Michigan "UP" advice needed

[S-n-L]

Hello everyone,

We are in southern Michigan now and soon heading to the Upper Peninsula. I would like to get some recommendations on where to stay and what to do. We will be going from east to west across the entire UP. We like hiking/walking, biking, kayaking, eating and beautiful scenery.

We do not need RV parks with lots of amenities, we are not golfer, no need for a pool and we have no kids with us. Simple and clean work best for us.

We just spend a wonderful few days in the East Lansing area visiting Michigan State Univ. I have not been back here since graduating in 1981.

Any advice is welcome.

Thanks in advance,

Stuart & Leslie

[Dog_Trainer]

On your route don't leave out a day at Pictured rocks and the evening boat tour to view them from the lake they are along your route near the city of Munising. We are leaving june 25th and into the UP for 3 weeks.

[bcgarrison]

Neebish Island neebishislandresort.com

[2500HDee]

S-n-L wrote:
Hello everyone,

We have decided to head to Mackinac Isl, then to the Soo Locks, then follow the northern route to the Porcupine Mtns then Copper Harbor. After that off to Duluth, MN.

We will have lots to look forward on our next trip here.

Thanks again for all of your help,

SNL

If you have time, you should make an effort to hike the Escarpment Trail in the Porkies. It is about 4 miles one way and offers some spectacular views of The Lake of the Clouds. To do a one way hike I have parked at the top near the lookout and left the truck there, then I rode my bike down the road to the start of the trail and locked it up. Then my wife and I took our time and hiked to the top. When we got there the truck was waiting and we were able to drive down and pick up my bike. The trail is uphill if you do it this way but my wife had no problem doing it 6 months pregnant. Be sure to bring water, snacks and most importantly a camera. If you are lucky you may even see some black bear.

If you have more time you can put together some really nice longer hiking loops (~16 to 20 miles) and go over to Government Peak and down to Lake of the Clouds.


When you are in Copper Harbor stop in and see Sam at the Keweenaw Adventure Company for information on hiking, biking and paddling in the area. You will not be disappointed.

Edit: One more thing, on you way toward Duluth, stop at The Adventure Mine in Greenland, MI and take an amazing underground tour of a turn o f the century copper mine. You can even take tours where you rappel down mine shafts to lower level. Matt and Vicky have put together a wonderful experience there.

[S-n-L]

Hello everyone,

We have decided to head to Mackinac Isl, then to the Soo Locks, then follow the northern route to the Porcupine Mtns then Copper Harbor. After that off to Duluth, MN.

We will have lots to look forward on our next trip here.

Thanks again for all of your help,

SNL

[reinita]

Our favorite is Muskallonge Lake State Park. Just electric at the sites. Many have a lake view even if not right on the water. They can accommodate big rigs. You can do day trips to tahquamenon falls and pictured rocks. There's a great store down the road, Deer Park, where you can get anything you need and rent a boat: http://deerparklodge.typepad.com/deerparklodge/2007/04/muskallonge_lak.html
You're also across the street from Lake Superior. Pack a picnic lunch, hang out and look for agates. Perfect!
Have a safe trip.

[dverstra]

Dadoffourgirls wrote:
If you take US 2 along the north shore of Lake Michigan, stop at Gustafson's for some of the best smoked whitefish. They are near Moran/Brevort.

Also stop for a pasty at the Whitetail Restaurant in Brevort.

[ktosv]

If you are traveling through Gaylord, stop and see the elk. One of the viewing areas is east of BR I-75 on Grandview Blvd. We stopped the Friday of Memorial Day weekend just before dusk and saw about 30-40 elk. Some of the bulls already have good sized antlers.

Gaylord Elk

If you had time, with the winter we had I bet now would be a great time to see elk in the wild in the Pigeon River Forest.

Parrothead Mike mentioned Indian Lake just west of Manistique. Nearby is Kitch-iti-kipi, or the Big Spring at Palms Book State Park. It is a large spring feed pond/lake that you can take a raft out onto and look to the bottom of the pond. You probably can't kayak it, but it is cool to see.

Palms Book SP

If you take the suggestions to go to Whitefish Point, you might as well visit Tahquamenon Falls while you are right there. The kids enjoyed it so much last summer we took a road trip in February (2 weeks after #5 was born) to see it almost frozen over. There are hiking trails that connect the upper and lower falls.

[Dadoffourgirls]

If you take US 2 along the north shore of Lake Michigan, stop at Gustafson's for some of the best smoked whitefish. They are near Moran/Brevort.

[dverstra]

Great to see that you are in Michigan. In Traverse City, go north on Hwy 37 (its on the center peninsula) and do a winery tour. On your way to the Bridge, stop in Mackinaw City and see Fort Michilimackinac.

[S-n-L]

Thank you all, wow, there is so much to do and so little time. We will be in the UP for about 5 days. We have a large rig so I am not sure if we can stay at the state parks. We prefer full hook ups with 50 amps but can easily stay in a more primitive site and can boondock as well.

Leslie and I will be researching all of these places and make some decisions soon. We are now in Traverse City, MI and looking forward to touring this area over the next few days. Tomorrow off to Sleeping Bear Dunes!!!!

Best,

SNL

[Parrothead_Mike]

Going from east to west gives you 2 choices; US-2, the lower route, and M-28, the northern route. They are both good choices.

Along US-2 you will find some nice beaches along northern Lake Michigan. There are national forest campgrounds much of the way. Be sure to stop at the National Forest office east of St. Ignace to pick up a NF map. The map will take you to some nice campgrounds that offer some lake kayaking. Just west of Manistique is Indian Lake State Park. We enjoyed the southern campground near the lake. Much further west near the town of Watersmeet (at US-2 & US-45) is a great area for kayaking. It's a chain of lakes that only allows non-motorized craft. You will also find many loons in this area. It's just west of Watersmeet and is called the Sylvania Tract and is part of the Ottawa National Forest. Link below.

http://www.fs.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsinternet/!ut/p/c4/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os3gDfxMDT8MwRydLA1...

If you really want to experience some great hiking you must visit the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. It's a huge park (59K acres) with many hiking trails. There are 2 campgrounds, the northern CG has electricity & showers. The southern campground is along the Presque Isle River and is rustic. The rustic campground is closer to some trails though. The small town of Ontonagon also has a small campground on it's northern end with electric and water and is located right on the beach. We really enjoyed the hiking trail that runs on both sides of the Presque Isle River at the southern end of the park and has many scenic overlooks of waterfalls and rocks in the river that you can walk out onto. Take your camera! Link below.

http://www.michigandnr.com/parksandtrails/details.aspx?type=SPRK&id=426

The Keweenaw Peninsula (the part of the U.P. that sticks way up into Lake Superior) is interesting. There are several old mines you can visit. Fort Wilkins State Park up in Copper Harbor is worth a visit as the old fort has been maintained in great condition. If you go there be sure to take the drive along M-26 which skirts Lake Superior west and south of Copper Harbor. Go to Eagle Harbor and then a bit further south and stop at the Jampot (aka Poor Rock Abby) for some excellent baked goods and jam/jellies. It is run by monks. See link below.

http://store.societystjohn.com/

Other potential stops would include the Woodland Park campground in Grand Marais on Lake Superior (at the end of M-77 north of Seney). Munising and Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore (nice municipal campground just west of Munising on Lake Superior). If you're brave you can kayak on the big lake and go out to Grand Island.

I could go on, but others have also offered some nice places to check out. Have a nice trip.

[2500HDee]

I lived in Escanaba for a while and it and Gladstone are very nice but not on a must see list for UP camping. OP mentioned hiking and kayaking as activities and there are much better places for that.

[dewey02]

Steve1313 wrote:
A couple of places we stayed last year were at the town park in Gladstone "Happy Rock". It is on Lake Michigan, clean and lots of walking paths. You can walk into town.

Also stayed at town park in Ontonagon on Lake Superior. Looks right out onto to the Lake.

I used to live in "Happy Rock." Right on little Bay de Noc and next to the state police post. Great little town, good fishing on the big lake, close to a larger town (Escanaba) and close to Hiawatha National forest.

[Steve1313]

A couple of places we stayed last year were at the town park in Gladstone "Happy Rock". It is on Lake Michigan, clean and lots of walking paths. You can walk into town.

Also stayed at town park in Ontonagon on Lake Superior. Looks right out onto to the Lake.