Written By Madison Smith
TRAVELING MICHIGANS KEEWEENAW
It was close to peak fall,
in the lower peninsula when me and a very new group of friends got together. We bonded on everything, laughing, sharing our ideas and discussing the possibility of chasing Michigans fall colors. The thought of being able to witness changing leaves more than once in a season was the only inspiration we needed before packing our bags for Michigans beautiful Keweenaw Peninsula.
I’ve traveled to the UP before, but theres some views that will never get old. The landscape after crossing the Mackinac Bridge becomes suddenly vacant of civilization and beautifully wild. Every ounce of the drive was autumn drenched, roads hugged in warm hues.
As a girl who loves a good road trip, sing along songs, plentiful snacks and multiple photo op stops were had.
Once we arrived, we set up camp at the very tip of the Peninsula, at the edge of the earth, (or what felt like it) on High Rock Bay. This secluded camp spot is nestled on the end of a rugged two track road (so if you want to visit, be sure to drive a high clearance vehicle!) The road to get to the Bay was an adventure in itself and made our camp spot an actual reward to get to. Once arriving at our location, we definitely couldn’t make a “quick trip” into town, so we were grateful that we packed all the food and supplies we needed ahead of time.
We all unpacked our gear and explored along the natural shoreline until evening hit. Dusk blanketed the sky, and the stars gleamed brighter than i’ve ever seen. We spent that night out on the beach with our flashlights, collectively hunted for a glowing Michigan stone called a “Yooperlite", and snapped a lot of photos!
We settled around our fire sharing laughs, cooking up some veggie-dogs and sipping hot cider until the waves lulled us to sleep for the night.
The next day, we began our search to find the tallest waterfall in Michigan; Douglass Houghton Falls. We trekked along a rocky, narrow footpath that lead us up stream, through a lush deciduous forest. It was peak autumn and the air was the best scent of crisp leaves and pine. I wanted to trap the scent of the forest in a jar to keep forever!
We made a half days trip out of our mile long hike and had a blast. During a hike, we definitely take our time to explore all the little plants and take snack breaks!
Madison Smith
The Hike to Douglass Houghton Falls
Douglass Houghton Falls gets its name after a former explorer, Douglass Houghton, and resides in the Keweenaw Peninsula.
During the wet or snowy months, the weather can cause erosion and has made this trail a hazardous one to travel. If you’re planning a visit make sure to check conditions ahead of time. I prefer searching Travel the Mitten or using an app like All Trails!