A taste of the upper peninsula of Michigan was what the doctor ordered. After relaxing along the sandy shoreline of Otsego Lake, I headed north along Interstate 75, breezing by picturesque family farms, forested hills full of vibrant hues, crystal clear waterways and endless wetlands at 70 miles per hour. Below is just a sample of what I passed through, with a brilliant and tall Tulip Poplar, accented by red Blueberry bushes that were just past their prime.

 

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After crossing the Mackinaw Bridge, I veered onto U.S. Route 2, and the first signage that was noteworthy read: “US 2 is NOT a freeway.” Passing by remnants of a tourism past, by abandoned souvenir shops and closed wayside motels, I was reminded of how a post-World War II growth in tourism shaped many of the national parks, state reserves and natural sites that we visit today. Back then, the traveling public was not as much interested on the natural aspect of a park as much as the convenience and short-term draw. Comical storefronts, with flashy neon signage and kitschy apparel drew in the children and their free-spending parents, and the parks were small and underdeveloped. How times have changed!

 

Not far from the interstate is the historic Cut River Bridge. Constructed from 1941 to 1946, the Cantilever deck truss bridge spans the Cut River gorge. I have expressed more about the span in my other site, Bridges & Tunnels. Of course, the deep fall hues only accented the bridge’s curvaceous beauty.

 

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I continued my venture westward along U.S. Route 2 and Michigan State Routes 117 and 28 towards Pictured Rocks. But there were too many distractions. For instance, I passed by the closed Tahquamenon Artesian Well Water Company in McMillian. Constructed as the McMillian School, the building was later used by the well water company. Interestingly enough, the bottling equipment still remains inside, and the building is currently for sale. (If anyone is interested in the contact, let me know.)

 

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I also took a quick glance at the closed Shingleton School.

 

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I finally reached Munising along the South Bay of Lake Superior. The name Munising was derived from te Ojibway language, with “Munissi” meaning island, and “Munising” meaning near the island. Grand Island is located only 1/2-mile north in Munising Bay. The town of over 2,000 is quiet, with only a single factory providing the only industrial base. Its natural surroundings provide ample tourism impact to keep Munising flourishing, and during this fall season, I had trouble locating a hotel room. Located in and around the city are many eight falls, and beginning on the eastern border of the city is Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.

 

I quickly darted to the Twin Waterfalls Memorial Plant Preserve on the east side of Munising. The reserve, noted as the 100th sanctuary of the Michigan Nature Association, inclues two waterfalls along Tannery and Memorial Creek within its 15 acres that are dominated by sandstone escarpments. I parked off of the main roadway and began my climb towards Memorial Falls, which includes a moderate hill climb through a narrowing sandstone canyon to a 40 foot waterfall. Memorial Falls is dedicated to the memory of more than one hundred past Association members.

 

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Tracing back to the park entrance is a second trail to Tannery Falls, which is equally as beautiful and just as high. Tannery Falls is dedicated to Rudy Olsen, who was an active Michigan Nature Association member that conducted numerous bird surveys and was a caretaker for the Timberland Swamp in Oakland County.

 

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By this point, the clouds began to hover around Munising. I ventured into Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore to capture Munising Falls. The 50 foot waterfall, along Munising Creek, is one not to be missed due to its ease of accessibility and its three pronged trail network that offers spectacular views from varying angles. A spring melt will offer up better flow.

 

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I ended my waterfall tour around Munising with Wagner Falls along Michigan State Route 94, south of the city. This small 23-acre scenic area features a small trail, almost entirely hard surfaced, to the waterfall which is approximately 20 feet high with a crest of 8 feet. Wagner Creek flows over erosion-resistant dolomite towards the Anna River, which flows northward to Lake Superior.

 

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I finished the day with a sunset from the Grand Island Harbor Range Lights just east of Christmas. The rear range light, standing at 62 feet tall, features a 1/4-inch steel plate exterior with an interior spiral staircase and was built in 1914. The front range light is newer. The rear range light was abandoned in 1969 and declared surplus in 1977 – and is now available for tours in July and August by the local forest service.

 

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18 A waning sunset from Bay Furnace capped this long and exhausting day.

 

Further Reading

 

a. A Taste of the Upper Peninsula: http://www.americanbyways.com/2011/12/20/a-taste-of-the-upper-peninsula/

b. Cut River Bridge (US 2): http://bridgestunnels.com/2011/12/19/cut-river-bridge/

c. Tahquamenon Artesian Well Water Company: http://www.abandonedonline.net/commercial/tahquamenon-artesian-well-water-company/

d. Shingleton, Michigan School: http://www.abandonedonline.net/schools/shingleton-michigan-school/

e. Twin Waterfalls Memorial Plant Preserve: http://www.americanbyways.com/recreation/twin-waterfalls/

f. Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore: http://www.americanbyways.com/recreation/pictured-rocks-national-lakeshore/

g. Wagner Falls Scenic Area: http://www.americanbyways.com/recreation/wagner-falls/

h. Grand Island Harbor Range Lights: http://www.americanbyways.com/museums/christmas-range-lighthouse/

Grand Island was owned by the Mather family of Cleveland.  Yes, that Mather family, like the steamship.  They owned Cleveland Cliffs shipping company.  We biked around the circumference of Grand Island on the only calm day in 2009.  We could actually see the lake bottom. 

 

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is beautiful.  You can hike about two miles from a trailhead and have five miles of wilderness beach to yourself.

^Yep. I have more coming, just haven't gone through all of the photos yet! Beautiful, beautiful area.

Great stuff.

Beautiful shots, Sherman!