Area Attractions | |
BIG SPRING OR KITCH-ITI-KIPI, Michigan's largest spring, is located in Palms Book State Park. The Big Spring is two hundred feet across and forty feet deep. A self-operated observation raft guides visitors to vantage points overlooking fascinating underwater features and fantasies. Directions: Go 12 miles west of Manistique to Thompson. Turn north on M-149 for 12 miles to the park. BISHOP BARAGA MISSION AND INDIAN CEMETERY at Indian Lake. Jesuit Father Frederick Baraga, the "Snowshoe Priest" built a small log and bark Mission here in 1832 that has been recreated by a group of local historians. This small park by the east shore of Indian Lake is open to the public. Take M-94 from Manistique, turn left on CR-440 towards Indian Lake. Go north over the Indian River and turn left about 100' on a dirt road. BOARDWAK ON LAKE MICHIGAN AND SWIMMING BEACH/ The Lake Michigan Boardwalk follows the shoreline of Lake Michigan from the Manistique Harbor east for about two miles. Stroll along the shore of Lake Michigan. Watch the birds and enjoy the sunrise or sunset. Benches, interpretive signs, a fishing pier, picnic area with grills and tables, observation areas and a swimming beach. Wheelchair accessible. Take a walk up to the breakwater and get a good view of the picturesque red Manistique East Breakwater Light. Parking available at various points along the Boardwalk FAYETTE HISTORIC STATE PARK once a bustling industrial community which manufactured charcoal pig iron for economical shipping to the Great Lakes steel companies. Take a tour of the 19 remaining structures, visit the museum and learn how iron ore was converted to pig iron in the late 1800's. Take US-2 west of Manistique to Garden Corners, take CR-183, south for 17 miles to the Fayette State Park MANISTIQUE RIVER: Canoeing, Kayaking, Fishing, & Camping. Canoe the Seney National Wildlife Refuge. Map of the River. The Manistique River is over 60 miles long and runs from Manistique Lake at Curtis to the town of Manistique with rustic campgrounds along the way. A wonderful way to view wildlife and unusual birds. PICTURED ROCKS NATIONAL LAKESHORE is located between Grand Marais and Munising along the shores of Lake Superior. These sculptured sandstone cliffs are shaped by wind, ice and pounding waves, colored by the minerals in the water. This 40,000 acre park follows the south shore of Lake Superior for 42 miles where you can enjoy scenic overlooks, waterfalls, beaches. Visitor Centers have maps and other interesting information.You might enjoy the Shipwreck Tour in the Glass-Bottomed Boat and the Pictured Rocks Cruise on Lake Superior. RAINEY WILDLIFE AREA is another good spot for bird watching. Boardwalks, hiking trails, and an elevated viewing platform provide views of wildlife in and around Smith Creek, Smiths Slough, and Indian Lake. Songbirds are plentiful along the trails and boardwalks, and the spring and fall warbler migrations are especially good. You might also see bald eagles and ospreys from the observation platform. Take M-94 north of Manistique about 5 miles to Dawson Road. Turn left (west) for 1.5 miles to a road that takes you north to the parking lot. SENEY NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, 2.5 miles north of Germfask, Michigan. The Visitor Center at the Refuge is open from 9 am to 5 pm and is loaded with exhibits on wildlife history, habitat, ecology and management. A Seney National Wildlife Refuge orientation slide show is shown every half hour from. that introduces viewers to the variety of wildlife found on the Refuge, as well as management techniques. The photography is stunning! The center is complete with a natural history book store and children's touch table. A diversity of wildlife species utilize the refuge with over 200 bird species, 26 fish species and 50 mammals recorded. On a quiet summer's eve, one has only to stop and listen to hear the soft whisper of wings and the symphony of sounds echoing from the marshes. SCHOOLCRAFT COUNTY HISTORICAL PARK, Museum, and 200' tall brick Water Tower was built in 1921-22. Located on M-94 (River Street) in Manistique. The Water Tower is on the National and State Registrar of Historic Sites. Museum is open during the summer months The Siphon Bridge over the Manistique River was built in 1919 to help provide water for the paper company. This historic bridge was unique because the Manistique River was higher than the roadway and the bridge itself was partially supported by the water that was atmospherically forced under it. Once featured in Ripleys "Believe it or Not." SEUL CHOIX LIGHTHOUSE, PARK, & MUSEUM, south of Gulliver marks a tiny harbor located on the north shore of Lake Michigan. This harbor was the ast stop for refuge before coming to the Straits of Mackinac, some sixty miles to the east. The lighthouse and museum are open from Memorial Day through mid-September, seven days a week, from 10 am to 4 pm. There are reports of strange happenings including moved silverware and other items, footsteps, the strong smell of cigars and the sound of someone climbing the lighthouse steps. Many believe that a lighthouse keeper is still at work. Directions: From the junction of US-2 and County Rd. 432 (blinking light) in Gulliver, go south on CR-432 (Point Inland Rd) about 4 miles to County Rd. 431. Turn right (west) onto CR-431, (gravel road), and go approximately 4 miles to the lighthouse SWIMMING at Gulliver Lake in Gulliver. From US-2, turn south on CR-434, just west of the blinking light and stay to the right. Watch for signs to the beach and boat launch. Nice playground, park with picnic tables, grills, and swimming beach. Rogers Beach on Lake Michigan is about 2 miles west of Manistique. Sand beach, picnic area, and an awesome view of the Lake. TAHQUAMENON FALLS STATE PARK is located on Highway M-123 between Newberry and Paradise, Michigan. A nice day trip to visit the Upper and Lower Falls. WHITEFISH POINT BIRD OBSERVATORY, the WHITEFISH POINT LIGHTHOUSE, and the GREAT LAKES SHIPWRECK MUSEUM: 12 miles north of Paradise on Whitefish Point Road to the Bird Observatory. The trip to Tahquamenon Falls and the Whitefish Point Bird Observatory and Lighthouse can be combined for an enjoyable day trip, or visit Fayette State Park, Big Springs, and Seul Choix Lighthouse with a stop at Rogers Beach or the Manistique Boardwalk.
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