The Superior Venture

Transcription

1 All-American Adventures The Superior Venture Explore the parks of Wisconsin, Michigan s upper peninsula, and Lake Superior s largest island Content was created by AAA in collaboration with the National Park Service

2 Superior beckons to the adventurous to explore its grandeur and Lake beauty. Rich in minerals and gemstones, be lured into travel to another era. American Indians traded with French fur trappers using a currency of shells and copper tools. Let your imagination see the vessels, some humble and some noble, carrying passengers and cargo from Duluth to Ontario and back. Fast forward to the present and you are hiking one of the many trails, or fishing off a shoal. You realize the immense lake is the same now as it was then, holding true to its Ojibwa name of Gichigami (Big Water). Dare to explore the shores, quiet streams, picturesque rocks and shoals. Seek solitude on a rugged isolated island. Get lost from civilization while hiking on Superior s many trails. Fish for one or more of the 80+ species of fish from the largest fresh water habitat in the world. Learn how the coastal wetlands and estuaries shaped the region s culture and history. Paddle on the lake in a canoe or kayak. Take an underground tour of a copper mine. Discover several sea cave overlook points one of so many unique resources. Find out how the logging era forever changed the landscape of Lake Superior.

3 ONE APOSTLE ISLANDS NATIONAL LAKE SHORE Travel Information: 86 miles, 1 hour 45 minute drive time Begin your journey at Canal Park in the lake city of Duluth, Minnesota. You will see vessels from around the world entering the port. A sequence of horn blasts will alert you to the rise of the Aerial Lift Bridge a unique sight occurring about 5,000 times a year. From Duluth you will cross the bay into Wisconsin, entering a city named for the lake and home to the SS Meteor Whaleback Ship Museum. The shared port between Duluth and Superior is formed by two rivers, the Nemadji and the Saint Louis (largest U.S. Lake tributary). Your journey to Bayfield will offer views of a mixed landscape including both northern hardwood and boreal forests, rich farmland and stunning lake views. You may want to peruse the artisan shops along the way in the towns of Port Wing, Herbster and Cornucopia. Apostle Islands National Lakeshore Bayfield Headquarters 415 Washington Avenue (1-Block off of Highway 13) Bayfield, WI OPEN YEAR ROUND: some areas closed in winter. In late winter much of the Apostle Islands area is frozen. Recreational fees and interpretive program fees apply. Apostle Islands National Lakeshore exists as a coastal park of 21 islands at the northeastern tip of the Bayfield Peninsula. The environment appears to be raw wilderness just waiting to be explored; its history is a blending of cultures, all adapting to the challenging environment. For more than a century, the Ojibwe people traded with French fur trappers. As the fur trade ended, pioneers turned to commercial fishing, logging and farming in the region. Make your way to the City Dock for boat transportation to the unique collection of islands and historic lighthouses. Raspberry Island Lighthouse is one of nine historic light towers on six islands. On a clear day visitors can enjoy a view of three states (Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin) from the light tower on Raspberry Island. Park staff offer a variety of guided activities from June to September. Check at park visitor centers or bulletin boards for specific times, topics, and locations. Insider Tip/The sea caves are best seen by boat. The Apostle Islands Cruise Service offers trips past the Devils Island sea caves and a sunset cruise to the mainland caves. Ranger Tip/Here s an activity you would never forget! Picking berries on one of the islands is possible in late July and early August. Visit Manitou Island Fish Camp. The park staff may be available for free guided tours of the historic commercial fishing camp from late June through August.

4 TWO Keweenaw National Historical Park Travel Information: 181 miles, 3 hours 17 minute drive time Keweenaw is an Ojibwa word that means the crossing place. It refers to the shortcut offered by Portage Lake now the Portage Lake Shipping Canal that has allowed people for centuries to avoid traveling around the often hazardous Keweenaw Point. Keweenaw National Historical Park Calumet Visitor Center 98 Fifth Street Calumet, MI Fee Free Site As you depart from Bayfield, Wisconsin on Highway 13 be sure to note the breathtaking views of the Lake Superior shoreline. As you head east into the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, the natural setting becomes a wilderness comprised of deep wooded forests. You are headed to Michigan s Copper Country, still visibly marked by over 100 years of industry. One of the world s largest deposits of pure, native copper was found on the Keweenaw Peninsula. The early pioneers of the 1800s discovered what the indigenous tribes had known for centuries - the undeniable allure of the copper mines. Be sure to tour the mines and explore the many stories of copper fever when visiting the park s partners, the Keweenaw Heritage Sites. Leave Bayfield heading South on Highway13 drive routes 2, 28 and 26 to Houghton, Michigan. Houghton, a city known for water front recreation, is the gateway to the Keweenaw Peninsula. Downtown Houghton offers a variety of restaurants where the cuisine ranges from gourmet coffee and sandwiches to steaks and Lake Superior fish. Shops offer local handmade creations from stunning jewelry to fine art. From the city take U.S. Highway 41 north through Hancock and arrive at the Quincy Unit of the park where you can explore the Quincy Mine site. Continue north to Calumet to visit the National Park Service s Calumet Visitor Center and more Keweenaw Heritage Site destinations. Insider Tip/Enjoy the connections between geology and history by visiting the remnants of the Cliff Mine site beneath the Greenstone Ridge created by the largest lava flow in the world. Ranger Tip/Explore local culture and cuisine by attending one of the many area festivals. Pasty Fest: Celebrating the traditional miner s lunch brought to the Keweenaw by miners from Cornwall, England. The Keweenaw Bay Indian Community Pow wow is a traditional Ojibway gathering and celebration of Anishinaabe culture. Bridge Fest commemorates the iconic lift-bridge connecting the sister cities of Houghton and Hancock. Heikinpaiva is a mid-winter celebration of Finnish American culture. Festivities include a polar plunge, a wife carrying contest, performances and more!

5 THREE Isle Royale National Park Travel Information: 13 MILES, 20 MINUTE DRIVE TIME, PARK ACCESSIBLE SEASONALLY BY FERRY AND SEAPLANE Drive just fifteen minutes south and visit the Houghton Visitor Center for your introduction to Isle Royale National Park, Michigan s largest wilderness area. A little prior planning will be important. The island is only accessible by passenger ferry, seaplane, or private watercraft. Isle Royale National Park Isle Royale Visitor Center 800 E. Lakeshore Drive Houghton, MI Open April 15 October 31 $4 per day, per person ACCESSIBLE BY PASSENGER-ONLY FERRY (No automobiles are transported to the island) Have a little extra time? On your return trip, be sure to visit the last above-water Whaleback ship in the world, the Meteor. It is on display in Superior, Wisconsin on Barker s Island. Isle Royale is the largest island on Lake Superior offering unparalleled solitude and adventure through Michigan s largest wilderness area. Hike rugged trails through lush forests of mixed evergreens and hardwoods. View wildlife including moose, red fox, river otters and even the chance to hear the howls of the island s population of gray wolf. Visitor Centers are located in the town of Houghton on the mainland, and at Rock Harbor and Windigo on the island. Numerous services and amenities are offered including access to backcountry trails, campgrounds, and kayak rentals. There are a variety of transportation services available including ferry operations from Houghton and Copper Harbor in Michigan, and Grand Portage in Minnesota. The park service operates The Ranger III which departs Houghton for Isle Royale at 9:00 a.m., Tuesday and Friday through the passenger season returning the next day. This is a great option for those looking to spend a night on the island. Two round trips are made each week. Day trips are also offered by The Isle Royal Line from Copper Harbor, MI (just 1 hour north of Houghton). The Isle Royale Queen IV departs Copper Harbor, Michigan at 8:00 a.m. EDT and takes a little over three hours to arrive at Rock Harbor. The ship then departs Rock Harbor at 2:45 p.m. EDT for Copper Harbor. The Isle Royale Queen IV makes the departure and return trip on the same day, allowing for both overnight and day-trip passengers. Schedules and times can be viewed at Travelers are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance. Insider Tip/The narrow bays and harbors are a fishermen s paradise by boat and on foot. Michigan fishing license is required for fishing in Lake Superior, but not required on the inland waters of Isle Royale. If you are under 17 years of age you may fish without a license. Ranger Tip/The terrain on Isle Royale is rough and uneven. Sturdy footwear is recommended.

6 FOUR Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Travel Information: 160 miles, 2 hours 59 minutes drive time Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Interagency Visitor Center 400 East Munising Avenue Munising, MI The lakeshore is open year-round, 24 hours, though many roads are closed in the winter by snow, but open to snowmobiles. Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is truly a mosaic of natural and cultural wonders. Along its 42 miles of Lake Superior shoreline are over 12 miles of beautiful beaches, nearly 5 miles of enormous sand dunes and 15 miles of towering sandstone cliffs. The cliffs stretch from near Sand Point to beyond Spray Falls, where they give way to the white sands of Twelvemile Beach. The Grand Sable Dunes rise high above Lake Superior near Grand Marais. Spring brings wildflowers and rushing waterfalls to photograph, plus fish to catch. Summer offers picnicking, boating, hiking, and camping, as well as lighthouses to explore. Autumn brings a vibrant display of colors and hunters take to the north woods. Winter visitors enjoy cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, and ice fishing. Insider Tip/A National Park Service authorized concessionaire-operated boat cruise offers an easy, comprehensive, and close-up view of the Pictured Rocks. Pictured Rocks Cruises, Inc. offers non-stop narrated boat tours of the spectacular sandstone cliffs within Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Each cruise is 2 1/2-3 hours long and travels approximately 40 miles round trip. The cruise operates from mid-may to mid-october. All cruises depart from the city dock at the north end of Elm Avenue in Munising. Ranger Tip/Seasonally fruits, berries, and mushrooms abound within the park boundaries and may be gathered by hand for personal use. Gathering of native fruits, berries, and mushrooms is limited to one gallon per person. Apples may be gathered in quantities up to five gallons per week per person. fun facts/mineral stains give color to the famous cliffs of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Red and orange colors are iron, black is manganese, white is limonite, and green is a trace of copper.

7 The U.S. National Park Service cares for more than 400 national parks and special places, and helps communities preserve their historic sites and open spaces so that all may experience our heritage. The All-American Adventures series was produced under a partnership arrangement between the National Park Service and AAA. We invite people everywhere to discover their own personal connections to parks. TRAVEL RESOURCES Check out the following trip planning resources as you plan your All-American Adventure. NPS.gov Find details on all national parks, including things to do, activities and lodging. AAA.com/TripTik Plan your next road trip with a custom routing showing you points of interest along the way. AAA.com/Travel Book Diamond-Rated hotels, plus reserve a rental car or book an airfare to get you going on your adventure. AAA Mobile App Download the AAA Mobile app for directions, travel resources and roadside assistance. Get information in-person Be sure to visit your local AAA office or National Park Service location for information on your next national parks excursion.