Birding trails offer birders, naturalists, and eco-tourists opportunities to explore diverse habitats near home and across the state of Michigan. Birding trails are typically driving routes linking prime birding locations. The growth of birding trails combines Michigan residents’ and visitors’ passion for birding and love of the open road, creating new opportunities for connecting birds and people.
Formal birding trails are still relatively new in Michigan. The Sleeping Bear Birding Trail debuted in 2013, sparking trail development elsewhere in the state. Some trails are marked by signs at each site, while others, such as the Superior Birding Trail in the Upper Peninsula, exist only in web or brochure format.