Rapid River, Michigan

Kitch-iti-kipi is a beautiful and easily accessed attraction in the southern region of Michigan's UP. The springs are a short 11.5 mile drive from the town of Manistique and are the perfect side trip for a UP getaway.Parking is plentiful at Palms Book State Park and a parking attendant will check...

Wagner Falls is an easy-to-reach waterfall right off of 94. There are parking areas on both sides of the highway so even when the trail is busy you will likely find a spot. Its close proximity to the highway and short trail make Wagner Falls the idea place to go if you are limited on time but wan...

Getting to Rock Island is the first part of the journey. Driving to the tip of Door County, drive to the Northport Pier and grab your first ferry to Washington Island. Once there, drive across the island to Kafri Ferry dock. This ferry does not allow vehicles, so you'll be carrying anything you'l...

Located right off of County Highway 58 across from Sand Point Road, Tannery Falls doesn't see the larger advertising that many other falls see in the area, but is a hidden gem within the town. At the start of the hike, you'll need to find a parking spot off of the highway, you might run into tick...

The time of the year is one of the most important factors of this trip. DO NOT under any circumstances plan this trip for a time during mid June - mid August. The black flies at this time of the year are more than a nuisance. They are seemingly resistant to even 100% DEET, and can bite through cl...

Munising Falls is a 50' falls located inside the city limits of Munising. The trail to the waterfall is directly outside the visitor center and makes for a quick and easy hike after stopping by to pick up a permit or check in with a ranger.  The paved trail is cool and shaded as it follows a cre...

Located in Munising, MI, Grand Island National Recreation Area is a part of the Hiawatha National Forest. While this section of the Upper Peninsula is known for Pictured Rocks National Park, many people fail to see or check out Grand Island. Secluded by ferry access, the island features 12 backpa...

It will take a drive and a ferry to get here, but once you do you’ll want to rent a bike to explore the island in earnest. You’ll have time to cycle around the whole island, with side trips to beaches, frontier houses, and picnic spots or small cafes. To get to Washington Island, drive north on H...

A simple hike from the trailhead will take you through the woods and to the viewing deck of Miners Falls. There are well marked signs to the trailhead from the main road, which is extremely helpful with the lack of cell phone service in the area. The hike is 1.2 miles round trip and requires no ...

This trip works best with two cars where the first is dropped off at the Twelvemile Beach Parking Lot, and carpooled over to the Miner's Castle Parking Lot. Both lots can be easily found in the Pictured Rocks National Seashore Map, or on Google Maps. Start your day at Miner's Castle by checking ...

The best place to start a kayak tour of the main section of cliffs along the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is Miners Beach, located just outside of Munising. Miners Beach features a good size parking lot, along with a beautiful sandy beach that serves as a great launching point within sight o...

Begin your hike at the Noquemenon South Trailhead and follow the markings for the Morgan Creek Falls loop. You will immediately have to cross Hwy 553 to get to the main trail. From there, you have two options to reach the falls. The first and more scenic is the marked Noquemenon trail (look for b...

Start at the Chapel Basin parking lot at the far northwest corner (if you see signs for Chapel Rock, you picked the wrong trail!), and you will be gifted with a great hike downhill at first. The trail will split and you will have to choose to go the falls route or the direct route. I would sugges...

This two day (easily extended if you want more time to explore) hike offers some of the best views in all 40 miles of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. The days are split up into a 8.8 mile day and a 12.6 mile day and can be done in either direction but since I did the 8.8 mile day first I will ...

The trail loop from Mosquito Beach to Chapel Rock takes hikers through woods, to the edge of cliffs, and to the bottom of beaches along the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. The trail head begins inland and contains a 10.4 mile loop to numerous locations and viewing areas. The cliffs tower to h...

When you want to pack the backpack for a short day hike in the Pictured Rocks, look no further than hiking to Mosquito Falls!  Start at the Chapel Basin parking lot at the far northwest corner (if you see signs for Chapel Rock, you picked the wrong trail!), and you will be gifted with a great hi...