Michigan

The best place to start a kayak tour of the main section of cliffs along the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is Miners Beach, located just outside of Munising. Miners Beach features a good size parking lot, along with a beautiful sandy beach that serves as a great launching point within sight of t...

The Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Area is located south of Manistee along an extremely isolated shoreline. Most hikers prefer to camp two nights along the shores of Lake Michigan, but some choose to call the dunes home for weeks at a time. This is an area of backwoods camping, where sites can be establ...

Wagner Falls is an easy-to-reach waterfall right off of 94. There are parking areas on both sides of the highway so even when the trail is busy you will likely find a spot. Its close proximity to the highway and short trail make Wagner Falls the idea place to go if you are limited on time but want a...

Big Sable Point Lighthouse is perhaps one of the most scenic locations in Michigan. A 3.6 mile round trip hike along the Lake Michigan shoreline will bring you to the destination, which is nestled among sprawling sand dunes. Each evening, it offers a stunning sunset along the sandy beaches. A short ...

Kitch-iti-kipi is a beautiful and easily accessed attraction in the southern region of Michigan's UP. The springs are a short 11.5 mile drive from the town of Manistique and are the perfect side trip for a UP getaway. Parking is plentiful at Palms Book State Park and a parking attendant will check f...

Located just outside Marquette, Sugarloaf Mountain offers stunning 360 views of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The trail is short with two route options: difficult and easy. The difficult trail is still extremely easy, with the distance to the top under a half mile. The last couple hundred feet are gui...

Start at the Alligator Hill trail head and make your way up the hill for roughly .1 of a mile until you hit a marker. Turn left at the sign and keep on the trail for another 1.3 miles. You will hit a scenic lookout called Islands Lookout which you can stop and get pictures at. From there you will ke...

Laketown Park is located between Saugatuck and Holland Michigan. The parking lot is at the end of 142nd Ave, and is directly next to the stairs that take you up and over the dunes to the beach. There are no official restrooms here, but there is a small pit toilet. It takes about 5-15 minutes to clim...

Marquette, Michigan is known for its natural beauty and Presque Isle Park may be the loveliest place of all. Referred to as the “Island” by locals, this oval-shaped peninsula cuts into the crystal-clear waters of Lake Superior. Make sure to check out Black Rocks Cove located on Island's western side...

This adventure starts at a trailhead on the North Trail just north of Marquette, Michigan leading you straight to a beach on Lake Superior. Keep going north on a slightly beaten path up the coastline to reach Hidden Beach. The coast is full of cliffs and massive rocks to stand on to take a step out ...

Munising Falls is a 50' falls located inside the city limits of Munising. The trail to the waterfall is directly outside the visitor center and makes for a quick and easy hike after stopping by to pick up a permit or check in with a ranger. The paved trail is cool and shaded as it follows a creek to...

Beginning at the trailhead, the 2.8 mile round trip takes you on a gravel/sand trail up 570 feet. The trail slowly winds uphill until you hit an opening at the top that looks out at the Sleeping Bear Dunes and down on Lake Michigan.

Mackinac Island is accessible only by ferry, and there are no cars allowed on the island. While you can rent bikes over there, we opted to bring ours along on the Star Line ferry . Super easy and we had no problems! Lake Shore Boulevard, or State Highway M-185, wraps around the entire island and is ...

The waterfall is only a short stroll from the parking lot but is well worth the stop. It drops over 50ft and is 200ft wide. A stunning, powerful flow. The obvious 'Rootbeer' color comes from tannic acid produced by decaying hemlocks, cedars, and spruces along the river's banks. There are various vie...

If you find yourself cruising M22 between Crystal Lake and Lake Michigan, be sure to check out this beautiful lighthouse. Turn off of M22 on to Point Betsie Rd. and follow the curving road all the way to Lake Michigan. There isn't a designated parking lot for the lighthouse, but you can park anywher...

Drive to the Wetmore Landing Parking Lot, right off County Road 550 North of Marquette. Park then walk out to the beach- there's 2 routes you can take. The North Country Trail runs East to West along the coast here, you can hop on that and go right from the parking lot (East) and follow the trail al...