20 natural wonders of Michigan to put on your travel bucket list

Outdoor adventure seekers should look no further than Michigan. This state is filled with one natural wonder after another to put on your travel bucket list. We’re talking cliff diving, ice caves, sink holes, waterfalls and sand dunes. Michigan has some of the most picturesque and Instagram-worth spots you’ll find anywhere.

You can also explore some of the most secluded spots in the entire country right here in the “Mitten State.” Here are 20 natural wonders of Michigan which should be on your road trip travel bucket list.

20. Lake of the Clouds

Michigan does indeed have mountains. Lake of the Clouds is located within the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park in the northwestern Upper Peninsula in Ontonagon and Gogebic counties. You can see from this overlook the lake is in a valley between two ridges surrounded by thick forests.

Along with viewing Lake of the Clouds easily from this overlook, you can also reach the lake via the Big Carp River Trail and the Escarpment Trail.

19. Ocqueoc Falls

You don’t have to drive all the way to the Upper Peninsula to experience waterfalls in Michigan. Ocqueoc Falls is the Lower Peninsula’s largest waterfall. It was also the country’s first universally accessible waterfall. Located in Presque Isle County, 12 miles west of Rogers City, Ocqueoc Falls consists of four small rapids and an area for swimming. There are multiple paths along the Bicentennial Parkway you can take to get here.

18. Canyon Falls and Gorge

This spot is known as the Grand Canyon of Michigan. You’ll find Canyon Falls and Gorge in Baraga County about 10 miles from L’Anse in the Upper Peninsula along the Sturgeon River. It’s about an hour and 15 minute drive west of Marquette.

The scenic trail to the falls is a quick 15-minute walk through hardwood forests where you’ll come across a series of rapids and small waterfalls before reaching Canyon Falls. The river has cut into the earth, creating the narrow canyon with tall, vertical walls.

17. Torch Lake

This lake was once named the “third-most beautiful lake in the world” by National Geographic magazine. Torch Lake is often compared to the Caribbean because of its clear, blue-green water. Located about 17 miles northeast of Traverse City, the lake is Michigan’s second-largest inland lake. It’s a popular place to swim, canoe, fish and water ski.

16. Eben Ice Caves

Take a look at what happens when melting snow runs over the edge of small cliffs and freezes. The Rock River Canyon Ice Caves, commonly known as the Eben Ice Caves, are located in Eben Junction. That’s smack dab in the center of the Upper Peninsula. The trail is less than a mile. It winds through tall trees and over bubbling creeks. Hikers are encouraged to wear ice cleats.

15. Sinkholes

Northeast Michigan has one of the largest number of sinkhole formations in the world. There are more than 200. Many are located on private land, but you can explore the ones at Rockport State Recreation Area in Alpena and Presque Isle counties, and off Leer Road in Posen, which is about 30 minutes northwest of Alpena. Explore at your own risk and don’t go into one. However, some people do swim in one of the Rockport sinkholes, which is filled with water.

14. Cliff Diving at Black Rocks

These cliffs aren’t the highest in the world, but it’s still cool that they’re located in Michigan. You can jump into the waters of Lake Superior near Northern Michigan University in Marquette. The water is pretty cold and is usually at its warmest in August. The distance from the rocks to the water is about 15 feet. If you don’t want to jump into the water, there’s still plenty of other cool things to do. There’s hiking, sightseeing and beaches in the area.

13. Isle Royale National Park

If you think much of the Upper Peninsula is a hike to get to, you can actually head even further north to Isle Royale National Park. This is where you’ll find some of the most isolated hiking in Michigan. Isle Royale is a 45-mile-long island 55 miles north of the U.P. in Lake Superior. The island offers plenty of adventures for backpackers, hikers, boaters, kayakers, canoeists and scuba divers.

To get there, you can take one of boats that service the island from Michigan: The Ranger III from Houghton and the Isle Royale Queen IV from Copper Harbor.

12. Warren Dunes

West Michigan has some pretty sweet dunes, too. Warren Dunes State Park is located at 12032 Red Arrow Highway near Sawyer and Bridgman. The dune formation rises 260 feet above Lake Michigan. There’s also a beach with 3 miles of shoreline.

11. Kitch-iti-Kipi

This is Michigan’s largest natural freshwater spring. It’s located at Palms Book State Park in Manistique in the Upper Peninsula. The spring is 200 feet across and more than 40 feet deep. It’s always 45 degrees and never freezes in the winter. You can’t swim in it, but you can hop aboard a self-operated observation raft which takes visitors over the water. This place is also one of the stops on our Michigan’s Best Road Trip across the Upper Peninsula.

10. Kayak the Pine River

Forget traveling to West Virginia. You’ll find one of the coolest places to kayak in Northern Michigan. Stretching through miles and miles of national and state forests in Lake, Wexford and Manistee counties, this river is known for its class 1 rapids. Pine River is for experienced paddlers looking for a challenge. It’s not for beginners. Pictured is a famous spot along the way of the sand dune downstream of the Peterson access point in Wellston.

9. Ski Mount Bohemia

You could travel all the way to Utah or Colorado, or you could go here. This place has been named one of the best ski resorts in the country by multiple publications. Known for its extreme backcountry runs, Mount Bohemia is located on the northernmost portion of the Keweenaw Peninsula in the U.P. This resort features some of the longest runs, highest verticals and deepest powder in the Midwest, with 273 inches of average annual snowfall.

8. Sand dune buggy rides

You can’t do this in every state. Experience some of Michigan’s sand dunes in open-air buggies. Two of the most famous guided dune buggy rides are with Mac Wood’s at Silver Lake in Mears and Saugatuck Dune Rides in Saugatuck. Both companies offer a 40-minute dune ride tour.

7. Drive the “Tunnel of Trees”

The best time to take this road trip is in the fall, for obvious reasons. The “Tunnel of Trees” is located along a more than 20-mile portion of M-119. It begins at the north end of Petoskey, but isn’t officially the “tunnel” until the north of Harbor Springs. It concludes at Cross Village. The road twists and turns for miles through fields, forests and farmland with some areas coming close to the edge of high bluffs along Lake Michigan.

6. Beaver Island

This is also one of the most remote places in Michigan. You can get to Beaver Island by taking a ferry or plane from Charlevoix. Around 600 people live here. You can tour it by bicycle, bring your car over on the ferry or rent a car once on the island. Beaver Island is about 13 miles long and 6 miles wide. Along with outdoor recreational activities, the island has one of the best dark skies for star gazing in the country.

5. Kayak to Turnip Rock

This kayak adventure has quite the payoff once you reach your destination. Located in Port Austin in Michigan’s thumb, the trip to get to this picturesque rock is not easy. It’s 7 miles round-trip, which can take hours to kayak. Before setting out, check the forecast. Lake Huron conditions can change quickly. You could also charter a boat to get to the rock. Along with Turnip Rock, there are also “sea caves” to explore and another notable rock formation called Thumbnail Point.

4. M-22 scenic drive

This gorgeous 117-mile road trip starts just north of Manistee. It curves along the Lake Michigan shoreline, passing beach towns like Frankfort and Empire before coming to Sleeping Bear Dunes. The trip continues through Glen Arbor to the Leelanau Peninsula toward Northport. It then runs south along the rim of Grand Traverse Bay before ending in Traverse City. One of our favorite spots is the 17-mile section which runs between Traverse City and Suttons Bay.

3. Explore Pictured Rocks

For good reason, this is one of the most popular places to hike in Michigan. You can’t go wrong exploring anywhere within Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Located in Munising in the U.P., the lakeshore encompasses more than 70,000 acres and 40 miles of shoreline along the southern edge of Lake Superior. There’s 100 miles of trails featuring sandstone cliffs and formations, seven waterfalls, beaches, sand dunes, ice caves and more.

2. Tahquamenon Falls

This is one of those places every Michigander should visit in their lifetime. The Upper Falls at Tahquamenon Falls are one of the largest waterfalls east of the Mississippi at 200 feet across with a drop of nearly 50 feet. Tahquamenon Falls State Park stretches more than 13 miles near Paradise in the U.P. Most of the park is located within Chippewa County with the western section extending into Luce County.

1. Sleeping Bear Dunes – Lake Michigan overlook

MLive has called this one of the most picturesque spots in Michigan. This overlook is a must-see when visiting Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes. It’s located at stop No. 9 of the Pierce Stocking scenic drive at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. The overlook is 450 feet above Lake Michigan. Blue water and sand are the only things visible as far as the eye can see. The scenic drive is a one-way loop with 12 stops.

Written By: Edward Pevos
This article was originally published on mlive.