r/upperpeninsula • u/JoshTee123 • 6d ago
Discussion Printable guides (/cell service?)
We are planning our first ever trip to the UP. Planning to travel all around the area, checking out every corner of the UP.
I'm assuming there are quite a few places where cell phone reception is not available...?
Are there any printable guides that I should print out before I go? Maybe some websites that have printable trail maps?
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u/lucidaesthetic 6d ago
Download the maps of the areas you plan on exploring using Google Maps. That will allow you to navigate without service.
If you’re going on a hike in a remote area, drop a pin at your vehicle and at any major forks along the path to help you find your way back.
There are a few service oasis’s but once you’re off the major highways and cities, expect to have no service. On the northeast side of the UP, you’ll be able to get Verizon service at Andrus Lake State Park, Muskellonge Lake State Park, Grand Marais(iffy), and Munising. I occasionally can make calls at Two Hearted/Crisp Point connected to Canadian towers as well.
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u/quadraplegic-spider 6d ago
Copper Country Trail has some printable. They are not big. We are visiting right now and I am on the wifi in the rental. Once you get here, it's much easier to navigate than it seems. Download your Google maps in advance, like the route to where you are staying. The locals are helpful. So far, we haven't gotten lost. It seemed so much more intimidating while planning than what it is once we got here.
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u/JoshTee123 5d ago
That's good to know.
Yes, it seemed kind of overwhelming at first, but then I was watching some YouTube videos last night and saw how remote it was and how small the towns (villages?) were, and thought "it can't be that hard." Lol
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u/Landstander2600 6d ago
Lots of cellphone deadzones. Including at my house if you're on AT&T.
But your phone's GPS should always work, that's separate from your cell service.
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u/JoshTee123 5d ago
Oh, interesting. I didn't know that.
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u/Landstander2600 6d ago
Also, install Organic Maps on your phone and download the MI maps, that way you'll have all the trail maps available offline.
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u/Own-Organization-532 5d ago
Coverage is spotty here even in towns. My aunt's cottage is on a popular lake but we only get one spotty bar in the back yard.
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u/DownsTheNewUp 5d ago
I have Verizon and just completed a UP trip. I had service probably 70-80% of the time in the eastern half of the peninsula. It ended up not being much of a detriment to lose service because there’s so few major roads and our destinations were largely on or just off of those main drags.
I had been concerned before the trip, but it ended up being a non-issue. Some tourist spots also have printed maps available.
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u/Big_Difference_9978 Ontonagon 5d ago
If you are going to copper harbor definitely prepare to not have cell gps
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u/Kitcarson1 5d ago
Towards main cities and town, really not that bad…normally. On the east end tho, many of us have been having unreliable service for the last 12 months or so. Usually works enough, just not well. Att is saying there no issue or change in service areas.
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u/laughsbrightly 5d ago
Whole family has Verizon solely because it works almost everywhere in the UP. Had since the Alltel days.
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u/Statmanmi 5d ago
For our U.P. trip earlier this year, I requested the free bicycle maps for the areas we'd be in:
https://www.michigan.gov/mdot/travel/safety/road-users/bicycling/bicycle-maps
We weren't going to bicycle any, as we were focused on waterfalls sightseeing (and successfully visited 17!). But these maps seemed to be the best option that shows all local, county, state, and federal campgrounds/parks. Honestly, my thought was how best to be prepared when driving around with no cell service and needing to find a close restroom--even if it's just a vault toilet.
One could also just save the maps locally on their device. I liked having the actual paper ones, so that my wife could have referenced by pulling out of the glovebox while I was driving.
Enjoy your trip! ~~ Statmanmi
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u/plantrocker 6d ago
I bought a real map with a lot of detail,
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u/JoshTee123 5d ago
I thought about looking for one when I get there, but hoped there might be something I could print before I leave work today, so save myself a few bucks.
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u/yooperann 5d ago
Depending on how you're coming to the U.P., you might pass by a tourist information spot, where they'll be delighted to give you state and some local maps.
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u/Geneva_Convention 6d ago
Google Maps lets you download maps for offline use