to charge admission.
Getting here requires taking a small ferry from the mainland, and with a year-round population of fewer than 100 people, you’ll have more conversations with loons than humans.
The island sits smack in the middle of the St. Marys River shipping channel, so enormous freighters pass by close enough that you could practically wave at the crew.
It’s like living in a real-life shipping documentary, except with better scenery and fewer commercials.
Neebish Island’s forests are thick with pine and hardwoods, creating a canopy so dense that hiking here feels like walking through nature’s own cathedral.
There are no big stores and no gas stations, and any small general-store options are limited and often seasonal, just pure, unfiltered island living for people who really mean it when they say they want to get away.
Fishing here is phenomenal, with walleye, pike, and bass practically lining up to get caught.
The island’s remoteness means wildlife roams freely, so don’t be surprised if you share the trail with deer, foxes, or even the occasional bear.
Neebish Island is proof that sometimes the best places are the hardest to reach.
5. Mackinac Island
Mackinac Island, Straits of Mackinac, MI 49757—okay, so calling this place “secluded” might be stretching it like taffy at one of its famous fudge shops, but hear me out.
Yes, Mackinac Island gets about a million visitors every summer, but the moment you step away from the main drag, you’ll find trails, hidden beaches, and quiet corners that feel worlds away from the fudge-munching masses.
No cars have been allowed here since 1898, which means the only sounds you’ll hear are horse hooves, bicycle bells, and the occasional tourist asking where they can buy more fudge.
The island’s Victorian architecture looks like someone time-traveled from the 1890s and decided to stay forever, with the Grand Hotel’s 660-foot-long porch serving as the crown jewel.
Fort Mackinac sits perched on a bluff overlooking the town, offering history lessons and cannon demonstrations that never get old.
Rent a bike and cruise the 8.2-mile loop around the island, stopping at Arch Rock, a natural limestone formation that looks like nature’s own gateway to another dimension.
The island’s interior features 70 miles of trails through forests so peaceful you’ll forget that downtown exists.
Sure, you’ll have to share the island with other visitors, but there’s something magical about a place that refuses to modernize.
Mackinac Island doesn’t just feel like a different world—it feels like a different century, and that’s exactly its charm.
6. Harsens Island
Harsens Island, St. Clair River Delta, Clay Township, MI 48028—this place is what happens when you take a slice of the Caribbean, drop it in Michigan waters, and add a distinctly Midwestern attitude.
A car ferry runs from Algonac (for a fee), making this island surprisingly accessible for somewhere that feels so delightfully remote.
The island is part of the massive St. Clair Flats wetland delta and the broader Eastern Lake St. Clair Important Bird Area, translation: if you love birds, bring binoculars and prepare to lose entire afternoons watching rare species do their thing.
Harsens Island has roughly 900 year-round residents who’ve mastered the art of island living without the pretense.
The island’s maze of channels and marshes creates a boater’s paradise where you can spend days exploring without seeing the same stretch of water twice.
There’s a charming small-town vibe here, with a couple of bars, a general store, and enough local characters to fill a novel.
The Harsens Island Range Light Station is a beautiful reminder of the island’s maritime history, and nearby range lights still serve as active aids to navigation.
Fishing here ranges from excellent to absolutely ridiculous, with bass, pike, and perch practically begging to be caught.
Summer brings a laid-back party atmosphere, while winter turns the island into a frozen wonderland for ice fishing and snowmobiling.
Harsens Island proves that you don’t need to travel far to find paradise.
7. Bois Blanc Island
Bois Blanc Island (sometimes nicknamed “Bob-Lo”, not to be confused with the Detroit River’s Boblo Island), Near Mackinac Island, this is Mackinac Island’s quieter, wilder, infinitely cooler sibling.
While tourists cram onto Mackinac for fudge and Victorian charm, Bob-Lo sits just a few miles away, practically empty and loving every minute of it.
A small ferry from Cheboygan gets you there, and suddenly you’re in a landscape that feels more like northern Canada than Michigan.
The island covers about 34 square miles and has a year-round population of around 100 people.
Most of the island remains undeveloped forest, with dirt roads leading to hidden lakes, beaches, and clearings that feel like your own private discovery.
There’s no bridge, no regular ferry schedule in winter, and absolutely no tourist infrastructure, which is exactly what makes it perfect.
The island’s name means “White Wood” in French, referring to the white birch trees that give the forests their distinctive look.
Lighthouse Point on the island’s north end features the Bois Blanc Island Lighthouse, built in 1867, today the classic dwelling is private, but a light remains an active aid to navigation.
Wildlife here includes everything from black bears to rare snakes, so keep your wits about you and your camera ready.
Bring everything you need because there are no stores, no gas stations, and definitely no pizza delivery.
Bois Blanc Island is for people who think Mackinac Island is too crowded and modern civilization is overrated.
8. St. Helena Island Nature Preserve
St. Helena Island Nature Preserve, Straits of Mackinac Area, MI 49760—imagine a place so remote that even the lighthouse keeper eventually said “forget this” and left.
This uninhabited island sits between Mackinac Island and the mainland, accessible only by private boat, which immediately makes it feel like a secret adventure.
The island spans about 266 acres and is now managed as a nature preserve, meaning it’s been left to return to its wild, untamed glory.
St. Helena’s lighthouse, built in 1873, was de-staffed in 1922 but still stands today as an active aid to navigation and a restoration site.
Walking through the overgrown paths feels like exploring a post-apocalyptic movie set, except with better views and fewer zombies.
The island’s beaches are pristine and completely empty, offering swimming and beachcombing opportunities without another soul in sight.
Forests here have grown thick and wild over the decades, creating habitat for countless bird species and other wildlife.
There are no facilities and cell service can be limited, but there are rough trails on the island, so come prepared and ready to navigate by your wits.
The preserve is technically open to visitors, but the lack of regular boat service means you’ll need to arrange your own transportation.
Camping isn’t allowed, so this is a day-trip destination for adventurous souls who don’t mind a little bushwhacking.
St. Helena Island is proof that sometimes the best places are the ones that time forgot.
9. High Island
High Island, Beaver Archipelago Area, Lake Michigan, MI 49770—this place has a backstory that’s equal parts fascinating and slightly creepy in the best possible way.
The island was once home to a thriving logging and farm operation and later a religious commune called the House of David.
Spoiler alert: it was an unusual, isolated community, and traces it left behind can give parts of the island a part nature preserve, part ghost-town vibe.
High Island is uninhabited now and accessible only by private boat, making it a destination for serious adventurers and urban explorers.
The island’s name comes from its dramatic bluffs that rise sharply from Lake Michigan’s waters, offering views that’ll make your Instagram followers weep with envy.
If you come across old cabins or other remnants, admire them from the outside—time and weather have had decades to do their work, and safety comes first.
The island’s forests are thick with hardwoods and pine, creating a canopy so dense that hiking here feels like entering a different dimension.
Wildlife has thoroughly taken over since the humans left, so expect to see deer, birds, and possibly evidence of larger animals.
There are no maintained trails or facilities, so this is strictly a bring-everything-you-need kind of adventure.
High Island rewards the effort it takes to reach it with solitude, mystery, and natural beauty that feels completely otherworldly.
10. Belle Isle
Belle Isle, Detroit River, Detroit, MI 48207, okay, calling a 985-acre island park in the middle of Detroit “secluded” might seem like calling a concert “intimate,” but stick with me here.
Yes, Belle Isle gets plenty of visitors, but this park, shaped in part by a Frederick Law Olmsted landscape plan, has so many hidden corners, quiet trails, and peaceful spots that you can absolutely find solitude if you know where to look.
The island sits smack in the Detroit River between Detroit and Canada, connected to the city by the MacArthur Bridge but feeling worlds away once you cross over.
Belle Isle features an aquarium, a conservatory, a maritime museum, and enough green space to make you forget you’re in Michigan’s largest city.
The Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory houses one of the oldest conservatory collections in the country, with tropical plants that transport you to rainforests without the humidity-induced regret.
The James Scott Memorial Fountain is an elaborate marble masterpiece that looks like it belongs in a European palace, not a Detroit park.
Trails wind through forests and along the shoreline, offering stunning views of the Detroit skyline and passing freighters.
The island’s beaches provide swimming opportunities with a side of urban beauty that’s uniquely Detroit.
Wildlife thrives here despite the urban setting, with deer roaming freely and birds treating the island like their own private sanctuary.
Belle Isle proves that you don’t need complete isolation to find a different world—sometimes you just need a bridge and a willingness to explore.