It's almost hard to believe it's supposed to be spring right now. As I type this, I'm looking out a window with snow-covered ground outside as far as the eye can see.
But that's the Upper Peninsula for you. It's never a question of when a season officially arrives--that's clearly marked on the calendar--but it's always up in the air when you are actually going to be able to get out and enjoy that particular season in the great outdoors.
Here in the U.P., it doesn't matter if there is snow, mud, grass or leaves covering the ground because there's always something to do and a place to do it. If you don’t believe me, just ask the throngs of silent sports enthusiasts who visit, work, live and play here.
Silent sports? I know. When I first heard the term I wasn't sure what it was, either. It didn't take me long to discover that it has nothing to do with watching the Packers or the Lions with the television on mute, but rather the types of sports that don't involve motors or, typically, fans. Silent sports are the sports that drive us individually and that we do because we love it and because it gives us a chance to enjoy the quiet serenity of the U.P.
From east to west and from north to south, the Upper Peninsula has something for every participant of silent sports--from veterans to newcomers, you can always find something that fits into your lifestyle.
Hiking
When it comes to silent sports, hiking is the one I'm most familiar with, personally. Truth be told, I was doing it long before I knew people considered it hiking, and still often can be found doing my fair share when hunting season rolls around. Some of the best places to see are in state and national forests and aren't groomed for tourists to find.
But you don't have to just take off through the forest in order to have an Upper Peninsula scenic tour. In fact, two outstanding hikes are in Delta County and Alger County.
The
Bay de Noc-Grand Island Trail offers up beautiful views and 40 miles to hike along with three access points. You get beautiful views of the Whitefish River as you follow a trail that was once used by Chippewa Indians when they portaged their canoes and supplies from Lake Michigan to Lake Superior. If you're into horses, they are welcome on the trail, too.
Another beautiful hike is at
Wagner Falls in Munising. You get a nice, enjoyable hike to see a beautiful waterfall that is surrounded by untouched pine and hemlock. You can take the nice and easy route, which is about a half mile from the parking lot, or you can enjoy the 22 acres the site sits on.
Biking
I'm not much on biking, at least not since I obtained my coveted driver's license at 16 and stopped riding my bike 14 miles round trip to the local store to get a soda to enjoy in the hot summer months (there was usually a small gang of us, including myself, my cousin Paul Eggleston and my friends Andy and Matt Crick). Those were great times, sure, but I'd rather not have to ride that far for a cola anymore. In talking with friends, visitors and acquaintances, however, biking is pretty popular here in the U.P. and there are more than a few folks who would put in 14 miles just for the sheer joy--no soda needed.
According to the website
Exploring the North, the Upper Peninsula has the most biking trails in the state of Michigan.
"There are thousands of miles of back roads, bike trails, logging roads, snowmobiles and cross-country ski trails open to bikers, national and state forest trails and even our state highways have very little traffic," the site says. "Motels, cottages, bed and breakfasts and campgrounds are everywhere. The roads seem to stretch on endlessly as you bike through the spectacular scenery of the Upper Peninsula."
While I'm not a biker, my inclination to trying new things would likely take me to the
Keweenaw Adventure Company and the
Copper Harbor Mountain Bike Trails if and when I give the sport a go. You may also want to check out
Upper Peninsula Mountain Biking for plenty of ideas.
Paddle Sports
A close friend of mine, Robert Manty, likes to go on several river trips each year with his friends and family. He rafts down the Escanaba River annually, and takes a trip canoeing down the AuTrain River, too. He swears by it in terms of having a fun, yet relaxing, time.
My experience with paddle sports tends to lead me to fishing, which is a great silent sport all its own (and often has tasty results), but I've always been intrigued with the various other activities that are available for those who love to be on the water.
Kayaking is huge here in the U.P. You can't drive more than 30 minutes without seeing a kayak or two on someone's car, and a drive along the lakeshore anytime after the ice clears will usually give you a glimpse of someone enjoying that activity. If you've never been to the Upper Peninsula (or if you have, even) and want to do some kayaking, then take a trip to
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and enjoy the breathtaking natural beauty there.
Don't have your own equipment? There are
multiple locations in every corner of the U.P. where you can rent it, and many of them offer guided tours and great suggestions as to where the sport is best practiced.
Want to try something a little different than kayaking? Our friends at
Downwind Sports suggest you give SUP a try. The acronym stands for Stand Up Paddling, also referred to as Stand Up Paddle Surfing or simply Stand Up. I haven't participated, but it looks like a blast.
And that's not all. You can even do some
whitewater rafting, if you're looking for something a bit more intense.
Birding
Does this qualify as a silent sport? Why not? It sure takes a lot of hiking and being quiet in order to see those beautiful critters in their natural habitats.
One of the best places to go to see a large variety of birds is the
Republic Wetlands Preserve, which just happens to be attached to the end of the
Iron Ore Heritage Trail, another great option for those looking for walks, biking and riding their horses. The trail is also open for snowshoeing, skiing and more.
You can also check out the
U.P. Birder's website for some information on current surveys as well as some nice maps of Marquette birding locations.
Skiing
Even though it's April, skiing is not out of the question right now, though it is fading fast. My wife, Kim, enjoys going out for a nice run around a groomed trail, which offers exercise and a great view at the same time in most places. I've never strapped on the ol' skis, but all of my friends who have recommend it. For those looking for a nice adventure on cross country skis, check out
Exploring the North's very comprehensive list of locations you can go.
For those who prefer their skiing in the downhill variety, then you're still in luck. As of the writing of this piece,
Pine Mountain was still open for business at least through the end of the week, as is
Mount Bohemia, which was the recipient of six new inches of snow this past weekend.
Snowshoeing
When it comes to the silent sports on this list, I'll admit to being biased toward this one. Snowshoeing has long been a favorite of mine if only because it was a great way to connect with my dad in my younger years when he was teaching me how to hunt and trap.
Since then, I've enjoyed the sport on and off and would highly recommend it to anyone as a great way to get around in the winter months and to see the wonderful snow-covered world of the U.P. in winter. You can find a great list here on
U.P. Trails' website, which also has information for hikes, biking, cross-country skiing and more as well as reviews of trails.
And I'm not the only one who would make that recommendation, either, as
REI has done a trip to the U.P. to snowshoe along Lake Superior the past couple of years.
And more!
This is just a small sample of the many outdoor activities and silent sports you can do in the Upper Peninsula. From competitions to lazy day walks through the wilderness to a nice bike ride or a whitewater raft trip along the Menominee River. The list of what you can do is pretty impressive, and includes such fun as winter rafting, fat-tire biking, snow kiting, sledding and tubing, split boarding, bikejoring, skijoring, ice skating, ice sailing, running, jogging and--well--the list just goes on and on.
If you're interested in enjoying the outdoors, then the Upper Peninsula has what you want and is the place you should be.
Sam Eggleston is the managing editor of U.P. Second Wave. He was born and raised in the Upper Peninsula and his favorite silent sports usually end with a fish fry. He can be reached via email.
Photos by Shawn Malone.