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- Date Circle Tour Completed
- Favorite Spot and/or Experience
- Member
July 1-17, 2005
We started our trip in Sault Ste. Marie and drove
counterclockwise around the lake. The Wife and I love to look at
waterfalls and there are many to see on this tour, but we thought
Gooseberry Falls and the many other falls on the north shore of
Minnesota were the best part of the trip. We plan to do this again as
two weeks was not enough time to really see the wonders of this great
tour.
Robert & Wendy Stacy, Pinconning,
Michigan
Summer 1968
My parents, myself, my brother and two sisters completed
the Circle Tour by car and travel trailer. The trip started in Sault
Ste. Marie, headed north through Wawa, west to Thunder Bay and east
through the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The most memorable stops were
at Agawa Rock Pictographs and the Algoma Central Railway trip that
started and ended at Fraser, Ontario, which seemed to be in the middle
of nowhere. There was a large statue of a Canadian Goose in Wawa. We
passed by many waterfalls and rivers that my father captured on 8mm
home movies which included Rainbow, Kakabeka and Gooseberry falls. The
best was the Tahquamenon Falls that included a train and a boat ride.
Don White, Sandy, Oregon
1991
We left Thunder Bay and drove the north shore of Lake
Superior. Our first stop was Rainbow Falls Provincial Campground near
Rossport, Ontario. A beautiful location. Next day we stopped at Lake
Superior Provincial Park. We camped here a couple of days. We visited
the Native pictographs just west of the park. The paintings are on a
rock right next to the lake. Next day we drove to Sault Ste. Marie,
Ontario. We stayed with my brother and his wife for a couple of days.
Then we crossed the border at Sault Ste. Marie into Michigan. After we
cleared the border, we headed west on the main highway then turned off
and headed toward the lakeshore of Lake Superior. Our first stop was
Tahquamenon Falls. We had lunch there and walked the trail to see the
falls. That night we stayed at a park where the small lake was 25 feet
above Lake Superior. I think it was Muskallonge Lake State Park. We had
our supper and turned in for the night. During the night we were
awakened by some noise at the back of the camper. I looked out the
window and there were three big raccoons digging through our garbage.
Next day we stayed at the Grand Sable Dunes. I was surprised to see
these huge mounds of sand. There was petrified wood down near the lake.
This sure looked different than the Canadian side of the lake. After
checking some of the pictures we took on our trip, our first stop must
have been the Light at Point Iroquois. One of the lights we stopped at
had a maritime museum. There were artifacts there from the laker Fitzgerald.
I think it was the light at Whitefish Point. Next stop
was Munising where we visited a large hollowed-out rock. They told us
it was caused by water cutting through the rock over thousands of
years. We also looked at the Pictured Rocks along the lakeshore before
we arrived at Munising. Next day we had lunch at Marquette, Michigan.
We sat in a park near the lake and watched ships moving about in the
harbour. We arrived at Van Riper State Park for the night on September
5, 1991. We had our supper, and then phoned home. We talked to our
daughter, Anita. She told us our youngest daughter had to go to
emergency at McKellar Hospital with a gall bladder attack. We had to
cut our trip short and headed for home first thing the next morning. We
had planned on going out to Copper Harbor, on Keweenaw Peninsula. We
arrived home later that day and went right to the hospital when we got
to Thunder Bay, Ontario. She had the operation that day and was in
recovery when we went to see her. It all turned out fine. We really
enjoyed our holidays that year. It is all the more memorable to me now,
as I took the trip with my wife, Janice. She passed away in July 2004
of cancer after 40 years of marriage.
John J. Ross, Thunder Bay, Ontario
July 15, 2005
Five of us on motorcycles
completed the Circle Tour on July 15, 2005. We had rain the first day
from Duluth to Thunder Bay, but the rest of the trip was wonderful. We
all agreed our favorite spots were Gooseberry Falls and Montreal River
Harbour. The U.P. and Herbster were great spots to stop and enjoy the
lake view. There were many scenic rest spots on the entire ride. All
the roads were well maintained and we saw moose, bear and eagles.
Lodging was reasonable the entire trip. We plan on doing this again in
2006!
Pennie Hight & Terry Brown, Farmington,
Minnesota
September 25-October 3, 2005
Did the
circle tour counterclockwise. Favorite spots were Fort William Historic
Park where we had a very good guide who was quite knowledgeable, and
the
Pictures Rocks in Munising. It was a great trip.
Tom & Joan Clauss,
Ann Arbor, Michigan
October 17, 2005
We completed the
Circle Tour of Lake Superior on October 17, 2005. We started and ended
at Duluth, Minnesota. It was a great experience which was greatly
enhanced because we had ordered “The Ultimate Guide” book and map. We
used the book all along the way, and even if we did not stop and see
everything, the background and history was so informative! Some of our
favorite spots and experiences were: Split Rock Lighthouse, watching a
ship go through the locks at Sault Ste. Marie, the drive up to Copper
Harbor where the leaves were simply beautiful and a visit to Thunder
Oak Cheese Farm. The town of Munising was such a picturesque place, we
just had to park the car and soak up the beauty! We ate supper at
Betty’s Pies and Sandy purchased a cookbook which she has read cover to
cover twice already. The history is as good as the recipes. Everyone
should take this drive at least once in their life.
Bud & Sandy
Berglind, Ada, Minnesota
- Date Circle Tour Completed
- Favorite Spot and/or Experience
- Member
1986 & 1999
In the summer of 1986,
I and two of my brothers made the Circle Tour in 17 days by boat
leaving from Superior and returning to Superior on the 17th day. There
really wasn’t any special spot as it was all beautiful and the Canadian
people were the greatest help when we needed it. Then in 1999 my wife
and I made the Circle Tour in our motor home. Back in 1986 when my
brothers and I made the trip by boat, the only place that had gas at
the dock or marina was Thunder Bay and the Sault Locks on the Canadian
side. At all the other stops, the people of Canada helped us in getting
gas by any means that they could do it for us. At one stop, gas was 15
miles away and they got it for us. Great people.
Wayne V.
& Carol
A. Bodin, South Range, Wisconsin
July 28-31, 2005
My girlfriend and I
rode the Lake Superior Circle route this summer from Duluth, north
through Thunder Bay, stopped overnight in Marathon and Sault Ste.
Marie, then on to Duluth. Motorcycles were the type of transportation,
giving us a better panoramic experience. The weather was perfect and it
is on the plans for next year’s rides.
Jim Donnelly & Kay Larson,
Hudson, Wisconsin
October 1-5, 2005
Grand Portage was the
most educational and interesting. Sleeping Giant Park is beautiful that
time of the year. Any roads that run along the Lake from Marathon to
Wawa would be nice to see.
Dave & Carol Brandt, Manning, South
Carolina
October 2, 2005
Our Circle Tour started
on Sept. 22 in Rogers City, Michigan (just an hour south of the
Mackinaw Bridge). Our first stop was sort of side-tracking to St.
Joseph Island, because it was mentioned in the Circle Tour Guide. The
on-going views of Lake Superior were awesome right from the beginning
to the end! I was so amazed to learn that there was a “real” Winnie the
Pooh! The many falls and cascades along the way were well worth our
stops. At Aguasabon Falls we talked to a couple making the tour from
Ann Arbor. We are sorry to say we looked for the ghost town of
Jackfish, but only saw a motel. The drive to the Amethyst Mine was very
interesting in a Motor Home, following a Corvette Club up that steep
mountain. I wondered from Day 2 of the trip what the stones were piled
up on the mountain tops where the highways were cut through. When we
got to the KOA in Thunder Bay we were greeted by a HUGE one at the
entrance. I knew I would get my answer and I got the story of their
beginnings, too. I now know what an Inukshuk is and why they exist. We
stopped at Betty’s Pies out of curiosity. The highlights of our trip
were: Split Rock Lighthouse (they do a fantastic tour), The Adventure
Mining Company in Greenland, Michigan, The Quincy Mine, Ft. Wilkins in
Copper Harbor, the Jampot in Eagle Harbor, Babycakes Muffin Shop in
downtown Marquette and we ended our trip with a day at the Whitefish
Point Lighthouse on October 2. We were too early to see the fall
colors. We would not hesitate to go again, or tell our friends to take
this trip. Our only disappointment was that a lot of the Provincial
Parks were already closed, causing some apprehension about camping
availability. Even the info center at Terrace Bay could not tell us for
sure which ones would be open. We found a lot of the tourist things we
wanted to see (Agawa Pictographs, Pioneer Village in Thunder Bay, the Edna
G. tugboat at Two Harbors) were already closed for the season.
This surprised us, since we figured they would be open through the
color season.
Bill & Sally
Halsey, Rogers City, Michigan
September 30-October 16, 2005
Our
favorite area is Munising, Michigan, and the Pictures Rocks National
Lakeshore, but we did also really enjoy Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan,
digging for Amethyst in the mines north of Thunder Bay, Ontario, rock
hunting on Minnesota’s North Shore and the overwhelming beauty of the
northern Lake Superior shore and adjoining landscape. Which part of the
lake offered the friendliest welcome? I’d say the “friendliest” bunch
were in Bayfield, Wisconsin, as they prepped for their Apple Festival
(two days away) and they were abuzz and open-armed. Which way? We went
clockwise, but without going counter-clockwise, I really can’t compare.
Optimum Length? We did it in two weeks, and I wouldn’t do it in any
less time - you’d miss too much. What surprised us most? The remote
feeling of driving through Canada. There were new lakes around every
corner, all gorgeous and yet not a single home, boat, fisherman or any
sign of human activity near it. So completely different than what I’m
used to in the U.S. where every lake is packed with resorts, homes and
people. Best high spot? Although Lake Superior is beautiful from every
side, every angle, we found a stunning view from Hawk Ridge in Duluth,
which showed the many colors of the lake, with ships entering and
leaving the harbor.
Nichole Watson, Round Lake Beach, Illinois
Daryl
Reiman, Santa Ana, California
November 2, 2005
Which part of the lake
offered you the friendliest welcome? Sault Ste. Marie. Which way is the
best way to travel the Circle Route - Clockwise or counterclockwise?
I’ve been around twice - both counterclockwise. What do you recommend
as the optimum length of time for a full Circle Tour trip? At least 7
days. Done it in 5, but it’s a race. 10 would be awesome. What
surprised me most during the trip? That most of the South Shore is sand
from Duluth to Sault Ste. Marie, but it’s rocky the rest of the whole
north shore. Where is the best high spot from which to view or
photograph Lake Superior? Everywhere, but Canada’s side seems higher
for more dramatic views. Can’t wait to do a third trip around the
lake!
Jeff Unger, Becker, Minnesota |
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