Hunter's Point Park is a real real simple, quiet park situated right along the beach shores of Lake Superior. It is specifically located at the very tippy top section of the UP - Upper Peninsula of Michigan in a town called Copper Harbor.
I was here visiting, walking around and casually exploring the day before I was venturing off to Isle Royale National Park.
And...Copper Harbor is the official "Gateway to Isle Royale".
So...since I had a free day and some extra time before my departure...I figured why not spend an afternoon here at Hunter's Point Park simply taking in the fresh air and seeing what's offered.
There's nothing really special to this park. Nothing exciting or memorable. It was fine being here for maybe an hour or so. But that's it. There weren't any monumental highlights.
I guess what I liked most was it gave me a chance to do some relaxed hiking (or more like walking) and having the opportunity to look out onto the waters of Lake Superior.
It is free to come to Hunter's Point Park, just about 1.5 miles outside of downtown Copper Harbor.
At the entrance area parking lot...there will be an informative trailhead sign describing 3 trails to hike and a short boardwalk overlook point to stroll over towards.
I hiked 2 of the trails which connect with each other and pretty much cover the entirety of the park. They were the North Shore Trail and the South Shore Trail. And combined...they only go for 8/10's of a mile. That's pretty short but that's how very small Hunter's Point Park is.
Here's some details on the North and South Shore Trails, according to the trailhead sign....
"The Hunter's Point trail system is laid out in a figure eight pattern and consists of north and south shore trails that intersect near the middle of Hunter's Point. All the trails offer opportunities for viewing watercraft, wildlife, wild flowers, boreal forests, and rock formations."
Hiking the North and South Shore Trails, you barely have to think. Just follow the pathways that lead through the forest with moments for looking at the Lake Superior backdrop.
The trail was on flat ground with zero elevation.
Eventually the path leads out onto the coastline shores. I wouldn't even call it a beach area. It was more like a rugged rock and forestry setting with red and gray pebbles laid out on the ground as a substitute for beach sand.
I found the coastline to be somewhat photogenic. I stopped for a little and grabbed a few pictures while sitting down among really remote surroundings. It felt like I was the only person here, and that was pretty much the case.
In general, the shoreline was a good opportunity to chill out and do some reflecting on how far away from reality I felt.
If anyone is familiar with the National Parks System throughout the USA...they know that Isle Royale is one of the least visited of the parks and so I had a chance to think how grateful I felt to finally be journeying out to Isle Royale, which had been on my To-Do-List for a while.
Regardless that this Hunter's Point Park does not have much going on, the crisp air of Lake Superior was invigorating.
Btw, the boardwalk overlook section was pretty meaningless. There really wasn't anything to view. But after hiking the combined 8/10's of the North and South Shore Trails, there wasn't much left to do. The boardwalk area takes no more than 5 minutes to check out.
Lastly, there is the Marina Trail. But that can be skipped. It's only a 1/3 of a mile hike from the Copper Harbor Marina area that connects with the South Shore Trail.
Lastly, when I was visiting in early June 2021 the weather was pleasant for an early summer day. I wore comfortable pants and a t-shirt. I didn't even take my backpack with me which I left in the car.
In total, you only need about 1 hour or so for coming here to Hunter's Point Park. This place is good enough for leisurely passing time for tourists and visitors hanging out in Copper Harbor and prior to their Isle Royale adventures. read more