This is one of the least visited national parks, and it's not because it isn't worth visiting…read more Rather, it's so isolated that it needs a 3-6 hr ferry ride or a 45-60 min sea plane ride. Even then, there's only one hotel to stay in which is usually booked out pretty far in advance, unless you want to camp with potable water sources not the most reliable. Of course, this is by design in order to preserve the beautiful natural wilderness. I visited in the shoulder season in the first week of June, and there weren't that many people, emphasizing the wild solitude. It seems like all the visitors here are respectful of nature since there was not any litter nor any defacing at all. The trails here are primitive and not paved or lined with gravel. You can see so much wildlife here, from tiny amphibians the size of my fingernail to huge moose. The night sky is amazing with so many stars, and I saw the Milky Way due to the high quality of the night sky. It is very humbling. As a note, limited amounts of foraging is allowed. I didn't take anything, but I saw edible mushrooms and fiddleheads, and later in the season there's wild blueberries, strawberries, and thimbleberries. Even though it is early before the first hatch, the mosquitoes here are ferocious!

Isle Royale is a unique GEM in the National Park system. If…read moreyou want a beautiful, unique, and wild place with no tv and limited Wi-Fi Isle Royale is for you. I took the Sea Hunter 3 from Grand Portage, Minnesota. The Grace Point lookout trail from the Windigo Visitor's Center took me about two hours, I'm a 45 year old male in decent shape. The lodge is at the Rock Creek Visitor's Center, from the Windigo Visitor's Center this would be about a 40-50 mile hike, Isle Royale is HUDGE island. There are ferry's and sea planes to Rock Harbor. I would LOVE to come back and spend a couple of nights. Bring heavy duty bug spray and a bug cover for your head and hands. The rangers at the Windigo Visitor's Center are GREAT, the ranger in the picture gave an awesome presentation.

Baraga State Park is a small State Park situated in a perfect area across from Lake Superior that…read moreis between somewhere and nowhere. This isn't a State Park made to stay at for any extended period of time but rather a great stopping point for us on our Circle tour of the biggest lake of all the great lakes. We rolled in on a Friday mid-afternoon and couldn't be more pleased with our one night stay. Yes, the highway is nearby and you do hear the traffic but for our visit, it couldn't have been more perfect. We saw the sunset and the moon on full tilt out on Superior. It was truly a welcoming rest on our journey through the North. From Milwaukee, expect about a 5 or so hour drive. From there you have just about reached as far as you can go before you run out of road. Next stop, Copper Harbor. Our favorite amenity about Baraga was the bathrooms. They were absolutely the cleanest facilities we had use of during our 9-day jaunt. The showers were solid and the water was hot. Baraga was a great start for our camping adventures to come! We would stop through this place anytime!

My wife is not happy tonight as this park sits right alongside the main highway US-41 that runs up…read morethrough Baraga and north toward Copper Harbor. This was a mistake coming here as the road noise is terrible, it sounds like the Indy 500 and it is not conducive for an enjoyable camping experience. We won't camp here again and we will be sure to look into the next camping area we pick as an unhappy wife creates an unhappy life.

Camping here was so amazing, site 4 on the end may be farthest from the bathhouse but along the…read morewater was magical! We stayed two nights midweek and didn't want to leave. Deb in the office was a rockstar employee, so friendly and welcoming! We enjoyed visiting with her and will return in the future!

Township parks offering camping are off the radar and difficult to discover. This is the second one…read moreI've found and it is a gem. (First one on Madeline Island in the Apostle Islands, Wisconsin). I tripped over Ontonagon Township Park while reading a separate review of a Porcupine Mountain State Park. So, only downside, day-of-arrival reservation only. Call (no email) by 7AM and make your claim (906 884 2930). I did. It was a weekday in late June. A site was set aside for me. I wasn't thrilled with the site assigned. Together with the site operator we hopped in his golf cart and I got a complete tour of available sites. By the way, $15/night for the site I chose. On the matter of the day of arrival reservation, you might call in advance and get a sense of the level of campsite fill. It's not a guarantee but it might provide some guidance. I was tent camping generally looking for a modest amount of solitude and not hanging with the party-lights and generator RV crowd. Pleased to note that even with that constraint I had some choice. Without question, the sites directly on Lake Superior are great locations. Many are RV sites but there are a few tent-only or tent-likely sites. But strong north winds and temps down to 45 at night told me this was not the place for me. I chose a location (site 74) across the road from the lake and slightly up an incline. The strong winds diminished to a gentle breeze and the moderate temps made bugs a non-issue. I had power, which I really didn't need, but nevertheless. And water spigots were at some sites. Not mine but nearby. The vault toilet nearby was spotless. The modern restroom with coin-op showers was a short walk away. The mercury vapor street lamp lighting the access road was a little annoying and I think they could have provided a similar amount of safety without the lumens. But now I'm just picking nits. OTP was just a one night stand. Next day I back tracked 12 miles west along a lake-hugging road to the Porkies for some trail hiking and then back again through Ontonagon and up the Peninsula. By the way, for the highway freaks, Ontonagon is the head end of US Route 45 that continues south to the Gulf of Mexico. Road trip for another time.

Gorgeous views, breathtaking shoreline, perfect place for a picnic. So many spots to pull off and…read moresee a different type of view. From the cliff-like edges to the dark lava-like rock structures near Blackrocks, it's all a must-see. You could spend a whole day here in the summer no problem. Go hunting for beach glass along the rocky beaches, grab a bench and watch the waves, build a sandcastle on the beach, take a drive around the loop, there's endless ways to enjoy the park and all it has to offer. No hammocking, no dogs (from what I saw on the signage), and be prepared for wind while on the shorelines. Still a 10/10 and the best "park" I've been to.

What a great Urban Park! Presque Isle Park is a large public park that is a peninsula overlooking…read moreLake Superior. The park is easily accessible by car, bike or foot. My dad and I walked around the whole thing and according to my fitbit I had 3.5 miles but we did a lot of side walking too. We parked in the front near the lighthouse alongside of an ore dock. The iron ore docks were cool to see as they are unique to this part of the country. From there we walked out to the lighthouse and checked it out before starting off on the trail. The cliffs over looking Lake Superior and black rocks along the route were really cool to take in. Be careful though as these cliff rocks are known to go crashing in to Lake Superior. I'd say it's almost 3 miles to walk all the way around. There were tons of picnic tables and pavilions but not sure for getting the pavilions work in terms of renting them or if it's 1st come 1st serve. I also saw 2 kayak/canoe vans with trailers but didn't anyone kayaking or canoeing so not sure if that's an option near by.

This Waterfront Park really embodies what the town of Houghton, Michigan is all about…read more Houghton, Michigan (in my opinion) is a pretty cozy/old fashioned/industrial city with this terrific Waterfront Park situated along the edge of Portage Lake within the Keweenaw Waterway. The main highlight is a pedestrian walking pathway, where all you have to do is stroll about and breathe in the fresh air of the UP - Upper Peninsula. Plus, another scenic aspect of the park is having the Portage Lake Lift Bridge as the centerpiece focal point, making for quality photo opportunities (especially when the sun is out, lol) for those visitors exploring around town. And...the Portage Lake Lift Bridge connects the cities of Houghton and Hancock, which the road eventually leads towards Copper Harbor, MI - "The Gateway to Isle Royale National Park". For me coming to Houghton on my eventual journey out to Isle Royale...I very much enjoyed becoming acquainted with the city. Btw, there is an Isle Royale Visitor Center right nearby here for those interested in purchasing souvenirs, watching a park film and having your NP Passport stamped. Overall, this Waterfront Park gave me a fresh perspective for appreciating what makes Houghton quite the charming town. I used about 1 hour just casually hanging out here, taking some time to sit down on one of the many benches to relax and people watch.

Parked by the water and went to dinner. After walked i bit around town and by the water. Peaceful…read moreand seems very safe. nice to be on vacation and not have to feel you need to be on alter and didn't see any homeless on the Upper P trip. Houghton is a college town ... several bar and restaurants. Water sports, fishing, hiking. This was our last stop on our Upper P trip. We actually went home a day early .. missed the dog. hope to return in the fall or spring ... especially the fall.

Such a great day! Easy to find, excellent free parking and pit toilet available. Choices on how…read morestrenuous you want to be on your way to the top. Gorgeous hike awaits! Walkable for all ages, enjoy canopies of trees, wooden stairs with handrails and informative signs along the way. Then you reach the top and it should take your breath away! So worth it! Various wood deck platforms, facing different directions provide safe viewing and unforgettable vistas! Trust me, it's special.

Sooooo beautiful! The perfect distance of a hike for families. The kids can keep up, the parents…read moreenjoy it. The view is just breathtaking. I will never get used to it. Must visit when in the UP

Beautiful falls that attract tourists and locals. The flow of the falls changes but many photos…read moretaken by families, locals and tourists alike. You can take a trek around the entire falls to view at different angles or stick to the boardwalk if you dont care to walk a narrow trail with rocks and tree roots.

Lovely stop on our way to Ontonagon - even in the rain! The falls are not far from the parking lot…read moreand there is a lot of wooded paths to walk along so you aren't trudging through mud. Would highly recommend stopping by this beautiful waterfall!!

Not even a half mile loop (0.4 mi to be exact), this outlook is extremely friendly to all skill…read morelevels and a perfect place to stretch your legs, get a grant vantage point overlooking the Big Bay/Marquette, and a must-visit for when the fall foliage is at its peak in this area! Follow the signs and begin the loop on the left. The trail winds through forest and there will be a slight incline for a bit, but will soon even out, and you're basically at the peak at that point. The overlook area is well maintained, but basically fully exposed to the elements as you emerge from the trees, with railing and additional steps up to the top of the literal rock where you will be above most trees and you get a great view overlooking the bay. There are picnic tables at the top, so it's also a great place to have a little lunch or snack on a good day. Once you're ready to head down, continue to follow the path you took and the trail will soon begin its decline and before you know it, you're back in the parking lot where you started. There are cute little informational posts placed throughout the trail for you to read up on the wildlife and flora/fauna located on the trail. Total elevation gain on this trail is 50 feet, which I believe includes the steps up to the top of the rock, which is optional, but highly encouraged for the views.

The trail is quick (I jogged the full loop while stopping for photos and viewing in about 10…read moreminutes without shortcuts). There is a decent lookout, it reminded me of the mountain pass view by Copper Harbor, and if you run to the top of the stairs you will find a picnic table atop what I assume is Thomas' rock. There are some short, but sturdy, bridges and lots of flipping info signs all over the trail along with many chipmunks. I assume there are no bears there because the trash cans were all open tops. Yellow Dog falls are nearby also, but be prepared for an hour of dirt roads if you do that one.

On my way to the lighthouse, I stopped to check out this pretty cool park. There is a great view of…read moreLake Superior and Picnic Rocks from here. The park includes a great looking playground, public restrooms and walking trails. It is named after George Shiras III who contributed the land for the park. Shiras was the first to do flash photography of wildlife at night. An entire issue of National Geographic in 1900 featured his work and there is a historical marker with a lot more detail on his life and contributions to conservation and study. There is a large parking lot available. [Review 17919 overall - 325 in Michigan - 1440 of 2022.]

Very fun park. Our 2 year old loves jumping on the tires and digging in the dirt. I suppose the…read moreElise would be pretty hot on a warmer day.

Cool Spot, Must Hike Down After Catwalk!…read more Really beautiful waterfall, nice clean water and once you get down to the water line at the fall there was no one there when I went. It was cool because you actually felt alone in nature for once at a waterfall. You can also take the little trails up from the walkway to get onto the old railroad bridge which is now a snowmobile bridge and you can see good views as in my pictures that are shown. There is a nice walkway and the catwalk over to the falls under an old railroad bridge. Go ofc the right where the trail is and carefully climb down to the water. If you just go down the cat walk and that is it you won't be able to see you too much. It's important to navigate down but if you have physical limitations or any worries about climbing down the dirt hill you should not attempt it.

This was such a nice surprise!…read more For being right off the highway, I wasn't expecting much, but this ended up being one of the funner waterfalls in the U.P. It had a steep walkway down the mountain that is a fun workout to get down to, then back up, and you can get a great view of the bridge and waterfalls from down there. If you walk up only twenty feet or so from the main pathway, you end up on the bridge overlooking the falls-both great sites.