Explore A Little-Known Arboretum In This Small Michigan Country Town
By Jack Springgate|Published September 14, 2023
×
Jack Springgate
Author
I'm proud to be from the great state of Michigan. I've lived in the Mitten several different times throughout my life spending time in all corners of it. My journeys took me up and down the Lake Michigan coast, out east to explore Detroit and Ann Arbor, and to the dense forests of the UP.
Before writing with Only In Your State, I worked as a local TV news reporter and anchor, most recently in South Bend. Many of the stories I covered took place in Southwest Michigan. My roots are even deeper in the Wolverine State as I often head to Kalamazoo to visit family.
When I'm not out exploring nature, I'm avidly watching sports. I specifically have a deep love for the Michigan Wolverines (my alma mater), and I get to write about them and several other Big Ten teams as and editor for Athlon Sports. I also love to enjoy the great outdoors with my wife and our dog, Piper.
I'm excited to share all my favorite Michigan destinations with you. Keep exploring.
If you’re looking to find yourself among thousands of different plant and tree species, look no further than the Hidden Lake Gardens in Tipton, Michigan. This year-round botanical garden will take you away from the big city and bring you into Mother Nature’s living room. With miles of walking trails, hundreds of acres of forest, and a walkway that skies above it all, you’ll find fun for everyone in your family year-round.
You’ll find Hidden Lake Gardens roughly one-and-a-half hours from Detroit in the small town of Tipton. This garden got its start as a farm, but once the owner realized he couldn’t grow much on the land, he turned it into a series of gardens. It's about 100-years-later and the gardens now reach much further than their original 200-acre footprint.
The original owner, Harry Fee, donated much of this land to Michigan State University back in 1945. He intended to have it used as a research area for MSU students. The University still manages the area to this day, continuing to invest in its growth and development. The gardens are visited by more than 45,000 people annually.
Advertisement
The Harper Collection and Arboretum are where you’ll find all the trees.
These trees combine for the biggest footprint on the grounds. The Harper Collection features more than 600 different trees with needles and cones. The five-acre plot is home to a variety of pines, firs, spruces and many more. Visitors can walk among several different species of flowering fruit trees in the famed arboretum.
This treetop canopy walk is a new addition that gives visitors a whole new perspective on the forest. Just a half-mile walk from the entrance, the treetop canopy walk takes visitors 65 feet into the air over an old glacial kettle hole. It’s a walk you’ll have to experience on your visit. This feature is sometimes closed for maintenance throughout the year so make sure you check its availability before you go.
Step into the perfect setting to see all the fall colors.
I’m always on the hunt for some of the most scenic places to view the fall leaves, and Hidden Lake Gardens certainly makes the list. One of the best places to see the tree line is right on Hidden Lake itself, with the red, yellow, orange, and green hughes decorating the background.
View plant life from three different climate zones in the conservatory.
This is where you’ll be able to see some plant life that you normally wouldn’t be able to see in a wild Michigan forest. Hundreds of different arid, temperate, and tropical plants live under this roof. This is one of my favorite attractions that’s open year-round.
Start planning your trip to Hidden Lake Gardens, just as the leaves start to change colors. Let us know what you think of the treetop canopy walk. While it is tucked away in a small country town, there are some great places to stay that will make this trip worthwhile. Here’s one accommodation from our friends at Expedia that will fit your entire family.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
