15 Fun Places For Snow Tubing In Michigan This Winter
If you’re one of those Michiganders who spends November through March complaining about the “gray,” we need to have a talk. I live for that first morning when the air turns bell-clear and sharp enough to wake up your soul.
To me, winter isn’t a season to endure, but our state’s greatest playground, and snow tubing is the ultimate gateway drug for the uninitiated. There is a primal, uncomplicated joy in dragging a rubber tube up a hill and letting gravity turn you into a giggling, wind-burned mess.
No lessons, no expensive gear, just you and a downhill run that feels faster and funnier than it has any right to be. Discover the top snow tubing hills in Michigan, where perfectly groomed lanes and high-speed lifts turn our legendary winters into an adrenaline-fueled outdoor adventure for everyone.
From the massive, multi-lane runs at the big resorts to the cozy city parks where the locals gather, every hill has a different rhythm.
1. Cannonsburg Ski Area, Belmont
Evening lights at Cannonsburg flick on like stage cues, and the lanes look neatly combed, ready for showtime. The tubing hill sits near the lodge, close enough to warm up between runs but separate enough to hold its own scene. People laugh in pockets, and the lift hums at a friendly pitch.
Opened in the 1960s, Cannonsburg has become a west Michigan winter habit, with a knack for snowmaking that rescues thin weeks. Staff keep the lanes fast but sane, and attendants load tubes with calm, practiced rhythm. Visit on weekday evenings for shorter lines.
Parking comes easy, rentals are on site, and helmets are encouraged. Grab cocoa, then lap the hill until your cheeks glow.
2. Timber Ridge Ski Area, Gobles
The sound here is soft, like corduroy under a paint roller, as tubes glide over expertly groomed lanes. The tubing park at Timber Ridge Ski Area sits just a short walk from the lodge, where boots thunk on wooden floors and crockpots steam with the promise of a hot lunch.
It feels incredibly friendly, built specifically for families who want simple fun with minimal instruction.
Timber Ridge dates back decades, acting as a small-but-sturdy southwest Michigan hill that keeps the community moving through the coldest months. Their snowmaking usually carries the load when natural snowfall stalls.
You’ll find that the lift attendants chat without rushing you, and the lanes stay remarkably organized even on the busiest Saturdays. It is wise to reserve your tickets online whenever possible, as peak times sell out fast. Be sure to dress for the wind since the slope faces open air.
Once you’ve had your fill of the Whoop-de-doo lanes, grab some warm chili before heading back outside for another round.
3. Hawk Island Park Tubing Hill, Lansing
City snow feels different: compacted, civic, well-loved. Hawk Island Park’s tubing hill folds into Lansing’s park system, with a clear view down to frozen ponds that collect winter light. The conveyor lift keeps motion continuous, so families cycle through like a cheerful assembly line.
Operated by Ingham County Parks, the hill runs with a public-park efficiency and a rental process that moves quickly. Staff monitor spacing, and the lanes run straight and sensible. It is a place built for repeat laps more than daredevil angles.
Book time slots in advance because weekend demand spikes. Parking fills quickly near the tubing entrance. After, warm up inside the shelter or loop the park trails for one last cold-lung breath.
4. Bowers School Farm Winter Park Tubing, Bloomfield Hills
There is a farm hush here, even when the lanes buzz. You slide with sightlines to barns and fences, a winter mashup of field and festival. The tubing hill is tidy, with staff posted like friendly ushers, and warm spaces glow under strings of lights.
Bowers School Farm is an educational farm turned seasonal playground, and the Winter Park leans into that community role. The tubing setup is structured, time-slot based, and dialed for families. Everything feels curated more than improvised.
Reserve early because sessions sell out in Oakland County’s busy season. Arrive a touch ahead to gear up and find your group. After runs, wander to the concessions for doughnuts that taste like childhood.
5. Boyne Mountain Tubing Park, Boyne Falls
Resort energy carries across the valley at Boyne Mountain, where tubing feels like the casual cousin to the ski scene. Lanes gleam under stadium lights and the conveyor carries riders with steady, theme-park patience. Music drifts up from the base and folds into the whoosh of tubes.
Open since the 1940s, Boyne Mountain helped write Michigan ski history. The tubing park reflects that polish, with efficient staff and predictable grooming. It is not the tallest hill, but it is satisfyingly swift.
Buy tickets early on holiday weekends, then linger for après at the village. Consider pairing tubing with Avalanche Bay indoor waterpark for a silly contrast. Layers help when lake breeze slides through the valley.
6. Boyne Highlands Tubing Park, Harbor Springs
Resort energy carries across the valley at Boyne Mountain, where tubing feels like the casual, fun-loving cousin to the elite ski scene. The lanes gleam under powerful stadium lights and the conveyor carries riders toward the summit with steady, theme-park patience.
Music drifts up from the base of the mountain and folds into the satisfying whoosh of the tubes.
Open since the 1940s, Boyne Mountain Resort helped write the book on Michigan ski history. The tubing park reflects that long-standing polish, featuring efficient staff and predictable, high-quality grooming.
It may not be the tallest hill in the state, but it is satisfyingly swift. It is best to buy your tickets early on holiday weekends, then linger for a bit of après-ski atmosphere at the village.
You might even consider pairing your tubing session with a trip to Avalanche Bay, the indoor waterpark, for a silly temperature contrast. Wearing multiple layers helps when that sharp lake breeze slides through the valley.
7. Shanty Creek Alpine Tubing, Schuss Mountain, Mancelona area
The Schuss Mountain base hums with a friendly midwestern din, and the tubing park tucks in like a lively side street. Lanes are wide, snow is machine-fresh when needed, and the lift carries a steady parade of bright coats. Squeals echo off the pines.
Shanty Creek’s intertwined resort history shows in the layout, with clear signage and staff who shuttle guests efficiently. The tubing area feels choreographed but relaxed. It welcomes mixed groups where skiers trade boots for tubes between runs.
Pre-book sessions online, particularly on Saturdays when the place turns festive. Park once and roam between villages for food. A headlamp is unnecessary, but the idea is charming when twilight pools over the hill.
8. Ski Brule Tubing Parks, Iron River
Up north in the U.P., the air snaps a little brighter and the snow tends to stay a lot longer. Ski Brule’s tubing areas borrow that Upper Peninsula reliability, featuring lanes carved clean and a lift that rarely quits regardless of the temperature.
It is uncomplicated fun, just gravity, rubber, and good grooming. Ski Brule opened its doors in the 1970s and quickly built a reputation for the earliest openings and longest seasons in the Midwest.
The tubing follows this same workhorse ethic, typically running whenever the resort’s generous snowmaking allows. Staff keep the lines moving with a nod-and-send rhythm that feels well-practiced.
It is always wise to check the daily snow report before driving those remote northern roads. Dress in windproof gear, because the ridge can really whistle when a storm rolls in.
Pair your tubing adventure with a local food lesson: U.P. Pasties travel well and will make your car smell like pepper and comfort on the long ride back.
9. Otsego Resort Tubing, Gaylord
Gaylord gathers snow like it was promised, and Otsego’s tubing folds into that lake-effect bounty. The hill sits not far from handsome lodge buildings, where fireplaces work like magnets. Lanes run smooth, usually with calm crowds compared to bigger resorts.
Once private, Otsego opened to the public, and the grounds show that classic-club care. Operations are straightforward, with staff happy to explain the routine. The vibe runs quiet-friendly, which suits families and first-timers.
Confirm hours because tubing can be session-based. Bring cashless payment and a warm layer for the lift. Afterward, check downtown Gaylord’s Alpine-themed storefronts, which look somehow more sincere under frost.
A bakery stop may accidentally become tradition.
10. Muskegon Luge Adventure Sports Park, Muskegon State Park
The scent of pine resin rides the air at Muskegon State Park, and the tubing hill borrows some serious street cred from the professional luge track located right next door.
The lanes tilt at a just-right angle, quick enough for a big grin but gentle enough for the kids to handle alone. Long pine shadows stripe the snow when the lights kick on at dusk.
This park is a unique public-nonprofit hybrid known for winter experiments that actually work. While the luge draws the big headlines, the tubing hill shares the same smart grooming and dedicated team of friendly volunteers.
Everything here feels thoughtfully built rather than flashy or corporate. You really should reserve your spot online, as sessions often sell out days in advance. If time permits, consider adding a lap on the ice skating trail through the woods.
Dress for the lake wind coming off Muskegon’s big water, then reward your bravery with something hot from the welcome concessions window.
11. Mt. Holiday Tubing Hill, Traverse City
Sunset can blush over Grand Traverse Bay while you line up at Mt. Holiday, a small hill with a big-community heart. The tubing lanes pour down a well-kept pitch, and the lift returns you with views that feel taller than they are.
Locals mix with visitors in easy conversation.
Mt. Holiday began as a community project and still acts like one, with volunteers threaded through operations. Grooming is careful, and staff balance safety and speed with easy humor.
It is Traverse City practical, not precious.
Book ahead for weekends, then plan tacos or pie nearby, because this town eats well. Layers matter when bay breezes sneak in. One fast run becomes three before you notice.
12. Big Valley Ski and Tube, Newberry
There is a pleasant quiet at Big Valley, the kind that makes laughter carry farther. The tubing slope spreads across open country outside Newberry, with a homespun lift and unpretentious lanes. On clear days, the sky looks like cut glass.
This is a family-run operation in the eastern U.P., and it shows in the practical grooming and straightforward pricing. Nothing is over-designed. You come, you slide, you wave to the operator who remembers faces.
Check Facebook or call ahead because hours can hinge on weather and group demand. Dress extra warm; inland U.P. cold has a particular honesty. Pair the visit with Tahquamenon Falls in winter if roads look friendly and daylight cooperates.
13. Timberlee Hills, Traverse City area
The slope at Timberlee drops longer than expected, and you feel it in your stomach on the first go. Set among rolling hills west of town, the tubing lanes stretch clean, with good fall lines and little chatter. The lift returns you with views that feel spacious.
Timberlee has a wedding-venue side, and the winter operation borrows that event polish. Check-in is brisk, staff are upbeat, and grooming keeps speed honest. It is simple but dialed-in, designed for repeats.
Reserve peak slots online because Traverse City weekends stack up. Parking is straightforward, though plows sometimes chase active snowfall. After your runs, head for cider or a quiet brewery and savor that cheeks-stinging, eyes-watering glow.
14. Treetops Resort Extreme Tubing, Gaylord
The word extreme earns its keep at Treetops, where lanes drop steeper and speed builds quickly. Lights pour over the slope, and cheers pop as riders spin into the flat. Adrenaline shows up like a warm flush in cold air.
Treetops has been a Gaylord anchor since the 1980s, and their tubing leans into that resort confidence. Staff handle dispatch with crisp timing, keeping spacing safe without stepping on the fun. The grooming crew respects edge control.
Book early on busy weekends because this session sells out fast. Goggles help when snow guns run. Pair tubing with a short snowshoe loop through the whispering pines to reset your pulse before dinner in town.
15. Mt. Zion Recreational Complex Snow Tubing, Ironwood
Mt. Zion feels like a community handshake. The tubing lanes run beside beginner ski terrain, which keeps the mood unhurried and neighborly.
Snow stacks up nicely this far west, so runs stay lively even late in the season.
Operated by Gogebic Community College’s ski area management program, the hill doubles as a training ground. That means thoughtful operations and a learning-lab attention to grooming. It is practical, budget-friendly, and grounded in the place.
Check the schedule because hours flex with classes and events. Dress for genuine U.P. cold; hand warmers are not overkill. I always leave with a refreshed respect for small hills that do big work for winter happiness.