Michigan’s Upper Peninsula: An Introduction

Fall is my favorite time to photograph the North American landscape and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan is the place I’ve spent the most time doing so, with the possible exception of a few spots to which I’ve taken day trips in northern Illinois over the years.

Fall Color, Ottawa National Forest, Michigan

Sturgeon River, Canyon Falls Roadside Park, Baraga County, Michigan

Chapel Creek Abstract Black & White, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Michigan

Au Train Beach at Sunrise, Au Train Bay, Alger County, Michigan

In early October I made my sixth trip to the UP since 2002. Following a day in a new location (for me) in northern Wisconsin, I spent a week in the Upper Peninsula, beginning on October 2. It was an interesting, and ultimately highly productive, time despite some challenges; I was able to leverage my experience to my advantage. More on all of that in later blog posts detailing the experience.

Bond Falls, Bond Falls State Scenic Site, Michigan

Fall Color, Ottawa National Forest, Michigan

Red Jack Lake, Hiawatha National Forest, Michigan

The Z Black & White, Ontonagon River, Bond Falls State Scenic Site, Michigan

After all these years, the UP is a phenomenal autumn location for photography, in large part because it remains so remote. Five years ago, Andy Richards and I published an ebook designed as a photographer’s guide to the Upper Peninsula and since then, little has changed, as best I can tell. The UP remains lightly populated, difficult to access and relatively uncrowded.

Au Sable Point from the Log Slide, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Michigan

Fall Color, Northern Highland American Legion State Forest, Wisconsin

White Birch Forest, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Michigan

Miner’s Beach at Dusk, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Michigan

The UP is a true North Woods ecosystem, filled with birch, maple and beech and turns into a riot of color early in the fall. With multiple national forests, countless (mostly undeveloped) small lakes, rivers and streams, waterfalls and seemingly infinite miles of Great Lakes shoreline, there are photo opportunities to be had seemingly everywhere.

Laughing Whitefish Falls, Laughing Whitefish Falls State Scenic Site, Michigan

Fall Color, Valley Spur, Hiawatha National Forest, Michigan

Hurricane River, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Michigan

Miner’s Beach Sunset, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Michigan

I have a habit of visiting familiar spots whenever I head to the UP; I can’t help myself, there’s something almost magnetic about certain spots that beg repeated visits. But I always aim to check out some new locations as well and this trip was no exception. And I managed to spend a bit of time at a few spots that I’d only been to once or twice previously, many years ago. All of these locations ended up being worth my time.

Au Train Falls, Alger County, Michigan

Chapel Creek at Chapel Beach Black & White, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Michigan

Sable Creek Black & White, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Michigan

Fall Color, Valley Spur, Hiawatha National Forest, Michigan

As of this writing, I’ve been back from the UP for about a week and have been engaged in image processing ever since. I’ve made a decent dent in the material, but have not even begun to approach the halfway point. It will probably take at least another couple of weeks before I’ve gone through everything. What you see here is a tiny smattering of what I came home with. I’ll present a far more complete picture of the photographic database from the trip in subsequent posts.

Au Sable Light, Au Sable Point, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Michigan

Sable Creek Intimate, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Michigan

Council Lake Color, Hiawatha National Forest, Michigan

Hurricane River, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Michigan

My next installment will discuss some trip planning and general notes detailing the experience, including the special challenges caused by the weather, both before and during the trip itself. Then I’ll begin the familiar pattern of detailing the chronology of the experience as well as the occasional thematic interruption.

In the meantime, I hope you enjoy the accompanying images.

Fall Color, Northern Highland American Legion State Forest, Wisconsin

Elliott Creek at Miners Beach, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Michigan

Hurricane River Black & White, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Michigan

Chapel Falls, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Michigan

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