Thursday, July 15, 2011 - A day of waterfalls and a few other things near Munising, MI

With me home this month between jobs, we thought it was a great time for a road trip especially when we found some great hotel rates.

We left early this morning for to the Upper Peninsula, MI.  Our first stop was Peninsula Point in the Hiawatha National Forest.  We visited the Peninsula Point Lighthouse and had a picnic lunch there.  It was a beautiful day with a high of about 72 degrees. All that remains of the lighthouse is the tower but you can climb it and you have a great view of Lake Michigan from the top.  This lighthouse is also off the beaten path and so it is quiet and peaceful.

Peninsula Point Lighthouse

From there we drove up towards Munising, MI, stopping at a variety of waterfalls and scenic overlooks.  Our first stop was Au Train Falls, a waterfall we happen to see as we were driving.  There is an upper falls and a lower falls and these falls are used to generate power.  The upper falls can be seen from the parking lot and the lower falls are a short walk from the parking lot and well worth it.

Autrain Falls

Autrain Falls

Our next stop was a scenic overlook along Lake Superior which turned out to be a beautiful, quiet beach with white sand and very few rocks.  If we didn't have so many other places we wanted to see, I could have spent the entire afternoon here.  We were the only ones on the beach.  The water was a bit cold though.  I wouldn't recommend swimming but I did enjoy walking along the water.








After the beach, we continued through Munising to Munising Falls.  These falls are well worth it.  It is only a short walk to the falls with a climb on both sides of the falls to get another view.  These falls are fairly popular but on a Friday in July it wasn't that busy.

Munising Falls

While in Munising, we stopped at the spring fed Horseshoe Falls.  These falls are very touristy.  It costs money to visit them which includes a trout pond and plants with labels along your walk to the falls.  The one good thing about this falls is that the walk to the falls is nice and cool.  It is in the shade and along the spring fed stream.

Horseshoe Falls

On our way to Wagner Falls, we drove by Alger Falls which can be seen from the highway.  I didn't get any pictures of Alger Falls because there wasn't a good place to stop but here are some pictures of Wagner Falls which was probably my favorite falls today.  

Wagner Falls

Wagner Falls

After Wagner Falls, we were ready to check in the hotel and relax for the evening.  We stayed at the Econolodge in Escanaba, MI which was a great hotel for the price.  It was under $50 a night (AAA rate) including taxes but included breakfast and was clean and quiet.