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Natural Attractions
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Agate Beach - Eagle Harbor. 6 miles east of Eagle Harbor. Pastel colored agates and semiprecious stones found on Lake Superior beaches from Ontonagon to Keweenaw Peninsula and from Munising to Whitefish Point.
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Arch Rock - Mackinaw Island. Natural rock formation 150 feet above Lake Huron. Observation deck.
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Boney Falls Basin, County Road 523, Gladstone, MI 49837, Phone: (906) 786-1660. This scenic, forested impoundment on the Escanaba River offers beautiful scenery and good wildlife viewing. Hiking trails, small boat access, and a primitive campground add to the attractiveness of this site. Eagles and hawks are commonly seen soaring above the impoundment and river corridor. Fly fishing for brown trout is popular in this area from June throughout the summer. Available at this site: restrooms, trails, picnic area, camping, fishing, boat ramp, drinking water. The river is shallow, so canoeing may be difficult during periods of low water.
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Brockway Mountain Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary, Brockway Mountain Drive, Eagle Harbor, MI 49950, Phone: (906) 337-4579. The Brockway Mountain Sanctuary has a walking trail approachable from Brockway Mountain Drive. The Oren Krumm Trail starts at the parking area on Brockway Mountain Drive and is about 1/4 mile long ending at a lookout point with a long view of the wooded hills to the south. Brockway Mtn Nature Sanctuary encompasses 78 acres below the east end of Brockway Mtn and protects some important species of plants that are unique to Michigan only in Keweenaw County. There is also a 1.6 mile hiking trail to be enjoyed.
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Brockway Mountain Drive, Copper Harbor, MI 49918, Phone: (906) 337-4579. Located in Copper Harbor. Brockway offers you a 9 1/2 mile drive that is has breathtaking views of Lake Superior and thousands of acres of the Keweenaw. It is the highest above sea-level drive between the Rockies and the Alleghenies. It is designated as an official Michigan Wildlife Viewing Area. The biggest wildlife attraction here is the annual migration of birds-of-prey from mid-April to mid-June.
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Eagle Harbor Environs, M26, Eagle Harbor, MI 49950, Phone: (906) 337-4579. The Eagle Harbor environs encompass the 37 acre Clark Memorial Nature Sanctuary & the 25 acre Eagle Harbor Red Pines Dunes Nature Sanctuary the hiking trail is 4.3 miles.
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Estivant Pines Nature Sanctuary, Manganese Road, Copper Harbor, MI 49918, Phone: (906) 337-4579. The Estivant Pines Nature Sanctuary is a 377 acre wilderness, hiking trails, you may see several of the 85 species of birds, 23 species of ferns, 13 types of native orchids, old mine workings, rock out-cropping along with virgin cedars. Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are available during winter months.
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Fossil Formations - Drummond Island. Dolomite rock formation containing 350-million-year-old coral and shellfish fossils.
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Fumee Lake Natural Area, Breitung Township, Iron Mountain, MI 49801, Phone: (906) 774-2945. Abundant scenery, varied terrain and more than 11 miles of mountain biking, hiking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and horseback riding trails in a 1,808 acre, including its two lakes, natural recharge area. The trail system has been expanded and now consists of four loops for every level of skier. Birdwatching.
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Grand Sable Banks and Dunes, Pictured Rocks National Lake Shore, PO Box 40, Munising, MI 49862, Phone: (906) 387-3700 - Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Five mile stretch of 275-foot banks rising from Lake Superior. Topperd by 85-foot-high Grand Sable Dunes cover five mile area. Located about one mile west Grand Marais; the best place to view is from the trail beginning at the Sable Falls parking area. Another access point for the dunes is from the North Country Trail, one-quarter mile east of the Log Slide. Please stay on the trail as the dunes vegetation is fragile. Five square miles of Grand Sable Dunes are perched atop the 300-foot high Grand Sable Banks. Left by enormous glaciers, the Grand Sable Dunes dwarf comprehension. A portion of the Grand Sable Dunes is set aside as a Research Natural Area.
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Helmut & Candis Stern Preserve, at Mount Baldy, Eagle Harbor, Eagle Harbor, MI 49950, Phone: (906) 225-0399. A Nature Conservancy site, the Lookout Mountain Preserve includes 1371 acres that encompass several thousand feet of frontage along Lake Bailey, a 200+ acre glacial lake and steep wooded slopes with a mix of hardwood and conifer forests and offers spectacular views of Lake Superior and the Keweenaw from atop Mt Lookout, nearly 700 feet above the shoreline. Motorized vehicles, off-road vehicles, bicycles, pets, smoking, camping and fires are prohibited. Access is just south of Eagle Harbor, east of the Cut-Off Road. Open year round 7 days a week.
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Hunter's Point Park, PO Box 76, Grant Township, Copper Harbor, MI 49918, Phone: (906) 289-4292. Hunter's Point is a narrow finger of land that protects Copper Harbor from the storms of Lake Superior. Access is a well-worn hiking trail that traverses the western edge of the Harbor and begins at the Copper Harbor Marina. This trail is traversed in winter by snowshoes or skis. It leads to scenic overlooks and entrances that lead to a long, angular beaches stretching over 4,800 feet and presently taking up 9.4 acres. Hunter's Point is a prime location to observe natural history, birds, plants and animals, excellent geology structure, and whatever else these beveled edges are inclined to reveal to the visitor.
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Keweenaw Shore Nature Sanctuary, M-26, Eagle Harbor, MI 49950, Phone: (906) 337-4579. The Keweenaw Shore Nature Sanctuary is a unique nature sanctuary with one of the most interesting short trails in the Keweenaw, the 3/4 mile trail crosses some of the best geology in the Keweenaw area and has 4 different plant communities.The hike can be continued through the more difficult upson Lake Sanctuary."All Michigan Nature Association Rules Apply".
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Kitchi-iti-kipe Springs - Thompson. Palms Book State Park. 45-foot deep spring. 200 feet across. Pumps 16,000 gallons of water per minute. Self-propelled observation raft.
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Lake Bailey Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary, M-26, Eagle Harbor, MI 49950, Phone: (906) 337-4579. The Lake Bailey Sanctuary parking area is at the east end of Lake Bailey on M-26 in Keweenaw County. The hiking trail begins at the back of the parking area and goes approximately 1 mile back to the south ridge. The trail is a challenge in places, as it is steep and the shallow soils on this north-facing slope are constantly creating deadfalls to cross.
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Lake of the Clouds - Ontonagon. Porcupine Mountains State Park - Panoramic views of mile-long inland lake from 1,300-foot escarpment.
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Little Mountain, 755 East Broad Street, L'Anse, MI 49946, Phone: (906) 524-7444. A hike up Little mountain offers a panoramic view of Keweenaw Bay and the Huron Mountains.
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Mary Macdonald Preserve at Horseshoe Harbor, US 41, Copper Harbor, MI 49918, Phone: (906) 225-0399. A Michigan Nature Conservancy Site, the Mary Macdonald Preserve at Horseshoe Harbor is arguably the most beautiful Conservancy site in the state of Michigan. The preserve encompasses 1,276 acres of high-quality bedrock beaches and glade communities. To access the site, follow US-41 to the end of the pavement east of Copper Harbor. Continue east on the dirt road for .89 miles. There is a narrow two-track trail heading left (north), follow this for 1.2 miles. Park on the right (south) side and walk east to Lake Superior. There is a sign at the head of the trail. The site is open to the public year round. Late summer and early fall are the best times to visit this site.
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Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, PO Box 40, Munising, MI 49862-0040, Phone: (906) 387-3700. - Multicolored sandstone cliffs, beaches, sand dunes, waterfalls, inland lakes, streams, forests and wildlife comprise this scenic area on Lake Superior. Activities include sightseeing, camping, kayaking, backpacking, hiking, fishing, hunting, picnicking, boating, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, a maritime museum, a lighthouse and a visitor's center.
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Menominee River/Piers Gorge, US-8 and Piers Gorge, Norway, MI 49870, Phone: (906) 779-2546. Deep gorge cuts through bedrock by Menominee River. Scenic boundary between Michigan and Wisconsin. 2 miles south of Norway. The 40-mile stretch of the Menominee River from above Iron Mountain to Menominee provides a beautiful setting for wildlife watching with numerous campgrounds and boat access points along the river cater to wildlife watchers with canoes. There are nine hydroelectric power dams and reservoirs on the river (each has a portage for small boats. The scenic Piers Gorge area of the river contains some of the fastest-moving water in Michigan. It is not navigable, but still offers beautiful scenery. There are spectacular bald eagle viewing opportunities. In addition to the eagles, osprey, common loons, and waterfowl are common sightings.
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Redwyn Dunes Nature Sanctuary, M-26, Eagle Harbor, MI 49950, Phone: (906) 337-4579. Redwyn Dunes is a 20 acre nature sanctuary with a 1/3 mile long trail that runs through sand dunes, past dune ponds and along a pebble and sand beach of Lake Superior. "All Michigan Nature Association Sanctuary rules apply."
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Silver Mountain, Prickett Dam Road, Baraga, MI 49908, Phone: (906) 884-2411. Beautiful, scenic vista of the Upper Peninsula await the hearty souls willing to climb the 250 plus boulder strewn steps to the top of Silver Mountain. The stairs are a rugged climb, and the site offers few amenities, so come prepared. Silver Mountain offers excellent opportunities to view migrating birds of prey (raptors). In May-June and again in September-October, watch broad winged and red-tail hawks soaring on the strong updrafts. Small sharp-skinned hawks and American kestrels are also common here.
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Strangmoor Bog - Seney National Wildlife Refuge. String bog located in Seney Wilderness Area. National Natural Landmark. Set of fingerlike bogs alternating with sanddunes. Geological features found in arctic and subarctic regions.
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Sturgeon Gorge - L’Anse. 250-foot-deep canyon formed by Sturgeon River. Upper and lower falls. 9 miles south of L’Anse.
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Whitefish Point Bird Observatory, 16914 North Whitefish Point Road, Paradise, MI 49768, Phone: (906) 492-3596
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