Planning first trip to U.P. What is the "season" for the SP's. Thinking last (3) weeks of Sep.,'08? Have read about the Falls, Mackinac Is., Ford Museum on the way up, etc. Need specific recommendations for 40'MH, best site for "base camp", etc. Will have about (2) weeks there. Many thanks.
ResearchMan67
2007 Winnebago Tour 40TD, 400hp Cummins, Freightliner/Allison,
Saturn VUE (6cyl/auto/FWD-2004), BlueOx,Adventa II
ResearchMan67 wrote: Planning first trip to U.P. What is the "season" for the SP's. Thinking last (3) weeks of Sep.,'08? Have read about the Falls, Mackinac Is., Ford Museum on the way up, etc. Need specific recommendations for 40'MH, best site for "base camp", etc. Will have about (2) weeks there. Many thanks.
We stayed at the Log Cabin Resort and Campground in Curtis. Was about 45 minutes to Pictured Rocks, a little over an hour to Taquanmenom Falls and just past that is Whitefish Point.
The campground is a good base camp..they have grassy back in sites or pull throughs in the woods. It is on a nice lake with a little beach. We've been there twice now. Only complaints are the earwigs and the rocky beach.
If I was going to do it again and had two weeks I would probably stay somewhere else and move a few times rather than have one base camp. Stay somewhere in St. Ignace so I could see Mackinaw Island, Taquamenon Falls, Whitefish Point, Soo Locks. Then move over near Munsing for the Pictured Rocks and then finish up over in Copper Harbor. I'm sorry I don't have any other links for you...the one I sent is the only place I've stayed up there.
~Shannone
2007 Winnebago Sightseer 35J Married to my best friend and high school sweetheart for 16 years 3 happy kids,one crazy wheaten terrier and our new mini schnauzer
Come on over, we always have an extra seat by the fire
The Taq.Falls State Park is a very nice, and fairly new, campground. It is located 10 minutes from the falls (cool experience awaits you at the lower falls), Sault St. Marie is 1.5 hours away, and Mackinac is 40 minutes away.
Click here for pictures of this area.
Out numbered 4:1
1999 F350 PSD 7.3L Dually
2008 Cedar Creek Silverback 35L4QB
Mak'n memories with the kids...and Bosco the Chocolate Lab
Mill Creek at the South end of the Mac. Bridge is a real nice place for a day or two to get in the city and island. There are a couple of nice camp grounds at the Sault Ste Marie. Route 2 along Lake Michigan is a must over to Escanaba where the U.P. State Fair Grounds can make a great base camp, large site some with full hook ups cost about $20 a night.
I've lived in Marquette back in the 80's and traveled (for my job) throughout the western 2/3 of the U.P. I've also camped up there recently. Late September is a great time for the fall color. The state parks are usually open at this time, but they may not have rangers present all the time. You'll probably pay in a drop box and a ranger will come through once or twice a day to check on things. You may also find some cool nights at this time of the year, but the days are generally okay, but there is plenty of firewood up there to keep you warm.
If you're coming from the lower peninsula then starting at St. Ignace you'll find Straits State Park just over the Mackinaw Bridge to the east. From there you can take a ferry to Mackinac Island. Some places will be closed on the island after Labor Day, but many will still be open, especially on the weekends.
If you go up to Sault Ste. Marie you can visit the Soo Locks. Heading over to Tahquamenon Falls SP is nice, but other than the falls and Whitefish Point there isn't a lot to do or see in that area. Of course if you just want the north woods experience then this will be great for you. If you're into birding then be sure to visit Whitefish Point north of Paradise. It's basically a flight route for birds of prey in the spring and fall.
Munising is a good place to visit. There is a nice campground about 2 miles west of town along M-28. It's next to the highway, but also right on Lake Superior. The little town of Christmas is about a mile west of the campground (casino). There are several waterfalls in the Munising area.
Marquette has a city campground on the north side of town (Tourist Park) which is nice and from there you can visit the ore dock at Presque Isle Park. Northern Michigan University is very near to the campground. The National Ski Hall of Fame is in Ishpeming (west on US-41/M-28).
The Houghton/Hancock area is very pretty (Keweenaw Peninsula) and is on the way to Copper Harbor (northern most point in the U.P.) There is a small state park between L'Anse and Baraga right on US-41 or you can go all the way to Copper Harbor to Fort Wilkins SP. The town of Calumet (north of Hancock) is somewhat historic and there are old mines in the area that you can visit. You'll also find some beautiful copper crafts/gifts in this area. Be sure to eat a pasty (pass-ty) while in the U.P.
Work you way south and west to Ontonagon and south of there you'll find Porcupine Mountains SP. The north end has a campground with electric, but is out in the open right near Lake Superior (if it's blowing a cold wind off the lake head to Gogebic SP on Lake Gogebic). Lake of the Clouds is not far from the park (nice overlook). Following the road to the south end will take you to several nice little hiking trails. Be sure to stop at the south end where the Ontonagon River flows to the lake. Turn right and park in the lot nearby and take a walk along the river. There are waterfalls and a virgin forest. It's my favorite place to take a walk.
From there you can head into Wisconsin or follow US-2 east through the U.P. The northern half of the U.P. is my favorite as compared to the southern half. If the weather is cool the southern half will be warmer since it is on Lake Michigan. There are some beautiful areas along Lake Michigan. Indian Lake SP just west of Manistique is nice. There are several places where you can stop along the highway and walk along the lakeshore.
If you're traveling back through the lower peninsula be sure to stick to the west side of the state. There are several great campgrounds and nice dunes. The sunsets are excellent and you'll find great little towns like Petoskey (be sure to buy a polished Petoskey stone), Charlevoix, Elk Rapids, Manistee, Ludington, Pentwater, Holland, Saugatuck, South Haven. And there are state parks nearby all of these towns.
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