Top Things To Do in the Upper Peninsula:
You do not have to travel out west to explore lush nature, mountainous backdrops, and rushing waterfalls. There are so many hidden gems in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, it requires a week-long trip to explore everything (and that does not even include the western half of the UP).
If you live in the Midwest, this Upper Peninsula travel guide allows for an EPIC round-trip which can start from your front door. If you do not live within driving distance, we recommend searching for a flight deal from either Traverse City or Marquette, and renting a car for the remainder of your trip in order to explore the remote areas of Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
For those starting from Michigan's lower peninsula (like us), we will be starting our journey in Mackinaw City. However, if arriving from Wisconsin or flying into Marquette, this travel guide can easily be completed in reverse!
Table of Contents
Day 1: Mackinac Island
One of the top things to do in the Upper Peninsula is visiting Mackinac Island. There are ferry options to Mackinac Island in both Mackinaw City and St. Ignace. To avoid the crowds and to minimize your drive time at the end of the day, we recommend taking the Shepler's Ferry from St. Ignace.
Tip: Start your day with coffee from Java Joe's, one of Michigan's Best Coffee Shops.
Once at Mackinac Island, there are numerous things to do to fill your day. Our top recommendations are to rent a bike and sample the many fudge shops!
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At the end of the day, take the ferry back to St. Ignace and drive one hour to Paradise, MI. This is the ideal lodging location for Tahquamenon Falls State Park.
If you are a fan of camping, we recommend staying at Rivermouth Campground while visiting Tahquamenon Falls. To this date, this is one of our favorite campgrounds because of the towering trees that surround each site and the river that backs up to most of the rustic campsites. If no campsites are available along the water, R130 & R132 are also ideal.
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Day 2: Tahquamenon Falls State Park
While at Tahquamenon Falls State Park, we recommend hiking the Lower to Upper Falls trail alongside the Tahquamenon River. We started at the Lower Falls and hiked to the Upper Falls (about 4 miles one way). The hike to the Upper Falls is more scenic in this direction and we preferred the anticipation of approaching the breathtaking Upper Falls. The Lower Falls are a beautiful site to see and a great place to start your day.
Entry Requirements: a Recreation Passport is required to enter all Michigan State Parks
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Relax after a long day of hiking at Whitefish Point, home of the historical 1800's Whitefish Point Lighthouse. Another point of interest at Whitefish Point is the Shipwreck Museum, home of Edmund Fitzgerald's shipwreck artifacts and memorial. Just past the historical village is a beautiful beach surrounded by the crystal clear (albeit frigid) waters of Lake Superior. This is the perfect place to kick back and relax after a long day of adventures.
Enjoy dinner at The Inn Gastropub & Smokehouse. If you have room, be sure to try one of their famous (and huge) slices of mouthwatering carrot cake.
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Day 3: Drive from Tahquamenon to Munising
After spending two nights in Paradise, the third day marks your journey to Pictured Rocks. It takes roughly one hour and forty minutes to drive from Paradise to Munising. This leaves plenty of time in the afternoon to explore waterfalls, visit the town of Munising, kayak, and relax on Miners Beach.
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A popular and easily accessible waterfall in Munising is Wagner Falls. This is a convenient walk-up waterfall that can be enjoyed after a 5-10 minute walk from the parking lot. It is the perfect way to stretch your legs after your drive from Tahquamenon.
Enjoy chasing waterfalls? Discover a map of some of the best waterfalls in Michigan's Upper Peninsula!
Hotels near Pictured Rocks
We recommend staying in Munising, a charming town on the southern end of the park. You may also consider staying in Grand Marais, on the north side of Pictured Rocks. Although a bit more remote, there are some quaint and cozy cabins on Airbnb that would make for a great getaway.
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Camping in Pictured Rocks
Luckily, there are a fair amount of campgrounds at Pictured Rocks that now allow booking in advance. However, be sure to book several months in advance if you want to secure a spot, as most that you can reserve are highly desirable. The remainder of campgrounds in Pictured Rocks are first come first serve. Twelve Mile Beach Campground (36 sites) is one of the most desirable campgrounds due to the campsites' proximity to the beautiful Lake Superior and northern hiking trails (book very far in advance).
Little Beaver Lake Campground (8 sites) is more centrally located within the park and most campsites back up to Little Beaver Lake (campsite #3 is very nice). Although small, this is our top pick campground due to its proximity to epic hiking trails. Please note that both of these campgrounds are rustic with vault toilets and no running water, electricity, or phone reception (recipe for a great weekend!). If you would prefer to backpack instead of front country camp, be sure to review the backcountry camping guidelines ahead of time. If you are not a camper, we recommend staying in Munising, a charming town on the southern end of the park.
J&L Recommended: Little Beaver Campground
Day 4: Chapel Basin Hike at Pictured Rocks
If you only have time for one hike in Pictured Rocks, this is the one! Do not be intimidated by the mileage, it does not feel very long when you are taking in the scenic views of Pictured Rocks. Make sure to plan plenty of time for this hike as you will be stopping every few feet along the lake shore to admire the beautiful landscapes.
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Trail & Parking Information
Completing the entire Chapel Basin Trail is 10.1 miles round-trip with 754 feet in elevation gain. The trail is a loop and is rated as "Moderate" difficulty. Plan at least four hours to complete the entire trail. For more information and to download the trail offline on your mobile device, visit AllTrails.
Parking for this trail is at the end of Chapel Road, where we recommend you start off your hike going counter-clockwise to Chapel Falls. Along the hike you will see Chapel Lake, Chapel Falls, Chapel Beach, Chapel Rock (tree growing out of rock), Mosquito Falls, and several lookouts with breathtaking vistas. There is also a segment that cuts off Mosquito Falls and shortens your hike by a mile if you are looking for a shorter duration hike.
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Day 5: M-28 Scenic Drive to Marquette
Located less than an hour drive from Munising, Marquette is a city filled with nature, beaches, foods, and brews! The drive from Munising to Marquette along M-28 is nothing short of awe inspiring. The stunning Lake Superior, sandy beaches, and scenic turnouts make you feel as though you have somehow arrived in a tropical destination.
Our favorite stops along M-28 include: Lakenenland Sculpture Park, Deer Lake Roadside Park, AuTrain Beach, & Grand Island Harbor Scenic Turnout (these are all pinned in our Michigan Maps).
Go Kayaking! Kayak the AuTrain River as a Pictured Rocks Kayaking Adventure.
Hotels near Marquette
Marquette is the most populated city in the Upper Peninsula. This allows for more options for lodging then any of the other small towns previously listed in this itinerary
Camping in Marquette
While visiting the outdoorsy town of Marquette, we chose to experience more of the nature by camping. Rippling River Resort was the best of both worlds. It offered rustic campsites along the river, as well as, modern amenities. For those who prefer four walls, they also offer cabins & glamping tents. This campground also has live music along the river, local beers at their campground bar, and wood fire pizza! It was easily one of our favorite camping experiences.
J&L Recommended Camping: Rippling River Resort
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Day 6: Marquette Hikes
Pictured Rocks offered jaw-dropping cliff side views. Now that you have reached Marquette, it is time to experience mountaintop summit views. Below outlines several of our favorite hikes and activities in Marquette.
The Sugarloaf Mountain trail is one of the top hiking trails in Marquette and is suitable for all skill levels. This trail takes you to the summit of Sugarloaf Mountain at 470 feet above Lake Superior. At this vantage point, you can witness incredible panoramic views of Lake Superior, the Marquette coastline, Presque Isle, and the surrounding lush forests.
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Trail Information
Completing the entire Sugarloaf Mountain Trail is 1.4 miles round-trip with 295 feet in elevation gain. The trail is a loop and is rated as "Moderate" difficulty. Plan at least 45 minutes to complete the entire trail. For more information and to download the trail offline on your mobile device, visit AllTrails.
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Presque Isle Park
Located on the northwest side of Marquette on an oval-shaped peninsula and spanning 323 acres, Presque Isle Park is a must-visit! With lighthouses, lookouts, beaches, and walking/hiking paths, this peninsula is a green oasis just minutes from the city center.
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Some of our favorite activities on Presque Isle Park include walking out to the Presque Isle Harbor Breakwater Light and jumping off the iconic Black Rocks (at your own risk) into the frigid Lake Superior.
J&L Tip: After witnessing the namesake, grab a beer at Blackrocks Brewery! This top rated Michigan brewery is worth a visit.
Hogback Mountain
Hogback Mountain leads to breathtaking views at a higher elevation than Sugarloaf Mountain. If you are looking for a bit more challenging hike than Sugarloaf Mountain, or additional mileage, then this is the trail in Marquette for you.
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Trail Information
There are two ways to reach the Hogback Mountain summit. The first has a lower elevation gain and includes an additional pond viewing. We started on this trail but quickly turned around due to all of the bugs in mid-July. If you are visiting Marquette in the fall, you may have better luck with the bugs on this trail.
The second trail we would consider more of a hard trail than moderate. There are several areas that require searching for trail markers to find your way and a decent amount of rock scrambling towards the summit. However, we enjoyed the challenge (and lack of bugs) that led to the most picturesque views of Marquette.
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Day 7: Marquette Waterfalls
Marquette has so many unique waterfalls right at its doorstep. Your second day in Marquette can be perfectly spent chasing waterfalls along the Dead River. Below outlines our two favorite hikes for viewing some magnificent Upper Peninsula waterfalls.
Dead River Falls
We found Dead River Falls to be another challenging, yet rewarding hike. With river crossings and rock scrambling, the route is not easy. However, following close to the river will keep you on the trail. We had this trail nearly to ourselves and found it to be a hidden gem of Marquette with numerous spectacular waterfalls.
Fun Fact: There are actually 6 waterfalls on this trail! Do not turn around after you reach the first, the sixth is the most impressive!
Trail Information
Completing the entire Dead River Falls Trail is 1.7 miles round-trip with 229 feet in elevation gain. The trail is an out & back and is rated as "Moderate" difficulty. Plan at least an hour to complete the entire trail. For more information and to download the trail offline on your mobile device, visit AllTrails.
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Bad Dog Loop Trail
Bad Dog Loop Trail is such a unique trail along the Dead River. Parking can be found just past the Marquette Board of Light & Power on Wright Street, or at the Wright Street Falls Parking (which can cut off about a mile of the trail). This trail takes you past both the Wright Street Falls and Forestville Dam Falls along an easy route navigating through the Dead River power house system.
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Trail Information
Completing the entire Bad Dog Loop Trail is 2.6 miles round-trip with 164 feet in elevation gain. The trail is a loop and is rated as "Moderate" difficulty. Plan at least an hour to complete the entire trail. For more information and to download the trail offline on your mobile device, visit AllTrails.
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On your final day in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, you will start your journey back to Mackinaw City. Along the way, it is worth a stop at Kitch-Iti-Kipi within Palms Brook State Park, the largest natural freshwater spring in Michigan.
Named "Mirror of Heaven" by Native Americans, this immaculate spring in the Upper Peninsula is so clear you can see every fish swimming in it! The water is an aqua blue that is hard to find elsewhere in nature. Look closely and you will be able to see the large trout lucky enough to call this spring their home.
For a closer view of the spring and fish, catch a ride on the raft that takes you from one side to the other. This raft ride is free and provided by the state park, however, it may require waiting in a short line during peak times. The center of the raft is hollow with a looking glass to admire the beauties of this spring as you ride across.
Entry Requirements: a Recreation Passport is required to enter all Michigan State Parks
End your trip by heading back to the Mackinac Bridge and through Michigan's lower peninsula to your home destination. Leave with a new appreciation for the beauty of Michigan's Upper Peninsula and start planning your next trip to the western half!
Reasons to visit the western Upper Peninsula:
Porcupine Mountains State Park
Keweenaw Peninsula: Houghton & Copper Harbor
Isle Royale National Park
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Planning Your Trip
Start by deciding on the time of year for your visit, keeping in mind the local weather and activities you enjoy. Next, research the attractions you want to see and plan your itinerary accordingly. It's also important to book accommodations ahead of time and arrange for transportation, considering that the best way to navigate the region is by car.
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Estimated Trip Cost Breakdown:
Average Camping: $25/night
Average Hotel: $150/night
Total Car Mileage/Gas: 450 miles/$75
Entry Tickets: $10-17
Average Meal: $11/person
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What to Pack for a 1 Week Camping Trip
Packing light is always the key when camping, especially when you plan to bring your necessary camping gear on a plane. We packed all of our camping gear into one checked bag by packing the below light-weight gear:
Temperatures get cold at night in the Upper Peninsula. Be sure to pack layers and plenty of warm clothes for your trip.
Enjoy our Upper Peninsula tips? We'd love to hear from you in the comments below!
