UP of MI, what's there?

“I've been to UP at least 1/2 dozen times and i have seen a bunch of it. i do manage to run into something new every time but i wouldn't mind knowing before hand of places that may be near and/or interesting to check out.

This doesn't necessarily have to be just outdoors stuff. Anything is welcome here and eventually I'll post up more too but I'm going to start with the biggies and one that i just stumbled upon on one of my trips, that i feel is kind of a hidden gem. Here it goes:

Isle Royale NP
http://www.nps.gov/isro/index.htm

Pictured Rocks NL/Wilderness
http://www.nps.gov/piro/index.htm
http://www.nps.gov/piro/planyourvisit/beaver-basin-wilderness.htm

Porcupine Mountains Wilderness SP
http://www.michigandnr.com/parksandtrails/Details.aspx?type=SPRK&id=426

.

Seney NWR
http://www.fws.gov/midwest/seney/
PDF map”

“Everyone that does Isle Royal loves it. I should shoot myself if I don't do it this year.”

“yeah.. i shoot myself for not spending more time on it.. lol.. will have to go back.. one needs to spend 7-10 to really appreciate the island.”

“if you're a birder, this one is not to miss. try to be there in migratory season but there are thousands of birds there all the time..

Whitefish Point Bird Observatory
http://www.wpbo.org/index.html

while there you can check out the lighthouse and the shipwreck museum.
http://www.shipwreckmuseum.com/

not far away are maybe the biggest falls in MI, 2 sets of them: Tahquamenon Falls State Park
http://www.michigandnr.com/parksandtrails/Details.aspx?id=428&type=SPRK

there is this super good fish place in Paradise. don't miss it. it's on sr125 on the way to the falls (west of center)”

“how is an island part of a peninsula?”

“...wait, i know this one”

“Because he wanted to get to the other side.”

“you do know that UP is not really a peninsula, doncha?”

“Yoopers.”

“so, nobody has anything?”

“North Country Trail, Trap Hills Traverse
http://www.northcountrytrail.org/pwf/index.htm

Hiawatha Shore to Shore NCT section
http://www.northcountrytrail.org/hss/index.htm

Rock River Wilderness
http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/forests/hiawatha/recreation/wilderness/rock_river_canyon/index.php

Sylvania Wilderness
McCormick Wilderness
Sturgeon River Gorge Wilderness

http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/ottawa/recreation/wilderness/index.html”

“bears are up there :)!!! They like to stare at you in camp.”

“Wolves and mountain lions too.”

“Although, I've probably hiked over 250 NCT miles throughout the U.P. in prime bear country and the closest I've come to a bear is a fresh scat pile.
Although, CB's upcoming Porkies trip may change my luck. I'd like to see some during the day, but not in camp after dark!
last edited: 7/29/09 6:27:08 PM”

“lol.. wolves on the isle, for sure. moose too but there is a moose herd wandering the UP.. i've seen signs of bear, i'm thinking it was out Big Bay way..

also, you guys mentioned some other trail in the porkies thread but i had no clue what those letters stood for.. or maybe it was in some talk about Pictured Rox.

what are some other backpacking trails up there?
last edited: 7/29/09 6:37:58 PM”

“You wouldn't like it here. Everyone should stay home and avoid this place. It's scary.”

“the skeeters will carry away small children.. :D”

“...and the wolves are as big as bears. They'd rather eat you than look at you.”

“Funny, the first time i was in the UP I saw a boat load of bears. 2 in camp, more while hiking!”

“Bears wade---they never boat.”

“Psssst!

The yokels are afear't of outsiders.”

“You're laughing at me for saying there are Wolves in the U.P.?

You really don't know much about it, do ya.

Current U.P. Wolf population stands at roughly 580. Way more than the few roaming Isle Royale.

http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-10370_12145_12205-32569--,00.html”

“The local yokels are worse than the bears and wolves combined! They devour small children and take "saunas."”

“Yup, and they are afraid that the scary outsiders will find out just how boring small town life really is.”

“They couldn't handle the boredom. I pity anyone who tries.”

“Self pity will get ya nowhere.”

“They say the one-eyed trout are running on Baltimore Street.

Ya can't beat that with a stick!”

“Check my profile for a nice Isle Royal wolf photo.”

“Check my profile for a nice one-eyed trout photo”

“Check this out!!

http://www.thebackpacker.com/trips/trip/1725.php

See ya later.
Randall”

“Dang Randall, are Achilles and Ghengis Khan going too?

Nimblefoot has a profile?”

“- Soo Locks
- Fox and Two Hearted Rivers
- Sugarloaf Mountain
- Hogback Mountain
- Hiawatha Water Trail
- Little Bay de Noc (THE walleye capitol)”

“cool..

noncorfomist.. the two hearted river.. hmmm.. that was like a freaking trailer park... what's up with that?



this is something i am yet to see. probably will check it out the next time i'm up there.
http://hunts-upguide.com/alberta_alberta_village_museum_and_ford_historic_sawmill.html”

“They watch Hockey Night in Canada and know who Don Cherry is. They also have decent beer.”

“Yeah man, Charlie Hayden played with Don Cherry.

He was a really hip dude, man.”

“has anybody been down any of the rivers or along the lake shore? how about canoe/kayak rentals?”

“I've floated the main branch of the Escanaba too many times to count (great trout river) and have kayaked Lake Superior around Presque Isle Park in Marquette. Check out the Hiawatha Water Trail for more info on the big lake.

There are a couple of canoe/kayak outfitters in this area. Uncle Ducky is one and (hopefully) I will be within the next year.”

“I think you can kayak around Pictured Rocks.”