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Leelanau County Michigan

Best Time to Visit

Every Season, Every Reason, Always Leelanau!

Summer is undoubtedly the most popular season to visit the Leelanau Peninsula. With warm weather, refreshing water, and plenty of day light the summer climate is perfect for exploring and enjoying all that makes natural wonderland so magnificent. While the days won’t grow consistently warm until late June, the summer weather is usually pleasant with average highs in the 70s (°F). Temperatures can reach into the 80s and even 90s, on rare occasion, but with plenty of water to enjoy a refreshing dip is only a stone’s throw away. And while summer evenings can get a bit cool, rarely do you need more than a light fleece, sweater or sweatshirt to stay comfortable.

Simply put, the weather in the summer is absolutely perfect for outdoor activities of all types. Whether you enjoy biking, hiking, swimming or boating, the Pinky has something for everyone and with over 15 hours of sunlight on the longest days there is plenty of time to enjoy it all. For those people less inclined to break a sweat or for after you’re showered up, the summer months afford visitors with an endless array of festivals, live music events, farmers’ markets, wineries, specialty shops and restaurants to enjoy. Or you can simply spend time driving through the beautiful rolling hills full of vineyards, orchards, wildflowers and natural beauty.

Ask a local and you may find out that fall is a favorite season for many. September, in fact, may be their favorite month. Summer weather will often stay past Labor Day, but the crowds don’t – making this a fantastic time to enjoy all the outdoor beauty and adventure the peninsula has to offer.

As the air turns crisp, and the boats get put away, the forests of Leelanau begin to glow with color. Maples and Birch trees light up the rolling hills, Sleeping Bear Dunes feels spacious again, and trails like Alligator Hill and Pyramid Point serve up big-sky views without summer crowds. It’s harvest season too: orchards pour fresh cider, farmstands brim with apples and squash, and tasting rooms celebrate new wines with cozy fireplaces and stunning vineyard views.

Practical perks sweeten the trip at this time of year – there are more lodging choices, dinner reservations are easier to make, and weekend events throughout the peninsula’s communities are infused with real locals’ activities. It’s a great time to visit and enjoy authentic Leelanau: climb a dune when the sun’s warm, enjoy the less crowded streets of the villages, savor a wine or cider next to a bonfire, and take in the gorgeous colors of this wonderful season.

The cool, brisk weather of fall is turning to cold, but the holidays are a magical time in Leelanau! With villages across the Peninsula afire with the lights of the season, stores bustling with last minute shoppers, and warm hearths inviting visitors in for a warm bowl of soup or an award-winning cider…there is no shortage of fun activities to keep your heart brimming with excitement and joy. Come experience what small-town, friendly holiday spirit is all about.

Not for the faint of heart, but if you want to experience a serenely peaceful and surprisingly playful spot – come visit Leelanau in the winter. Fresh snow softens the dunes and forests, trails quiet to a whisper, and ice formations create stunning lake views like something from another world.

Ask a local and they will tell you the secret to enjoying the peninsula during the winter is to get out in it! You can cross-country ski or snowshoe trails around the area, many of which are groomed for perfect tracks. Fat-tire biking has also become quite the rage. Ice sailing across Lake Leelanau is a thrill, you just have to avoid all the ice fishing tents.

If you’re not cut out for the wintery outdoors you can still come up and enjoy the many, warm hearths in the lodges, restaurants, and wineries that welcome off-season visitors with a big smile and friendly hello. So, come plan a day of simple rhythm: hot coffee and a pastry, a late morning snowshoe, a warm bowl of soup next to a fire, and a peaceful sunset over a quiet Lake Michigan shoreline. You’ll appreciate why the locals love the off-season.

Spring on MI Pinky is fresh and hopeful—the peninsula wakes up with wildflowers and birdsongs, as the days grow longer. Forest floors fill with beautiful trillium, cherry orchards burst into bloom, and boats start to enter the water. It’s a great season for easy hikes on the Heritage Trail, quiet beach walks at Good Harbor or Glen Haven, and mellow paddles on inland lakes and rivers when conditions are calm. Birders can catch peak migration along the shoreline and at Leelanau State Park, while morel hunters slip into the woods after warm rains.

In the spring, it’s almost as if the entire peninsula is taking a long, slow, deep breath before the bustle of summer comes to knock on the door. Without the crowds quite yet, lodging opportunities are more plentiful, restaurants and wineries are less full, and you can hike a trail without seeing anyone else. It’s a magical time to witness the splendor of the natural world coming to life after a sleepy winter. And, if you’re willing to wear your muck boots you can get out and enjoy it too.