GarLyn Zoo | Exotic Animals & Nature Trails on US-2
We stopped at the Garlyn Zoo and Wildlife Park during one of our Upper Peninsula drives a few years back — one of those spontaneous “why not?” detours that ends up being a highlight. I didn’t write about it at the time (rookie mistake), but I’m fixing that now so it doesn’t stay a three-word ghost post forever.
Garlyn Zoo Wildlife Park sits along US-2 in Naubinway, Michigan, across from Lake Michigan. It’s a family-run zoo that’s been around since 1994, on a wooded 30-acre property. The animal mix is bigger than I expected — Bengal tigers, cougars, hyenas, alpacas, camels, native Michigan wildlife like wolves and porcupines, plus reptiles, tortoises, lemurs, and fruit bats. Shaded trails, easy walk, and you can get pretty close to a lot of the animals.
We checked out the big cats and took some photos (of course). Works fine as a quick stop or a longer one if you’re already in the area.
Our Garlyn Zoo Photo Gallery
Planning Your Visit
- Location: 9104 US-2, Naubinway, MI — about an hour west of the Mackinac Bridge.
- Season: Typically open May through October.
- What to bring: Comfortable walking shoes, camera, sunscreen, and water.
- Extras: You can buy animal feed on-site for some interactive encounters.
If you’re road-tripping through Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Garlyn Zoo is an easy, family-friendly stop with a mix of exotic and native animals in a relaxed, wooded setting. We’ll have to go back for a proper deep-dive review — but for now, here’s the quick-fix version so it finally earns its place in the archive.