Welcome to the Grand Outdoors! Grand Rapids is filled with activities to keep outdoor explorers busy in all four seasons. Best of all, you can hike, bike, golf, fish, paddle, skate, ski and more just minutes from big-city entertainment and culture!
Beaches
Swim, sunbathe, build sandcastles and more at beaches close and convenient to Grand Rapids. The closest beach is at Millennium Park, five minutes from downtown GR, featuring six acres of beach fronting a clear 100-acre lake with a well-marked swimming area. Long Lake Park, Myers Lake Park, Wabasis Lake Park and Versluis Park also have public beaches 15-30 minutes from the city center. More than 20 Lake Michigan beaches are 30-45 minutes away. Basically an inland ocean – only without salt or sharks – Lake Michigan is a swimming, boating and fishing paradise. The shoreline is dominated by sugar-sand beaches, towering sand dunes and hikeable forests. Discover West Michigan’s beaches.
Biking
Ranked among America’s top 50 bike-friendly cities by Bicycling Magazine and the Best Town for Mountain Biking by Outside Magazine, Grand Rapids is an ideal year-round destination for cyclists. There are hundreds of miles of paved and natural-surface routes for trail biking, mountain biking and fatbiking. The area’s first adaptive mountain biking trail opens at Johnson Park in summer 2026. Find your trail here.
Boating & Paddling
Named America’s Best River Town (Outside Magazine) and one of the country’s Top 10 Waterfront Towns (National Geographic Adventure Magazine), Grand Rapids is a mecca for paddleboarders, canoers, kayakers and other boating enthusiasts. There are 50+ places to launch, from downtown GR’s Grand River to the waters of Lake Michigan, 30-45 minutes away. Universal kayak launches in Canal Park and Riverside Park make it easy for everyone to get out on the Grand River. Explore local boating and paddling opportunities.
Fishing
Field & Stream Magazine named Grand Rapids the nation’s 6th best fishing city, thanks in part to world-class salmon and steelhead runs in downtown GR’s Grand River. Inland lakes are filled with bluegill, bullhead, carp, crappie, sunfish, trout, northern pike, muskie, perch, whitefish and other species. Lake Michigan, 30-45 minutes away, offers abundant charter fishing in addition to pier and shore fishing. Here’s what you need to know about fishing in Grand Rapids.
Golf
Grand Rapids boasts “perhaps the best combination of affordable golf, quality course design and fun non-golf activities in the United States,” raves golf review site friedegg.com. There are 30+ courses within a short drive of downtown GR, including designs by legends Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer. The Mines, called “pure fun” by friedegg.com, is just five minutes from the city center. Browse our public golf courses.
Lakes & Rivers
You’re never more than six miles away from a river or lake in Grand Rapids. Michigan’s longest river, the Grand River, runs right through downtown GR, where you can fish, paddle and stroll a scenic riverside trail. More than 50 inland lakes and three additional rivers are just minutes from the city center. Lake Michigan, the largest lake in the world located entirely within one country, is as close as 30 minutes away. Learn more about the area’s recreation-rich rivers and lakes.
Parks
There are more than 125 city, county and state parks in and around Grand Rapids, each offering a different combination of activities and amenities – from boating, birdwatching, biking, camping, fishing, hiking, picnicking and swimming to baseball, basketball, disc golf, soccer, pickleball and volleyball. Find a park that matches your interests – check your desired amenities under “Narrow Your Search.”
Trails
Hike, bike, walk, run, jog, rollerblade, skateboard, cross-country ski, snowshoe and more on 60+ multi-use trails in and around Grand Rapids and Kent County. Choose from paved and natural-surface trails, land trails and water trails, trails shorter than one mile and trails longer than 90 miles. Search area trails here.
Sports
Prefer to watch? Cheer on Detroit Tigers High-A affiliate the West Michigan Whitecaps and the accomplished race-car drivers at Berlin Raceway and Grattan Raceway all summer long. The competition moves indoors in cold weather, when the Grand Rapids Griffins (hockey) Grand Rapids Gold (basketball) and Grand Rapids Rise (women’s volleyball) play their home games in Van Arena. Coming in spring 2027: Athletic Club Grand Rapids opens its first season of exciting MLS NEXT Pro soccer action in the new outdoor Amway Stadium. Explore our local sports scene.
Winter Recreation
Grand Rapids is a four-season outdoor destination. The winter months bring opportunities for downhill and cross-country skiing, fat tire biking, ice skating, snowshoeing, sledding, tubing, snowboarding and more. Check out our winter sports guide.
Where can I find hiking and biking trail maps for Grand Rapids?
The Greater Grand Rapids Bicycle Coalition offers the most comprehensive resource of trail maps and tips.
What are the best trails in Grand Rapids?
Best is subjective, of course, but the most popular may be the Grand River Edges Trail in downtown Grand Rapids, simply because millions visit the city center each year and few can resist a scenic riverside stroll. Other favorites include the 18 miles of trails at Millennium Park, which features a trailhead across the street from John Ball Zoo; the Fred Meijer White Pine Trail State Park, stretching 92 miles north from Grand Rapids; and the 4,800-mile North Country National Scenic Trail, 12 miles of which passes through Lowell, a rural small town 20 minutes east of downtown GR.
Are dogs allowed on trails and beaches?
Dogs are allowed in most Grand Rapids city and Kent County parks, provided they are kept on a leash no longer than 6 feet and cleaned up after. Similar rules apply to many Lake Michigan beaches. There are off-leash dog beaches at Kirk Park and Kruse Park on the Lake Michigan shore.
What are park hours and entrance fees in Grand Rapids?
Grand Rapids city parks typically open at dawn and close at dusk. Kent County parks are generally open daily from 7 am to sunset. There is free admission for city and county parks, but certain amenities – like pools in city parks and the beach at Millennium Park – may require a fee. State park and recreation areas are open from 8 am-10 pm daily, and a Recreation Pass is required for entry.
Do I need a fishing license or a boating license to use local waterways?
Yes, a fishing license is required for everyone 17 years and older in Michigan. Visitors can obtain a 24-hour or 72-hour license at bait and tackle shops and Meijer stores around town, or purchase one online.
People born on or after July 1, 1996, must have a boating safety certificate to operate a motorboat with a motor (or motors) that is greater than 6 horsepower. Those who are at least 16 years old and were born after Dec. 31, 1978 must have a boating safety certificate to legally operate personal watercraft (PWC) such as jet-skis and wave runners. Here’s how to earn your boating safety certificate. No license or registration is required for canoes, kayaks, paddleboards and other non-motorized transports. All watercraft must have a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket for each person aboard.
Which parks have accessible trails and/or boardwalks?
Yes, you can absolutely surf in Lake Michigan – and you can also windsurf and kiteboard. The best waves occur during fall and winter, when storm systems generate strong winds. Lake Michigan’s freshwater waves are shorter than ocean waves, requiring faster, stronger paddling to catch.
What if I would rather swim in a pool than a lake?
Residents and visitors alike can swim lifeguard-staffed outdoor pools in Briggs Park, Martin Luther King Jr. Park and Richmond Park from June to August. Several hotels also offer outdoor pools. Visit our Fun in the Water page for outdoor pools, indoor pools, splash pads and parks with water features.
The Insider's Experience: Sports Edition
In Grand Rapids you can be a sports fan or a sports enthusiast - or both!
