ArtFire

Western Michigan Upper Peninsula Keweenaw Peninsula and the Porcupine Mountains

Published On: 01-17-2012 10:08am

Comments: 0 - Hits: 142

Category: Travel Journal

There are many scenic towns on the western shore of the Keweenaw Peninsula of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. If you’re heading that way, then be sure to stop at the Visitor’s Center in Calumet City; lots of good information.

Copper mining started in this area around the 1850’s with a copper mining treaty between the U.S. government and the Chippewa Indians.  About 4 million tons of copper were mined. Currently, most of the copper mines here are closed; some are open to the public for touring.

Delaware Copper Mine

Delaware Copper Mines is a closed mine but is open to the public as a self-guided tour. If I recall correctly, they charge a $10 fee per person; well worth it. The mine has a constant temperature of 45F, so bring a sweater with you.  Delaware City is the snow capital of Michigan with approximately 390 inches of snow per year.

Old Air Drill in Delaware Copper Mine

Main roads through the Western Keweenaw Peninsula are 41 and 26; very scenic but lots of curves so be careful. Scenic pull over’s many. I noticed there a plenty of restrooms in this area, outhouses on the side of the road; many where scenic drive ways are located.

 Esrey Road Side Park Near Copper Harbor on Lake Shore Road, Hwy 26

We lodged at the Shoreline Motel in Eagle Harbor just South of Copper Harbor, a small little motel, simple and clean, cable, microwave, refrigerator,  on Lake Superior with beach, has a fire pit, lounge chairs.

Fuel and food supplies, need to go to Copper Harbor. Copper Harbor some nice gift shops, and rock and mineral shops. Copper Harbor Marina, park and hike the Hunter’s Point scenic trial.  While in Copper Harbor, take the road to Manganese Falls, steep drop off, hang on to the rail.  Lots of bike trials here in the Copper Harbor-Eagle Harbor area.

Hunter Point Trail

Manganese Falls

Real nice and good restaurant in Eagle Harbor open all year round, Eagle Inn Tavern. Make sure to see visit the Lighthouse in Eagle Harbor and their Marina.

Shore line along the western shore of Keweenaw is mostly rocky, beautiful formations. We looked for agates, one of my hobbies, but didn’t find any. Agates along the shoreline of Lake Superior are not very common but sometimes you can find one.  Lake Superior Agates are small, about the size of an acorn up to a golf ball size but rare to find it that big.

Another awesome scenic drive is Brockway Mountain drive, beautiful overlook of the tip of the peninsula. The West Bluff overlook is 726 ft. above lake level and 1328 ft above sea level.  Take the drive and watch the sunset. One photo shows Lake Fanny Hooe and the other photo shows Copper Harbor Marina and Lake Superior.

Brockway Mountain Drive Scenic Overlook

If you look on a map, there is a place called Agate Harbor, so of course I wanted to go there to find agates, but that whole area is private property, no public access anywhere.

South of Eagle Harbor is Eagle River, nice little town, nice public beach (on Main Street) and little gift shop (on Pine Street) with books and jewelry, and other cool things. 

Eagle River Falls

I noticed that the shoreline changes starting at Eagle Harbor going north is rock formations; going south of Eagle Harbor is sandy flat beaches with beach rocks. Great Sand Bay is between Eagle River and Eagle Harbor, miles of beach and stones; didn’t find any agates there either.

 Great Sand Bay

The Porcupine Mountains is located on the western side of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula (south of the Keweenaw Peninsula. It is a State Park with a vast amount of hiking trails and cabins you can rent throughout the year. Cabins are not heated, just a roof over your head. Park permits are now being called a Recreational Passport since the state government is now charging State park entrance fee on a per year.  So my fee was $10 for the remaining 2010 year; fee was prorated based on my date of birth. Not sure what the fee is for the entire year.

We lodged at the Superior Shores, right on Lake Superior, nice cabin, roomy, but a little musty. These cabins are located on Hwy 64 between Ontonagon and Silver City.  Harbor Town Café is a nice little restaurant in Ontonagon (we dined there twice) and there is a large rock and mineral shop in town where you can purchase agates, other rocks, and gift items. Silver City has a restaurant called Porky’s Pub and Grub with good food. 

Image of Brazilian Agates found in a rock and mineral shop in Ontonagon, Michigan.

Hiking trails that we hiked the first day was the Escarpment Trial; a great scenic hike along a ridge that overlooks Lake of the Clouds. 

Lake of the Clouds-Escarpment Trial

If you take the road through the Porcupine Mountains to the very south end of the park, you can hike along the Presque Isle River, on the West and East Trials. These trials are full of old growth trees; really awesome trials, I loved it.  My favorite was the East Trail, takes you all the way to Lake Superior where the river ends. Lots of beach rocks here. There is also a large campground in this area, where you can access the shore of Lake Superior if you don’t want to do the hike. A very long, long stairway takes you down to the shore.

Presque Isle River Trial Porcupine Mountains

We took Hwy 2 to back home but drove during the night on this highway. I don’t recommend driving at night on this highway; it’s a two lane and very dark, lots of trucks and cars trying to pass. It’s nicer during the day and scenic since you are driving along Lake Michigan.

©2012 DianesDangles, LLC All rights reserved