Lake Superior Circle tour

[WhittleBurner]

I'll start with if you like hiking and waterfalls this book is awesome and quite accurate. There are easy to difficult hikes. The best and hardest is out of Black River harbor which takes you by 3 or 4 falls.. Good hiking boots are reccomended. It's an all day hike in and out, take food, water and basic hiking items
199 Waterfalls in MI

The Porkies (we prefer the rustic Presque Isle CG.. great spot for sunsets)
and McClain state parks are good bases for day tripping the far western area. Try some thimble berry jam and if it still exists the Calumet Mercantile in Calumet has fantastic fudge. Some neat old buildings in that town if you're into that.
MI has some great forest camping, explore the DNR and National forest web sites.

It's worth a dip south to hike along the Sturgeon river falls and gorge (it's in the book, must go around the big rock as it says)
We found Point Abbaye to be a nice relaxing spot to be take pics jump around on the rocks of Lk Superior the 2 track dirt road is just out side of Baraga. How many weeks do you have? Lol
Here are a few old shots from some of what I just typed

[Silverbeard]

A few suggestions for campgrounds. Tahquamenon Falls State Park is nice. The falls are beautiful. At Munising, MI is Munising Tourist Park Campground. While in Munising, take the boat tour to see Pictured Rocks. The sunset cruise is the best one. In Two Harbors, MN is Burlington Bay Campground. There are plenty of water falls to see along the North Shore of MN.
Edited:
At Copper Harbor, we’ve stayed at Lake Fanny Hooe Resort and Campground. A great place to eat there is Harbor Haus Restaurant.

[WondersAwait]

I've spend a good amount of time in the UP over the years. We've taken our rig up there once already and can't wait to go again. It's such a great part of the country. Also jealous of the circle tour, sounds like a blast. Have fun!

Pictured Rocks is a must do if you're in the UP and haven't been before. The sunset cruise out of Munising is great but the boats get very crowded. Get there early and plan to wait in line for a good seat on the boat. If you're into kayaking, the kayak tours are excellent. If you're hikers, doing the circle loop hike from the Chapel Falls Trailhead is an incredible hike but get there early as the parking fills up and it's best to plan a full day there (pack a lunch and water) so you can really take your time. The full loop is about 11 miles and I prefer to go clockwise (go left at the trailhead). This is legit one of my favorite hikes I've done, and that's including time in Colorado and the Appalachians. Here's a few photos from a beautiful summer day on the trail:











Aside from the Tahquamenon Falls State Park is amazing. I haven't camped there (yet) but the trails and water falls are really cool. I have lovingly referred to this place many times since first going as a a kid, as "root beer falls". You'll know why when you see it!

The Porcupine Mountains are great and the trot up to Lake of the Clouds is really nice and scenic.

Finally, I have not yet been to Isle Royale National Park but it's on my bucket list to camp there. I've heard the day trips are great but actually staying on the island is life changing for the adventurous. I cannot wait for when we have some time to do this.

[FF708camper]

Greetings members;

Beginning to plan a Lake Superior Circle Tour for September of 2023. Leaving from Chicago Suburbs and heading north to begin the trip in the UP of Michigan. Heading west and around the lake. Would appreciate any recommendations on campgrounds, attractions, must see/do suggestions, and any other tips from fellow GD owners from the states or Canada. Planning about two weeks for this adventure.

Thanks in advance for any info you care to share!

mjg

We are not too familiar with the parks on the US side as we have only been through that area once but maybe can help with the Canadian side. Some of the nice parks have been mentioned, We really enjoyed Neys Provincial Park right at the top, middle of the lake. We have also enjoyed Pancake Bay Provincial Park. Ontario Provincial parks can be reserved 5 months ahead of your arrival and reservations are a good idea. Watch the closing dates of the parks as well, some close mid Sept.
The north shore of Lake Superior is a very nice drive! But cell service is not everywhere so keep that in mind.
We live in Southern Ontario.
Enjoy!

[Longshhm]

Pictured Rocks has already been mentioned; it’s worth calling attention to it again. When we were in the UP last summer, we enjoyed visiting the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum at Whitefish Point; if you go, be prepared to have Gordon Lightfoot stuck in your head for a few days. 😁

[Boogiejack75]

Greetings members;

Beginning to plan a Lake Superior Circle Tour for September of 2023. Leaving from Chicago Suburbs and heading north to begin the trip in the UP of Michigan. Heading west and around the lake. Would appreciate any recommendations on campgrounds, attractions, must see/do suggestions, and any other tips from fellow GD owners from the states or Canada. Planning about two weeks for this adventure.

Thanks in advance for any info you care to share!

mjg

Manistique Lakeshore Campground is a jewel if you make in that far south. Fills up quick, so be diligent.

It's close to The Big Spring and a short drive to Munising, where you can take the boat tour along the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Highly recommended.

Have fun and get those reservations lined up early!

[holbergfam]

If you love watching the big ships like we do, consider staying at <<<link removed>>> Aune Osborn Campground in Sault Ste Marie [Michigan side]. There are sites RIGHT on the harbor...the ships that go by are a stone's throw away!

[Castlerock]

Lived in Marathon Ontario for several years. Driving along Hwy 17 across the north shore is breathtaking.

Neyes Provincial Park is to the west and Pukaskwa National Park to the east of Marathon. Both beautiful spots along the lake. In Pukaskwa there is a hiking trail that leads to a suspension bridge across the Pic River.

Marathon also has a nice 9 hole golf course designed by the renowned Stanley Thompson.

Enjoy the trip.

Correction - The suspension bridge crosses the White not the Pic River.

[mjguth]

Thanks again for all the valuable information. Safe travels to all.

mjg

[mjguth]

Wanted to update this post on our Lake Superior Circle tour trip, and thanks to all that posted comments, reviews, and encouragement.

We logged 1500 towing miles with our Imagine 2500RL with no issues and enjoyed traveling the trans Canada Highway for many contact free miles. While finding gas was not a terrible issue, as we entered Nipigon with a half tank of gas found that electricity to the town was turned off for the day and no gas was being pumped. Moving on, we were fine and found gas further down the road. (Spent over $1200 US on gas for the trip which included about 1000 non towing miles.)

Leaving the suburbs of Chicago we traveled north through Wisconsin and our first stop was at Baraga State Park in Michigan. Nice little park on Lake Superior although the highway is between the park and the lake. Had a “Full Hook Up” site (rare for Michigan State Parks) that backed up to train tracks but never had a train go by. Spent 4 nights there with day trips to Marquette, Copper Harbor, and the Porcupine Mountains. Great staff and clean restrooms at this location.

Second stop was near Duluth MN where we stayed at Buffalo Valley Campground. This was instead of staying in Bayfield Wisconsin as planned but provided us a day to explore Duluth. Chose a route that avoided Duluth High Bridge and Highway 2, instead taking highway 105 and crossing the St. Louis River at Oliver WI over a smaller bridge. Along 105 encountered a 12 foot RR overpass but slowly crept under with inches to spare. Buffalo Valley was OK, had its own restaurant, and many long term campers but it filled our void for a few nights along the road.

Traveled up Highway 61 and into Canada to Thunder Bay where we chose to stay at Kakabeck Falls Provincial Park a few miles west for four nights. Thanks for the suggestions of RV extensions cords. Needed an extra 50 foot to reach the power post, now I am stocked for the future. Visited the Fort Williams historical site one day and found it very informative. Enjoyed checking out the town and that side of the lake.

Next leg was across highways 11 and 17 over the north and eastern sections of the lake to reach Agawa Bay Campground in the Lake Superior Provincial Park. Tight squeeze to get into our reserved spot but as it was a pull through we made it work for our three days there. Amazing how rocky the Lake superior landscape is around the whole lake, lots of beauty to behold. Nice and quiet at this campground although the highway is close, and runs through the entire park. Stopped in Wawa on the way in, and made a side trip to Sault Ste. Marie and checked out both the Canadian and US sided, watching the boats through the Lockes in the US.

Final leg brought us to Manistique Lakeshore Campground in Manistique, MI. This was a very nice private campground with full hook up sites. Fully paved with level cement pads for your camper. Very nice but small. Great facilities located right on Lake Michigan shore. This was a travel stop and we only spent one night before heading home. A good place to stay if checking out the UP as most of the highlights of that part of Michigan are only an hour or two away. Fee’s are high as it is a private campground, but very nice.

From there another seven hours of driving back home. Stayed on known back roads much of the way in southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois to avoid heavily traveled Interstates.

Thanks again for all of your recommendations and comments. It was a great and relaxing trip.