Boonie,

I'm Planning on taking the UP route you suggested, how is the lodging through there or do you do the trip in a day? I'm leaving Sunday to be at the outfitters Tuesday and on the H2O the 29th.

Thanks again for your help!

GO PENS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

DaBurgh

DaBurgh-

I've done the trip several ways. Usually, when I have plenty of time, I'm leaving Morgantown Saturday morning and will stay in Gaylord, MI, which is about an hour south of the Mackinac Bridge that takes you across into the U.P. Gaylord is 575 miles from Morgantown, which makes a full day, but not extremely long. The second day I usually travel to Duluth, which is another fairly full day of travel. I will usually stay in the U.P. on the way back. The two places I have stayed in the U.P. are in Marquette, MI, and Ironwood, MI, which is right near the WI border. There is a Budget Host in each town that is very nice. There aren't many bigger towns in the U.P., so accommodations can be a little sketchy here and there. Most are smaller mom'n'pop operations rather than chain motels and I'm not really familiar with any of them, although some look decent enough. However some look a little "older" from the outside.

Marquette is about 225 miles farther beyond Gaylord, which is probably about 500 miles for you, depending just where you're located. So a lot depends on how far and how hard you want to travel the first day and how many days you want to spend to reach your destination - Ely, Sawbill Trail, or Gunflint Trail?

There are probably quite a few options in St. Ignace which is right across the Mackinac Bridge, but I have not checked in years. It's more of a tourist destination and rooms were more expensive and harder to find availability. You only gain an hour over Gaylord, so it doesn't shorten the rest of the trip much.

I usually allot 2 1/2 days to reach the outfitter, so I usually have a real easy last day (3rd) before entering the next. But I have done it in two days and we have done it in 2 1/2 by driving a few hours Friday after work, say to Toledo or somewhere short of there, then on to Marquette on Saturday and then it's about 400 miles to midpoint of the Gunflint Trail. A little less to Ely or Sawbill.

But keep in mind that once you enter the U.P., you'll no longer be traveling Interstate, so it will be a little slower. Also keep in mind that you'll cross into the Central Time Zone around Ironwood, MI, so you'll gain an hour going - 1 PM will become 12 noon - and you'll lose one coming back - 12 noon will become 1 PM ;).

So, what's your plan? Let me know if you'd like the links or phone numbers for the Budget Host Brentwood Motor Inn in Marquette, or the Budget Host Cloverland Motel in Ironwood.

BTW, I usually stay at EconoLodge or Baymont in Gaylord, and Motel 6 in Duluth.

I don't know if that will be a busy weekend in the U.P. or not, but you might consider a reservation - sometimes rooms are in short supply.

OK, DaBurgh, I see you're going in EP #47, off Poplar Lake on the Gunflint Trail. I stayed at Rockwood Outfitters on Poplar Lake last fall, so here's some additional info for you:

I don't know how far from your house to Gaylord, MI, but you can MapQuest it.

From Gaylord to Marquette - 225 miles
Marquette to Ironwood, MI - 150 miles
Ironwood to Duluth, MN - 105 miles
Duluth to Grand Marais - 110 miles
Grand Marais to Poplar Lake- 35 miles.

MapQuest driving times are fairly accurate for conservative travel estimates - just add gas and food stops.

BudgetHost

Cloverland BudgetHost in ironwood

Also, if you want to stay a night in Grand Marais, I have stayed at Wedgewood Motel

Boonie, First thanks for the information! I live about a mile from I-79 about 90miles north of Morgantown(if it is the W Virginia one). I have friends who are about 10miles from St. Ignace and they have offered to let me stay over and I might just take them up on it. I will probably stay over in Duluth based based on your comments. St Ignase sounds like a good first day ride north. Using Hungry Jack Outfitters.

Again thanks

Yeah, Morgantown, WV. So you must live up north of Pittsburgh. My wife's parents and brother lived in Sewickley for a while.

Going to St. Ignace would be about the same distance as me going to Gaylord the first day. Duluth is a solid drive from there, then you can take your time driving the North Shore to Grand Marais, then out the Gunflint to Hungry Jack. If you've never driven the North Shore, it's very scenic - tons of things to see: Lake Superior, state parks, waterfalls (they should be flowing real good now), the lighthouse, etc. Gand Marais is a nice little town - have lunch there, enjoy the harbor before heading up the Gunflint Trail. Near the top of the hill above Grand Marais, take 5-10 minutes to stop at Pincushion Mountain overlook:



BTW, I don't know if I mentioned it or not, but in the U.P. I take Rt. 77 N through Germfask toward Seney. It goes right by the Seney National Wildlife Refuge, which makes a nice stop if you have a few minutes. Even if you don't stop, it makes a nice drive - there's also a nice little roadside park by the river along there.

If you have allotted some extra time on the drive back, let me know and I can suggest some side trips in the U. P. that you might enjoy.

I'm about 5-8miles from sewickley. I will have time on the trip back any suggestions greatly appreciated. See ya on the water!

where's the photo taken?

The picture is looking down on Grand Marais (GM) from the Pincushion Mountain overlook. You can't miss it going up the hill on Gunflint out of GM - just follow the sign. It's a few hundred yards off the Gunflint Trail.

There are so many things to see on the way up and back it's hard to know where to start. You could spend days just on the North Shore with Split Rock Lighthouse, Gooseberry Falls, Tettegouche, Temperance River, Cascade River, Kodonce River, Judge Magney. And that's not a complete list, to say nothing of just detouring on some of the Forest Service roads.

There are still so many I haven't seen, but some I have are:

Apostle Islands National Lakeshore and Copper Falls in WI. Amnicon Falls is right on your route near Superior.

At the western end of the U. P. near Ironwood is the Black River Scenic Byway with a series of falls along the river running up to Lake Superior. A little more of a detour, but very worthwhile is a trip up to the Porcupine Mountains with Lake of the Clouds, etc. Northeast of Munising, MI, is Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. There's plenty more, too. At the end of my trip report of last fall's return trip, you'll find brief mentions of side trips to Sturgeon River Gorge Wilderness - a failed attempt, but an interesting ramble through the unknown;) (I have better directions this year) - McCormick Wilderness, and Big Island Lake Wilderness.

I still haven't made it to Tahquamenon Falls or Bond Falls. There are plenty of nice small things to see right along the right - nice little roadside stops for lunch or a rest break.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. I'll bet that after this, you'll never even consider going by way of Chicago ;). It's such a nice, scenic, relaxed drive.

Have a good trip! I hope the weather is cooperative.

DaBurgh-

You can find photos of many of these things in my photo gallery if you have a couple of extra minutes.

But don't forget your permit reservation letter!