The Upper Peninsula (known by Michiganders as the U.P.) is a hidden gem. The landscape is incredible and it is a haven for those that like to immerse themselves in nature. If I had to recommend one place in the Midwest U.S.A for outdoor lovers, I would recommend the U.P.
I’ve rounded up my favorite outdoor adventures here! If you want to do everything below, you can comfortably accomplish all in a week.
State Parks
The U.P. boasts several state parks that offer camping, hiking, swimming, and other activities. For outdoor adventurers, my top recommendations are Presque Isle, Porcupine Mountains, and Tahquamenon Falls.
Cost and parking info: If you live in or near Michigan and plan to visit multiple state parks in a calendar year, I’d recommend buying an annual recreation passport to be able to park your car. At many popular state parks in Michigan, you will notice vehicles parked on the side of the road or in the parking lots without vehicle stickers. Almost every time you try to do this, you’ll get a ticket…trust me. Just buy a sticker! Vehicle stickers are $17/year for Michigan residents and $10/day or $34/year for non-residents.
Presque Isle State Park for Cliff Jumping
In summer 2020 my boyfriend and I were in the U.P. seeking a new outdoor adventure. For some reason, I thought of researching cliff jumping. This is something I’d always wanted to do, but I had always imagined cliff jumping on the Mediterranean Sea – not on the Great Lakes! I was excited to find quite a few articles recommending different spots on Lake Superior.
Presque Isle is a small state park north of the city of Marquette. Marquette is home to Northern Michigan University and is situated on Lake Superior. The main reason to go to Presque Isle is to visit “Black Rocks”, an area on the lakeshore that is popular for cliff jumping. This is a truly beautiful, communal, and rewarding activity. If you’re okay taking a plunge into cold Lake Superior, it is absolutely worth it.
To get to “Black Rocks” navigate to Presque Isle State Park and follow the one-way Peter White Drive until you find an open parking space along the road. You can walk along the shore on the black rocks until you get to an inlet where people jump off a cliff and swim to a small beach.
“Black Rocks” is a pretty easy to find on a warm summer day. But it can be crowded! This is another aspect that I never imagined as part of my first cliff jumping experience, but I’m not sure I would have actually jumped without first seeing several kids and old ladies jump before me. This spot was so beautiful, the water was so clear, and the state park ranger present assured everyone about the depth of the water.
Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park for Hiking
Porcupine Mountains offers substantial hiking trails, especially for a state park in the midwest. This is Michigan’s largest state park and it contains a variety of landscapes: peaks, waterfalls, rivers, inland lakes, dense forest, and lakefront trails. For anyone looking to take a long hike, this one is for you!
Beware of Flies!
My time at Porcupine Mountains was unfortunately cut very short due to the flies hatching in early July. We were supposed to camp for two nights at back country sites along Lake Superior. By the time we walked 6 miles into the park to our campsite, the flies were already eating us alive. Like, biting me through my thick Patagonia fleece. We sat for a few minutes on the shore, covered in flies, and decided there was no way we would enjoy the next few hours, let alone the next few days.
We promptly hiked back out and a park ranger informed us that it just happened to be the week that all the flies along the lake were hatching. If you’re planning to visit this park during the summer, I’d highly recommend checking the area along the lake or checking with the park office before you commit to camping anywhere near the lake. We ended up camping instead at a
Consider camping outside of the park
Luckily we had some time left in the afternoon to drive to some of the other sites in the park, like the famous Lake of the Clouds. We ended up staying at Ontonagon Township Park Campground, right on the shore of Lake Superior with far less flies!
Despite my disappointing experience, I’d like to return to Porcupine Mountains to backpack and camp. I imagine the Fall would be a beautiful time to do this – less bugs and beautiful colors as the leaves change!
Tehquamenon Falls State Park for Hiking and Waterfall Viewing
Tehquamenon Falls State Park is perfect for a day trip for all types of hiking levels. I grew up going to Tehquamenon Falls with my family as a kid, because it’s an easy and impressive sight-seeing day trip. It’s possible to either drive and park at both the Upper Falls and the Lower Falls and to take short hikes through the woods, or to take hikes that are several miles along the river between the falls.
Copper Harbor and the Keweenaw Peninsula
As a midwest native, I was blown away when I visited Copper Harbor. The landscape and the culture was just so wild. There is one working phone available in the town (with little-to-no cell phone service or free wifi), a general store, several campgrounds and outfitters for kayaking, canoeing, and mountain biking. It has a feeling that is more reminiscent of small mountain towns in the Western U.S. or Canadian wilderness.
I could not believe I’d never been there or that no one had ever recommended it before. Perhaps, this is because it is so remote. I believe this is the best kept secret in the Midwest U.S.! It’s one of the few ports with a ferry to Isle Royale so it’s naturally a hub for adventure seekers.
The Jampot
This is not an outdoor activity, but a good jam can always be enjoyed outdoors and provide sustenance for your adventures! I’d recommend stopping at The Jampot. The Jampot is a tiny store with breads and jams, homemade by the monks that live in the monastery across the street. There will be jams made from local berries that you’ve never heard of. They are a bit more expensive than the grocery store, but knowing they’re local and handmade is a treat!
Brockway Mountain Lookout
After grabbing some jam, head up to the Brockway Mountain Lookout for the best view in the Keweenaw Peninsula.
Canoe or Kayak Lake Fannyhooe
Keweenaw Adventure Company rents bikes, canoes, and kayaks. They drove us with our canoe to Lake Fannyhooe, which borders Fort Wilkins State Park. Lake Fannyhooe was a warm, shallow, calm lake to canoe and float around for a few hours. It’s mostly surrounded by dense forest – so peaceful!
Mountain Bike Copper Harbor
Apparently Copper Harbor internationally recognized as a top five mountain bike trail system in the world?! Again, I’m not sure why everyone is sleeping on the fascinating town of Copper Harbor. I have no interest in mountain biking, but a lot of people were there solely for that.
The Best Fried Fish in the Midwest
There is a food truck on the side of the main road that runs through Copper Harbor that advertises fish daily. They’re called Rock Skippers, but you can spot them as the only food truck in town. They literally catch the fish in the morning from Lake Superior and fry it in the food truck until they’ve sold out. So fresh! I have never been a big fan of fried fish, but this was one of the most delicious and satisfying meals, especially after a long day of adventure.
Camp in Copper Harbor
Camping is always an affordable option! For Copper Harbor, make sure you bring cash! Trails End Campground allows you to pay with cash in a dropbox and choose your own site. It was a quiet night despite a full campground.
Jump in the Lake!
Lake Michigan Beaches
The best thing to do in the U.P. is to enjoy the untouched, white sand beaches. Coming from lower Michigan or Southeast Wisconsin, your drive into the U.P. will be along the lake. You’ll have the option to stop along the highway at several points where there is open access to beaches on Lake Michigan.
The Lake Michigan side of the U.P. is almost completely sand beaches. As someone who loves the beach, I like this much better than the rocky Lake Superior shore. Here, you’ll typically find warmer water than you would in Lake Superior as well.
Seasonal or year-round houses line most of the beaches on the shore of Lake Michigan. The U.P. is pretty affordable in general since there aren’t trendy, busy tourist areas. I would highly recommend renting a house on the lake (or even staying in a cheap motel) to enjoy a serene experience that includes the Northwoods and the beach.
Manistique Lake
For those traveling with family or in a large group, renting a pontoon boat on Manistique Lake can be a fun and affordable option! Manistique Lake is an inland lake in the middle of the U.P. The Sleepy Eyed Goose Resort offers pontoon boat rentals as low as $130 per day total for a pontoon that holds 8-10 people. I’ve rented pontoon boats there both with friends and with family and the owners are friendly, flexible and easy-going! The water is warm, the lake is a decent size to explore by boat, and chances are the lake won’t be very busy.
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
While most people imagine the colorful rock cliffs of Pictured Rocks, this National Lakeshore area also offers some of the most beautiful sand dunes in Michigan. If you’re hiking around Pictured Rocks, you might catch some glimpses of the colorful rocks from land, but to get the best views you have to see the pictured rocks from the water. This can be expensive as it usually requires kayak tour or a boat cruise. There are some nice, scenic hikes through the woods around Pictured Rocks, but I’d suggest going east for equally beautiful views.
I recommend heading into the National Lakeshore from the east at Grand Marais, instead of from the west at Munising. The lakeshore near Grand Marais has stunning views and hikes across dunes that run for miles along Lake Superior. I’d recommend hiking to the Log Slide Overlook for the best views.
