September to October is such a giant range for a place like Michigan - since that’s where it transitions from wildly hot & humid to bitterly cold with harsh lake winds.
I mean you’re in Alaska, so you’ll be fine - but bring layers, don’t pack too early.
Oh also, the UP is a lot more remote than most people think. The largest city in the entire peninsula has 20,000 people - and other than that it’s a lot of diffuse isolationists. So yunno, really keep track of your gas, check distances to the next place where you can get groceries, have a GPS not tied to a phone signal, etc. Its a bigger area than people think.
And have fun! Get a Patsy while you’re there. It’s a regional delicacy.
A patsy i have no idea what it is but I’m excited to find out. Also thank you for the remote note, I’ll keep that in mind. We will have non phone related GPS.
That was a typo, the regional food you're looking for is a "pasty" (pass-tee, not pay-stee), it's a meat and potato pie, and comes highly recommended by all the locals!
I spent three summers (while my kids were at MTU summer camps) eating EVERY pasty I could try. Sadly, one of the very best was Jean Kay's in Marquette which recently closed down but so so many great places to try.
My wife and have a running joke with my saying pay stee instead of pass tee.
September/October might be too late in the season for Isle Royale. Most of the facilities are closed by the second weekend of September.
Pictured Rocks is awesome this time of year though! I through hike it every year the second weekend of October. That seems to be peak tree colors. If you aren't into a 40 mile hike, I recommend the 10 mile Chapel Basin loop. That has the best parts of the park.
not op, but do you cat h a shuttle or stage a car using a second vehicle? I solo backpack and it's tough to organize a longer hike without a second car. a lot of out and backs.
Pictured Rocks has a [shuttle ](https://www.altranbus.com/backpacker/) that hits a bunch of the trail heads. I usually park at Sand Point and take a shuttle to the Grand Sable Visitor Center and hike back to my car.
September/October weather can be very unpredictable on Lake Superior. Last time I was in the Keweenaw in late September we had 50+ mph winds for about 3 days. We were prepared (not my first rodeo) so we had a blast but kayaking was not an option. Just be prepared for cold nights and potential gale force winds. I love that time of year in the Yoop but be sure you know what you’re getting into. If you’re coming from Alaska you should be able to handle it. After Pictured Rocks take the drive along the Curly Lewis highway. Runs right along the Lake with lots of places to stop and hike plus you’ll run into the North Country hiking trail.
Awesome thank you so much for sharing!! We were kinda looking for an easygoing time with more of a focus on kayaking, I grew up in Lake Michigan kayaking in all weather (spring-fall) but the other two haven’t so I was hoping it would be more friendly. It doesn’t make or break the road trip tho, I think it’d still be a gorgeous time to go. Also we don’t like crowds very much,. Is this time of year typically more empty ??
You won’t encounter crowds (at least not large ones) most places in the Yoop. Those tend to stay around Mackinac and tip of the mitt. Most campgrounds up here have very large campsites compared to other places I’ve visited and are pretty private. It’s a great time to visit! It can get below freezing at night at that time of year. Most likely it will be lower 40s at night but 🤷🏼♀️sometimes it just snows up here lol. There are tons of inland lakes with great kayaking. The Two Hearted river is a must see if you have time and absolutely incredible kayaking. Just be sure to have a map. GPS gets real unreliable in that area and I have frequently encountered people lost and stuck in the deep sand.
You’ve had great advice so far about weather. One thing I will say is you might want to look into booking any state/national campsites sooner rather than later. It is off the peak season so there is less demand, but could still fill up in the more popular places.
Two places to look into that are popular that haven’t been mentioned are Sylvania Wilderness (canoe/kayak camping) and Porcupine Mountain (backpacking)
Both are amazing places, I've lead trips to both. We did a great kayak trip along the porkies and it was great. It's a two day trip and you can camp at Lone Rock.
If you go to Sylvania I suggest Mountain Lake
Backpacking the pictures rocks is awesome, but requires a permit. Reserve early.
You can also kayak at pictured rocks.
Also worth checking out:
- kitchi-iti-ipi
- Tahquamenan falls
- Dozens of other waterfalls. Follow any signs you see when driving.
- porcupine mountains
- North country trail
Have fun!
I was planning a similar trip last fall, but ended up going to Maine to Baxter SP and Acadia NP instead.
Here’s the info on UP that I gathered:
https://www.reddit.com/r/upperpeninsula/comments/w4einl/is_early_to_mid_october_too_late_for_a_touristy/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf
Stone hunting locations:
https://mymichiganbeach.com/yooperlite/
Also, be aware of the hunting season- international orange should probably be your choice for outerwear colors.
Good luck, enjoy your trip—
i work for the NPS at pictured rocks and have lived locally for 5 years. feel free to send me a dm i’d be happy to answer any questions and provide recommendations. the yoop is the best!!
As mentioned, the weather is really unpredictable that time of year. In mid- to late October it's not uncommon to get snow but could be windy and rainy. It sounds like you'd be fairly used to that, but you definitely need to check what the ferry/plane expectations are for inclimate weather.
Fall is a better time to visit than spring. I'm sure you'll have fun! Watch out for hunters!
Yep. It already operates on only certain days of the week so I'm not sure what happens if the waters are too rough on those days. Would hate for you to get there and be stranded on Isle Royale for an extra 5 days or something without being prepared.
Late September/Early October is my favorite time of year to return to the UP. While the weather can be unpredictable, the "norm" is good for outdoor activities. 2 years ago the weather was 60 and nice for almost all of the 2 weeks I was there. People were kayaking around Presque Isle (Marquette) watching the sunset on some of the days (I'd show you pictures but it appears you can't add pictures to comments). Last year was a little colder, and even snowed the day we drove out. But for the most part the weather was great for outdoor activates.
I'm guessing you are going to Isle Royale through Copper Harbor. The top of Brockway Mountain has some payoff views. (We drove to the top)
If you are in the Marquette area, the view from the top of Hogsback and Sugarloaf are fantastic. (Short hikes)
Lots of waterfall hikes near Munising and Pictured Rocks, and frankly anywhere in the UP. I know people do kayak Pictured Rocks, I have no experience with it though, so can't tell you anything.
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
Best 42 miles of backpacking in the US
Just look at the pix….
https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1CDGOYI_enUS651US651&hl=en-US&sxsrf=APwXEdcnTlrg456Tf7AHJo5SpvYHfa6CEw:1680264633512&q=pictured+rocks+michigan+hiking&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwijru_EkYb-AhXvGzQIHVjzA9QQ0pQJegQICBAB&biw=375&bih=611&dpr=3
Best time to go is peak color, so Sep - Oct
Lots of good comments already - did the UP end of September into early October in 2019. It was by far the best fall color I've ever seen. One thing that we found surprising...the weather was pretty good and there were still LOTS of visitors, but some places had already closed for the season. Campground and restaurant options were limited. (We did not really plan ahead, thinking that late in the season we could just show up and camp - if you care about staying in any particular location, I don't recommend this.)
Check the dates of the ferry to Isle Royals. It might not be running in late September
Good to know thank you!
September to October is such a giant range for a place like Michigan - since that’s where it transitions from wildly hot & humid to bitterly cold with harsh lake winds. I mean you’re in Alaska, so you’ll be fine - but bring layers, don’t pack too early. Oh also, the UP is a lot more remote than most people think. The largest city in the entire peninsula has 20,000 people - and other than that it’s a lot of diffuse isolationists. So yunno, really keep track of your gas, check distances to the next place where you can get groceries, have a GPS not tied to a phone signal, etc. Its a bigger area than people think. And have fun! Get a Patsy while you’re there. It’s a regional delicacy.
A patsy i have no idea what it is but I’m excited to find out. Also thank you for the remote note, I’ll keep that in mind. We will have non phone related GPS.
That was a typo, the regional food you're looking for is a "pasty" (pass-tee, not pay-stee), it's a meat and potato pie, and comes highly recommended by all the locals!
I spent three summers (while my kids were at MTU summer camps) eating EVERY pasty I could try. Sadly, one of the very best was Jean Kay's in Marquette which recently closed down but so so many great places to try. My wife and have a running joke with my saying pay stee instead of pass tee.
I'm personally a diehard for Lawry's, but my spouse is devastated that Jean Kay's closed. It got them through a lot of college days!
Just say no to anything in St. Ignace though.
keep it movin
I recommend Roy's, Toni's, or Amy's if you're in the Keweenaw
Thank you!
September/October might be too late in the season for Isle Royale. Most of the facilities are closed by the second weekend of September. Pictured Rocks is awesome this time of year though! I through hike it every year the second weekend of October. That seems to be peak tree colors. If you aren't into a 40 mile hike, I recommend the 10 mile Chapel Basin loop. That has the best parts of the park.
Good to know abt isle royale but that’s awesome news for pictured rocks! Thank you
No problem! Let me know if you have questions about Pictured Rocks. I've through hiked it at least 10 times.
not op, but do you cat h a shuttle or stage a car using a second vehicle? I solo backpack and it's tough to organize a longer hike without a second car. a lot of out and backs.
Pictured Rocks has a [shuttle ](https://www.altranbus.com/backpacker/) that hits a bunch of the trail heads. I usually park at Sand Point and take a shuttle to the Grand Sable Visitor Center and hike back to my car.
awesome. thank you!
September/October weather can be very unpredictable on Lake Superior. Last time I was in the Keweenaw in late September we had 50+ mph winds for about 3 days. We were prepared (not my first rodeo) so we had a blast but kayaking was not an option. Just be prepared for cold nights and potential gale force winds. I love that time of year in the Yoop but be sure you know what you’re getting into. If you’re coming from Alaska you should be able to handle it. After Pictured Rocks take the drive along the Curly Lewis highway. Runs right along the Lake with lots of places to stop and hike plus you’ll run into the North Country hiking trail.
Awesome thank you so much for sharing!! We were kinda looking for an easygoing time with more of a focus on kayaking, I grew up in Lake Michigan kayaking in all weather (spring-fall) but the other two haven’t so I was hoping it would be more friendly. It doesn’t make or break the road trip tho, I think it’d still be a gorgeous time to go. Also we don’t like crowds very much,. Is this time of year typically more empty ??
You won’t encounter crowds (at least not large ones) most places in the Yoop. Those tend to stay around Mackinac and tip of the mitt. Most campgrounds up here have very large campsites compared to other places I’ve visited and are pretty private. It’s a great time to visit! It can get below freezing at night at that time of year. Most likely it will be lower 40s at night but 🤷🏼♀️sometimes it just snows up here lol. There are tons of inland lakes with great kayaking. The Two Hearted river is a must see if you have time and absolutely incredible kayaking. Just be sure to have a map. GPS gets real unreliable in that area and I have frequently encountered people lost and stuck in the deep sand.
You’ve had great advice so far about weather. One thing I will say is you might want to look into booking any state/national campsites sooner rather than later. It is off the peak season so there is less demand, but could still fill up in the more popular places. Two places to look into that are popular that haven’t been mentioned are Sylvania Wilderness (canoe/kayak camping) and Porcupine Mountain (backpacking)
Oh awesome thank you the campsite thing is rlly helpful !! I’ll see abt slyvania and porcupine
Both are amazing places, I've lead trips to both. We did a great kayak trip along the porkies and it was great. It's a two day trip and you can camp at Lone Rock. If you go to Sylvania I suggest Mountain Lake
Backpacking the pictures rocks is awesome, but requires a permit. Reserve early. You can also kayak at pictured rocks. Also worth checking out: - kitchi-iti-ipi - Tahquamenan falls - Dozens of other waterfalls. Follow any signs you see when driving. - porcupine mountains - North country trail Have fun!
Thank you! Awesome list.
I was planning a similar trip last fall, but ended up going to Maine to Baxter SP and Acadia NP instead. Here’s the info on UP that I gathered: https://www.reddit.com/r/upperpeninsula/comments/w4einl/is_early_to_mid_october_too_late_for_a_touristy/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf Stone hunting locations: https://mymichiganbeach.com/yooperlite/ Also, be aware of the hunting season- international orange should probably be your choice for outerwear colors. Good luck, enjoy your trip—
Super useful links thank you!
i work for the NPS at pictured rocks and have lived locally for 5 years. feel free to send me a dm i’d be happy to answer any questions and provide recommendations. the yoop is the best!!
Thank you I will if I have any detailed questions, it was a vague idea in my head so I made this post for more direction. I appreciate it!
As mentioned, the weather is really unpredictable that time of year. In mid- to late October it's not uncommon to get snow but could be windy and rainy. It sounds like you'd be fairly used to that, but you definitely need to check what the ferry/plane expectations are for inclimate weather. Fall is a better time to visit than spring. I'm sure you'll have fun! Watch out for hunters!
Also you may get more suggestions in /r/UpperPenninsula or /r/Michigan!
Thank you!! Also I’ll post in those communities as well. Ferry/plane was something I didn’t think abt, esp for island royale
Yep. It already operates on only certain days of the week so I'm not sure what happens if the waters are too rough on those days. Would hate for you to get there and be stranded on Isle Royale for an extra 5 days or something without being prepared.
Late September/Early October is my favorite time of year to return to the UP. While the weather can be unpredictable, the "norm" is good for outdoor activities. 2 years ago the weather was 60 and nice for almost all of the 2 weeks I was there. People were kayaking around Presque Isle (Marquette) watching the sunset on some of the days (I'd show you pictures but it appears you can't add pictures to comments). Last year was a little colder, and even snowed the day we drove out. But for the most part the weather was great for outdoor activates. I'm guessing you are going to Isle Royale through Copper Harbor. The top of Brockway Mountain has some payoff views. (We drove to the top) If you are in the Marquette area, the view from the top of Hogsback and Sugarloaf are fantastic. (Short hikes) Lots of waterfall hikes near Munising and Pictured Rocks, and frankly anywhere in the UP. I know people do kayak Pictured Rocks, I have no experience with it though, so can't tell you anything.
Thank you for your suggestions! The cold doesn’t worry me too much. I appreciate the hike/view suggestions!!!
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Best 42 miles of backpacking in the US Just look at the pix…. https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1CDGOYI_enUS651US651&hl=en-US&sxsrf=APwXEdcnTlrg456Tf7AHJo5SpvYHfa6CEw:1680264633512&q=pictured+rocks+michigan+hiking&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwijru_EkYb-AhXvGzQIHVjzA9QQ0pQJegQICBAB&biw=375&bih=611&dpr=3 Best time to go is peak color, so Sep - Oct
This is great! 40 miles isn’t too bad looks well worth it. Thank you!
r/yooper r/upperpeninsula
Lots of good comments already - did the UP end of September into early October in 2019. It was by far the best fall color I've ever seen. One thing that we found surprising...the weather was pretty good and there were still LOTS of visitors, but some places had already closed for the season. Campground and restaurant options were limited. (We did not really plan ahead, thinking that late in the season we could just show up and camp - if you care about staying in any particular location, I don't recommend this.)
Bond falls was surprisingly cool
Dead river falls is 10/10
Late September/Early October is usually peak fall color season. Book campsites at popular campgrounds in advance.
Thank you!! I appreciate it.
Beware the mosquitoes are very bad
Our mosquitos here are prehistoric size but I will keep that in mind
Spring to early summer they're usually bad but by Sept/Oct mosquitoes are mostly a non-issue.
Tell me if you meet uppies
r/campandhikemichigan