A few of our favorite things... Beaches

Lake Superior

Carol Swinehart
Sea Grant Extension Communication Specialist
Beach: Whitefish Point - also Crisp Point, Lake Superior
Location: Eastern part of the Upper Peninsula. About 60 miles east of Grand Marais and Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore; about 75 miles northwest of Sault Ste. Marie, off of MI-123.
Why: Whitefish Point is an agate beach and there are lighthouses at both Whitefish Point and Crisp Point. Whitefish is a picturesque, historical place. As I was producing a television program about Lake Superior, we got to shoot from the top of the lighthouse at Whitefish Point and I saw two freighters crossing paths (upbound and downbound) near Whitefish Bay. A few years later, we were involved in a video exploration of the Edmund Fitzgerald, and we held a news conference on the beach with reporters from several states and Canada. At Crisp Point a lovely, leisurely, warm afternoon watching the Piping Plover skitter across the beach comes to mind.
See: Beach Details

Stephanie Ariganello
Associate Editor
Beach: Wetmore Landing, Lake Superior
Location: About 6 miles northwest of Marquette in the Upper Peninsula, along County Road 550.
Why: I was a little reluctant to mention this one, because its low profile is part of the charm, but here I am, singing like a canary because it’s just too beautiful not to.

In the summer, Wetmore is fantastic because you can beach lounge, hike part of the North Country Trail on a soft path of sand and pine needles or explore a little of the coast, up above on some sturdy rock cliffs and find your own private cove in which to wile away the hours. (Just look out for the black flies.) In the winter, it’s a prime snowshoeing spot.

While at NMU, my friends and I would head to Wetmore at night to watch the northern lights dance or play hide-and-go-seek in the woods under bright moons. Make sure you stop at Phil’s 550 on the way. Just do it. Trust me.

Several staff members mentioned one “must visit” beach; here are two takes on one of the most striking places in Michigan.
Beach: Twelve Mile Beach, Lake Superior
Location: Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, about 16 miles west of Grand Marais on Alger County Road H-58.

Ron Kinnunen
Upper Peninsula Extension Educator
Why: Twelve Mile Beach is very isolated and those with a discerning eye can find agates with rich red, orange, and yellow coloring caused by iron in the rocks. I visited with my family as a kid and have some great memories of the place.

Todd Marsee
Senior Graphic Designer
Why:

• Very few people (in fact, I don’t think we saw anyone!)
• Crisp, clean water… it’s very cold though
• Colorful pebbles and rocks
• It’s literally a hike, but rewarding once you get there

It wasn’t the easiest beach to get to because of the logging roads we took to get there and the hike through the forest (starting point was Kingston Lake campground), but the final destination was well worth it. Once we got to the edge of the woods and could see the lake and shore, it was such an amazing sight of crystal clear water and the painted rock cliffs. I was expecting to see more people on the beach but we were the only ones.
See: Beach Details

Do you have a favorite beach in Michigan – either on one of the Great Lakes or inland? Feel free to email your standouts to stephaa@umich.edu.

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