Escape the city for the ski slopes, hiking trails, and inland lakes of southeast Michigan.
Less than an hour’s drive from Detroit, Lansing, and Ann Arbor, Brighton brings the Great Outdoors to Michigan’s urban population. The small city sits amid a gleaming patchwork of inland lakes, forested hills, and lush parklands, affording four seasons of outdoor fun. In the summer, camp or rent a cabin at the Island Lake Recreation Area, where you can swim at the beach, kayak, or canoe along the Huron River Water Trail, or take a sunrise or sunset hot air balloon ride. In winter, make a beeline for Mt Brighton, Southeast Michigan’s leading ski area, or take your pick of hiking and mountain biking trails in the Brighton Recreation Area, Pinckney Recreation Area, or Kensington Metropark. The Brighton-Howell area has plenty of options for campers, too. Snag a quiet countryside Hipcamp or glampsite, check into a state-run campground by the lakes, or check into a beachside RV park or campground.