Upper Peninsula Road Trip
The upper peninsula of Michigan (UP) is one of the most beautifully rustic landscapes. It is home to the only international dark sky park at Keweenaw Dark Sky Park. From the mitten of Michigan you can drive north to the Mackinaw bridge that connects to the UP. I have traveled to Michigan many times for vacation and visiting family, however this was my first trip to the UP and I fell in love. I have a rooftop tent for my car, we used this for camping some nights as we traveled. We took this road trip in August of 2024 for a four days. My boyfriend was motivated to stop at as many beaches to find yooperlites. What are yooperlites? They are fluorescent rocks that can only be found along Lake Superior. We packed up the car ready for exploring towns, camping on beaches, and hiking national forests.
Passing the Mackinaw Bridge you will need to pay a toll to enter the UP. I advise stopping at gas stations as you see them because it can be remote especially when camping. Another tip is service can be spotty so download maps ahead of time. When life has been busy there is nothing better for me than to disconnect in nature and the UP is a perfect location to do that.
Driving over the Mackinaw Bridge
Our first night was at Two Hearted River State Forest Campground, on our way we lost connection and committed to following a dirt road to the end where the campground emerged from the middle of nowhere. You will need a four wheel vehicle that is able to drive through sand, I have a Toyota 4Runner. We chose this location for yooperlite hunting and enjoying a Lake Superior beach . When we arrived it was busy with campers and I a few campsites were available. This campground is a first come first serve and you will need cash or check to pay for your stay. Once we set up our campsite it is walking distance to Lake Superior. When the sun goes down you will find many campers on the beach with black lights looking for yooperlites. It was a great sense of adventure looking for these glowing rocks. You are sure to see a yooperlite!
The next morning we headed toward the city of Marquette. Along the drive we stopped at Chapel Falls trailhead for a hike. This trail will take you to Lake Superior where you are able to get a view of Pictured Rocks or walking halfway you can see a waterfall. Dogs are not allowed on these trails.
Chapel Falls Trail
In Marquette you will find a strong mining history. You can see old and working Ore Docks. Near Presque Isle Park is a working ore dock that runs during the night. I recommend stopping at Preque Isle Park for a walk and if you are brave a swim from Black Rocks. The Lake Superior water is still very cold even in the summer. On our way back to our hotel we stopped for Dinner at Rice Paddy, a family owned Thai restaurant that only takes cash. The food was so delicious and authentic. We spent the night downtown at the Landmark Inn, it is a historical luxury hotel with a rooftop bar. Down the street is the popular Blackrocks Brewery, a great stop to meet up and hang out.
Blackrocks
In the morning you must have breakfast at Donckers a downtown chocolate shop with cafe upstairs. After breakfast we explored downtown gift shops and book stores. Then headed to our next stop, Calumet. Along the way is Swedetown where there are many cross-country trails in the winter. We spent the night at an Airbnb that was connected to these trails. In Downtown Calumet is Keweenaw National Historical Park Visitor Center, where there is a museum on the copper mining history. For my coffee lovers, next door is Cafe Rosetta. It has a Swedish feel with breakfast and lunch options. From Calumet we drove to Eagle Harbor Lighthouse, which has an east coast feel and great view for the sunset. There are two beaches we stopped at in the evening to do some yooperlite hunting on our way back to Calumet.
On our last day we went to Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. This was one of my favorite locations for its forests and hiking. In the State Park I would recommend hiking the Lake of the Clouds overlook, there are easy to moderate trails to choose from. My next trip to the UP I will be spending more time at this state park! Overall a great end to a short trip and eager to get back up there this summer.
