Best Winter Activities in the Upper Peninsula
Winter is a wonderful time to visit Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. With an annual snowfall of around 250 inches, the UP is one of the country’s snowiest locations and offers many outdoor adventure opportunities. No matter what type of winter activities you’re into, you are sure to find something to make your visit to the Upper Peninsula truly memorable.
Snowshoeing and Cross-Country Skiing
Both snowshoeing and cross-country skiing are extremely popular in the UP, and with good reason. Throughout the region, you can find thousands of miles of trails surrounded by pristine forests and stunning natural scenery. Snowshoeing enthusiasts will want to head to Wetmore and check out Iverson Snowshoes, which has been hand-crafting beautiful wooden snowshoes and other items for over six decades.
One of the most popular snowshoeing areas is Tahquamenon Falls State Park near Paradise, where you can traverse the trails and enjoy views of the beautiful frozen falls. Visitors will also want to take advantage of the chance to explore the trails on the way out to Eben Ice Caves or meander through beautiful old-growth forests at Copper Harbor Pathway.
The Hiawatha National Forest is another great place for cross-country skiing and offers more than 90 miles of trails. Located within the forest is Rapid River National Cross Country Ski Trail, which is home to nearly 18 miles of groomed trails, including five classic loops and two skating loops. Fayette Historic State Park offers one of the region’s most unique cross-country skiing opportunities. Enjoy five miles of trails that make their way through a historic ghost town and along impressive cliffs overlooking Lake Superior. Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park is another excellent place for cross-country skiing, with more than 23 miles of trails.
The ABR Ski Trails in Ironwood, MI are rated the 4th best in the nation. ABR Ski Trails have 60 km of trails in big snow country along the Montreal River. They are open November through April 1 each year with rentals and lessons available.
Downhill Skiing and Snowboarding
Downhill skiing opportunities can be found just outside a number of different towns in the Upper Peninsula. The first stop should be in Ishpeming—considered the birthplace of competitive skiing in North America. While there, you can pay a visit to the US Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame before heading further off to hit the powder. Thanks to the nearby Great Lakes, the UP is one of the snowiest regions in the country, and the region offers nine different resorts for skiers of all ages and skill levels.
Located near Michigan Technological University in Houghton, Mont Ripley is the oldest ski area in the state and one of the best. Enjoy 24 unique runs ranging from beginner to advanced, or try your hand at the thrilling terrain park. Night skiing at Mont Ripley is also definitely not to be missed.
Snow River Mountain Resort in Wakefield (previously known as Big Snow) is another favorite for locals and visitors. The resort features 56 runs spread out over two different ski hills and are found in the Black River Basin area, while more advanced skiers and snowboarders will want to head to the Jackson Creek Summit hill. The resort was recently purchased by new owners, and there are currently plans to build a chairlift connecting the two hills.
Watching a Ski Jump Tournament
The Upper Peninsula is home to two of the largest ski jumps in the world—Copper Peak Ski Jump and Pine Mountain Ski Jump. Located just outside Ironwood, one of the best towns in the Upper Peninsula, Copper Peak Ski Jump is the world’s tallest ski jump standing at 469 feet tall and used to regularly host competitions.
It was originally constructed in 1969 and is the tallest artificial ski jump in the world. From spring to late autumn, you can take a chairlift and then an elevator to the top of the jump. Once there, you’ll be treated to fantastic 360-degree views and see more than 40 miles across Lake Superior and three different states. On clear days, you can even see all the way across the lake to Canada. While no competitions are currently held here, the site is undergoing an extensive upgrade and should soon be ready to again start hosting events.
In the meantime, visitors can still visit Pine Mountain Ski Jump. Every February, more than 20,000 visitors gather to watch athletes from around the world compete to see who can soar the farthest. If you’re lucky, you may even see a jumper break the US record that was originally set here. The weekend event also brings in numerous local vendors and features live music and fantastic food in a fun, festive atmosphere.
Ice Fishing
Ice fishing is definitely one of the most popular winter activities in the Upper Peninsula and all of Michigan. Virtually anywhere you can find ice, you will see numerous huts with people out trying to catch walleye, lake trout, and other fish species. Dress up in your warmest clothing, grab your gear and head out onto the ice to see what you can pull in.
Munising Bay, L’Anse Bay, and Au Train Bay on Lake Superior are great places to start. If it’s your first time, you can find chartered ice fishing trips in some of the various shoreside towns so that you can learn and make the most out of your day. Lake Michigan also offers fantastic ice fishing opportunities, especially in Little Bay de Noc and Big Bay de Noc near Escanaba.
The many smaller inland lakes throughout the UP are also great places to ice fish. Located just a short drive from Ironwood, Lake Gogebic offers the chance to catch walleye, pike, bass, yellow perch, and whitefish. If you’re lucky, you may even catch one of the specially tagged fish and win a handsome cash prize. Other popular ice-fishing locations include Au Train Lake, Portage Lake, and Lake Michigamme.
Snowmobiling and Outdoor Thrills
Few places in the country offer anything close to the opportunities for snowmobiling and other outdoor thrill rides found across the UP. The region features more than 3,000 miles of groomed trails, and snowmobile rentals and guided tours can be found throughout many of the towns in the Upper Peninsula. Hiawatha National Forest features more than 100 miles of trails. At the same time, there are also numerous opportunities available around Escanaba and in many of the state parks and forest areas.
If you’re looking for something different, you can head to the Noquemanon Trail Network near Marquette to try skijoring. This exciting sport combines cross-country skiing and dogsledding and offers a fun, pet-friendly adventure. Another option is to head out into the bays on Lake Michigan near Escanaba to enjoy the thrill of kite snow skiing or kite snowboarding.
The UP is also one of the few places in the country where anyone can learn how to luge. Located on Lucy Hill in Negaunee, the Upper Peninsula Luge Club has the country’s only natural, full-length luge track. While the top part of the track is reserved for professionals, the lower section is open for anyone who wants to experience luging firsthand. There’s no need to worry about equipment, as sleds, helmets, and braking shoes are available to rent.
With so many different activities available, any winter trip to the UP will surely be a blast.