If you're looking for a planned hiking weekend in Up North Michigan, you've come to the right place. Here you will find a 4 day guide to help make sure you check-off some of the most favorable views and hikes in the UP.
Day 1: Marquette, Michigan
By far our favorite UP town. This holds our #1 brewery and hike, ever!
Hikes: Sugarloaf and Hogsback Mountain
Sugarloaf mountain is what we would recommend if you're looking for a more guided, mild-moderate hike. This is a 1.4 mile loop that has an incredible view at the top.
Hogsback Mountain
Less than 15 minutes from Sugarloaf Mountain, this 3.1 out and back trail will have you occasionally on your hands and knees for the last half a mile. The view is absolutely incredible and you may find some Geocaches on this one so keeps your eyes peeled!
Black Rock Brewery and Remies Bar
Grab a bite to eat and a drink, you earned it! Downtown Marquette enjoy a beer at Blackrocks Brewery then hit up Remies bar late night for great prices, best service, small town atmosphere, great drink and beer selection, craft beers on tap, pool tables, darts, and plenty of flatscreens.
Day 2: Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Munising - Grand Marais
If you've never visited this national lakeshore, you're missing out. Here you'll will find 40 miles of lakeshore and 100 miles of trails in a hardwood forest.
What is Pictured Rocks?
Pictured Rocks is located on the south shore of Lake Superior in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, between the towns of Munising (west) and Grand Marais (east). The name “Pictured Rocks” comes from the streaks of mineral stain that can be seen on the face of the cliffs. An array of colors occur when groundwater seeps through the cracks and trickles down the rock face. Iron (red and orange), copper (blue and green), manganese (brown and black), limonite (white) are among the most common color-producing minerals.
Hiking Trail Recommendations
There are a number of attractions to hit when hiking around Pictured Rocks from waterfalls to one of a kind rock formations. We recommend commiting a day here before traveling further along the lakeshore to the next attraction. One of our favorite ways to do this is hitting a 4 hour hike. This 10.2 mile loop so you see a little bit of everything - waterfalls, rock formations, and Lake Superior Views. Leave early and go clockwise!
If you're not up for that long of a hike, the National Park Service highlights some shorter hikes on their website.
Day 3: Tahquamenon Falls, McMillian Township
About an 1 hour and 15 minutes away from Grand Marais, this is a really popular attraction by being one of the largest waterfalls east of the Mississippi. There are two sets of waterfalls to visit: The Upper and Lower Falls. The Upper Falls has a drop of nearly 50 feet and is more than 200 feet across. A maximum flow of more than 50,000 gallons of water per second has been recorded cascading over these falls. Four miles downstream is the Lower Falls, a series of five smaller falls cascading around an island.
Trail Map: We recommend following the 4 mile trail from the Lower to the Upper Falls, ending at a delicious brewery for a meal and a beer. You're then able to take the shuttle back to your car for a fee so you don't have to hike the 4 miles back to your car at the Lower Falls.
Enjoy your weekend in the Upper Peninsula and let us know how you liked your trip!
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