A favorite camping spot for of many due to its beautiful views of Lac Le Belle and Lake Superior, Mount Houghton is relatively isolated and makes for an incredible day trip, whether you decide to camp or not. As with most of the higher elevation areas in this site, it reaches peak awesomeness in the fall when the leaves turn. To get here, head north on the lift bridge and take US-41 past Delaware. Right before you get to the small town of Mandan, take a right onto Mandan Road

Situated nearly 600 feet above lake level, this is hands down the best high-up view of Lake Superior in Michigan. It is a bit of a drive to get out here but it's well worth it. The hike to the top is moderate (about a half mile) but there are additional trails which are increasingly difficult if you'd like to see more than just the top of the bluff. I wouldn't recommend camping here as there isn't a lot of flat ground, though I'm sure if you have a smaller tent or hammock it

If you want to see some of the best views and never leave the comfort of your car, this one's for you. This "mountain" has roads that take you to the very top, some 1320 feet above sea level. There are multiple turn off areas along the way where you can park. The whole drive is one of the most scenic ones in the area. While its a worthwhile trip any time of the year, it really shines in the fall when the leaves turn. This is also a destination for mountain and road bikers ali

One of the better views in the Keweenaw belongs to the Cliff Range. Aptly named, this range of conglomerate cliffs stretches the length of the peninsula, though it is most pronounced at this point. As with much of the area, it too was mined in the mid to late 1800's by the Cliff Mine. Remnants of its waste rock can still be seen along with a few structures that survive to this day. Some such structures can be seen if you look carefully through the woods about 1000 feet into t

One of the more unusual entries in the Keweenaw's history is that of the Keweenaw Rocket Range. The facility was used from 1964 to 1971 by NASA and the University of Michigan as a launch site for meteorological research rockets. The bulk of these launches were small, though the site did see the launching of ~30 foot Nike Apache rockets. Today the only remnants of the facility are a concrete pad, a bent rail and a marker commemorating what research was done here 50 years ago.

One of the few remaining hoists in the Keweenaw, the Centennial No. 6 is a reminder of a bygone era. Unfortunately I don't know much of the history of this particular structure other than it was one of the later hoists constructed in the area. As such, it's still seems structurally sound. The portal that led down into the mine has been sealed and is no longer accessible but you can still climb to the top of the hoist. The decline of the structure leads to the side of a sealed

The tallest waterfall in the Keweenaw by far, Douglass Houghton Falls measures 120 feet from top to bottom. It's easily the most impressive waterfall in the area, particularly during the spring melt (pictured above). It also happens to be one of the most hard-to-get-to falls and as a result is somewhat unknown relative to other nearby waterfalls. On the way there you'll find the remains of an old train bridge that crossed Hammell Creek. A bonus feature of this waterfall is th

Hungarian Falls are actually a series of 4 separate waterfalls on Dover Creek. They are some of the more accessible remote waterfalls (ones that aren't on the side of the road) and make for an awesome day trip when combined with the dredge and Quincy Mill, both of which are along the same route. During the summer months the falls can be readily accessed by car with only a short walk involved, however during the winter, the main access road is not plowed. Depending on daily tr

McClain State Park is a beach and campground on the north shore of the Portage Canal's northern mouth. I've never camped here before, but as you can imagine from the above picture, I like it for other reasons. This is the best place (from Houghton at least) to come watch the Northern Lights on short notice. While breakers is okay for this, the lighthouse at the end of the pier obstructs your view a bit. At McClain the beach is out of view of the lighthouse and you can get som

Also known as North Canal Township Park, this is one of two beaches at the north mouth of the Portage Canal, the other being at McClain State Park. The cool thing about this beach in particular is that you can drive your car right up onto it. Due to its accessibility, it's not unusual to see bonfires all the way down the beach on summer nights. If you have a saw or axe, you can easily find enough wood for your fire by looking for downed trees in the clear cut right before you