Things to do in Upper Peninsula, Upper Peninsula: The Best Nature & Wildlife Areas

November 2, 2021 Randal Brittian

Discover the best top things to do in Upper Peninsula, United States including Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Palms Book State Park, Bete Grise Preserve, Norrie Park, Seney National Wildlife Refuge, Presque Isle Park, Black River Harbor Recreation Area, Chapel Rock and Beach, Al Quaal Recreation Area, Kingston Lake State Forest Campground.
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1. Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

Headquarters on Sand Point Rd Between Munising and Grand Marais, Munising, MI 49862 +1 906-387-3700 http://www.nps.gov/piro/index.htm
Excellent
87%
Good
11%
Satisfactory
1%
Poor
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Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 2,081 reviews

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

Park located on the shoreline of Lake Superior encompassing cliffs, dunes, waterfalls and lakes.

Reviewed By 211charissek - Troy, United States

To actually see the pictured rocks you must either rent kayaks to get close up and personal, or take the boat tour.The double tiered boat gives you sensational views of the magnificent turquoise, orange, brown, copper, pink colors within the stones sculpted and worn by the seas of Lake Superior. The backdrop of the turquoise water is reminiscent of the pacific ocean and is a sight to behold.

2. Palms Book State Park

Manistique, MI 49854 +1 906-341-2355 http://www.michigandnr.com/parksandtrails/details.aspx?id=425&type=SPRK
Excellent
83%
Good
15%
Satisfactory
1%
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Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 301 reviews

Palms Book State Park

Reviewed By romanekj - Lansing, United States

Palms Book State Park’s Kitch-iti-kipi is Michigan’s largest spring. Kitch-iti-kipi is an Ojibwa word said to have many meanings, including The Great Water, The Blue Sky I See, and The Roaring Bubbling Spring. Kitch-iti-kipi is 200’ in diameter, 42′ deep and delivers 16,000 gallons of crystal clear water per minute. The water stays at 45 degrees year round. You can ride the observation raft for a beautiful view across the spring. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the floating dock was closed for a long time but, since people kept breaking the locks, it was opened very recently. Looking down the center of the raft, you can see the bubbling spring doing its work. Large trout seemed to be everywhere, but no fishing is allowed. A must see!!! #puremichigan #summer2020 #nofilter

3. Bete Grise Preserve

Gay-Lac La Belle Rd, Mohawk, MI 49950 +1 906-225-0399 https://www.michigan.org/property/bete-grise-preserve
Excellent
80%
Good
20%
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5.0 based on 5 reviews

Bete Grise Preserve

4. Norrie Park

Norrie Park Road, Ironwood, MI 49938 +1 906-932-5050 http://cityofironwood.org/ironwood-parks/
Excellent
100%
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5.0 based on 2 reviews

Norrie Park

Built as one of the areas Civilian Conservation Corps camps, during the Great Depression, Norrie Park is today a treasured activity destination with hiking and biking trails, Ironwood community gardens, a Montreal river walk, playground, pavilion, and picnic tables and grills.

5. Seney National Wildlife Refuge

1674 Refuge Entrance Rd, Seney, MI 49883-9509 +1 906-586-9851 [email protected] http://www.fws.gov/refuge/seney
Excellent
81%
Good
15%
Satisfactory
4%
Poor
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Terrible
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Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 141 reviews

Seney National Wildlife Refuge

Reviewed By AuntieM64

This is a bit out of the way, but well worth the visit. There is a wonderful Visitor Center situated on one of the ponds for wildlife viewing, and an auto drive route around several of the other impoundments. When I was there I saw Trumpeter Swans, Loons, Canada Geese, Sandhill Cranes and a myriad of other waterfowl and birds. There are also a variety of mammals living on the Wildlife Refuge, but I did not see any that day. It is free to get in, and well worth taking the time to stop.

6. Presque Isle Park

Peter White Dr., Marquette, MI http://www.mqtcty.org/parks-presque-isle.php
Excellent
81%
Good
16%
Satisfactory
1%
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5.0 based on 942 reviews

Presque Isle Park

Reviewed By 936timl - Edwardsburg, United States

The whole family did it - 17 & 15 yr old boys and a 10 yr old daughter - even Mom & Dad! Really cool and safe jump from about 20 feet into the crystal clear (and refreshingly chilly) Lake Superior waters near Marquette, MI!

7. Black River Harbor Recreation Area

County Road 513, Ironwood, MI 49938 +1 906-932-1330 http://www.fs.usda.gov/attmain/ottawa/specialplaces
Excellent
86%
Good
14%
Satisfactory
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5.0 based on 63 reviews

Black River Harbor Recreation Area

Reviewed By TAFCRacer - Mechanic Falls, United States

We visited the Black River Harbor Recreational Area of the Ottawa National Forest recently for a family reunion. This recreational area is located 14 miles north of US Route 2 in Bessemer, Michigan. It features boat access to Lake Superior, camping, a large grassy area with charcoal cooking grills, a sandy beach, many hiking trails with scenic overlooks and a large enclosed pavillion (with flush toilets) that can be reserved for events. About 60 of us enjoyed our afternoon at Black River Harbor, using the pavillion facilities. I took a short 1-1/2 mile hike to and from Rainbow Falls and was impressed with the enormous old growth trees in the forest. It was also very cool to hear the people playing in the park fade into silence during the hike, let my mind get lost in the still quiet of the forest, then slowly begin to hear the waterfall as I hiked closer to it. This is a wonderful place to visit & relax, as a solo trip, or with family & friends.

8. Chapel Rock and Beach

about 5 miles north to the end of Chapel Road, Munising, MI http://www.nps.gov/piro/planyourvisit/scenicsites.htm#CP_JUMP_78679
Excellent
86%
Good
12%
Satisfactory
3%
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5.0 based on 153 reviews

Chapel Rock and Beach

Reviewed By LM4U2 - St. George, United States

20 miles east from Munising, with the last 5 miles on dirt road. A couple small parts of the road are rough, but we went slow in a compact car and had no problems. We did the long loop to Chapel Falls, Chapel Rock, Chapel Beach, the Lakeshore Trail with stunning overviews of the Pictured Rocks, then the Mosquito Falls trail. My GPS read 11.8 miles, but much of the route is flat. It took us 6.5 hours including a long lunch break and a leisurely pace. There are ways to shorten the loop, but you would miss something very special if you did so. If you have the legs for it, and you are doing the scenic cruise, get the most out of Pictured Rocks National Loop by completing this loop! Trails are marked but in some spots it is tricky to find the trail.

9. Al Quaal Recreation Area

501 Poplar St, Ishpeming, MI 49849 +1 906-486-8301 http://ishpemingcity.org/departments/parks-and-recreation/al-quaal-recreation-area/
Excellent
88%
Good
13%
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5.0 based on 8 reviews

Al Quaal Recreation Area

10. Kingston Lake State Forest Campground

H-58 Au Sable Pointe Road, Shingleton, MI 49884 +1 906-452-6227
Excellent
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5.0 based on 2 reviews

Kingston Lake State Forest Campground

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