Investigating Michigan’s Highest and Lowest Points

When you think about mountains in the United States, Michigan wouldn't be anyone's first thought. That honor would most likely go to a state among the Rocky Mountains or the Appalachian Mountains, or the tallest mountain, Mt. McKinley, in Alaska.

Michigan is a pretty flat state, the 12th flattest in the country, but Michigan does still have some mountains and high points of note. Despite its alleged flatness, Michigan does still have the second most ski resorts in the country, but that's neither here nor there.

How Many Mountains Are In Michigan?

While there is curiously no real classification system to have something be considered a mountain vs a hill, it used to be that any hill that was over a thousand feet was considered a mountain. This is no longer an official formula.

READ MORE: Okay, But WHY Is The Upper Peninsula Part Of Michigan? |

With this in mind, the state of Michigan is designated as having 375 mountains, which sounds like a lot but pales in comparison to a state like California that has over 8000. Michigan has two mountain ranges, the Huron Mountains and the Porcupine Mountains, both of which are located in the Upper Peninsula.

The Huron Mountains have the two highest mountains in the state, Mount Arvon (1,980 feet) and Mount Curwood (1,979 feet). Yes, a single foot separates the two tallest peaks in Michigan. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Michigan's lowest point can be found in Lake Erie, 571 feet above sea level.