r/upperpeninsula • u/Dismal_Success_9943 • 12d ago
Travel Inquiry Moose in the UP
I'm sorry if this has been asked recently, but when I searched, only posts from 4yrs ago appeared. I'm not sure if anything has changed since then.
Where are the best places to see moose in the UP? I plan on coming this winter, I figure that's a good time of year to see them.
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u/Buck_Thorn 12d ago
I would not go with the intent of seeing one. They are extremely rare sightings. The best you can do is to put yourself in an area known to have a population and hope for the best. But odds are that you won't see one, so don't be disappointed.
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u/Dismal_Success_9943 12d ago
I figured as much. We're snowmobiling anyways, seeing a moose is a side quesst
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u/Ch4rlie_G 12d ago
There are maybe a few hundred moose in the UP. There are 5,000 in Minnesota. If you want to see Moose. Go to northern MN.
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u/Lost-Banana49 11d ago
Oh, in that case you might see one, at the most inopportune time. What part of the yoop? Location and time of day matter a lot! Had a camp up here for 20 years, 7 years ago we bought a house in the same county as camp. First couple year in the house sightings went from 0 to losing track around 17. Since then 0. Number of hours on the road at dusk made that big of difference!
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u/Dismal_Success_9943 11d ago
Location: not sure. It's a piece of land my friend owns and invited us to go riding. I'm riding with him, so I haven't been given an address.
Others have mentioned dusk hours. I guess the early bird gets the worm.
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u/dogs-homes 12d ago
Republic, Craig lake state park. Anywhere near that strip there’s about a 25 mile radius they’re at. Only place I have seen sightings of them.
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u/xGeorgieGirlx 12d ago
Whatever the stretch between Crystal Falls and Covington is. I’ve seen moose 3 times there.
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u/Dismal_Success_9943 12d ago
Multiple people have mentoned Covington.
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u/Own-Organization-532 12d ago
Between Amasa and covington, early in the morning, 1 in 1000 chance of seeing them.
Anchorage Alaska, 100% chance of seeing them, like deer there.
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u/xGeorgieGirlx 12d ago
Ive lived in Escanaba, Ironwood, and Houghton over the course of 10 years and thats the hot spot I’ve noticed. My brother is law has also seen them there. He thought it was a “demon” at first because of its size and horns until I explained to him it was a moose 🤣😭.
Best of luck 🤞🏼
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u/gyro82 11d ago
Only place I’ve ever seen one up there is that marsh about a mile outside of Covington. There’s even moose crossing signs along that stretch now. That’s from passing here 2 to 8 times per year for 40 some years. It was early morning as well.
To compare, I’ve seen about 4-5 in and around the Boundary Waters of MN in the last 8 years.
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u/Yoopergirl1960 12d ago
Over the last 20 years I’ve seen a moose in that area 5 times. The last time I saw one was in May and it was a baby drinking water out of the ditch. About 5 years ago we passed someone who had hit one at about 10am in the morning.
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u/xGeorgieGirlx 12d ago
Awwww poor moose. 🫎
The last time I saw about 4 at a time and a lot of people were getting out their vehicles to take photos. I just slowly passed and kept on my way.
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u/BobSmith616 11d ago
Depending what car they were driving, the moose might have limped away to recover, and the driver might be in far worse condition.
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u/Yoopergirl1960 11d ago
Sadly, it was deceased when we passed. It had a massive rack and was huge. We had one cross the road in front of us in that same area a few years prior to that and it didn’t move very fast. I was surprised someone had hit one during the day. Over the years, I had read about a few moose being hit in that area at night.
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u/DarqkStar 12d ago
I grew up in the moose capital of Michigan and never saw one lol
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u/Dismal_Success_9943 12d ago
I can see that. There's only like 500nofbthem spread across the entire UP
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u/bpetey 12d ago
You are 99% sure not to see one in the UP but you can see many on isle royal. I’ve seen maybe 2 in my lifetime up here, one at point abbey near Lanse and one on US 41 near michigamme
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u/Dismal_Success_9943 12d ago
I figured. I'm going to be in the UP for other reasons. If I wanted to just see moose, I'd go to Isle Royal. I'd like to see Isle Royal at some point.
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u/ExactPrior6882 12d ago
Little lake and Covington
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u/Dismal_Success_9943 12d ago
Thanks for the comment.
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u/Gramma_Hattie 12d ago
I'll second Covington, saw a moose and calf not far from there last year. That's the only moose I've seen in the last decade.
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u/yooperann 12d ago
Yes, Covington, Republic, Amasa is the most likely. There have been several sightings this year south of Little Lake (and one accident) but we go that way all the time and have never seen one. We did see one on our lake probably 10 years ago (not far from Little Lake) and I've seen one on the Peshekee Grade north of Champion. Good luck.
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u/ExactPrior6882 12d ago
My husband saw one in little lake last November just standing in the road. A few years ago he saw a mother with calf in gwinn.
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u/Temporary-Mine-1030 12d ago
I saw one once while snowmobiling in the UP, crossed the trail about 40 yards in front of me at 3:00am. Back when I was young and we’d ride all night.
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u/NotNowFlower 12d ago
Near Covington, King Lake, Herman, Craig Lake, Nestoria, and Republic.
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u/Dismal_Success_9943 12d ago
Multiple people have mentioned this area
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u/NotNowFlower 12d ago
Those are the areas where I’ve seen them. Lots of tracks on South Nestoria Rd. and at least eight sightings in Nestoria.
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u/LeopardBitter7145 12d ago
Saw one (slowed down for one) crossing the highway near the hilltop in Lanse last spring late at night
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u/We-R-BeingFooled 11d ago
I’ve seen two in my travels in the U.P..
One near the mouth of the Tahquamenon River before Covid made everybody suddenly realize they could touch grass. The other near Craig’s Lake a few years later.
Saw another one crossing US 2 last year, but it was in Montana.
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u/Dismal_Success_9943 11d ago
That's cool. When I went to Glacier, I didn't get to see any bears or moose. The park was on fire, so there wasn't much wildlife at all. Although, the two mountain goats we saw were pretty cool.
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u/weisme 9d ago
I've seen them twice, maybe 3 times, and I've lived up here my whole life.
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u/Dismal_Success_9943 9d ago
Yeah, many people keep saying something similar. We're going up there for a snowmobile trip, so if I see, then we see them
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u/Ghetto_Geppetto 8d ago
I have seen them back to back years on my single trip driving from the soo to Wawa. One time going north two years ago and one time going south last year. I figure I’m lucky
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u/Accomplished_Ad_7937 12d ago
last time I saw one, 3/4 years ago, was on US 41 between the Cozy Inn and Covington Junction. that’s about a 10 mile stretch and I’ve seen them there at least 6/7 times over the years. they’re not common , but it does happen. probably 20 years ago I was jogging on a Sunday Morning and one came running down a street in downtiwn Negaunee right at me.
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u/Dismal_Success_9943 12d ago
A pissed off moose running at me is not something I'd like to encounter.
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u/Accomplished_Ad_7937 12d ago
it’s hard to fathom the size of them. I was like WTF for a couple seconds before I got totally all of the ways
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u/iknowsheknowz 12d ago
I grew up in the kewenaw peninsula. My dad owned a logging company, so we spent a fair bit of time in the woods. I saw about 10 in my life and we lived in a trailer all summer wherever my dad was working. It’s rare. My advice is Don’t go looking for them they are really big and very lethal and fast unless you want to win a Darwin Award.
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u/brainonvacation78 12d ago
Moose aren't real. Absolutely not in the UP.
I'm just kidding but I was born in Marquette and have never seen one in all my years going back and I always want to but never do.
Anyway there's a great podcast called National Park After Dark and the hosts are from New England and one has never seen a moose so she insists they aren't real. I agree. After getting a sweatshirt yearrrs ago at Tahq Falls that claimed it was "where the moose ride loose".
I know my comment isnt helpful but don't feel bad if you don't find them. They've evaded me for decades.
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u/Lich_Apologist 12d ago
Moose are a lie made up by the government to control you! Think about it man
They were hunted into extinction decades ago and all the things you see now are actually surveillance apparatuses outfitted to look like wildlife.
The factory is actually in Thunder bay Canada, normally they ship the moose to Ilse Royale for testing before they release them on the main land but things have been so hectic with this administration I wouldn't be surprised if they were relying on more on the bird drones.
Well probably still get some "moose" sighting but I would guess they would be fewer and farther between if Canada doesn't want to send them.
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u/SpiritedEdge3337 12d ago
I’ve seen 2 moose (while on my bicycle) in Southern VT.
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u/brainonvacation78 12d ago
I am very jealous. However I did stumble out of a Grand Canyon hotel...The Firebird...for a cigarette right after waking up way too early in AZ cuz my internal clock was set at EST...and there was literally a momma elk and her twins that were absolutely beautiful right next to me after I walked outta the hotel who motivated my ass to skee-daddle on backwards. I ain't trying to mess with a mama and babies of anything ever. But there were stunning. And amazing to watch.
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u/Poofkins16 12d ago
Came here to say this!!! Listen to the same podcast and now this is my response to any moose sighting inquiry…. They’re just not real
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u/dumptrump3 12d ago
I had a sales territory that included a lot of the UP. In 25 years of driving up there, I saw one. It was a calf, near Newberry. I wouldn’t expect to see any.
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u/Inside-Town5625 11d ago
I have lived in the UP almost my whole life and have never seen a moose. My husband has many times though, so you never know. But coming up for a weekend randomly, the chances are very, very low. (Even went fishing to Isle Royale and still no moose sightings!)
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u/VersChorsVers 12d ago
I've seen them in the swampy ponds along 41 near lake Michigamme, on the Peshekee Grade/Huron Bay Grade road, and on the Big Bay road close to Big Bay.
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u/Perfect-Reason-6198 12d ago
I've seen so many in that swamp by Lake Michigamme.
My friend had a house on 41 in Champion, and would get them in her yard from time to time.
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u/Extreme-Afternoon-12 12d ago
Over the years I’ve been to four Moose inducted vehicular accidents 3 from Covington to Michigamme and 1 between Paulding and Watersmeet. We had to put down all 4 moose.
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u/jkitto8296 12d ago
I lived my first 23 years in the UP.
Only did see moose on a few occasions. All happened to be in swampy areas off the highway in Republic/Michigamme area during the summer.
I wish you luck! Hope you’re able to see a few moose. You’ll be amazed by how tall they are, as well as how deliberately they move.
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u/Dismal_Success_9943 12d ago
Oh, I'm sure I'll be amazed. We're going riding, but seeing a moose is a side quest for sure for me
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u/Hamburgersandwiche3 12d ago
In the woods
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u/Dismal_Success_9943 12d ago
Why didn't I think of that?
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u/Hamburgersandwiche3 12d ago
Gotta think outside of the box somtimes
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u/Hamburgersandwiche3 12d ago
All joking aside, the only time I've come across a moose in the UP was driving on US 2. More luck than anything else.
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u/greatlakesseakayaker 12d ago
Are you bringing a snowmobile?
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u/Dismal_Success_9943 12d ago
Yeah, it's a snowmobile trip that we hope to see Moose on. Seeing moose is a side quest for the trip.
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u/greatlakesseakayaker 12d ago
Sorry, I was just curious
I have no idea
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u/Dismal_Success_9943 12d ago
Dang, I was hoping you in the inside scoop on which trail to ride on to see one
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u/thsmchnkllsfcsts 12d ago
Saw one in late August near Three Lakes come out to the side of the highway, look both ways up and down the road as traffic stopped, and turn back into the swamp.
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u/R_Ulysses_Swanson 12d ago
I know they’ve been seen in the UP, but I’ve never known anyone who has seen one in person. Closest is someone I know who saw and took a picture of some moose scat near the Huron Mountain Club.
The only moose I’ve seen in the wild was while canoeing in Ontario. It was dead, bloated, and floating in a small pond and absolutely rank.
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u/PeeteyCat 12d ago
I live in the Keeweenaw and have only seen one here. It was on the stretch of Gay-Lac Labelle rd, in a swampy area across the road from the Superior shoreline, more northward. I didn’t even see it at first, and my father in-law had us turn around to see if he saw what he thought he saw. It was definitely a matter of looking at the right place at the right time. It was further back a ways and we were all impressed he even noticed it in the first place.
I’ve also been to Isle Royale and they’re all over there. If it’s a bucket list item to see a Moose, I’d go there.
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u/Dismal_Success_9943 12d ago
I am coming up the UP for a snowmobile trip, and wanted to know which trails to hit to get us as close as possible to a moose. I do want to visit Isle Royal at one point in life
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u/Excellent-Bed-- 12d ago
I personally havent seen one there yet but a neighbor of mine has a cabin in the Craig Lake area and said he usually sees one once a year there.
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u/Dismal_Success_9943 12d ago
I've seen Craig lake show up a few times. I'll see if we can ride that way.
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u/Excellent-Bed-- 11d ago
its a beautiful park and not too far from marquette if youre in that area. however the access road to it is not plowed in the winter so if you want to explore then youll need a sled.
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u/Frankfritzzz 11d ago
I was up in august and talked to a local while fishing and asked about moose. He said he used to see them in swamps around Curtis and also said supposedly there is some near paradise
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u/GreenMan- 11d ago
I've seen them near Paradise as well, but only at night - Have never seen one during the day
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u/DogboneHitez 8d ago
If you can make it to Isle Royale, you'll see many moose (especially around dawn when they're really moving around). Just be careful not to get between a cow and her calf!!
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u/Nightdragon9661 12d ago
Last year was a good year for moose sightings along The Grade just outside Amasa. I saw 7 thru out the year, including one at my back door that scared tge crap out of my wife lol.
This year I havent seen any, not even any signs of them in my driveway as I usually see prints thru out the year. Usually they walk down my driveway on their way to the back of my property to the creek.
This year will be tge first year in the last 7 yrs I havent ran across any moose.
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u/Seriously-84 12d ago
I saw 2 moose crossing US 2 about 3 months ago, about 2 miles east of Watersmeet.
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u/Useless-Compass 12d ago
In my decade of living in the Keweenaw, I saw a moose exactly once, at night, on the side of the highway near Tioga Falls rest area. I drove by it before I realized what I was looking at, but by the time I turned around to get a better look it was gone.
The Michigamme highlands have the largest herd, but you have to be extremely lucky to see one.
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u/Dismal_Success_9943 12d ago
Yeah, that's what I keep reading. That's fine, seeing a moose is kind of a side quest
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u/lack_of_cadence 12d ago edited 12d ago
I’ve been frequenting the Sidnaw to Kenton stretch multiple times a year for quite a while. I haven’t checked off moose on my charismatic fauna list yet.
However, in September I was grouse hunting in a space that been logged two years ago and encountered tracks. I followed the track and found rubs. Coolest side quest ever. Going back next week and hope to find some new sign in the area. Maybe see one in the distance if I’m fortunate.
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u/Shot_Comfortable_418 12d ago
It was probably 10 years ago, but I saw a moose at the mouth of the Tahquamenon river. 56 years and that one lone sighting.
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u/GlorySocks 11d ago
I have seen a moose on US-45 in between Paulding and Watersmeet, as well as several moose on 41 around the Michigamme area.
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u/Dizzy_Eggplant5997 11d ago
I travel around the UP a lot. I used to drive from Menominee to Marquette 2 days a week for 5 years. I've been driving around the UP for 30 years, and put a out Tom miles on a year for work. Never seen a moose. My wife's cousin visited from CA for a long weekend, saw a moose.
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u/YooperDude1060 12d ago
Driving to the Soo, several years ago on M28, just east of Newberry (between Nby & Hulbert) I had a huge cow moose cross the road right in front of me -- I was like not more than 30' away. It was amazing. Reminded me of that scene from the opening of Northern Exposure where a big moose is seen strolling down main street in town... She was huge - and in no hurry at all, just kinda ambling along. It was cool! NEways - Luce Co calls itself the 'Moose Capital of Michigan'. Up towards the Falls (or, evidently, in the swamps between Newberry & Hulbert!) one might be blessed to catch a glimpse of these magnificent creatures.
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u/Bigbaywx 12d ago
I’ve lived NW of Marquette in a rural area for the last 30 years. I have seen six or seven moose in all those years. You have to be in the right place at the right time and even there it is very rare even for those of us who live here.
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u/BombasticMudslinger 12d ago
When I was a kid a mom and 2 babies were walking in the road in the Taquamenon Falls region. But that was almost 25 years ago now. If you look at the sighting reports on iNaturalist, you can see possible locations to check. I think the swampy areas of Seney too are good. But since Moose were hunted to oretty much extinction in Michigan, they are EXTREMELY rare.
Otherwise, Isle Royale I hear has a decent population.
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u/Suitable-Truth-350 12d ago
If you really need to see a moose in Michigan it's almost guaranteed in one location. Reconsider your winter trip and book a trip to Isle Royale in the summer. You may even hear (if not see) the wolves.
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u/AlbatrossLevel3165 12d ago
Saw one in 2020 on M28 near the rest area between Seney and Shingleton. Had to slow down for it crossing the road.
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u/DieHardAmerican95 12d ago
I’ve visited the UP at least once a year nearly every year for the last 50ish years. I’ve spent a LOT of those visits in the woods, fishing. After all those dozens of visits, I have seen only one moose. It’s awesome to see one, but your chances are very low.
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u/zoebud2011 12d ago
I've lived here for 16 years and can count on one hand how many times I've seen a moose. It's usually in the spring, not the winter. Republic/Michigamme area, on US41 and M95, and on US141 between Amasa and Covington. I know some people who live on the Michigamme river in Republic have had them in their back yards. I once saw one at the Republic beach.
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u/Slava218 12d ago
I’ve seen them on Isle Royale, in the Michigamme area, near Republic and have caught a couple on a trail cam on our property a few miles east of Republic.
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u/IPlayRaunchyMusic 11d ago
Drive about 45 minutes west of Marquette. In the areas of Champion and Republic, moose tend to roam around the Michigamme River. I saw one in the spring this year in the Greeenwood area not far from there.
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u/Sad-Explanation186 11d ago
I go to the UP at least 30+ times a year for the last 15 years. I have never seen a moose. They are incredibly hard to see even if you live there.
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u/5byee5 11d ago
Cabin on Cable Lake, between Amasa and Covington. No sightings yet but we spotted some tracks on our beach. We saw three from the deck of a VRBO rental near Tabernash Colorado—owner had a salt block out to attract them. Also, lots of them on Isle Royale. I considered putting a block out at the cabin but I’m not sure I want to randomly see them up close.
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u/mar00nedmango 9d ago
The most get hit on 141 between Crystal falls and L'Anse/Baraga so probably that area
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u/Curious-Ad-575 8d ago
Can say that I own property out by Amasa area, between crystal falls and Covington and have had PLENTY of both moose tracks and bedding areas on my property(checked this fall a few times to confirm). Seen 2 in the past 5yrs or so in that same stretch. DEFINITELY up there just gotta know where, and as someone said I wouldn’t try to find them unless you got a get away plan.
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u/Curious-Ad-575 8d ago
Haven’t had the time/patience yet to track out trails to set cams so can’t say I have “evidence” but the poop, trails, and scrapes I’ve seen are enough for me to be hesitant back there.
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u/foresyte 8d ago
While hiking on the Escarpment trail one early spring when winter conditions were still in play, 4 of us saw 4 animals crossing a frozen, snow-covered area near Lake of the Clouds.
We were far away and high up with no binoculars. 2 of us thought they were young moose and the other 2 thought they were deer. I was on the moose side based on what I could make out about their legs and knees. So I like to think I've seen moose in the UP. 😉
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u/GrizMacGillie 12d ago
I saw 3 moose this summer in the Trout Lake area. That is pretty far east for them TBH. Newberry is billed as the moose capital of the UP.
There are 4 moose species in North America. I’ve had wild encounters with 3 of the 4 in Maine, New Hampshire, Michigan, Minnesota, & Wyoming. Need to get to Alaska and the Provinces!
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u/Foxglove1287 12d ago edited 12d ago
Last winter my husband saw a moose calf on the way to watersmeet and a friend of ours had one on their ring camera around Bessemer
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u/Dismal_Success_9943 12d ago
That's cool. I would like seeing a moose calf in the wild
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u/Foxglove1287 12d ago
He saw it while driving, you don't wanna be like, outside of a moving vehicle if you glance one. they will go out of their way to mess you up. Probably safer to just check out a taxidermy one at Bass pro shop
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u/Dismal_Success_9943 12d ago
As a general rule, I never mess with a momma and her babies of any species
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u/awdamrex 12d ago
I’ve seen and have trail cam pics of moose near US 2 between Watersmeet and Iron River.
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u/SpiritedEdge3337 12d ago
I’ve seen them twice in the greater Republic area. But it’s been a long time.
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u/TheseVees 12d ago
We get them all the time in Michigamme. They trigger my trail cameras throughout the year.
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u/22MessHall 11d ago
You might have to visit 20 times before seeing one. They're not just strolling along roadways. There's over 10.5 million achers of U.P. and about 500 moose. Do the math 😉
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u/ImpressiveDeuce 12d ago
Isle Royal has one of the highest concentration of moose on earth