What’s There to Do Near Newberry, Michigan? Visit These 10 Must-See Spots.
Discover waterfalls, forests and historic sites all within two hours of Newberry. Use this guide to plan your Upper Peninsula adventures.
Planning a vacation near Newberry, Michigan? Great choice! This is the perfect hub for exploring parts of the Eastern and Central regions of the Upper Peninsula. Wondering what you can do within a short drive of your stay? Plenty! Here are 10 of the U.P.’s most iconic natural wonders and historic sites — all within two hours of your Newberry home base.
Tahquamenon Falls | Logging Museum | Sled Dog Adventures | Soo Locks | Whitefish Point | Point Iroquois Lighthouse | Crisp Point Lighthouse | Pictured Rocks | Benny the Beardfisher | Kitch-iti-Kipi
Whether it’s your first or 84th time to visit the Upper and Lower Tahquamenon Falls, this is the #1 must-see destination and it’s worth returning to all year-round. The state park in Paradise is Michigan’s second largest, and it sprawls across nearly 50,000 fun-filled acres.
On average, throughout the year, 7,000 gallons of water tumble nearly 50 feet per second. But that’s nothing compared to the 50,000 gallons per second that gush over the 200-feet wide brink during the Spring snow thaw. It is the second most voluminous waterfall east of the Mississippi River, behind Niagara Falls!
Four hikeable or drivable miles downstream are the five smaller cascading Lower Falls surrounding an island.
Things to Do
Watch with awe from the Tahquamenon River banks at the Upper or Lower Falls. Accessible pathways, footpaths with stairs and overlooks let you capture sharable photographs.
Get so close to the Lower Falls that you can wade into the churning water. Reach the falls by walking or rolling your wheelchair across the Ronald A. Olson Island Bridge or rent a rowboat.
Hike 35 gorgeous trail miles. This is the park’s most popular activity for all ages and mobility abilities. In the spring and fall, stay on the lookout for migrating birds and watch for wildlife along the river banks throughout the year. It’s a rare treat, but you might see moose feeding in the park's wet areas.
Paddle and fish on some of the most peaceful waters in Michigan. Bring your kayak or canoe or rent one for hours of paddling and fishing fun.
Visit the Tahquamenon Falls Fact Shack by the Upper Falls parking lot. Discover all the park has to offer, including guided tours.
Unwind at the Tahquamenon Falls Brewery & Pub, a privately-owned lunch and dinner restaurant within the state park and then stop in the gift shop.
Play in the snow — it’s rarely bitterly cold here. With 13 inland lakes, 24 miles of the Tahquamenon River and miles of snowmobile, cross-country ski and snowshoe trails, it’s your perfect winter playground.
In downtown Newberry, you are two minutes from the best place to learn about the exhausting and dangerous work of logging some of the most desired lumber in the nation. The Tahquamenon Logging Museum tells these stories with a fascinating collection of artifacts and memorabilia from the lumberjack days between the mid-1800s and 1900s.
Things to Do
Check their website to see if they are hosting one of their Lumberjack Breakfasts or events while you are in town.
Make the best memories ever! Learn to drive or ride with an experienced musher, letting your spirits soar behind a team of love-to-run sled dogs. There are three must-visit destinations nearby. Plan your snowy adventure in December through March.
Things to Do
Besides booking a winter run, visit the MI Dog Summer Dog Sled Center, only 10 miles from Newberry. Open from the end of May to late September, enjoy puppy cuddles and hands-on activities, such as packing a racing sled and dressing up like a musher.
In early January, join sled dog racing fans at Muskallonge Lake State Park in McMillan. Cheer on 45 teams from across the U.S. and Canada as they race distances from 3 to 37 miles, competing for over $10,000 in prize money!
For the best Great Lakes and international freighter watching, add the Soo Locks in Sault Ste. Marie to the top of your must-see list. This historic engineering marvel allows massive ships to navigate between Lake Superior and the lower Great Lakes, the St. Lawrence Seaway and international markets. Annually, 86 million tons of cargo, including 95% of the United States’ iron ore, ease through these locks.
Things to Do
Watch ships come breathtakingly close to you from the Visitor Center platform.
Take a boat tour through the locks.
Kayak on the specially designed water trails and explore Voyageur Island on the St. Marys River.
Step back in time at the Tower of History and the Museum Ship Valley Camp, where you’ll uncover centuries of remarkable stories about the people and events that shaped this region.
Whitefish Point is one of the most dangerous locations for Great Lakes shipping and is at the eastern end of an 80-mile stretch known as the Lake Superior Shipwreck Graveyard. Of the 550 known major shipwrecks on Lake Superior, over 200 ships tragically met their fate around this area. The most famous recent wreck was the sinking of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald and its entire 29 crew members during a fierce storm on November 10, 1975.
Things to Do
Learn the haunting tales of sailors and rescuers from the displays and artifacts at the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum.
Take a self-guided tour of the historic lighthouse keeper’s quarters.
Explore the Whitefish Point Bird Observatory, world-renowned for being on the migratory flight paths of hundreds of raptors, shore and song birds. Plan your visit around the Observatory’s fascinating programs, classes, tours and its annual Birdathon in May.
The brick buildings of this easy-to-access Lake Superior lighthouse have withstood mirror-calm to violent seas since 1870. Its fourth-order Fresnel lens guided ships through one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world for 107 years. The lighthouse’s name commemorates a decisive battle in 1662 that ended with the resident Ojibwa warriors massacring the invading Iroquois war party.
Things to Do
Immerse in the stories of the lightkeepers and their families as you browse through photographs, antiques and artifacts in the lighthouse museum. It is open from mid-June to mid-October, but you can visit the lighthouse grounds year-round.
Climb 72 steps to the top of the tower for a spectacular 360-degree view of Lake Superior and the surrounding wilderness.
Follow the boardwalk for a close-up view of the lake and to collect colorful stones and fossils along the shore.
This is one of those very remote Upper Peninsula destinations that are worth every slow, jostling moment to get here. The Crisp Point Lighthouse stands tall on the rugged shore of Lake Superior between Whitefish Point to the east and Grand Marais to the west. For over a century, it’s defied Lake Superior’s powerful gales, bashing waves and blinding blizzards.
On a map, it appears to be an easy 45-minute drive, but it is not. Expect this trip to take twice the travel time. We recommend using an all-wheel-drive (AWD) vehicle and steely nerves to make the journey, but wait until you see your reward for doing it!
Things to Do
Enter the service building attached to the lighthouse and view the maritime artifacts on display. Then climb the 62 metal steps to the top of the tower for an incredible view of Lake Superior, miles of stone-covered beaches and the surrounding primeval forest.
Bring binoculars. Crisp Point is a fantastic place to watch for distant international and Great Lakes freighters.
Want to see the famous Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore with its mineral-stained cliffs, waterfalls, dunes and backcountry hiking trails? Avoid the crowded lodgings to the west and base out of Newberry. We are a day trip away, allowing lots of time from sunrise to sunset to explore this national treasure.
Things to Do
For the best views of the lakeshore, the cliffs and waterfalls, take a Pictured Rocks Boat Cruise, Riptide Ride or Glass Bottom Shipwreck Tour.
Kayak under ancient arches, through amazing sea caves and past jaw-dropping sandstone cliffs and waterfalls.
Take a short stroll, an epic, full-day hike or multi-day backpacking adventure on 100 miles of trails to waterfalls, beaches, forest wilderness, cultural sites and stop-in-your-tracks, cliff-top views of Lake Superior.
In winter, cross-country ski, snowshoe and snowmobile groomed and ungroomed trails through a frosted wonderland.
Visit several decommissioned U.S. Coast Guard stations and buildings throughout the park, including the Au Sable Light Station.
Want to try out your crampons for ice climbing? If you are new to the sport, ask a local guide to show you the ropes before scaling these columns of frozen water. This daring sport is also thrilling to just watch.
Since July 2023, Benny the Beardfisher Troll has been reclining on the bank of the Manistique River in Germfask. For a small fee, you can walk up and chat with him and take must-share photos at the Northland Outfitters campground. Or see this whimsical troll sculpture created by artist Thomas Dambo as you paddle on the river. Visit the camp store to purchase your ticket.
Things to Do
Rent a kayak or canoe from Northland Outfitters and take a day trip for as short as an hour to two to seven days on the Fox or Manistique Rivers.
Play on the Manistique Lakes which are perfect for world-class fishing, mushrooming, canoeing, kayaking, boating, sailing, swimming, jet skiing, off-roading … or taking a nap.
Explore the Top of the Lake Antique Snowmobile Museum exhibits in Naubinway. It is where the history of snowmobiling comes to life. Find antique and vintage snowmobiles, memorabilia and a research library.
A half-hour west of Newberry is the Seney National Wildlife Refuge. Find a treasure trove of U.P. wildlife, offering up close moments with birds and fish. It’s a favorite place to hike, bike, canoe, kayak, berry pick, take photos and geocache.
Don’t pass up a chance to be mesmerized by some of the most mystical waters in Michigan. Kitch-iti-kipi (the Big Spring) is in Palms Book State Park outside of Manistique. Even on the coldest winter day, this ever-bubbling water rarely freezes. The Ojibwa who discovered Michigan’s largest natural spring called it the “Mirror of Heaven.”
Things to Do
Cross over the spring’s teal-colored surface on a self-driven raft and look into its crystal-clear, ancient depths. Marvel at the 10,000 gallons of water per minute erupting from the fissures on the spring’s sandy bottom and the large trout swimming alongside and under the raft.
See and hear nature as you walk on foot or from your wheelchair while following the 100-foot-long trail.
Make Newberry your hub and explore all these attractions without the hassle of packing and unpacking. Stay in comfortable lodgings and enjoy delicious meals at local restaurants as you come and go. Then end your day gazing into a sparkling star-filled sky and rest for tomorrow’s next adventure.
Photos courtesy of Upper Peninsula Travel and Recreation Association.
