Baraga and L'Anse, Michigan on Keweenaw Bay in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Attractions and Recreation

Recreation:
Hiking: The Huron Mountains offer wonderful trails that will challenge hikers including segments of the North Country Trail and Little Mountain. You might also enjoy the DeVriendt Nature Trail at the Sturgeon River Slough south of Chassell for hiking and birding.

Mt. Arvon, Michigan's highest point at 1979.238' above sea level, is a challenging climb or there is now a back country road that goes right to the top of the mountain where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the area. The route is complicated, so we suggest you stop at the Tourism Office and pick up a map and directions to the top. The tourism staff has thoughtfully installed a mailbox at the top where visitors can leave their impressions and stories.

View from the top of Mount Arvon.

Baraga County offers canoeing and kayaking or try your luck fishing in area streams or Keweenaw Bay for those Lake Trout, Salmon, Steelheads, and Perch. Charter Fishing trips available.

Camping

• Ojibwa Campground and Marina is located on the shoreline of Keweenaw Bay by Highway US-41 on the north side of Baraga. The campground offers wooded and lakefront sites with electricity, water, a picnic table, and fire pit. Restrooms with showers, RV dump station, and a pavilion for events.  Sandy swimming beach. The Marina offers rental slips and a boat launch for great fishing or boating on Keweenaw Bay o f Lake Superior. The nearby Historic Sand Point Lighthouse is not open but you can walk on the grounds. Ojibwa Recreation Area, 101 Lighthouse Road, Baraga, MI.  Phone: 906-353-6955 or 906-201-4174

Fishing Destinations

• Rivers & Creeks for fly fishing: Silver, Sturgeon, Falls, Huron, Ravine, Perch, Slate, Carp Rivers and Clear, Kelsey, Menge, Six Mile Creeks
• Lake Superior, Keweenaw Bay, and Huron Bay
• Inland Lakes: Roland, Vermillac, Fence, Craig, King, Parent, Ruth, Big, Crooked, Laws, and Burns, Keewaydin, Beaufort, and George Lakes and Prickett Backwaters
• Ice Fishing: everywhere during the winter

Fishing - Marinas

• Baraga Municipal Marina, Baraga. Phone: 906-353-8110
• Lakeside Marina, Baraga. Phone: 906-353-7123
• L’Anse Marina, L’Anse. Phone: 906-524-6116
• Ojibwa Marina, Baraga. Phone: 906-353-9655
• Historic Ford ‘Ol Town Marina in Skanee. Phone: 906- 524-6413

Golfing: 9 hole/3265 yards golf course in L'Anse. Phone: 906-524-6600

Mountain Biking on the back roads in the Huron Mountains

ORV Trails. There are about 150 miles of ORV trails in Baraga County. All roadsthat are managed by the Baraga County Road Commission have the shoulder open for ORV/ATV riding. A new ORV trail was opened in the summer of 2012 connecting Baraga State Park on Highway US-41 to TwinLakes State Park off of Highway M- 26 by Roland Lake. A fun and exciting ride

Swimming beaches located in L'Anse and Baraga.

Winter:
Snowmobile trails lead in all directions including outstanding riding in the Huron Mountains. Ride north to the Keweenaw or west to the Bill Nicholls Trail.

Cross-Country Skiing at the Pinery Lakes Ski Pathway just east of L'Anse. 3 loops can be combined for a total of 5 miles of groomed and marked trails for novice to advanced skiers. Contact (906) 524-7444 for information.

Attractons:
Alberta Sawmill Village Museum on US-41 south of L'Anse. Take a self-guided tour of the steam powered sawmill built by Henry Ford in 1835. The villagae is presently the site of the Ford Forestry Center and Research Forest, managed by Michigan Tech University.

Assinins was founded in 1843 by Bishop Frederic Baraga and named for Chief Assinins. It is one of the mission Father Frederic Baraga established before becoming bishop of the Upper Peninsula. He used the mission he built as a base for missionary work elsewhere on the Keweenaw Peninsula, often reached by snowshoeing. Several buildings remain including the ruins of the St. Josephs Orphanage and School, built in 1860 for Native American and European children.

The Assinins Historic Cemetery is just north of the village. The Most Holy Name of Jesus Church is visible from US-41. The Assinins Baraga Center has some memorabilia and clippings about the church and the community in a small museum. Members will help research the ancestry of far-flung descendants of the area Ojibwa band, and of the orphans who lived here. Phone: (906) 353-6469

The Baraga County Historical Society and Museum on the shores of Keweenaw Bay, US-41 in Baraga. There is a nice picnic area where you can sit and relax and enjoy the beautiful view of the Red Rocks and the Sandpoint where ancient artifacts over 1000 years old have been discovered. Museum is barrier free and is packed with thousands of historical artifacts.

Bishop Baraga Shrine on the crest of the Red Rock Bluffs between L'Anse and Baraga. Stop and enjoy this peaceful spot overlooking the bay. Small shop with books, gifts, baked goods, ice cream, coffee, and snacks.

Hanka Homestead 1920's self-sufficient Finnish Farm with original structures is located in north of Baraga. Turn west on Arnheim Road and follow the signs.

Pinery Lakes Historic Indian Cemetery is located just north of L'Anse. Take Skanee Road north to Indian Cemetery Road on the right. This cemetery been used from the 1840's to the present.

Ojibwa Casino & Restaurant in Baraga

Pequaming, an old lumber town on Keweenaw Bay north of L'Anse. Originally home to Chippewa tribes, the site was named for "Pequa quaming," a narrow neck of land almost surrounded by water.
The mill was owned by Henry Ford at one time to supply wood for his endeavors and the "Woody" station wagon.

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Sand Point Lighthouse The Sand Point Lighthouse is located on the west side of Keweenaw Bay in the town of Baraga. This light was first lit in 1878 and the first Keeper of the Light was Jean Crebassa. He tended this light for 30 years until he retired in 1908. The lighthouse has been painted and the front addition removed bringing the light back to its original appearance. The light is owned by the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community and is not open to the public, but visitors are welcome to stop by and take photographs.

Waterfalls: There are several sparkling waterfalls in Baraga County.

• Big Eric's Falls, 19 miles northeast of L'Anse on Skanee Road. 1 mile to falls.
• Canyon Falls, a box canyon waterfall and sometimes called the Grand Canyon of the Upper Peninsula, is 7 miles south of L'Anse and can be seen after a short hike on the scenic boardwalk along the Sturgeon River. Nice roadside park for a picnic lunch.
• The Falls River offers three waterfalls with a trail leading from the Waterfront Park in L'Anse.
• Silver Falls on the Silver River, 6 mies northeast of L'Anse
• Slate River Falls, Take Skanee Road for 11 miles. Falls on the right side of the road,

Festivals:

• The Aura Jamboree the third Friday & Saturday in July is fun for the whole family. Good food and great music.
• Keweenaw Bay Pow-Wow the 4th weekend in July. Traditional dancing and drumming.
• Concerts in Waterfront Park in L'Anse every Thursday evening at 7 pm during July and August
• LakeTrout Festival in early June. Fishing contests, games, good food, and fun for the whole family.

Exploring the Keweenaw Peninsula
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Photos: Mount Arvon by Karen Kayutto
Additional photos by Mary Deloria

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