Baraga County stretches along Lake Superior and reaches into the Ottawa National Forest. The landscape features large protected areas, lakes, and scenic overlooks; alongside these, Finnish farm history and memorial sites tell of the region’s cultural past. When planning your trip, you can treat natural attractions and historic sites as separate points of focus.
Lakes, forests, and scenic overlooks
Craig Lake State Park spans more than 9,700 acres in Baraga and Marquette counties. It includes six lakes, among them 374-acre Craig Lake. If you plan to spend a night in the backcountry there, note that the 22 designated campsites require reservations.
At 1,979.238 feet above sea level, Mount Arvon is Michigan’s highest point. Visitors can drive to within two miles of the summit and walk the rest of the way. Access conditions may vary by season; during the rainy season, the roads may be unsuitable for passenger cars. Check current road conditions before setting out. The Mount Arvon trail passes through forest and by a few waterfalls.
Other scenic overlooks offer their own distinct views: At Silver Mountain, a staircase leads to a panoramic view of the Sturgeon River Valley and Prickett Dam Lake. Climbing Little Mountain opens up a view of Keweenaw Bay and the Huron Mountains. Point Abbaye lies at the tip of Huron Bay; from there, the view extends across Lake Superior, the Huron Islands, and the Huron Mountains.
A gorge-like valley shapes the landscape along the Sturgeon River. It averages 200 to 300 feet deep and runs through the Sturgeon River Gorge Wilderness. Viewpoints overlooking the river can be found along Forest System Roads and from Sturgeon River Campground. On Lake Superior, Baraga State Park sits on Keweenaw Bay. From there, visitors can take ORVs on motorized routes to other parks and scenic destinations. Paddling is also popular on Keweenaw Bay.
Finnish History and Memorial Sites
The Hanka Homestead Finnish Museum offers insight into the lives and experiences of immigrant families in Copper Country through a Finnish farmstead from the 1920s. The site covers 40 acres and includes eight preserved buildings. This means the focus is not just on a single building, but on an entire historic farmstead.
The Shrine of the Snowshoe Priest commemorates Bishop Frederic Baraga and rises six stories above Keweenaw Bay. The grounds include a Memorial Grotto and views of Lake Superior. At the original Assinins site, there is a statue honoring Baraga and Indigenous community members, as well as the old Assinins School. The site also includes the cemetery, where the remains of Chief Assinins and other contemporaries are buried.
Those interested in industrial history can walk among 19th-century quarry remains at the Slate Quarry. The Baraga County Historical Museum is currently closed to visitors for expansion and renovation work. Before planning a visit, check whether it is still closed.
Different points of focus depending on when you travel
The natural attractions offer different ways to enjoy the outdoors: viewpoints along the Sturgeon River draw attention to the valley and river, while the trails on Mount Arvon take in forest and waterfalls. Pinery Lakes X/C Ski Trails, by contrast, are a winter offering, with 3.9 miles of groomed cross-country ski trails. The time of year therefore influences the choice of activities; access conditions on Mount Arvon may also vary seasonally.
The places and activities mentioned represent different interests, not a prescribed itinerary.
Discover more destinations: L'anse, Baraga, Washtenaw, Mecosta County, Alpena County, Shiawassee County, Iron County, Chippewa County.
For the broader travel overview: Michigan.
