Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is known for its natural beauty and outdoor recreation opportunities. Visitors come here from all over to see our waterfalls, forests, trails, state parks, and Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. The U.P. is also full of small towns and scenic byways, and an almost constant supply of scenic views for those traveling its roads. There are quite a few roadside attractions in the Upper Peninsula, most located near bigger population centers of points of interest. We put together this list of what we consider to be the 10 best Upper Peninsula roadside attractions that are worth stopping for. The map at the bottom of this post will help you find them all!
Lakenenland – Located 15 miles southeast of Marquette on M-28, Lakenenland might just be the Upper Peninsula’s top roadside attraction. Featuring the scrap iron sculpture art of Tom Lakenen, this free and family friendly attraction can be driven through, walked through, or even visited on snowmobile. We make this one a stop on just about every trip through the U.P., since we never know what new sculptures might have been added or what kind of wildlife we might encounter on the bog walk.
2800 M-28 East, Chocolay Township
Hiawatha Statue, Ironwood – Standing at 52 feet tall and facing north to Lake Superior, the statue of Native American leader Hiawatha in Ironwood is hard to miss. Built in 1964, this fiberglass statue is referred to as the “world’s largest Native American statue” and it recently saw repairs made in 2019 so it can keep standing proudly for many years to come.
Houk St. at Beech St., Ironwood
Benny the Beard Fisher, Germfask – The newest addition on this list is also one of the coolest sculptures we’ve been able to visit. Benny the Beard Fisher perfectly blends in with the landscape at Northwoods Outfitters Campground and Cabins in Germfask, where he sits on the shore of the Manistique River. “Thomas Dambo is a Danish artist who has built more than 100 of these trolls. Other U.S. installations have take place in Philadelphia, Chicago, and Minnesota. Benny was part of a 2023 “Way of the Bird King” trip that saw Dambo and crews construct 10 trolls in 100 days. Other locations included Hainesport (NJ), South Londonderry (VT), Cripple Creek (CO), Portland (OR), and several in the Seattle (WA) area. You can view all of his works online, and even buy a book that tells the story of the trolls from “Way of the Bird King.” A QR code posted on a tree near the sculpture links will get you started on learning more about Dambo and what his trolls represent.”
Northwoods Outfitters Campground and Cabins, 8174 M-77, Germfask
($10 per car fee charged for non-campers who visit)
Paul Bunyan, Manistique – Michigan has a handful of different Paul Bunyan statues spread throughout the state. The one in Manistique is located in front of the Schoolcraft Welcome Center and welcomes visitors to a land full of forests, trails, outdoor recreation opportunities, and Lake Michigan shoreline. Wearing a flannel shirt and standing 15 feet tall while holding an ax, this homage to the legendary lumberman is fitting considering the role of the lumber industry in Manistique’s development. A sign by the statue reads: “Manistique, MI. – Home of Paul Bunyan.” In 2020 we found that a large mask had been placed on the statue during the COVID-19 pandemic.
1000 W. Lakeshore Dr., Manistique
Pickle Barrel House, Grand Marais – The former lakeside cottage of author and illustrator William Donahey certainly stands out among the other buildings in downtown Grand Marais. Donahey was famous for the Teenie Weenies comics that ran for more than 50 years in newspapers. This “Pickle Barrel House” cottage was built to resemble the home of some of the characters in the comic and originally sat on the shore of Grand Sable Lake west of town. It had quite the life in Grand Marais as a gift shop, ice cream stand, and more over the years and it is now a museum that is open daily in the summer months. Standing 16 feet tall, it also features a garden of irises on the grounds.
Lake Ave. at Randolph St., Grand Marais
Da Yoopers Tourist Trap, Ishpeming – Part gift shop and part tribute to everything Yooper, Da Yoopers Tourist Trap is located on the south side of U.S. 41 and is impossible to miss. Out on the front lawn you’ll find “Big Gus” (the world’s largest working chainsaw) and “Big Ernie” (the world’s largest working rifle), as well as countless other photo ops. Inside you’ll find everything you could want to remember your trip to “God’s Country,” including the music of Da Yoopers, shirts, wacky novelties, and even a rock shop.
490 Steel St., Ishpeming
Shrine of the Snowshoe Priest, L’Anse – A 60 foot tall statue that stands on the top a red rock cliff in L’Anse, the Bishop Baraga Shrine/Shrine of the Snowshoe Priest is a great place to learn about the life of Bishop Frederic Baraga. During his life in Michigan, the Slovenian-born Baraga started missions in Grand Rapids, L’Anse, Harbor Springs/Cross Village, and more. He wrote the book that served as a dictionary and grammar guide of the Ojibway language, and this statue features him holding a cross as well as his snowshoes. He walked the long distance between missions, often on snowshoes in the winter. While there are many monument to Baraga’s life and works in the Upper Peninsula, this is by far the largest and most unique. The site is run by volunteers who help maintain the grounds and operate a small gift shop on site.
17570 U.S. 41, L’Anse
Castle Rock, St. Ignace – An incredibly popular roadside attraction just off of I-75 north of St. Ignace, Castle Rock has been welcoming visitors for almost 100 years. This limestone sea stack rises almost 200 feet above the Lake Huron shoreline, and visitors can pay a small fee to make the climb to the top for amazing views. There’s a fantastic gift shop here too, and you’ll find another statue of Paul Bunyan (and Babe the Blue Ox) near the parking lot.
N2690 Castle Rock Rd., St. Ignace
Keweenaw Snow Gauge – Located on U.S. 41 between Mohawk and Phoenix, this 30 foot tall “snow thermometer” measures each year’s snowfall in the Keweenaw Peninsula. This outdoor recreation paradise routinely receives more than 20 feet of snow each winter, and during the 1978-79 season it saw more than 30 feet of snow fall. The roadside park here has room for a few cars and an informational sign from the Keweenaw County Road Commission.
Christmas – Just a few miles west of Munising on M-28 is the small town of Christmas. You’ll find lots of holiday themed stuff here, like a Santa statue in front of the Kewadin Casino, a welcome sign that’s ready for photo ops, and the former “Santa’s Workshop” that served as a gift shop and post office. You’ll also find the Grand Island Range Lights and the Bay Furnace ruins historic site and campground here, making Christmas a great spot to stop. In one spot in the U.P., it’s Christmas 365 days a year!
There are many more roadside attractions spread across the Upper Peninsula, and while these are just a few of them they’re the first ones we tell people about when they’re headed to one of these areas. We’d love to hear more about which ones are your favorites if they aren’t on this list! Here’s hoping more new roadside attractions continue to be added in the next few years!
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26 September 2024Sign up for free and be the first to get notified about new posts.
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