Here's a list of places I send to people when they ask about where to go on Lake Superior:
Whitefish Point - There’s some sort of museum here that I haven’t been inside of. I have rock hunted a couple times here, but only for about an hour each. Too many people. I think the best rocks are to the east and you can only walk so far without running out of beach. I wouldn’t go here unless it was to go to the museum.
Vermillion Point - There was an old lifesaving station here and it’s now a nature preserve. I asked some people from the preservation society if it was ok to pick rocks and they said that it was. There are agates here as well as other pretty rocks. The road is a little sandy. I drive a Jeep and don’t need four wheel drive, but a few years ago, I talked to a group of women who turned their little car around because of the sand. They had been going there for many years, but the road was a bit torn up by logging trucks.
Crisp Point Lighthouse - If you walk far enough from Vermillion, you could walk to the lighthouse. I almost did one year, but then there were too many trees on the beach. It takes a long time to drive from one location to another in this area. There aren’t many roads that go right along the lakeshore. You have to drive away from the lake, then drive parallel to the lake and then back down to the lake again. Anyway, Crisp Point has some pretty rocks, including agates. There’s a lighthouse you can tour here for a minimal donation. The road can be rough, but solid in my experience.
Tahquamenon Falls - I never stop here because I’m always trying to spend as much time on the beach as possible. I have been here though, and you should stop. It’s the most famous falls in the U.P., but you probably knew that.
Mouth of the Two Hearted River - Lots of people love this place. I do too. The whole area leading up to it was burned In a fire in 2012. It’s sad, but kind of interesting to drive through. The campground was saved. I have found Yooperlites here, but walked about a mile down the beach before dark and walked back after dark. There were no Yooperlites near the campground. Get a decent light if you’re going to hunt them. The cheap lights work, but the good ones are much better. I bought a Convoy S2 with a filter. You can buy a good flashlight here:
kingsleynorth.com/convoy-s2-uv-led-flashlight.html?ref=robertabram1&utm_source=tapfiliateVideo of hunting Yooperlites:
Muskallonge Lake State Park - I usually go here, but it’s not my favorite. There are too many people from the park who walk this beach. That’s not to say that you can’t find an agate or other good rocks, I just prefer more remote spots.
Perry's Landing (local name) or Lake Superior State Forest Campground
This is just down the road from Muskallonge. We found Yooperlites here, but also walked about a mile before dark to do so. I always hunt here.
Burt Township School Forest Road - this is a very sandy two track just east of Grand Maris. I almost couldn't get through in two wheel drive in my Jeep. I used four wheel drive on the way out. There's a really sharp corner with deep sand, so you can't keep your speed up to go through it. The trees are also very close to the road, so you might get some scratches. There's a large sandy drop off at the water from erosion. In the past couple of years, there has been a homemade ladder there that I use to get back up. Otherwise, you might need to climb one of the trees that fell over the edge to get back up. Be very careful that you don't cross private property if you go here. A local woman is not happy with my video because she blames it for people trespassing on her property. Here is a Google Maps link to where you want to end up.
Google Maps LinkI have never hunted right in Grand Marais, but I hear that the Yooperlites guy takes people there on guided tours. I always stop in the agate shop if it's open. Sable Falls and dunes are here too.
Marquette - My sister lives here, my mom is in assisted living here, and my son goes to college at Northern. I’m usually here at least a couple times per year. I don’t do a lot of rock hunting here. You could check out Presque Isle park. It’s a small park that you can drive around. Stop at the Black Rocks. There’s a big rocky area that people jump off into the lake. It’s fun to watch even if you don’t jump. Very pretty spot. Watch this video before you go, so you have some appreciation of Lake Superior’s wrath.
. Also in Marquette is a very pretty trail at Dead River Falls.
and Sons quarry sells Kona dolominte. It’a a stromatolite that’s beautiful. It’s too soft to easily ltumble, but you can go there and buy some cheap if you had a use for it. I hunted rocks once between Picnic Rocks and Presque Isle Park. I found lots of slag and some sort of agatey rocks. My wife found an agate.
Jasper Knob - In Ishpeming, there’s a huge hill of banded iron formation. You have to stop here. It’s a short walk (ten minutes) to the top. It’s a little hard to find, but I put the streets on my YouTube video.
Also in Ishpeming, Da Yoopers Tourist Trap has a rock shop.
Champion Mine Pile - If you like specular hematite, there’s a big pile of it in Champion. Turn off 41 at the road by the post office. Follow the road past a big school on your left and watch for woods that looks like there might be a mine behind the trees on your left. I know that’s not a good description, but that’s what I do. The roads all have weird number/letter names, so I don’t remember the name of the road. You’ll turn left on a road that goes right past someone’s garage. It looks like you’re driving into their yard, but you’re not. Once you go past the garage that’s very close to the road, you’ll go into the mine area. It’s pretty self explanatory from there.
Canyon Falls - Between Marquette and Houghton is a roadside park. I always stop here. It’s my favorite falls in the U.P. (That I’ve been to). Take a walk on the trail and enjoy the falls and small canyon. Kids jump off into he river, but it looks pretty scary. My son jumped in when he was about 16 and said that the climb up the rope was scarier than the jump in.
Bishop Baraga - I’m Catholic, so I like this. You might not be so excited if you’re not Catholic. Bishop Barage is also known as the Snowshoe Priest. Near the town of Baraga is a huge statue of him. It is right off of 41 and doesn’t take long to go to. It’s an impressive statue whether you care about who it is or not. He was one tough priest.
Houghton - Seaman Mineral Museum - This place is incredible. I wasn’t actually that excited to go to a museum, but everyone really liked it a lot. Oohs and Aahs the whole time. Nice flourescent display. Good gift shop if you like rocks.
In the Keweenaw I usually drive up the middle on 41 and then take 26 along the northern shore on the way back. 26 is prettier, but 41 is pretty just before Copper Harbor too. The following are in no particular order.
Copper Harbor - pretty little town, I haven’t looked for rocks right in town.
Brockway Mountain Drive - You have to drive up here if you’re in the Copper Harbor area. There’s a great, almost 360 degree view from the top of the mountain.
Horseshoe Harbor - There’s an Earth Cache here if you’re into geocaching. There are stromatolites way down at the end of the huge rock formation. This is a really pretty spot I’ve only been to once. I don’t remember finding any good rocks, but it sure was a pretty spot.
W.C. Veale Park - This is a roadside park about 2.5 miles southwest of Eagle River on 5 Mile Point Road. It’s a small area, but my family and I found some nice little rocks here, including a couple tiny agates.
The Jam Pot - On 26, there’s a little shop run by Byzantine Catholic Monks. They have some really good candies and pastries as well as jams made from wild local berries. It’s expensive, but delicious. Nice little waterfall here too.
Great Sand Bay - Close to the Jam Pot, this is a large beach that can sometimes be sand and other times, it’s all rock. I have found rocks with copper in them here and a nice agate one time. Most of the rocks are red, but there is still some variety if you look around.
Cliff Mine - I didn’t find anything that I could identify here (except copper), but you might. Mindat lists 40 minerals. This is one of the few mines that is open to the public. I had more fun exploring the ruins in the woods behind and to the right of the big tailings pile. I also followed a rough path to the top of the hill where there are more tailings. There was a hole someone started digging under a birch tree up there where I found a couple small pieces of copper (only thing I brought home).
The other mine that you can legally go to is the Central Mine. The road commission uses the tailings and you can’t go when they’re working there, but if the gate is closed, then you can go in. I have found larger chunks of copper there in the past. Just look for rocks with pieces sticking out that look like they should have broken off, if that makes any sense. Of course, if you have a metal detector, just use that.
The Mouth of the Gratiot River - I usually find an agate here. One year I found three. It’s a long dirt road to get here, but I thought it was in good shape. I told a lady on the Internet to go here once and she was angry after going because the road was too rough. I thought it was fine and she made it, so I don’t understand what the problem was.
McLain State Park - This is supposed to be the place to go for prehnite. I found a couple small pieces. I also have found some small piece at the Gratiot River. There is more variety of rocks here than on some of the other Keweenaw beaches.
Montreal Falls - This is a beautiful spot to hike into. I don’t remember exactly how long it takes to walk in, but I think it’s about half an hour if you don’t stop too much. There are a few beaches that you can get down to along the way, but you’ll walk along a rock cliff where it would be very hard to get down to the water in most places. The walk in is beautiful. The falls dump almost directly into Lake Superior, so you get to see falls and the big lake all at the same time. I have found a few nice rocks here, but it’s more about the scenery than the rocks.
... to the New Guys from The ChatBox V.2 Crew