Uphill in Neutral: Unraveling the Mystery of Michigan’s Gravity Hill

Is it an illusion? A gravitational glitch? I was 'today' years old when I learned about Michigan's "Gravity Hill" - an incline that somehow pulls your car uphill while in neutral.

What is Gravity Hill?

The phenomenon known as Gravity Hill is located in Arcadia, Michigan. Arcadia is about an hour northwest of Cadillac on Michigan's west side.

In the video below from Roaming Michigan, you'll witness a driver putting his car in neutral, then getting pulled uphill. It starts slow, but after a few seconds, you'll see the vehicle accelerate on its own. In this video, the driver performs the experiment in reverse and then moving forward.

Gravity Hill is located at the corner of Joyfield Road and Putney Road in Benzie County. The Blaine Christian Church is located on the southwest corner of the intersection, and legend suggests that the gravitational pull of the hill pulls sinners toward the church.

Here's How Gravity Hill Works

According to the legend, head south on Putney Road toward the bottom of the hill. Stop just before the curve, making sure you can still see the stop sign in the rearview mirror.

Stop your car, put it in neutral, and take your foot off the brake. Your car will begin to roll backward and accelerate as you seemingly roll uphill.

The Manistee tourism website even encourages visitors to try Gravity Hill on a bike or a skateboard.

Michigan's Gravity Hill Explained

The website Mysterious Michigan (which lists additional sites in Michigan where you can experience a similar phenomenon) explains what's going on in Benzie County.

While the terrain appears to be an uphill grade, the lay of the land is actually an optical illusion. The website indicates that if you take a laser level to the site, you'll find that it's actually downhill. But what fun is that?