Michigan Wildlife Drives: Explore Refuges by Car

With spectacular lake shores and deep forests it can be quite easy to get lots in nature across Michigan.

There's are special places not only for Wildlife but a way for any of us to get up close, perhaps, to them.

Get our free mobile app

Within many of the nation's National Wildlife Refuges there are loop roads through the property. Often rustic dirt and gravel, the roads make a pathway through the refuge.

Michigan's Accessible Wildlife Sanctuaries

There are 6 National Wildlife Refuges in Michigan: Detroit River, Harbor Island, Huron Island, Michigan Islands, Seney and Shiawassee. All but Seney and Shiawassee are on islands and not accessible to vehicles. But the two on land, Seney in the Eastern Upper Peninsula and Shiawassee in the Lower Peninsula near Saginaw have loop roads open to the public.

Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge: Lower Peninsula Wonders

At Shiawassee the loop trail, known as Wildlife Drive begins on Bishop Road and runs for 6.5 miles.

The wildlife drive meanders past forests, grasslands, marshes, open water pools and the Shiawassee River. Visitors will have the opportunity to see a great diversity of wildlife.

Seney National Wildlife Refuge: Eastern UP's Natural Gem

At Seney, the Marshland Wildlife Drive is a 7 mile loop.

Common sites on the driving tour include common loons, trumpeter swans, muskrat, beaver, ring-necked ducks, sandhill cranes, bald eagles, osprey and many other species.

The entrance to the drive is not along M-28 from the famous Seney Stretch but rather, south of Seney along M-77.

Google Maps Street View

A nearby National Wildlife Refuge drive is found a shore distance from the Michigan state line at the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge just to the east of Toledo featuring a 7 mile loop through that property.

👇🏼BELOW: The Only Destination For These Special Highways are Michigan State Parks👇🏼

Here's a look at Shiawassee Wildlife Drive:

The Only Destination For These Highways are Michigan State Parks

There are several highways in Michigan's road network that exist only to connect to state parks.

Gallery Credit: Google Maps Street View

23 Official Michigan Byways

These are the 23 official scenic byways in the state of Michigan. Ranging from just a mile to hundreds of miles, these are the roads that have a story across the state.

Gallery Credit: Google Maps Street View