3.5 miles east of US 45 in Paulding, MI. My favorite U.P. waterfall. The picture below I snapped during a trip in January, 2021.
7 miles east of Bruce Crossing, MI on M-28. There are also some back roads that let you travel somewhat directly from Bond Falls.
8 miles north of Bruce Crossing, MI on US-45. There are signs on US 45 for the parking area, which is shared with the North Country Trail. In fact, the better path is to use the North Country Trail from the parking lot to the falls, rather than the 2-track access road. (Trust me, the NCT has less mud.) It's a 3-mile (round trip) walk over fairly level terrain. It took me 1 hour, 20 minutes to walk & enjoy the falls. The picture below is from April 2021, when the flow was vigorous due to snow melt and rain. In the summer, it's a much calmer waterfall.
28 miles north of Bergland, MI or 22 miles west of Ontonogon, MI. Beautiful. In 2022, a Michigan State Park day pass (required for your vehicle) was $10. Purchase at the Visitor Center (cash, check, or card) or right at Lake of the Clouds (cash or check only). The picture below is from August 2022.
Driving north from Bergland on M-64, then east to Ontonogon, then southeast on M-38 to M-26 only adds 4 miles to the trip. Since you eliminate two major turns and two towns, it may even be faster than going through Bruce Crossing, depending upon your speed. (Going through Ontonongon, however, has 16 fewer miles of highway signed for a 65MPH speed limit.)
2 miles north of Mellen, WI on WI 169. In 2023, a Wisconsin State Park day pass (required for your vehicle) was $11. Purchase at the Visitor Center via cash or check. The pictures below are from April 2023, and are of Copper Falls (top) and Brownstone Falls (bottom), both from the west side of the Doughboy Trail.
WI 169 is truly a dreadful road to drive if you're trying to make good time. Lots of sharp turns and less-than-optimal pavement conditions. If you're not going to see Potato Falls (below), your best bet is to return to Mellen, WI and continue your journey (to Houghton or the Twin Cities) from Mellen.
Copper Falls
Brownstone Falls
1 mile north of US-2 in Ironwood, MI. Free to enter. From US-2, turn north on Greenbush Street (that's where Kwik Trip is!). Follow Greenbush until you see the sign for Mount Zion Overlook - follow it!
Mount Zion is also a ski hill in the winter. I don't ski, so I can't give you a review.
Looking east from overlook
Looking west from road to overlook
From Wakefield, drive east on M-28. 1/3 mile from the lake, turn north (left) on Thomaston Road/CR 519. Drive 15.5 miles to the southern trailhead (just east of the intersection of CR 519 & South Boundary Road). If you'd rather start at Lake Superior, drive an additional mile north on CR 519 to the Presque Isle River Area Parking Lot.
Our loop hike - including time at the mouth of the river on Lake Superior - totaled 3.27 miles round trip. In order (south to north), we saw Nawadaha Falls, Manido Falls, and Manabezho Falls.
If you start at the southern end of the hiking loop, park on either side of the South Boundary Road bridge over the Presque Isle River. The loop trail goes down both sides of the river, so pick one side to go down, and the other to return. We started on the west bank. The trail is easy to follow, though tree roots are everywhere, so watch your step. At the north end of the trail, you can cross a suspension bridge to an island. In the summer, water isn't generally flowing around the west side of the island, so you walk to the south side of the island & simply walk across the riverbed to the trail on the eastern river bank.
Nawadaha Falls, fall 2024
Manido Falls, fall 2024
Manabezho Falls, fall 2024
Suspension bridge, fall 2024
View upstream from suspension bridge
Mouth of Presque Isle River - nice beach!
The mouth of the Black River is only about 4.5 miles from the mouth of the Presque Isle River, but you need to return all the way to US-2 in Bessemer to get from one to the other (a one-way trip of 39 miles).
Route A: Between Ironwood and Bessemer, Powerderhorn Road north from US-2. Follow to ski hill, turning north at base of ski hill. In 1/4 mile, turn left onto Black River Road. Total of 12 miles to Conglomerate Falls.
Route B: In Bessemer (at the Kwik Trip), head north on N Moore Street. In about 3/4 mile, turn left on Black River Drive.13 miles
Once you arrive at the first waterfall (Conglomerate Falls), the road continues 2.5 miles north to the harbor.
Each waterfall has its own parking area. You can choose to drive between them, or walk down to one of them and follow the trail to the others. (I don't recommend walking back to your car on Black River Road.)
The Black River Harbor beach is fantastic. From the harbor parking lot, head north and east towards Lake Superior. Cross the suspension bridge, and turn left (north). Walk past the eastern breakwall & enjoy a huge, sandy beach.
Conglomerate Falls, fall 2024
Potawatomi Falls, fall 2024
Gorge Falls - the stairs to river level to see the falls were closed in fall 2024.
Sandstone Falls, fall 2024
Black River beach looking east, fall 2024
16 miles north of Mellen, WI on WI 169 OR 6 miles south of US-2. No fee to enter.
The 16 miles of WI 169 from Mellen to Potato Falls are difficult - and slow - driving.
The 6 miles of WI 169 from Potato Falls to US-2 are easy driving.
Both sets of falls are only 100-200 yards from the parkling lot.
The Upper Falls is accessible from a trail at the south side of the parking lot (left side as you enter). There are 130 stairs to go down (then up) to see the Upper Falls.
The Lower Falls is accessible from a trail at the north side of the parking lot (right side as you enter). There are 206 stairs to go down (then up) to see the Lower Falls. Unlike the Upper Falls, the stairs to the Lower Falls have a couple of sections of flat trail in the middle, so you don't do all 206 stairs in a row.
Pictures are from April 2023.
Upper Potato Falls
Lower Potato Falls
Located in the town of Upson, WI, approximately 4 blocks north of Wisconsin Highway 77
There are small signs showing the way to go
The falls are a short - like 20 yard - hike from Upson Park (also known as Upson Falls Campground)
Picture is from May 2024
Approximately 15 minutes west of Ironwood, MI.
At the intersection of US-2 and Wisconsin Highway 122 (~11 miles from Ironwood, MI), turn north.
Drive approximately 4.5 miles to a dirt road on your left (west), marked with small white signs. Drive to the parking lot, ~100 yards in from the road.
Xcel Energy owns the site, and maintains a parking lot & trail to the upper viewing area and lower gorge.
Due to time limitations, plus heavy spring runoff, I did not venture down into the gorge, though many comment that it's fabulous.
The best viewing area is left from the parking lot. Stay behind the fence - it's there for your safety.
Picture is from May 2024
Just 5 minute from Superior Falls (above). If you visit one, you should spend the time to visit the other as well.
Approximately 15 minutes west of Ironwood, MI.
Like Superior Falls, Xcel Energy owns and maintains this location.
I was disappointed, because the route to the best view of the falls has been blocked off for liability concerns. (You needed to cross the river on a boardwalk on top of the dam diversion pipes.) The remaining viewing point is definitely much safer, but somewhat limited.
If you really want to get to the best viewing area, you can figure out a way around the fences blocking the easy ways onto the diversion pipe. Just look around and you'll find a way. I declined, as there were other people around and I didn't want to cause a problem.
Drive to the power house (you'll see signs), then take the short trail on the right side (east) of the parking lot.
Picture is from May 2024
1 mile west of the Wisconsin/Michigan border on U.S. Highway 2. No fee to enter. The falls are ~200 yards from the parking lot.
Another set of falls, called Peterson Falls, is upstream of Interstate Falls by a couple hundred yards. I was unable to visit them because there wasn't an easy trail through the snow to get to them.
Picture is from April 2023.
1.5 miles north of U.S. Highway 2, between Bessemer, MI and Wakefield, MI on Blackjack Road. No fee to enter. The falls are ~20 yards from the parking spot.
You can approach this from the east side or the west. We won't talk about the time I got the minivan stuck in the mud on the east side parking lot. (Shout out to Lahti Towing in Ironwood for pulling me out of the mud for a very reasonable $65.)
Picture is from April 2023.
About a mile from Twin Lakes State Park (Michigan), or about 25 miles south of Houghton, MI.
From Michigan Highway 26, turn north/west on Poyhonen Road. (Krupps Mini Mart is on the east/south side of this intersection.)
Drive approximately 3/4 mile until you see the parking lot on your left.
Walk towards the sound of the falls.
Falls may be a trickle in the summer.
Picture is from May 2024.
Great view of Houghton and Michigan Tech from on top of Mont Ripley.
If you like exercise, park at base of the hill (off M-26) and walk up. Otherwise park at the top.
Parking is available at the top of the hill. It's not hard to get to, but requires you to read street signs to turn on the right roads.
After parking, walk through the gate that blocks you from literally driving onto the ski hill. Then turn right (away from campus!) for the best view.
Picture is from May 2024. Yes, that's still snow on the hill, even after a record low snowfall year.
10 miles west of Toivola - turn off M-26 onto Misery Bay Road. Follow the signs to Agate Beach. If you miss the signs, you'll end up just a few miles down the shoreline at Misery Bay... which also has a fabulous beach, so no real harm done!
Quiet Lake Superior park. Great place to watch the sun set or let your favorite Labrador Retriever get some swimming time.
No pictures! (I'll have to scan my old film.)
West of M-28 on the north side of Sunday Lake. It's a nice, open park with playground equipment, restrooms, beach, and plenty of space for young kids (our your favorite Labrador Retriever) to burn some excess energy.
3 miles west of Mellen, WI on County Road GG. You'll see the turn off - there's a sign - though it comes quickly.
Stairs at south/west end of the parking lot lead to an overlook - very pretty in the fall!
Seasonal vault toilet. Also a good place to let your favorite Labrador Retriever stretch her legs.
Stairs from parking lot to overlook
View from overlook in early fall 2024
In Ironwood, MI. Just Google it for directions - it's only about 7 blocks out of the way. I took this picture in August 2023.
A 52 ft statue. It's big.
The most Wisconsin store that exists: 12 miles south of Hayward, in Springbrook, WI, is the Route 63 Bar. It has a full service bar, homemade pizza, antiques, art, memorabilia, open mic, kareokee, ice cream, dog park, AND FIREWORKS! It doesn't get much more Wisconsin than this place. Fall 2023 update: According to a sign, the fireworks have moved to a different location. Now we can't mix booze with explosives. :)
Best breakfast: Suomi in Houghton. Be prepared for lines out the door.
Best pasties (and this is a controversial subject!): Rigoni's in Ironwood. But we're talking about the Houghton area, so I'll go with Roy's Bakery. But let's face it, you can't really go wrong with any pasty, unless you put gravy on it. That would be disgusting, and very un-Yooperlike.
Best pizza: Milly's in Hancock (it's a Sicilian style). The Ambassador is also very, very good (it's a Neopolitan style).
Best southwestern food: Tie between La Cantina in Hancock and Carmelitas in Calumet. Carmelitas also has a fabulous thimbleberry margarita.
Best pickled eggs: The Doghouse (Douglas House Saloon), Houghton. I've stopped in the Doghouse just to get pickled eggs, with no drink! Sorry, B&B Bar, your pickled eggs are not as good.
Best dorm food: McNair Hall. Also has the best view of any dorm cafeteria, especially in the fall. (The new east dorm building under construction may ruin this view, however.)
Good seafood: Joey's Seafood in Houghton. Their service is typically very good. Once I called in a take-out order while 1 block away on Sheldon Avenue, and it was ready by the time I walked the single block.
Frozen pasties are available from several places for you to take home. In a cooler, they readily stay frozen for the 6-hour drive back to the Twin Cities. Here are the ones I've tried: Suomi in Houghton, Roy's Bakery in Houghton, Amy J's in Hancock, Krupp's Mini Mart on M-26 near Twin Lakes State Park, Randall's Bakery in Wakefield, Rigoni's Bakery in Ironwood (my personal favorite), and Joe's Pasty Shop in Ironwood.
WORST SERVICE, and has been bad since the 1990s: The Library, hands down (or, more appropriately, thumbs down). PAINFULLY SLOW, unless the place is empty. On multiple occasions it's taken over an hour to get food. In 2023, we walked out at the 90 minute mark after we ordered, and have not returned since.