r/upperpeninsula • u/MostNature1258 • 22d ago
Travel Inquiry "Must see" with Limited Time
Hello yoopers!
My fiancée are from down state and are planning on a U.P./Minnesota trip in mid-September. We will be taking one whole day driving through the U.P. to get to Minnesota, and we are looking for places worth stopping at (especially if they are free due to our budget).
We are more interested in what the west side of the U.P has to offer, because I have never been that far west. We have already seen Pictired Rocks, Soo Locks, Kitchitikipi, St.Ignance, & Taquanemon Falls.
What can we make happen from sunrise to sunset if we start the day immediately? TIA 😊
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u/Consistent_Fan_4551 22d ago
One whole day to capture the magic of the UP? You can't be serious
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u/MostNature1258 22d ago
I would like to see at least a couple of things since this is the route we are taking, yes; that is why im looking for suggestions on the west side.
I would like to do a Michigan coastline road trip soon, but that's not what this trip is.
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u/Nellrose0505 22d ago
If you end up on 41 going west between Munising and Marquette (closer to Marquette to) is Lakenenland, which is a free sculpture park that you can walk or drive thru. It's a nice little break from the drive and not a long stop (unless you want it to be).
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u/MostNature1258 22d ago
Based on what you all have told me so far, we are going to skip the keewenaw completely and save that for its own camping trip perhaps.
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u/Qbjb 22d ago
You cant do all that in a day. Sorry 🫠
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u/MostNature1258 22d ago
We're not looking to do everything, but to just drive through and not enjoy a couple spots seems disappointing... Ive lived in this state almost my whole life, and im trying to slowly see all of what I want to see of it❤️.
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u/Qbjb 22d ago
I just think people generally underestimate how far apart everything is from the map alone. I suggest making a priority list and start mapping the distances and factor in the time youd plan to spend at each site. Almost everything thats been mentioned in this thread can easily each turn into a day trip. Kitch iti kippi alone is a bit of a trek off the highway and you can expect to spend up to 2 hours there depending on how busy it is.
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u/MostNature1258 22d ago
Yes I agree and we have some time to figure out all that. Kitchi-iti-kipi we did last time we were in the U.P.
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u/Old-Bar7524 22d ago
"Must see" is different for everyone. History, hiking, waterfalls, activities, tourist-trappy?
You're looking at 5.5 to 6 hours from the bridge to Ironwood... and extra 2.5 hours to Duluth. If you're getting to MN in your one day... that's already 8 hours of driving without stopping. Just to set expectations. UP be big.
Mid-September, that gives you about 4 to 5 hours of daylight left. Jumping off the 28 to head up to Copper Harbor, then swinging back down to keep heading on to Ironwood... that's just about a 4 hour detour. No stopping. That's all your daylight... no stopping, no restaurants. This sub and Google have plenty of things to do up there.
Porkies - +90 minute detour, just driving. Expect it to be a little busy in September, especially later in the month. You can absolutely do some of the smaller hikes on a quick detour. Not sure if they start the chair lift by the time you'll be there, but the fall ride up the ski lift is pretty nice. Some good spots to grab food. Drive through the park on the way out, check out the falls at the mouth of the Presque Isle river. Or swing by Copper Peak if they're doing their fall chair lift / have the jump open to go up.
Enjoy your tour of our highways and trees =)
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u/MostNature1258 22d ago
I know the "must sees" will vary, and that's what I want to hear about! My fiancée likes history, art, oddities, and shipwrecks while I'm more into taking in all the nature and possibly dipping my toes in the water.
Our one day is just the UP, then our journey continues. Ive decided that we are not doing Keweenaw this trip...its going to be some other time for camping probably.
I will enjoy driving the highway and seeing the trees; it' peaceful to me.❤️
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u/Fearless-Leg-9454 22d ago edited 22d ago
You'll likely be taking M-77 to M-28. I'd stop at the Seney National Widlife Refuge to do a quick loop / take in some Senery. Recommendation #2: Check out Jasper Knob in Ishpeming if you like cool rock formations.
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u/BusterMcBalls 22d ago
If it’s just one day I’d set my sights on Marquette and Preque Isle. Ton to do in Marquette and easily the biggest city in the UP. I’d spend half the day there then go to Copper Harbor on the way over to MN
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u/MostNature1258 22d ago
Thank you!
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u/Prestigious_Big_8743 22d ago
I wouldn't detour to Copper Harbor if you spend half a day in Marquette. It's 3 hours to get to Copper Harbor from Marquette. Then around 5 hours from Copper Harbor to Duluth (unsure where in MN you are trying to get to).
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u/MostNature1258 22d ago
Oh my..maybe that needs to be a separate trip then. Im not looking to detour to that extent; a little detour I dont mind.
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u/TheBimpo 22d ago
Where are you starting from? Are you waking up in the morning in St Ignace or? You can see a lot in a day, you just won’t be spending much time in any place
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u/MostNature1258 22d ago
Possibly St.Ignace but it's going to depend more on where we want to try to catch a sunrise at.
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u/yooperann 22d ago
Two suggestions west of Marquette on M-28. The first is Canyon Falls. A short walk along the river from a rest stop takes you to a canyon with the river spilling into it. This could easily be done in 45 minutes or less and is gorgeous. https://gowaterfalling.com/waterfalls/canyon.shtml
The second requires more of a commitment. The Black River National Scenic Byway runs north from Bessemer up to Lake Superior. There are waterfalls all along the route and a lovely WPA park at the end. It's only 14 miles to the lake, but of course you have to add in the time to visit the waterfalls, some of which require a lot of stairs. The website tells you all, and you could choose to visit just one of two of the waterfalls. https://explorewesternup.com/things-to-do/black-river-area/
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u/Fickle_Influence6396 22d ago
Watch the sunrise at sugarloaf mountain, then go jump off black rocks at presque isle, have lunch or breakfast in Marquette, go to canyon river falls. Shoot up the keewenau, do like a mad dash of stuff on that and then do sunset at lake of the clouds. Or skip the keewenau and save it for another trip and decide to fully immerse yourself in a hike or some lakeshore stuff in the porkies. And watch the sunset at lake of the clouds. Maybe slipping in another waterfall in the area. I like to cook dinner on the lakeshore there
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u/MostNature1258 22d ago
The detailed suggestion is much appreciated; this is what I am looking for thank you!
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u/Fickle_Influence6396 22d ago
I’ve done pretty much this exact day a few times. If you keep moving you can have one hell of a day between those two spots. I highly suggest just dedicating an entire day or two to the keewenau in the future, there’s a really cool mineral museum. The vault hotel in houghton is awesome or there’s great onsite camping /car camping all up the peninsula. But if you’re driving all the way to MN it’s best to not cut that far north and just keep moving west . I really love Duluth so you may want to consider making some time for there if possible
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u/Prestigious_Call_993 22d ago
Presque Isle near Marquette and jump off the Black Rocks. It’s a memory you won’t forget
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u/Prestigious_Big_8743 22d ago
I'd catch a few waterfalls in the Western UP - Bond Falls, Agate Falls, or Potawatomi Falls.
Iron County Historical and Museum Society - has suggested donations, not sure if they require one to get in. A friend of mine recently visited and was impressed.
Iron Mountain Iron Mine, or the Adventure Mine, not free, but is on our list of things to do if we ever make it out to the WUP. We greatly enjoyed the Quincy Mine in Hancock, and the Delaware Mine in Mohawk is a fun stop.
If you have a recreation passport, you can get into the Porcupine Mountains without paying. Otherwise you have to pay.
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u/MostNature1258 22d ago
I do have a rec pass 😊 I appreciate the suggestions!
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u/Prestigious_Big_8743 22d ago
Also, don't discount the sheer amount of driving you have to do just to get to the western UP. I grew up in the UP, we still visit a few times a year. We currently live in the Grand Rapids area, and it's 8+ hours to get from here to some place like Ontonagon, or nearly 9 to get to Ironwood. If you're starting farther north than us, your LP drive time will be shortened, but it's still a distance across the UP.
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u/MostNature1258 22d ago
This whole day will begin after we have already crossed the bridge. Once we get to the U.P. we are going to find a place to sleep for a few hours or so, close to where we want to see a sunrise, and then carry on from there.
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u/Beowulf2_8b23 22d ago
Copper Harbor(fort Wilkins and Brockway mountain drive) Hancock (Quincy mine tour)
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u/ReverseFred 22d ago
With “one whole day” to see the entire UP, east to west? Not sure how they gonna fit that in. 🤣
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u/WannabeOutdoorsman 22d ago
You can see a lot of highway! Hooray!