Hidden Lake Gardens – Michigan State University

I absolutely love this place. Great for hiking, pictures, and nature. If you are unable to walk they have a very scenic route around the gardens. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable about the whole place. I can’t believe more people don’t go here. This is also a wonderful place for picnics and family. Highly recommended.

This place is a must-​see in Michigan. It’s got a nice small road that runs through most of the gardens that allows you to see things by car. This same road is great for walking around to see the grounds as well. To get off the roads, there are plenty of hiking and cross-​country skiing trails. As you’re walking, hiking, skiing through the gardens, everything is labeled really, really well. They did an excellent job of educating you while you enjoy nature. The people that work there are knowledgable and very friendly. It really doesn’t get any better than this.
Though, if you want to see Hidden Lake Gardens from behind your computer screen, just search on Flickr, and you’ll see hundreds of the plants/​trees labeled and photographed by my father. :)

Absolutely lovely park. As a visitor from VA, I am use to seeing a ton of parks, but this one was by far one of the best. So many types of flowers/​gardens, one can truly appreciate the beauty found here. I was quite impressed with every aspect of the gardens. And the driving tour to each area (with map in hand), made it easy to stop and see every part without wondering where you were. The staff were also very helpful and knowledgable in the greenhouse about the plants I asked about. Such a beautiful spot in Michigan to visit.

Quiet, peaceful, beautiful. I really enjoyed exploring these gardens. The conservatories were very nice and full of interesting plants that I had never seen before. The bonsai garden was very cool, again they had some species of bonsai that I had never seen before. There are walking trails that take you around the grounds or there are over 6 miles of winding paved roads that will take you on a fun scenic trip with several places to stop along the way. There are some places to picnic as well. Definitely worth checking out if you are looking for an escape from the city.

Hidden Lake Gardens is a gem in the beautiful Irish Hills of Michigan. The gardens are now maintained by MSU which does a beautiful job. There is a main building with terrariums that have tropical plants and plants for arrid climates. There is also one room completely devoted to carnivorous plants.
The gardens also have many trails, both driving and walking. The trails are marked well and the flora are labeled well. There are tours available and educational classes. The site is available for weddings and other events.
If you’re looking to see some amazing native and non-​native plant species, check out these beautiful gardens.