This Michigan Upper Peninsula Itinerary Helps You Discover a World Unto Itself
If you want to get away from it all, set your GPS to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, one of the state’s favorite vacation destinations.
Head north in Michigan and you’ll hit lots of cottages and summer escapes in places like Traverse City, Petoskey, and Mackinac Island.
They all offer splendid Michigan summer retreats.
Go just a bit farther and you’ll find yourself in a whole new world: the UP!
Read on to get familiar with this Upper Peninsula Itinerary!
Follow This 1 Week Upper Peninsula Itinerary
Welcome to Upper Michigan. Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The U.P. The Yoop.
Internet and cell service are spotty between towns up here, but that’s ok. You’ll be busy taking in all of the natural beauty surrounding you – and consulting the map you just bought from the corner gas station because the Google Maps app doesn’t work so well here.
If you’re lucky enough to get away to the U.P. with your kids anytime soon, here are a few things to do in the Upper Peninsula and places I suggest you visit. The order of listings is the order our family experienced them. We only had Monday – Saturday to explore. Wish our time would have been longer!
Upper Peninsula Itinerary Stops
Day 1: Mackinac Bridge, US-2, and Kitch-iti-kipi
Start your Upper Peninsula itinerary at the foot of the Mackinac Bridge (pronounced MACK-in-aw), staring up at rows of suspension cables lining the 5-mile bridge.
Indeed, crossing the Mighty Mac ushers you into a different time and place….a place I hold with reverence and joy.
Enjoy your drive across the Mackinac Bridge into the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Pay the toll, and wind your way westward, along the northern shores of Lake Michigan via US-2.
The beaches are sandy here and great for swimming if the water is warm enough.
Stop at Sand Dunes Beach to play in the water (2947-4319 U.S. Rte 2, Moran, MI 49760) or Lake Michigan Campground Day Use Area (Rd 3109, Moran, MI 49760) for the beach and vault toilets.
Kitch-iti-kipi: The Big Spring in Manistique
Our destination? The famed Big Spring, aka Kitch-iti-kipi.
Kitch-iti-kipi is one of our favorite things to do in the Upper Peninsula.
When you visit, you’ll pull yourself across Michigan’s largest spring on a glass-bottom raft.
| Palms Book State Park Thompson, Manistique, MI 49854 |
The crystal clear water of this 40-feet deep spring makes it easy to see the giant trout and other fish swimming below, and if you look carefully, you can see the springs bubbling up through the soil on the bottom.
Bonus: No charge for this experience!
Day 2 and 3: Marquette, Michigan
We decided to drive to the most western destination of our trip first. That meant that Marquette was one of our first major stops on our U.P. vacation.
Marquette is the largest city in the U.P., and is home to Northern Michigan University. It’s also located on the shores of Lake Superior and is blessed with amazing natural beauty and recreation options.
Visiting Marquette, Michigan With Kids
These details, plus the city’s rich mining heritage, have shaped the city into a wonderful place to visit with or without kids.
Marquette, Michigan is on the west side of the Upper PeninsulaHere are the things we enjoyed on our family trip:
Black Rocks in Marquette, MI
| Presque Isle Park Peter White Dr, Marquette, MI 49855 |
You won’t be at a loss for outdoor options in Marquette.
If you’re limited on time, a visit to the Black Rocks at Presque Isle Park is in order. Definitely put this on your Upper Peninsula Itinerary!
Jumping off of the cliffs at the Black Rocks is a tradition in these parts. You’ll find many people stepping up to the challenge on warm summer days – testing their bravery against the jump as well as the icy Lake Superior water.
Or, if you’re looking for something a little tamer, there are swimming options that don’t require jumping from the Black Rocks.
PS- If you reach Sunset Point, you’ve gone too far. The Black Rocks are on the northern end of the peninsula before Sunset Point.
Just What Are the Black Rocks?
If you feel like you’re walking around on top of an old lava flow at the Black Rocks, that’s because you are!
The Black Rocks are metamorphosed igneous peridotite – in other words – rocks first formed volcanic activity and then altered by heat and pressure.
Our kids loved playing in the pools of water on the Black Rocks just as much as they liked watching the cliff jumpers. Add the Black Rocks to you “things to do in the Upper Peninsula” list.
You could easily spend half a day exploring this park. Pack a picnic, and use the restrooms on your way into the park because there are no facilities at this stop.
Sunset Point (2 Peter White Dr, Marquette, MI 49855) is just around the corner from Black Rocks, at the north end of Presque Isle.
As the name implies, this is the perfect spot for watching sunsets or sunrises.
Note the many inland hiking trails at this peninsula park as well. Sunset Point at #8 is a beautiful scenic lookout and #9 is a nice beach.
Bonus: No entrance fee for this park.
Map of Presque Isle Park in Marquette, MISugarloaf Mountain in Marquette
Next up on our Upper Peninsula itinerary is a stop at Sugarloaf Mountain, just a few miles from downtown Marquette on County Road 550.
This stop is all about the views. You’ll want to wear sturdy shoes as you climb the half-mile to the lookout point.
Steps and benches periodically dot the trail, but otherwise, expect a path punctuated by rocks and roots.
It gets steep in places and is absolutely beautiful.
Plan on an hour for this stop – 20 minutes up, and lots of time to soak in the views at the top.
Dead River Falls
Also close to downtown Marquette is Dead River Falls.
| Dead River Falls Location: Forestville Road near the old power station |
This uphill hike follows the Dead River to various falls. You’ll definitely want good shoes and bug spray for this hike, and maybe a swimsuit.
The first part of the hike is the hardest and where I probably wouldn’t bring small kids. You scramble up a steep hill covered in roots and then hike a narrow ledge with a sharp drop off.
We saw people jumping the falls and swimming at various points in the river.
Not sure how safe that is, but it was fun to watch!
Downtown Marquette
As much as I love getting out in nature, appreciating the beauty of waterfalls and Lake Superior, I also enjoy creature comforts.
Marquette is the largest city in the Upper Peninsula and its downtown reminded me of Traverse City – with a U.P. vibe.
Cute shops and restaurants line the main street of Marquette, while the harbor park is lush, open, and constantly hosting some sort of festival.
We were in town over the Fourth of July and were treated to a Food Fest, Fourth of July parade and Independence Day fireworks! 
My beer-loving husband was thrilled to see the breweries popping up around Marquette. I noted many adult parade-goers were drinking beer while the floats passed by… not something you see at a West Michigan parade.
Our family also enjoyed biking on the extensive Iron Ore Heritage trail system in Marquette.
It’s a 47-mile long well-maintained trail that will keep you entertained for hours! (We did about 6 miles of the trail, biking out to Presque Isle Park from our hotel.)
Donckers
We ate at a historic lunch counter and soda fountain one afternoon – Donckers.
Yummy food, great ice cream. Definitely worth the stop. And we also were sure to grab a local pasty (pronounced PASS-tee) while in town.
If you’ve never had one, it’s a food the U.P. is famous for. Think pot pie ingredients – but bigger, and folded somewhat like a calzone. Eating a pasty is one of the most classic things to do in the U.P. and should be on every Upper Peninsula itinerary. I really liked the veggie pasty at Jean Kay’s.
Where to Stay in Marquette
As the biggest population center in the UP, Marquette has the most lodging options. Hotel chains, vacation rentals, campgrounds – you’ll find it here.
Lakenenland Art Park
We left Marquette after two days of fun to head toward Munising and Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.
About 20 miles outside of town, on the way from Marquette MI to Pictured Rocks, we stumbled upon Lakenenland.
| Lakenenland 2800 M-28, Marquette, MI 49855 |
Lakenenland is a junkyard art trail.
It was a fun stop for our family, with many interactive points. Some of the art is quite political. It made for good conversation starters. Admission is free.
Days 4 and 5: Munising, Michigan to Pictured Rocks
Located at the west end of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Munising is a natural jumping-off point for park explorers.
Munising itself is a very small town (population 1,966!) but has a couple of great little restaurants. There are several cute local gift shops and ice cream places.
Munising is home to 17 waterfalls. The natural beauty of this little town is truly amazing.
We opted for a combination of short hikes and the Pictured Rocks Boat Tour. One of my goals on this trip, if you haven’t already guessed, was to see as many waterfalls as possible.
Munising Tourist Park
We pitched our tent for two nights at Munising Tourist Park and were thrilled to score lakeside sites – even if they were rustic.
| Munising Tourist Park E8518 M-28, Munising, MI 49862 |
I booked our site months in advance, and I’m glad I did. The campground was full every night we were there over the 4th of July week.
Note: the rustic sites are walk-in, meaning you must carry all of your gear down a long wooded path to your site. We earned our views!
Bay Furnace
Just outside of Munising, in the small town of Christmas, is the Bay Furnace Historic Blast Site.
| Bay Furnace Historic Blast Site E7900 W, M-28, Munising, MI 49862 |
A short trail circles the blast furnace ruins, where pig iron was made in the iron kiln from 1870-1877.
The neat thing about stopping here on your Upper Peninsula itinerary is searching the Lake Superior shoreline for slag, a byproduct of smelting pig iron.
We had a great time searching the beach, ultimately scoring purple and green glassy rocks.
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
Of all the things to do in the Upper Peninsula, Pictured Rocks must be on your list.
I backpacked the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in college. It was a lovely trip, but you don’t get to see the cliffs in the same way as you do when you’re out on the water.
When I had a chance to go back and kayak the Pictured Rocks with my husband, it was a revelation. This was the way to see the Pictured Rocks!
But, once we had kids, I knew we had to hang up the paddles for awhile.
Kayaking on Lake Superior is hard work, and dangerous – with storms coming out of nowhere and being tossed against the cliffs – I didn’t want to take my kids out there. Backpacking the whole length of the trail wasn’t an option, either.
This time around, we opted to take the Pictured Rocks Boat tour with our family.
(Many families opt to rent a pontoon boat for Pictured Rocks explorations. That option gives you the freedom to go on your own schedule and get closer to the Pictured Rocks.)
Pictured Rocks Boat Tour
| Pictured Rocks Boat Tour 100 City Park Drive, Munising MI 49862 |
The boat tour leaves often and is really well done. With that said, it is a boat tour and the waves on Lake Superior can come up out of nowhere. That’s what happened on our trip. I highly advise taking Dramamine before you go if motion sickness is an issue for you.
We booked our cruise online in advance so we could see the Pictured Rocks with kids in tow and not worry about the hassle at the dock.
We arrived about an hour before our cruise left because seating is first-come, first-served. Get in line as soon as you can to get the best selection of seats. We were early enough that I got to sit right on the edge… a great spot for photography!
The boat has interior and exterior riding spaces. You can move around the boat while on the two-hour trip.
The captain narrates the trip on the way out, identifying rock formations, waterfalls, and digging into the history of the area.
Bridal Veil Falls is best viewed from the water. We loved passing it by while cruising Lake Superior on our Pictured Rocks Boat Tour. The waterfall is seasonal and will slow to a trickle in the late summer and fall.
As I mentioned earlier, Pictured Rocks is 1 place that must be on your Upper Peninsula itinerary.
Chasing Waterfalls Near Munising
The Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is home to a lot of natural beauty – waterfalls included.
If you like hikes with a great payoff, the Pictured Rocks are for you.
Here’s a sampling of the Upper Peninsula waterfalls we found on our adventures in the area:
Munising Falls
| Munising Falls 1505 Sand Point Road, Munising MI 49862 |
A short quarter-mile paved trail will lead you right up to two different viewing platforms at the base of Munising Falls.
The waterfall drops 50-feet over a sandstone cliff and is an easy stop for families.
Memorial Falls
| Memorial Falls Located on H58. Head east on Munising Ave, turn right on Nestor, and follow the signs |
The short hike to Memorial Falls is exciting because you start ABOVE the waterfall.
Eventually, the climb down leads you to undercut rock where you can go behind the falls. If you go beyond Memorial Falls, you come upon Tannery Falls. On our visit, though, Memorial Falls had slowed to a trickle.
The entrance to these falls is via Twin Falls nature preserve.
Wagner Falls
| Wagner Falls Junction of M-28 & M-94, Munising MI 49862 |
Wagner Falls is just south of Munising and is a short hike from its roadside parking lot. The path is hard-packed and smooth, making it an easy walk to the falls for your whole family.
Where to Stay in Munising
Day 6 and 7: Tahquamenon Falls
Our last stop in the U.P. was Tahquamenon Falls and Tahquamenon Falls State Park.
Tahquamenon Falls State Park
| Tahquamenon Falls State Park 41382 W M-123, Paradise, MI 49768 |
Located in Paradise (how appropriate!), we spent hours taking in the beautiful scenery and loved camping here.
The State Park is open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, all year round. It boasts over 40 miles of hiking trails, and two spectacular waterfalls – the Upper Falls and the Lower Falls.
You’ll need a Michigan recreation passport on your vehicle to enter the park. Purchase this ahead of time when you renew your registration, or you can buy it on arrival at the park itself.
Lower Tahquamenon Falls surprised us in a wonderful way.
While camping at the Lower Falls campground, we thought we’d ride our bikes down to the Lower Falls after dinner for a quick look.
We anticipated a small waterfall, something like we’d already encountered on our hikes in Munising and Marquette.
Instead, we found multiple falls that you could swim in! And a rowboat rental.
We could paddle around the lower falls and over to an island with a short hiking loop or take the bridge over.
The kids took turns testing their muscles on the rowboat and then we spent time tooling around the island.
The rowboat ended up being quite fun and allowed us to see more of the park and falls.
What a fun, impromptu experience!
Hiking from Lower to Upper Falls
We decided to test our legs on the four-mile trail between the upper and lower falls.
The verdict: It was beautiful, but I probably won’t do it again. Oh, the MUD! So much mud. And it was a tough climb on the seven-year-old, so much so, that my husband carried her a good deal of the way.
The few boardwalks we did encounter were well-placed, but pretty warped.
The reward was a great view of the Upper Falls and ice cream.
Upper Tahquamenon Falls
The Upper Falls are bigger, but you can’t get into a rowboat to experience them.
To get close, there are two viewing platforms at the bottom of the falls- requiring a lot more stair climbing.
The Upper Falls does have a great brewery on-site, as well as concessions. We ate lunch and got ice cream here.
If you choose to stay within the park, there are four different campgrounds ranging from rustic to modern. There are also a couple of cabins available to rent.
More details about the park can be found here.
Lodging Options near Tahquamenon Falls
More U.P. Destinations
Even the best Upper Peninsula itinerary cannot do justice to this land in just one week. Here are additional things to do in the Upper Peninsula that we’re considering for our next U.P. itinerary:
Explore Keweenaw Peninsula, the Tippy-Top of Michigan.
The Keweenaw Peninsula is where you’ll find secluded beaches, world-class trails, wilderness adventures, and some ridiculously delicious thimbleberry jam.
Follow thi Upper Peninsula itinerary for the Keweenaw Peninsula so you don’t miss all the best stops.
Stop in St. Ignace
St. Ignace is just across the Mackinac Bridge. It’s the first city you’ll hit after the bridge.
Here you can visit Castle Rock, which offers an amazing view of the lake, Mackinac Island and St. Ignace.
It is probably more than 200 stairs to the top (so be prepared to carry your smaller kids), but the view is worth it. Plus, your kids will dig having their picture taken with Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox.
You can also explore the little shops and restaurants in downtown St. Ignace including The Indian Village, which has a combination of cool handcrafted items and trinkets. Another favorite was Bridge View Park where you can enjoy a picnic lunch overlooking the bridge.
Visit the Soo Locks
Stop in Sault Ste. Marie, the oldest city in Michigan and the third oldest city in the United States. (Did you know that Sault Ste Marie was Michigan’s first capital?)
While you’re there, check out the Soo Locks. Kids can be surprisingly fascinated by them and is a great learning experience on your Upper Peninsula itinerary.
There is a museum (free) and the observation deck (also free). If you want, you can take a boat tour where you actually get to experience the locks.
Consider eating dinner at the Antlers Restaurant (if you are freaked out by taxidermy, you may want to consider a different option!) and also just walking around the downtown area.
Look out for Lighthouses
Don’t miss Whitefish Point Light Station, the oldest operating lighthouse along Lake Superior’s ‘shipwreck coast’.
Visit as part of the a trip to the Shipwreck Museum, open daily from May 1 – October 31, from 9 AM – 5 PM.
Just over an hour’s drive from Whitefish Point, you’ll discover Crisp Point Lighthouse. This hidden gem is off the beaten track but well worth it a visit!
The lighthouse, restroom and visitor center is open from the end of May to October, but daily hours vary, so do check ahead.
More to Look Forward To
This was a great family vacation and we’ll be back. The Porcupine Mountains are next on my list.
From Mackinac to Keweenaw, there are so many things to do in the Upper Peninsula.
If you’ve been, and have places to recommend, please tell me about them. I would love to look them up for a future trip!
I know this post is from a few years ago but lots of great info! Think any of these trails would be golden retriever friendly?
I’m headed to the UP for the first time. This was such a great page. I have a ton of ideas to do with my family. I love that you put them out in order of what you did. We are going to follow your ideas!! Thanks!
I’m an INFJ and a Michigander, too. Enjoyed your photos.