9 Best Michigan Wildlife Viewing Destinations near B&B’s

9 of our favorite places to see Michigan Wildlife Viewing

Michigan, often referred to as the  “Great Lakes State” serves as a vital habitat for many interesting species, including black bears, eastern gray wolves, deer, moose, bobcats, and migratory birds. Below are some of our favorite destinations to visit to see this wildlife up close and the Michigan Bed and Breakfasts close by.

1. Port Huron State Game Area-Kimball

If you are a birdwatcher, you’ll want to grab your binoculars and head to the southeast part of Michigan to visit the Port Huron State Game Area. The Port Huron Game Area includes over 7,000 acres and lies along the Black River in St. Clair County. An abundance of natural grasslands helps preserve water and air quality and provides a natural habitat for all to enjoy. Here you will find deer, wild turkey, squirrels, rabbits, woodcock, and the occasional ruffed grouse in the forest; Along the river, cerulean warblers, Louisiana waterthrushes, and hooded warblers can be found in the spring and summer; The floodplains and wetlands along the river give wood ducks and mallards nesting and roosting places; The grasslands of the game area offer excellent habitat for ring-necked pheasants, field sparrows, willow flycatchers, deer, wild turkeys, Henslow’s sparrows, and upland sandpipers.

2. Pte. Mouille State Game Area- Rockwood

This is one of the top bird-watching sites in Michigan and encompasses over 7,000 acres of hunting, recreational, and protected habitats for abundant waterfowl and shorebird migrations.  Here you will find rareties and not often seen wildlife. This Game Area is located at the mouth of the Huron River at Lake Erie and smaller outlying areas within the Detroit River.  Note: the site is closed from September-November and only open for waterfowl hunting.

Best Bed and Breakfast to stay nearby-

• Robyn’s Inn in Plymouth (Approximately 42 minutes away)

Best Bed and Breakfast to stay nearby-

•  Hanson House– Grayling (Approximately 33 minutes away)

• Always a Holiday-East Tawas (Approximately 1 hour 4minutes)

• Huron House Bed and Breakfast- -Oscoda (Approximately 1 hour 4 minutes)

5. Nayanquing Point State Wildlife Area-Pinconning 

This wildlife area is a bird lover’s paradise; With more than 1400 acres of wetlands and flooded cropland along the shoreline of Saginaw Bay on Lake Huron, this wildlife haven attracts many song and shoreline birds. The  Nayanquing Point State Wildlife Area also includes interesting marsh nesting species, including least bitterns, American bitterns, black-crowned night-herons, Virginia rails, common moorhen, Caspian, and Forster’s terns.  Michigan’s most reliable breeding colony of yellow-headed blackbirds, a species typically found farther west, can be found here in spring and summer.  A pair of bald eagles have nested in the area as well.

Best Bed and Breakfast to stay nearby-

• Ginkgo Tree Inn– Mt Pleasant (Approximately 1 hour away)

• Historic Webster House– Bay City (Approximately 25 minutes away)

6. Saginaw Bay Birding Trail- Tawas State Park

On the Northeast Coast of Michigan, the Saginaw Bay Birding Trail is a fantastic place to see a large variety of birds. On the Sunrise Coast, it runs from Port Crescent State Park to Tawas Point State park, covering 142 miles. The distinct change in seasons and habitats makes it easier to see a variety of over 200 species of birds.

On a side note, this park has no light population, making for perfect stargazing. As a dark sky preserve, the best location to witness the twinkling stars is near the day-use parking lot, where you will also find a viewing platform.

Best Bed and Breakfast to stay nearby-

• Always a Holiday! B&B– East Tawas (Approximately 8 minutes)

7. Sleeping Bear Birding Trail- Sleeping Bay Dunes National Lakeshore

Heading over to the west side, the Sleeping Bear Birding Trail is another excellent place to visit if you love watching and examining different bird types. Stretching all 123 miles of the M-22 Highway, from Manistee to Traverse City, this trail is home to a diverse habitat and miles of shoreline. The Piping Plover, an endangered shorebird, has a home here due to the long sections of the beach.

Best Bed and Breakfast to stay nearby-

• Cottonwood Inn– Empire (Approximately 5 minutes)

• Glen Arbor Bed and Breakfast- Glen Arbor (Approximately 12 minutes)

8. Seney National Wildlife Refuge

Established in 1935, Seney National Wildlife Refuge was opened as a protection and breeding ground for migratory birds and other wildlife. The refuge area encompasses 95,238-acre of wilderness and is home to various species year-round.

Whether you would like to drive the self-guided auto tour, stop by the Visitor Center, walk the trails, go hunting or fishing, take photographs, canoe or kayak, you’ll enjoy yourself as you explore the area many species call home. From dawn to dusk, visitors can drive the Marshland Drive or walk the Pine Ridge Nature Trail to search the refuge pools for wildlife species. The Visitor Center and Marshland Drive are open daily each week from May 15 to October 15. However, the refuge is available to explore year-round.