Sand, Mud, Rock, Water, Rain -- Michigan's UP Camping

engineerd

Desk Jockey
The adventuremobiles by engineerd, on Flickr

As you may know from my planning thread, some buddies and I went on our own little UP Overland expedition this last weekend. What follows is a tale of awe, of men becoming boys, and of vehicles doing what they were designed to do.

This year we started at Whitefish Point on Lake Superior and worked our way down to Escanaba and the Garden Peninsula on Lake Michigan. Two vehicles were going. My Jeep and my buddy’s JK Wrangler. This was good since we hoped to tackle some of the toughest trails in Michigan. After a stop for breakfast at Tony’s I-75 Restaurant in Birch Run, MI we pressed on to Whitefish Point. We then headed down North Shore Drive to the infamous Wildcat Road. This would be our home for the night.

Whitefish Point Lighthouse by engineerd, on Flickr

Old pier wood at Whitefish Point by engineerd, on Flickr

Help from another camper in the area landed us a fantastic camping spot. We were right on Lake Superior. A fire was built, dinner consumed, beverages opened, and we talked and enjoyed the seclusion. No cell phone service. No real ties to the outside world. It was just us, the lake, the beach, the freighters coming around Whitefish Point, and the rain. Throughout the night I would hear the waves lapping at the shore and the freighters blowing their fog horns. This was the life.

Sandy parking by engineerd, on Flickr

The next day we finished our trek down the Wildcat Road then to Crisp Point Lighthouse. After Crisp Point we took the trails to the Mouth of the Two Hearted River where we, of course, cracked open a Bell’s Two Hearted Ale.

The Mouth of the Two Hearted River by engineerd, on Flickr

We then worked our way along trails to the Grand Marais Truck Trail and back to civilization. We had to air up, which gave us all a chance to check in with our wives since we had been without cellular signal for 18 hours.

Air Up! by engineerd, on Flickr

In Grand Marais we topped off with fuel and enjoyed lunch and brews at the always delicious Lake Superior Brewing Company. We then backtracked to a site we spotted on the truck trail that would be our home for the night. Night two on Lake Superior and we were in for more rain and fog, seclusion and beauty.

Lake Superior Camping by engineerd, on Flickr

Kindling by engineerd, on Flickr

One could get used to this view by engineerd, on Flickr

The next day we went back through Grand Marais stocking up on a few forgotten supplies, then it was on to some fun trail riding through the Pictured Rocks area and the Hiawatha National Forest. We hit pavement again in time to find a restaurant for a lunch of the UP’s famous pastys. Then it was down to Shingleton, MI and the Coalwood Trail.

Trail riding by engineerd, on Flickr

After the Coalwood Trail our route took us on lumber roads through an area which had recently been harvested. It was eerie being in dense forest then nothing but wood chips and stumps. Our first lost of the day occurred when a trail we were on was supposed to connect to the Rapid River Truck Trail, but didn’t. Instead, we had to backtrack and find our way over to the Rapid River Truck Trail. We took this truck trail down to Rapid River then to Escanaba on US-2. A stop at the overly hyped Hereford and Hops brewery was followed by a trek to the Garden Peninsula which would be our home for the night.

The plan was to camp at one of two sites. We found neither of them. Instead, we wound up travelling down a trail on the beach which, in parts, was mere feet from the water. An eagle seemed to guide us. We had to cross sand, bogs, and rocks. We finally came out on this beautiful flat rock beach. We were thinking it would be our home for the night. Then we found something truly creepy. From the flat stones making up the beach someone (or someones) had built a chair, a firepit and what can only be called an altar. An animal’s skeleton lay upon the altar, and the fire pit was stocked with fresh kindling. The creepy factor was through the roof, and we had to get out of there.

Luckily, a trail went up the hill from the beach. It was made of loose rock, but a little scouting showed that it did go somewhere. Back into the Jeeps and up and out of the creepy yet beautiful beach we went. We eventually found what could have been the other camp site, but too many homes were in the area. We decided to head back to Fayette State Park and camp there.

Michigan is beautiful by engineerd, on Flickr

On the home stretch by engineerd, on Flickr

It was culture shock. We hadn’t been in an “official” campground all weekend and now we were in one full of glampers. RV’s and trailers were everywhere, with elaborate setups. This was not our crowd. After setting up camp and having dinner we waited for dark then headed to the ghost town there at Fayette. It was the site of the Jackson Iron Works company town and has been preserved by the State of Michigan. It was creepy but interesting. Returning to camp we had a little run in with a porcupine. The next morning we were up and out before most of our fellow “campers” were even stirring. We headed to the amazingly beautiful freshwater spring Kitch-iti-kipi then home.

Kitch-iti-kipi by engineerd, on Flickr

Kitch-iti-kipi by engineerd, on Flickr

Rest stop by engineerd, on Flickr

Crossing the Mackinac Bridge heading south is always a bit sobering. It’s a symbolic place where I know I’m returning to the real world. To my wife, my dog, my job…my responsibilities.

Mackinac Bridge by engineerd, on Flickr

I posted the same story on the UP Overland forum (http://upoverland.org/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=2263) If you are ever interested in adventuring that way, I can not recommend these guys enough. They say Yoopers are a friendly lot, and these guys prove that to be true.
 

shawnr

New member
Nice trip report. Heading up to Traverse City the first week of September in my JKU. We're going to head up to Mackinac Island for a day and also camp a night or two at Sleeping Bear Dunes. We weren't planning on spending time in the UP, but I may have to rethink our plans. Hoping to hit some trails in Michigan. Not much going on here in Iowa in regards to off-road adventures.
 

engineerd

Desk Jockey
Nice trip report. Heading up to Traverse City the first week of September in my JKU. We're going to head up to Mackinac Island for a day and also camp a night or two at Sleeping Bear Dunes. We weren't planning on spending time in the UP, but I may have to rethink our plans. Hoping to hit some trails in Michigan. Not much going on here in Iowa in regards to off-road adventures.

Nice! Traverse City is fun (lots of microbreweries) and the island is a must see. Sleeping Bear Dunes is one of the most beautiful areas in the country. There are lots of trails in that area from what I hear. Have fun!
 

ej1096

New member
Your pics are great! and I love your jeep. It's what I wanted mine to be like before I got rid of it. looks really clean as in not the standard rusted rockers and wheel wells you see here in MN. I'm a bit jealous of where you guys went, looks like it was fun. For sure going to have to get back up there.
 

Rattler

Thornton Melon's Kid
Nice trip report! I too felt the suckiness of having to head south over the big bridge back to Trollland last week after UP Overland '14 (along with Stilts!). You needed some Keweenaw ales in there from The Michigan House Café in Calumet and Brickside Brewery in Copper Harbor though.

2-Hearted is a fav of mine!

We found some decent trails south of TC off M-72 a couple years ago. A little ways past the casino around where it takes a bend to the SE. I like TC but it lost it's flavor with me after seeing 2 Mercedes Geldandewagons within 5 minutes of each other 2 trips in a row to there!
 

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