Savor the Peace of 7 Winter Silent Sports Near Tahquamenon Falls
Find tranquility and bliss this winter near Tahquamenon Falls. Go outside and enjoy your favorite silent sports on snow-hushed trails and frozen lakes.
Do you need a break from the constant noise — dinging notifications, endless chatter and the roar of traffic? An escape awaits just a day’s drive or less from the homes of most of our readers.
Winter in Tahquamenon Country is a quiet haven — a place where you can truly think, imagine, meditate or hush your racing mind. There’s no better place to find rejuvenating stillness than by stepping outside onto our snow-blanketed trails, beneath snow-laden branches, alongside gently flowing rivers and across ice-hardened lakes. Ready to experience this bliss? Here are seven favorite winter silent sports to lift your spirits:
Tahquamenon Country is acres of untamed hemlock and pine forests, a tannin brown-colored river, tree-lined inland lakes and the wildest and largest freshwater sea, Lake Superior. Your cross-country skis will let you encounter all of it.
You can choose from various cross-country ski trails* in this 50,000-acre winter wonderland, home to the majestic Upper and Lower Falls. Glide along everything from a one-mile loop to an eight-mile route. The Great Pines Loop is a 3.8-mile trail that guides you through whispering hemlock forests and past two giant white pines (120 feet tall) that have towered over the land since the logging days of the 1800s.
*Until mid-summer 2025, this state park is undergoing construction. The campgrounds are closed, but the park is open. Cross-country trails, however, will not be groomed.
Enjoy 11.4 miles of groomed ski trails through dense stretches of Lake Superior State Forest. H4: Paradise Pathway | Andrus Lake State Forest
A half mile west of Paradise on M-123, sit three loops for skiers. This 8.2-mile trail features the South M-123 loop (1.6 miles), North M-123 loop (3.2 miles) and North Ridge Loop (3.4 miles). Be mindful of signage. Michigan’s DNR staff reroute the trail if there is deep drifting.
The only sound cutting through the silence as you cross fluffy fields is the rhythmic, muffled woof and puff of your snowshoes or the crunch or scrape on hard-packed trails. Burn calories on these serene Tahquamenon Country Trails. Below are two favorite destinations.
There are more than 35 miles of snowshoeing trails in this must-visit park. One of the most popular, yet challenging to tackle is the four-mile (eight-mile round trip) River Trail also known as the “Trail Between Da Falls.” The powerful Upper Falls drops over 50,000 gallons over its brink per second so it never freezes. But the five cascading Lower Falls are usually frozen by January creating a mesmerizing scene and silence. One wintry reward is to snowshoe near the Tahquamenon Falls Brewery & Pub and refuel with a craft beer, hearty meal or warm snack.
Every Saturday in February you can take a guided,one-mile snowshoe hike from 2 to 3 p.m. or a one-mile lantern-lit snowshoe hike from 6 to 8 p.m. The trail is lit in the evening with kerosene lanterns and you can warm up between laps with complimentary refreshments by the bonfire. Meet for both events at the Fact Shack. A limited number of snowshoes are available if you don’t bring your own.
Drive the plowed road or take one of the best snowmobile rides in the Upper Peninsula to the Whitefish Point Lighthouse. Then snowshoe on the 0.6-mile loop with its panoramic views of Lake Superior. Dress very warm — the gales off Lake Superior can be bone-chilling, and the waves thunderous, but it’s worth seeing.
A bicycle with wide tires or a snow bike is a fun way to see Tahquamenon Country. Not only can you ride on designated trails, but also on snow-covered two-track state forest or county roads. When riding on trails, go out only when the temperatures are below 30 degrees Fahrenheit and there is a six-inch snow base so you don’t damage the trail underneath.
For a quick jaunt, especially for beginners, try the one-mile Emerson Trail in Tahquamenon Falls State Park. For a lengthier adventure, ride sections of the North Country Trail in Luce County. The trail runs 35 miles north from Tahquamenon Falls State Park to Muskallonge Lake State Park on Lake Superior and 100 miles south from the Falls to the Mackinac Bridge.
When the snow blanketing the Tahquamenon Country trails doesn’t warrant wearing snowshoes, you can lace up your hiking boots or running shoes to quietly enter the woods and walk along streams or around frozen lakes and ponds. When running, wear shoes with high-traction outsoles or traction devices like spikes.
As you hike or run, watch for tracks from deer, moose, coyote and fox that share this land with us. Pause periodically to look around you — the scenery invigorates your mind and body. Bundle up and feel free!
Tahquamenon Falls State Park Trails
Silence is integral to any day on the ice in Tahquamenon Country. Whether you cut your hole in the open or inside a shanty, you will be hard-pressed to find quieter places than Tahquamenon Country’s nearly 100 inland lakes and Lake Superior’s Emerson Bay. Admittedly, this sport isn’t for everyone, but if you have never tasted fresh-cooked cold-water walleye, whitefish, northern pike and panfish, that’s the delicious reward for spending time on the ice. Want to give ice fishing a try? Join us on the ice the third weekend of February — it’s free. To learn more about this tasty silent sport, get tips in this blog.
Whether you are seeking romantic moments or the deep joy that ice skating elicits, you can find it in Tahquamenon Country. The Barn Ice Arena in Newberry offers public skate times and very reasonable skate rentals. Or clear the snow from frozen ponds and inland lakes throughout Luce County and feel your spirits lift with each figure eight, spin and glide as your skates swoosh and softly hiss across the ice.
One of the best ways to surpass your daily steps goal is to go birding in Tahquamenon Country’s state forests, parks and along marked trails near our lakes, streams and rivers. This blog lists some of the best bird-watching locations in our region. Before setting out on your hike, bring binoculars and download a free app to help you identify wild birds in the Eastern Upper Peninsula. Two popular apps are the Audubon Bird Guide and Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Labs, each featuring photographs, bird sounds and helpful identification facts.
Your and your companions’ comfort and safety are dependent on how you dress and what steps you take before playing in the snow. Here are some important tips:
With so many trails to explore and frozen lakes to ice skate or fish on, there are so many reasons to be multiple days. Book your stay weeks in advance at one of our many Tahquamenon Country lodgings to get the amenities, rates and dates you want. After your silent play, stop in Newberry or Paradise to enjoy a handcrafted meal and refreshing beverage. As the stars sparkle in the night sky, enter the quiet of your hotel room and drift off to sleep.
