What Are the Least Scenic Parts of Michigan? (No, The Answer is Assuredly Not Detroit)

Whenever a question comes up about scenic locations across the United States, Michigan often leads the list of responses. Locations like Pictured Rocks, Sleeping Bear Dunes and Isle Royale are a sightseer's dream.

But what about the opposite end of the spectrum? What are the least scenic locations in Michigan? The question came up recently on Reddit's Geography subreddit asking about the least scenic locations in every state.

When the question came to Michigan, there was a clear winner when it comes to the least scenic area of the Great Lakes State. It's the central Lower Peninsula:

Really all of central Michigan. Jackson, Lansing, Mt. Pleasant, Midland.

A damning takedown of the region's perceived nothingness:

Flat. Agricultural. Not a lot of forests or rivers with personality. Brown and gray for about 5 months.

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Yup. I’m generally a Michigan booster and think it’s one of the most scenic states in the east half of the country but the central lower peninsula specifically is where dreams go to die

Ouch.

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One may think about the grittiness of the Rust Belt cities like Detroit. But consider in terms of scenery a case can be made for the Detroit River and city's skyline. Or as this commenter noted,

Yup, the run-down urban areas in the Southeast might not be “pretty” but they can be at least “interesting”, especially the neighborhoods that are in bad shape but still have classic architecture on display.

How to See the Un-scenic Sights of Michigan

So starting at the Ohio line and up through Hillsdale into Jackson and along the US-127 corridor through Lansing, St Johns, Ithaca and Alma to Mount Pleasant.

It's north of Mount Pleasant where the characteristics of the land begin to change with more elevation and forest coverage.

While many Michigan drivers will quickly think of the Seney Stretch, the miles-long arrow-straight run of M-28 in the eastern Upper Peninsula, there are two east-west roadways that give a very good feel for the dullness of Mid-Michigan.

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Those are state highways M-57 and several miles north of there, M-46. The photo above is M-57 outside of Carson City and it's indicative of the terrain.

Farms, flat and, in recent decades, wind turbine after wind turbine.