About

Hidden Lake Gardens has a mission to connect, inspire, and engage people with the beauty of plants and the wonder of our natural world. We exist to preserve natural landscapes and exhibit plant collections for the education and enjoyment of the public.

Located in the scenic Irish Hills of Southeast Michigan and operated by Michigan State University, Hidden Lake Gardens is a 750-acre botanical garden that provides our 80,000 yearly visitors with 12 miles of hiking trails, a Conservatory, Arboretum, Bonsai Garden, Canopy Walk, and more.

You can find Hidden Lake Gardens at 6214 Monroe Road, Tipton, MI 49287. 

Our grounds are open Tuesday-Sunday from 9:00am to 5:00pm. Our Sky Walk, Conservatory, Bonsai Courtyard, and Daffodil Gift Shop are open Tuesday-Sunday from 10:00am to 4:00pm. We are open all four seasons!

Hidden Lake Gardens was founded in 1926 by a prominent Adrian businessman named Harry Fee, who dreamed of creating a “series of pictures” of natural beauty for the public to enjoy. He bought 200 acres that surrounded a kettle-lake in Tipton, Michigan, and fostered the ideal of a “dream as you go development,” landscaping the area over the next twenty years before donating the land to Michigan State University in 1945. 

Over time, the gardens have expanded to 755 acres thanks to years of support from donors and benefactors. In 1965, the Herrick Family of Tecumseh generously donated funds to build a Visitors Center and Conservatory. In 1981, Justin Harper donated his collection of over 350 dwarf and rare conifers. More recently, donors from across Southeast Michigan came together to finance the construction of the Reach for the Sky Canopy Walk, which offers breathtaking views nearly 70 feet above a kettle-hole.

Continuing to dream as we go, Hidden Lake Gardens is still a constantly growing botanical garden that has become one of the premier destinations for residents of Southeastern Michigan seeking beauty, peace, and serenity in nature.