Hi friends! Last weekend’s camping adventure was so much fun that I decided to do it again! This time for a whole week, and two states away.
I spent five days in the Upper Peninsula (UP) of Lake Superior in Michigan with my sweet boyfriend Carter, his friend Frank, Frank’s brother Sam, and Frank’s fiancée Lynn. The five of us did plenty of hiking, stargazing, bonfires, and we had a lovely adventure.
*All trip participants consent to photos, all photos/videos are mine unless otherwise stated. Full names are used here only because Carter and Frank made a YouTube vlog, which I will link once it’s posted.
Our Cabin
Initially, the five of us intended to share one cabin, but I ended up getting a cabin for just Carter and I. It was an investment for sure, but I value my personal space and alone time.
Monday
We made it to Trails End Campground around 6pm Eastern Time, and our first objective was seeing the sunset and stars on Brockway Mountain.
The sunset was absolutely magical; it reminded me of being in Ireland in 2019. But even the fairytale sunset was nothing compared to the breathtaking stars. The stars were so amazing that I spontaneously broke into worship. Phil Wickham was right: “We are amazed in the light of the stars/It’s all proclaiming who You are” – You’re Beautiful.
Tuesday
Our most common mode of transportation was the Copper Country Scenic Byway. Also known as US-41, this is the main road we took throughout Copper Harbor. The road curves and dips like a roller coaster, and the trees curve toward each other, making a natural tunnel.
We started our day at Fort Wilkins, a Civil War outpost by Lake Fanny Hooe. It was a fun and immersive excursion, but I’m not usually one for war history. I was most taken with the gorgeous flag flanked by old-fashioned cannons. The guys filmed some silly skits and it was fun to watch them horse around- “boys will be boys”, but in a wholesome and sweet way.
Carter and I had a delicious homemade camp lunch of chicken sausages, green beans, and Double Stuf Oreos. All in balance!
We took a very long hike through Estivant Pines and stopped by Manganese Falls. The guys had fun with the map of the trail (see the photo below for the slightly suggestive shape), and I took some cool photos in a hollow tree. We also stopped at a popular mountain biking path called Paul’s Plunge. I’m not much for mountain biking, so that didn’t make much of an impression on me.
Our second trip up to Brockway Mountain was a bit of a letdown if I’m being honest. It was so windy, I couldn’t hear my own voice on video. The sunset was lovely, as all sunsets are, but a bit less spectacular than the first night. We ended up going back to the cabins and having a good old-fashioned campfire.
On the plus side, we stopped at a few overlook spots on the way up the mountain and Carter did a little photoshoot for me. Among his many talents, Carter’s an excellent photographer, as you can see. 🙂
I made the unwise choice to stay at the fire until well after midnight. When Carter initially came in, I was sad that he was going back out instead of staying in for cuddles. Me being tired made this feel like a grievous abandonment, and I didn’t end up sleeping until after 2am. We were good by the morning, but it was a good reminder that I need my sleep, and that Carter was balancing attention between me and his longtime dear friends.
Wednesday
We started our day at the Calumet Air Force base, about 30 minutes from camp. I initially had the day’s itinerary wrong, so I was prepared for a cold mine instead of a stroll in the sun. The base was primarily an outpost during the Cold War. and it functioned like a small town. The most interesting aspect for me was the underground bunker meant to shield people from a nuclear fallout.
After the Air Force base, then we got to the Delaware mine. I enjoyed this more than I expected. It was a tad chilly, but I was comfortably dressed. The stairs had good railings and the whole path was well-lit. Even for someone with slightly limited mobility, this is a fun adventure.
Our trip to the Jampot Bakery and Jacob’s Falls was quiet and lovely. Jampot is owned by monks at the Holy Protection Monastery just up the road. It was unexpected but amusing to see a monk in his robes behind the counter. I didn’t end up ordering anything due to allergy concerns, and I felt a little bit left out, but definitely better safe than sorry.
Jacob’s Falls is just steps from the bakery, and I played around with time-lapse and slow-motion videos of the water while the guys scampered around the rocks.
Carter and I made a quick stop at Eagle Harbor Lighthouse for a photo shoot.
The definite highlight of the whole trip was our evening at Horseshoe Harbor. It was Wednesday and we were all a little worn from the trip, which we solved by bathing in Lake Superior. I brought my shampoo and conditioner and soap, and took pretty much a full bath in the freezing lake. I was surprised how quickly and beautifully my hair air dried.
After we were all clean and I had my sport dress on, Carter and I ended up climbing a cliff. Because of course. The climb up was pretty easy, but getting down was definitely a trust exercise. Carter guided my footsteps down and kept a hand on me, and it was definitely rewarding. I practically skipped along the trail back to the car, and Carter made sure I know he was proud of me.
Thursday
Since the weather was gloomier on Thursday, we spent the day roaming all the local gift shops. Our first stop was the Minnetonka Astor Hotel Gift Shop, also known as the Thunderbird Gift Center. I bought a hat and a copy of The Shack, after waking up thinking about the book. I still have yet to read it.
The Keweenaw Agate Shop was a LOT of fun! I bought a pretty piece of malachite and an agate coaster, and Carter bought me a pretty pendant necklace. The Laughing Loon had some fun candles, incense, and bookmarks, but I ended up only buying Carter’s souveneirs
I had my second minor meltdown over something minor. I was making a way bigger deal of a non-issue than necessary, but Carter was very kind and patient, and we talked it over and worked it out. It helped that he grabbed my coffee treat when we stopped at the cabin to grab our lunch things.
We met up with the group at a roadside overlook that doesn’t have an official name. We sat at some picnic tables, ate, and watched the ridiculous waves. I was very grateful we’d taken our bath the night before, because Thursday was NOT the day to mess with Lake Superior!
Our Eagle Harbor Agate Shop visit was after the lake lunch. I bought a cute nightlight with a pink agate in the front. The Eagle Harbor shop has more interesting history, being a former grocery store with a post office section.
We went back to the Eagle Harbor Lighthouse, and this time we took a full tour of the inside. There are plenty of artifacts and historical recreations to check out. One highlight was an item owned by Mr. Brockway, for whom the mountain is named.
After a day of shopping and tourism, it was snacktime! We ended up at Brickside Brewery in Copper Harbor and played a rousing round of Uno! We snacked on nachos and a soft pretzel and the guys enjoyed a beer flight. I sampled the dark beers; they were alright. I’ll still take a Bailey’s and Kaluha on ice.
Some of our group members wanted to check out a unique tourist attraction – a house full of “creepy” dolls. Carter and i firmly objected and no one ended up going, but I find it fascinating that a house with demonic-adjacent energy is so close to a monastery. I’m just glad all of our group members avoided “the dark side”.
Friday
Our last day was still an adventure. We didn’t have to leave until 11, and everyone had broken camp by 10:30. Once again I got into a fight with the sleeping bags, but the rest of takedown went smoothly and we headed to the Lake Effect Bar and Grill for lunch. The burger was mediocre, but it’s a nice atmosphere.
Our last trip up to Brockway was cold, but slightly less windy. Carter gave me a lovely gift of leading a mindfulness meditation. We stared at the trees and watched the lake and felt the wind, and it was incredibly peaceful.
We didn’t end up leaving town until about 3pm, and the drive home was smooth. The gentlemen utilized two-way radios, one for each car, and our caravan had clear communication even without cell service. The walkie-talkies came in handy throughout the whole trip, and it’s a clever and helpful system.
Conclusion
While it was definitely outside of my comfort zone, it was awesome to explore a new area so close to home, bond with some interesting people, and get closer to my sweetheart. 🙂 I would definitely go back, and our group is in fact already planning next year’s trip.
As I put in the title, the Upper Peninsula is definitely a paradise, and I’m sure I’ve only scratched the surface of it. I have more travel stories to share soon, but that’s all from me for now and I’ll catch you on the flip side.
Elena’s Grace 