Recreation and Attractions in the
Paradise Michigan Area

Annual Wild Blueberry Festival is held the third week in August at the Whitefish Township Community Center. Arts & Crafts Fair, Unique Entertainment, Local Food Specialties, and the famous Blueberry Brunch.

Biking is fun on the many trails or the old logging roads. Take a trip out to Shelldrake Dam or on to the old Vermillion Life Saving Station. Go up to the Lighthouse or down to the Tahquamenon Rivermouth State Park where you can have a picnic on the beach or wade in Lake Superior.

Birding in the Paradise area is a year round experience. In the Spring and Fall you will be part of the exciting bird migration as the birds pass on their way to and from Canada. In the Summer you might see the Sandhill Cranes out at the Shelldrake River or the rare Piping Plovers. Winter brings birds that migrate to the area from the north.

Camping is available at Tahquamenon Lower Falls State Park or at the Tahquamenon Falls Rivermouth Unit. You will find modern campsites located in a beautiful wooded area. The Rivermouth Unit offers modern and rustic campsites. Call 1-800-44-PARKS for reservations.

Rustic Camping is available nearby. Andrus Lake, a state forest campground 6 miles north of Paradise, has 25 rustic wooded sites. Andrus Lake offers fishing, boating and swimming. Shelldrake dam camping area is just 2 miles from Andrus Lake. Shelldrake has 17 wooded campsites, boating, good pike fishing and some rare and unusual birds.

CANOEING & KAYAKING on the Tahquamenon River, the Two-Hearted River, or some of the nearby lakes and streams is a wonderful way to spend your day for paddling and fishing.

Canoe Races. Tahquamenon Wilderness Canoe Race. Sponsored By The Paradise Area Chamber of Commerce. Registration 8 am at the Lower Falls. 18 Mile Race from the Lower Falls to the Rivermouth. Shorter races begin later in the morning. Call (906) 492-3219 for additional information.

Crisp Point Lighthouse, activated May 5, 1904 at Crisp's Point, one of four Life Saving Stations built in 1876 between Whitefish Point and Grand Marais and named for the Keeper, Christopher Crisp. The Light Station was deactivated in 1947, and Lake Superior took over Crisp's Point as storms badly damaged the Light Station. In 1965 the Coast Guard demolished the buildings, but left the Light tower and connecting service building. Fortunately, Luce County and the Crisp's Point Historical Society took over and they are working vigorously to save the Light Tower. The tower is open and can be reached by taking M-123 north of Newberry to the intersection on County Road 500 and follow the signs.This is a beautiful drive and well worth the effort.

Cross Country Skiing in Paradise (maps). Ski the Paradise Pathway, groomed cross-country ski trails in Paradise and an extensive network of trails at Tahquamenon Falls. Enjoy the peaceful beauty of the forest as you glide across the snow.

Cross-Country Ski Trails in the Upper Peninsula Mountain Biking in the Summer

Fishing. The Paradise area has many places where you can fish from the bank or from the Lake Superior Fishing Pier. Fish are plentiful. You will find Perch, Pike, Muskie, Walleye, Steel-head, Brown Trout, Salmon and many other fish in the waters around Paradise.

Fourth of July Celebration: Pancake Breakfast from 7-11 am at the Community Center, Parade and Games from 1 pm to 3 pm, Arts and Crafts Auction from 6 pm to 9 pm, Fireworks over Whitefish Bay at dusk behind the Community Building. Absolutely Breathtaking!

Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum. located in the old Coast Guard buildings at Whitefish Point. This Museum is filled with artifacts and exhibits honoring the many mariners who traveled the Great Lakes. Watch the video presentation about the Edmund Fitzgerald and the raising of the ship's bell. The bell at the Shipwreck Museum was retrieved from the wreck site, restored (but not altered), and put on display. A replica bell was engraved with the names of the 29 men who lost their lives in that terrible storm, November 10, 1975, and attached to the wreck at the bottom of Lake Superior when the original bell was retrieved. Each year, on November 10th, there is a Memorial Service for the crew of the Edmund Fitzgerald, the 729-foot steamer sunk off Whitefish Bay. Open daily from 10 am to 6 pm, May 1st through October 31st.

The "Haunted Trail" will be held the second weekend in October at Sawmill Creek Township Park, 1/10 mile north of Paradise on Whitefish Point Road, from 7:30 pm to 10 pm and have a "howling" good time. The trail is a nature walk of about 400 yards, but the Head Ghoul has transformed the trail adding 15 sites of terror, fun, and visually cool effects. Guides lead you through the woods and there will be a concession stand selling hot dogs and chips, home baked goodies, hot spiced cider, coffee, and cocoa. Be sure to stop by Tahquamenon Falls and take part in their Harvest Festival. Enjoy pumpkin carving, site decorating, chili cook-off, costume contest & trick-or-treating.

Hiawatha National Forest, located south east of Paradise on Lakeshore Drive (Curly Lewis Memorial Highway), offers many recreational activities. The scenic panorama of Lake Superior at the Mission Hills/Spectacle Lake Overlook is outstanding. You can even see the Laurentian Hills of Canada in the distance.

CAMPGROUNDS: Monocle Lake Park has a 2 mile hiking trail that leads through hardwoods and across a boardwalk that crosses a wetland. There is a beaver dam by the boardwalk and you can watch the beavers as they work. The campground offers 39 rustic sites.

 

The Bay View Campground & Picnic Area is located along the beach amid good-sized pines. There's a sandy beach and rock picking. Take your lunch and have a picnic along the shores of Lake Superior. Tables, grills, and benches are available.

Hiking is at it's best around Paradise. You can take that walk along the sandy beach or through the woods. Tahquamenon State Park offers an extensive system of trails throughout the Park. Join up with the North Country Trail or hike from the Upper Falls to the mouth of the Tahquamenon River where it empties into Whitefish Bay. Take a walk over to Clark Lake and the Nature Area. Trail Maps are available at the Park.

Mountain Biking in the U.P. Trails, races, events, wilderness rides.

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

Point Iroquois Lighthouse and Maritime Museum Bay Mills Township, Hiawatha National Forest. This very unusual Light Station is located on the Curly Lewis Memorial Highway (Lakeshore Drive) just south east of Paradise. Built in 1870, the dwelling housed the Keeper and two assistant Keepers and their families. This was the Lighthouse that guided ships to and from the St. Mary's River at the Soo.The Light Station has been restored and is a museum. The Fresnel Lens from Point Iroquois is at the Smithsonian Institute but the Fresnel Lens from St. Martin's Reef is on display in the museum. The 65' tower is open for climbing and you can be the lookout as you watch for the freighters entering and leaving the St. Mary's River. Walk down to the shore and look for that special rock. Open daily May 15-Oct.15

Rock Collecting & Beach Combing. Start at Whitefish Point and walk west along the beach. Agates and other interesting rocks are plentiful and you might find one of the unusual banded agates.

Scuba Diving in the Whitefish Point Underwater Preserve. Here you will find many wrecks in the "Graveyard of Ships". Some of these wrecks are in very deep water so dive with extreme caution. Information on the wrecks can be obtained from the local dive shop.

Snowmobiling in the Paradise Area

Snowmobile Trail Report for the Paradise Area

Snowmobile Trails in the Upper Peninsula Mountain Biking in the Summer

"SOO" Locks, Sault Ste. Marie, MI. Stop at the Visitors Center at the Locks for the schedule so you know the arrival time, and then you can go out to one of the viewing areas or just stand by the fence. You are almost close enough to touch them as they pass by. It's especially fun to watch the ships in the MacArthur Lock as they come in low and rise to giants right before your eyes. See what is happening right now at the locks with the Soo Locks Live Web Cam.

Tahquamenon Falls and State Park. The Upper falls is one of the largest Waterfalls east of the Mississippi River. The only larger falls is Niagara. Tahquamenon has a drop of nearly 50 feet and is more than 200 feet across. A maximum flow of 50,000 gallons of water per second has been recorded cascading over these falls. The Tahquamenon River drains the watershed of an area more than 790 square miles. This Falls is beautiful no matter what time of the year you visit and the Park has many things to offer for outdoor recreation. Open all year round.

Tahquamenon Lower Falls is a series of five smaller falls cascading around an island. Although not stunning as the huge Upper Falls, they are outstanding. The falls can be viewed along the river bank or Rowboats can be rented for a different view. Row out to the Island for a nice day on the water and some great pictures.Tahquamenon Lower Falls is a great place for camping and is connected to the trail system. Concession store open during the summer.

Tahquamenon Falls State Park, centered around the Upper and Lower Falls, has close to 40,000 acres of land stretching about 13 miles. Most is undeveloped woodlands, but there is an extensive system of trails throughout the park for your enjoyment. Hiking, camping, canoeing, birding, fishing, nature study, photography are some of the activities and in the winter, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling on miles of marked trails. There are many unusual birds to be found in the park.

Tahquamenon Wilderness Canoe Race, September 2, Marathon 2015. Registration 8 am at the Lower Falls. 18 Mile Race from the Lower Falls to the Rivermouth starts at 10. Shorter races begin later in the morning. Call (906) 492-3219 for additional information

Vermillion Point Lifesaving Station is now owned by Lake Superior State University. Some of the original buildings are still standing and being repaired. This historic Lifesaving Station is located at the end of Vermillion Point Road This is a one lane gravel road with some sugar sand and is not easy to reach but it is a very good spot for seeing birds.

Watching the Freighters. You may be able to see some of the "Lakers'' and "Salties" (ocean going ships) as they travel to and from the locks at the Soo. You can sit in your beach chair, relax, and enjoy the superb view of Whitefish Bay. At night you can watch the lights on the ships going to or from the locks.

Whitefish Point Bird Observatory. located at Whitefish Point. Here you will find one of the leading bird observatories in the country. This is one of the most exciting spots to watch unique birds as they migrate to and from Canada. Beginning with the hawk migration in April through late fall, the Point attracts an amazing number of unusual birds. Bring your binoculars and a jacket and spend some time wandering around the Point. Stop by and check out the Weekly Programs. Don't miss the Spring Fling, the last weekend in April.

Whitefish Point Lighthouse located at the end of the Whitefish Point Road,12 miles north of Paradise. One of the first lighthouses to guide the mariners as they traveled this very treacherous area of Lake Superior, it is still guiding them safely around Whitefish Point today The Whitefish Point Light Station, established in 1849, is open everyday mid-May to mid-October. The attached Keepers dwelling, built in 1861, has been fully restored and is open for tours.

Whitefish Point Marathon. Run from Sawmill Creek Park to Whitefish Point. Sponsored by the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum.

The Whitefish Point Underwater Diving Preserve offers deep-diving experiences in Lake Superior on a variety of shipwrecks in its 376 square mile area. If there is truly a graveyard of Lake Superior, it is the general area of Whitefish Point.

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Photo: Freighter on Whitefish Bay by Ben Museilak
Photo: Horseback riding in the Fall by Julie, Wildridge Riding Stable
Photo: Crisp Point Lighthouse by Vivian