3 favorite Upper Peninsula Inland Paddles
Experience the tranquility of paddling down a meandering forested river by canoe or kayak. Keep an eye out for hidden gems only seen from the water, and you might even spot some wildlife as well. An ideal family-friendly outing, head out on the water for a few hours or pack a lunch and make a full day of it. The U.P. is famous for our waterways and is a nice escape when the big lake is too rough to paddle on!
Autrain River
The slow-moving, relaxing, winding AuTrain River offers an excellent family paddle. Warm water, swimming holes and a “what’s around the next corner vibe”, this is hands down the most popular paddle in the U.P. Numerous sloughs along the water course harbor a large variety of wildlife including ducks, songbirds, great blue herons, kingfishers, muskrats and turtles. There is also a fish population so be sure to rig up your fishing pole! As mentioned above, this is a popular river to paddle so it’s a good idea to get an early start to beat the crowds. Finish on the sandy shores of Lake Superior and reward your self with a quick dip in the cool waters of Lake Superior.
Greenwood Reservoir
Looking for solitude? Greenwood Reservoir is certainly a place to go and escape! The Greenwood Reservoir is a large 1073 acre impoundment created by the Escanaba River dam, just 10 miles south of Ishpeming. Canoeist have been known to catch Northern Pike, Walleye, Bass, and Bluegill. Paddle into one of the many coves and explore the different islands making sure to keep an eye out for eagle nests or even possibly a moose wandering the shoreline!
Lake Medora - Copper Harbor
This gorgeous lake is situated near the tip of the Keweenaw Peninsula just four miles south of Copper Harbor. The lake, the fourth largest lake in the Keweenaw, has four small islands, three of which are great for camping. Paddling on the lake offers fantastic mountain views and offers a relaxing paddle on its calm waters. Please note that a majority of the shoreline is privately owned.
