Day Trips from Grand Marais

Grand Marais is an ideal base for exploring the richness of the surrounding area. We've prepared several itineraries for day trips, depending on your interests. Pack a lunch, grab the cooler, and have fun exploring the beauty of the Grand Marais area! Each of these tours gives complete driving information and is self-paced and self-guided.

Dont forget: Bug spray, comfortable shoes, and a jacket - the weather can change quickly. Water is available at many spots but bringing something to drink is always a good idea. Gas pumps may be few and far between, especially in Pictured Rocks. Plan ahead.

United States Lifesaving Stations Tour: If you are interested in Great Lakes history, this is a tour you won't want to miss. Come along as we visit the sites of four U.S. Lifesaving Stations, starting right here in Grand Marais. We'll travel east along the lakeshore to Deer Park, the Two-Hearted River, and finally to Crisp Point, where you can climb to the top of Crisp Point Light for an unforgettable view of Lake Superior. You'll drive through some of the U.P.'s most beautiful woods, on real backcountry roads! (Don't worry, they're all well-maintained county roads. Four-Wheel Drive is NOT necessary.) Click here for the tour information pages. You should print them out and take them along to know what you are seeing. Plan a minimum of six hours for this trip.

Wild Seney and the Seney Wildlife Refuge: The village of Seney, 30 minutes to the south, was once one of Michigan's most notorious lumbering towns. Don't believe it? Wait until you see Boot Hill Cemetery! The Seney Historical Museum has a fascinating collection of items from the town's wild past, including a jail cell. After browsing through the museum and cemetery, head over to the Seney Wildlife Refuge for a different kind of "wild" life. The Visitor Center has a wonderful hands-on exhibit about the animals and plants to be found here, plus a great historical overview of how this Refuge came to be (most of it is man-made). The Marshland Wildlife Drive is a seven-mile driving loop through the refuge - take it near dusk and you're guaranteed to see beaver, osprey, swans, and much, much more. Plan a minimum of four hours for this trip. (under construction)

Scenic Highlights of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore (Eastern): It's impossible to do this jewel of a park justice in just one day, but if you want to whet your appetite, we have a driving tour that will take you to some of the highlights. You'll start with a visit to Sable Falls, continue on to the Log Slide, meander through the White Birch Forest to Twelvemile Beach, and if you feel like a nice stroll, you can hike out to Au Sable Light and see some shipwrecks along the way. This tour concentrates on the sites in the eastern half of the park. Plan on a minimum of four hours, more if you plan to visit the lighthouse. (under construction)

Scenic Highlights of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore (Western): The western half of Pictured Rocks is very different from the eastern half. This tour will take you past Kingston Lake and out through the Kingston Plains, where you can see the remnants of white pine lumbered a hundredy ears ago. You'll visit beautiful Beaver Basin, then take a short stroll to Miners Falls before visiting Miners Castle, where you can view some of the fabulous sandstone cliffs of the Pictured Rocks. An optional hike to Chapel Falls and/or Mosquito Falls is included. You may want to grab a bite to eat in Munising and then return to Grand Marais via the highway (55 minutes). This is really a Day Trip - plan on a minimum of seven hours. (under construction)