explorem123.com Tahquamenon Paddling Itinerary 2 day trip itinerary
Welcome to the liquid landscape of the Tahquamenon Country. Paddling opportunities abound in this wilderness region of storied rivers, quiet lakes and powerful Lake Superior. Visit explorem123.com for the latest information on outfitters, shuttles and services. Day 1: Paddle the Tahquamenon River At nearly 100 miles long, the Tahquamenon River drains the vast heart of the region as it slowly flows to Lake Superior. Paddlers of all abilities will find a suitable trip ranging from a few hours, to overnights and beyond.
rise & shine Enjoy breakfast in Newberry • Launch at dawn: Begin a six-mile, 3-hour float at the M-123 bridge over the Tahquamenon River just north of Newberry. Get an early start for the best chance at seeing wildlife like deer, otters and even the elusive moose. Be sure to explore the river’s many quiet backwaters for a chance to see waterfowl, herons and sandhill cranes hunting in the shallows. •End your trip at McPhee’s Landing, an MDNR boat launch on County Road 462/McPhee’s Landing Road. Return to your launch spot at the M-123 bridge to find the Tahquamenon Logging Museum. Explore the stories of the forests and how the river you just traveled helped to transport their abundance in days gone by. grab lunch From the logging museum travel about 25 miles north on M-123 to the Upper Tahquamenon Falls for lunch at the Tahquamenon Falls Brewery and Pub. explore more Spend the afternoon exploring the trails of Tahquamenon Falls State Park.
Day 2: Savor the Silence of the Pretty Lakes Quiet Area Explore this collection of five small, non-motorized lakes north of Newberry where loon calls are the loudest sounds around. The launch site is a sand beach at a state forest campground and the lakes are linked by easy portage trails. Shhhhh. rise & shine Enjoy a hearty breakfast, pick up picnic lunch supplies and fill up with gas in Newberry. •Travel about an hour northwest from Newberry via M-123, County Rd. 407 and County Road 416. Travel slowly and watch carefully for unassuming intersections along the route. •Arrive at namesake Pretty Lake and launch into its clear waters at a clean sand beach. grab lunch Paddle, portage, fish and swim in near silence for a few hours or an entire day. Remote campsites in the quiet area make an ideal spot for a picnic lunch. explore more Grab a bar & grill style dinner in the Pine Stump area on your return trip to the Newberry area, or continue north on County Road 407 and take in the sunset over Lake Superior at Muskallonge State Park.
Don’t Miss: Kayak the Shipwreck Coast The Whitefish Point area, 25 miles north of Paradise, is home to 200 Lake Superior shipwrecks. Explore some of these shallow wrecks by sea kayak on an excursion with Woods and Waters Eco Tours. Advanced scheduling recommended. www.woodswaterecotours.com
Tahquamenon Scenic Byway Points of Interest
AREA OF DETAIL HAMILTON LAKE NATURAL AREA TWO-HEARTED RIVER WHITEFISH POINT BIRD OBSERVATORY 9 8 LAKE SUPERIOR BROWNS DRAINAGE 10 LAKE MARSH THREE LAKES 11 MILE RIVER BETSY LUCE COUNTY HISTORICAL MUSEUM NORTH COUNTRY TRAIL GREAT LAKES SHIPWRECK MUSEUM WATERSHED RIVER 5 BEAR BODI LAKE LAKE
4 BETSY RIVER WATERSHED LITTLE TWO MUSKALLONGE HEARTED TAHQUAMENON LOGGING MUSEUM UPPER/LOWER TAHQUAMENON FALLS WHITEFISH POINT LIGHT STATION LAKE TWO HEARTED RIVER WATERSHED SOUTH BRANCH LAKE SUPERIOR PERCH RIVER BETSY RIVER 6 SHEEPHEAD DRAINAGE LAKE LAKE LAKE PIKE LAKE LITTLE TWO HEARTED BETSY LAKE CLARK SUPERIOR CRIS BROWN RIVER 7 LAKE DRAINAGE LAKE SWAMP PARADISE LAKES MUSKALLONGE LAKE STATE PARK CRISP POINT LIGHTHOUSE TAHQUAMENON RIVERMOUTH UNIT PRETTY LAKES STUART LOWER WEST BRANCH LAKE FALLS TWO HEARTED CAMP TEN RIVER LITTLE TWO UPPER LAKES HEARTED FALLS 12 LAKES BIG TWO HEARTED RIVER WATERSHED EAST BRANCH TWO HEARTED ECKERMAN POND RIVER 123 SILVER/ LAKE SUPERIOR GALLOWAY WATERSHED
ROXBURY 15 CURLEY LEWIS MEMORIAL HIGHWAY H37 CREEK 14 WATERSHED LAKE SUPERIOR 123 ANKODOSH DRAINAGE CREEK Listen to the audio stories of these sites online at WATERSHED 15 TAHQUAMENON PIATT LEGEND POINT IROQUOIS LIGHTHOUSE McNEARNY LAKE explorem123.com or by using the mobile app. RIVER LAKE WATERSHED 13 ECKERMAN 3 TROUT POND Hiking Snowshoe/Ski Highway M-123 EAST BRANCH TAHQUAMENON RIVER TAHQUAMENON Corridor McMILLAN RIVER2 McPHEE’S LANDING Educational Waterfalls North Country DOLLARVILLE DAM 1 NEWBERRY Paddling National Trail HULBERT Freighter Viewing 28 LAKE Beaches Fishing Handicap Accesible Curley Lewis Camping Fee Memorial Hwy.