Don’t wait until the flowers begin to bloom or the lakes start beckoning you to take a dip. Autumn and winter are ideal times to undergo trip planning for next year. We always have a running list, right? And we never seem to get to them all. However, we wouldn’t be RVers without a little curiosity and flexibility. Add these six overlooked, underrated destinations to your travel plans for next year.
Upper Peninsula
Laughing Whitefish Falls, Sundell
Take your pick of three observation platforms, or visit them all! There are a lot of waterfalls in the Upper Peninsula near the Munising area, and though this is one of the more eye-catching because of its height and impressive fan shape, it’s also visited less than some of the others. Walk the half-mile trail to the trio of platforms and be ready for a few stairs to see the 100-foot falls from every vantage point. It’s a dirt road leading to Laughing Whitefish State Park, in which the waterfalls are located, so consider your transportation. For even more adventure, continue on the 1.9-mile spur trail that eventually links to the North Country Trail.
Canyon Falls Roadside Park, L’Anse
Visit the “Grand Canyon of Michigan.” While not nearly as significant as the one in Arizona, Canyon Falls is still impressive – and an easy stop to make off the highway. The trail to the waterfall overlook is only half a mile and takes about 10 minutes of walking from the parking lot located off US-41. In the summertime, this is a popular spot for swimming and cliff jumping (but at your own risk). In the fall, the leaves turn the water a caramel color as it goes over the rocks and drops 30 feet down into the river. If you have the time and feel like exploring, walk the entire trail, which follows the Sturgeon River and gives glimpses of more waterfalls, rapids, and gorges, for another three miles. It’s an out and back route, so keep that in mind in your planning.
Marble Head Trail, Drummond Island
Calling all off-roaders, this is your stop. Located on one of the largest islands in the Great Lakes, Drummond Island, this particular trail is a little difficult to reach – but impossible to forget! The trail starts about four miles from the overlook (which is about 100 feet above Lake Huron). ATVs and ORVs are preferred to a 4WD vehicle, though a Jeep can probably handle it. Some people drive the entire route while others stop partway through when the terrain gets rough (there’s a parking lot at Sitgreaves Creek about two miles from Marblehead) and walk the rest of the way. It’s a beautiful, natural hike with few human visitors, making this a remote and serene journey. When you reach the overlook, simply bask in the splendor of it all.
Lower Peninsula
Old Mackinac Point Light, Mackinaw City
This historic light, which began operation in 1889, is located just east of the Mackinac Bridge and is one of many places to visit in the area. Headlands International Dark Sky Park is only 20 minutes away, and Colonial Michilimackinac is practically next door. You can explore the lighthouse grounds at your leisure, visit the museum, and climb the four-story tower. The tower climb, which is guided, consists of 51 narrow steps and an 11-rung ladder through a narrow hatchway.
Yankee Springs Recreation Area, Middleville
Hikers, mountain bikers, and horseback riders will find the trails winding through this recreation area much to their liking. It’s comprised of 5200 acres and 16 hiking trails, three equestrian loops, an 11-mile mountain biking trail, nine lakes (perfect for fishing), and many bogs and streams. Unique attractions including the Devil’s Soupbowl, a glacial formation, and the Graves Hill Overlook.
North Bar Beach, Empire
North Bar Beach is located within the infamous Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and is a favorite for locals. It’s a small inland lake that drains into Lake Michigan, but it has a view of the big lake and is considerably warmer and calmer, making it ideal for families with small kids. Reaching the big lake takes a few minutes of climbing some small dunes.