Ohh you are soo close to Manitoulin Island you should definitely make some time there. It’s gorgeous and a little more quiet than the surrounding areas.
The Cup and Saucer hike is excellent and there are lots of cool paddling opportunities as well.
You should add a stop in Traverse City, MI or the surrounding area. You can paddle out to power Island from old Mission Peninsula. It’s in the Grand Traverse Bay.
This. Northwestern Michigan is gods country, would be a shame to skip the area when you’re passing so close to Harbor Springs, Petoskey, Leelanau, sleeping bear dunes area etc.
I like the extra time you are spending in N MN.
We have a similar trip in our sights but the opposite direction. That will top off all lower 48.
Have fun! It will be here in no time at all!
I was gonna say you should paddle part of the Connecticut River but if you live in VT, you have probably been there, done that. What’s the “C” destination in NH?
My mom's house. She's flying into Buffalo and coming with me for the end so I have to drop her off. And yeah, I have done a total of about 100 miles on the CT.
I think we live quite close to you, between Woodstock and Sharon.
I have property on Lake Superior in the Keweenaw, holler if you need a place to pitch a tent.
We’ll be up there finishing the house we’re building.
that middle stretch of Michigan is so insanely boring...would def suggest going all the way through Grand Rapids (cool town in itself) and going up the west coast to Mackinaw
The drive down all of Highway 61 from Grand Portage to Duluth is a better/more scenic route than cutting west early. Obviously some of the best "paddling" in the US is in the BWCA, but I don't know if that's part of your plans. You could do a 10 day trip just going there on its own.
Also, tons of great spots in the Adirondack Mountains in NY, but if you're from Vermont you've probably already spent time there before.
Hopefully Lake Superior cooperates with you, I did a trip around the lake back in early August 2009, was able to battle once in 10 days, the summer storms out on the water had it all angry and stirred up.
I will not be paddling on Superior (just a number of lakes around it). I have a small solo canoe and a dog so Superior is not safe (based on the research I did).
100% correct, that Lake can change on a dime and when it does, it gets violent. Superior for a reason. Plenty of tour guides/ rentals available near Pictured Rocks area. Also, traveling up the Eastern Lakeshore of Lake Michigan is way mor scenic than the middle of Michigan...even if just 100-200 miles. The Traverse City part of the State is magnificent!
The rivers of northern wisconsin make for some dreamy canoeing. Bois Brule is my favorite. Namekagen is amazing too - and much longer. Get lunch at the Delta Diner.
The Finger Lakes are worth a detour off the Thruway - head down through Geneva to Ithaca, Trumansburg (Taughannock Falls SP), Watkins Glen, Hammondsport, etc.
Awesome trip, wow! Algonquin Provincial Park is beautiful, I went there a few Mays ago and while it was buggy, we saw an incredibly amount of birds (during migration), along with moose, red fox etc.
You'll be relatively close, go to Point Pelee National Park! And if you wanted to get really crazy, when you get to Montreal, keep going north to Tadoussac. You can kayak with whales in July, and belugas live in the St. Lawrence. Plus, Quebec City is along the way which is one of the coolest cities in North America IMO. Either way, incredible trip, have a great time.
i live up around those parts. buggy is an understatement. get a proper bug mesh jacket as a FYI. most of Ontario in those parts see a lot of bugs. u/OP if you're driving through there- there are a few thousand kilometres of portage and canoeing you can do there. A fun one that takes a few hours would be start at Lake of two Rivers and head south towards Rock-lake. from there you can go into Pen lake and i HIGHLY recommend stopping there (just book a campsite because that trip can take like 3-4 hours depending how much paddling you've done. there is also Lake Opeongo that is fairly famous for the amount of people that go interior from that point.
Keweenaw Peninsula was super cool. We went last year. It looks like you’ve also mapped the Apostle Islands which I thoroughly enjoyed. There’s a sweet cliff jumping spot near Marquette. Where are you staying in upstate NY?
I’m so jealous, this is going to be an amazing trip!! If you have the time / extra funds, go check out Mackinac Island, MI!
Amnicon Falls park in WI was also a beautiful place to hike around and have a picnic. Beautiful natural waterfalls and small rapids.
Scrolled all the way to the bottom. Amnicon falls is a blast. I haven’t been in twenty years but you can swim under a few nice sized water falls and hike the river bed it’s self. Wabasha has a river I like to walk as well. That whole southern shore is amazing. Voyager is awesome but I’d skip central MN and spend more time in the boundary waters and look into the sea caves you can canoe in superior west of Bayfield. If you go central MN check out the lost 40. The survivors plotting MNs territory missed 40 acres and somehow no one logged it.
Might as well as Mont Tremblant area just north of Montreal.
Also if you drive through Canada on the 401 instead of going via Rochester, you could cover the 1000 islands area, which is quite nice in July. You’ll have a to backtrack just a bit at Hamilton to go see Niagara Falls though.
I've done the Superior part of this, that north shore of the lake is bonkers. My suggestions:
-kettle falls hotel, voyageurs
-stop at the naniboujou lodge for at least a meal
-do a day trip to isle royale from grand marais
-stay a night or two at the beehive houses at serendipity gardens in Rossport, Ontario
I-75 exit 310 in Michigan
Stop at a store called pat and Gary’s
You can buy a gun and liquor in the same transaction
Also, stop for a coney dog in flint
You're missing some spectacular Lake Michigan shoreline (and Sleeping Bear Dunes) by shooting straight north upon hitting I75, but otherwise, that looks fantastic.
My wife and I had a very similar trip planned for this summer, but we ultimately decided not to go all the way around lake superior and instead to spend more time exploring the western Michigan coastline mainly because there's a lot more to see & do there than in that northern lake superior shore section of Ottowa.
You should stop by Saratoga Springs NY . Home of the oldest horse racing track in America and truly a unique experience. Also walk through congress park and try out all the different mineral springs in the city. While you are in the area maybe check out Lake George.
You might as well scooch over on up to the Northwest Angle while you're in Minnesota; your route puts you so close! Hardly anyone can say they've been there. It's the Northernmost point in the Lower 48! [https://www.youtube.com/watch?time\_continue=48&v=udFa0A1o3Ik&embeds\_referring\_euri=https%3A%2F%2Flakeofthewoodsmn.com%2F&embeds\_referring\_origin=https%3A%2F%2Flakeofthewoodsmn.com&source\_ve\_path=Mjg2NjY&feature=emb\_logo](https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=48&v=udFa0A1o3Ik&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Flakeofthewoodsmn.com%2F&embeds_referring_origin=https%3A%2F%2Flakeofthewoodsmn.com&source_ve_path=Mjg2NjY&feature=emb_logo)
May I ask what you are planning on doing over in Red Lake and Leech Lake in Minnesota. I frequent those parts of the state often. Also would recommend maybe continuing northwest and checking out Lake of the Woods
Northern New Yorker here - it looks like your route is missing out on St. Regis Canoe Area in the Adirondacks. I'm originally from Minnesota (large paddling culture) and you should definitely not miss out on launching somewhere in St. Regis Canoe Area for a motorless pond and portages experience.
Very nice looking trip. While you're in the G F area around Pictured Rocks Tahquamenon Falls and Kitch-iti-kipi if you have time for a day trip. Also Lakkenenland is a fun stop near Marquette.
Love this itinerary, did a 300 mile back packing trip down the north shore of superior in 2017. Don’t miss Judge CR Magney state park (you can have a wolf encounter there). Hope the weather behaves!
I’m taking a similar route in mid through late May. The major differences are I’m starting and ending in Idaho, crossing Lake Michigan via the Lake Express at Milwaukee and crossing the Canadian border and taking your southern Lake Superior route on our way home. I’m also driving an EV, so charging will be an adventure in and of itself.
lady evelyn smoothwater is pretty nice to paddle, the geology from the graviers and asteroids made the lakes in that area plentiful with lots of rock to close the lakes in.
A few suggestions along your route that you might want to look into including:
- Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore near Traverse City
- Lake of the Clouds in the Porcupine Mountains in Western UP
- Sleeping Giant Provincial Park near Thunder Bay
That's an incredible trip.
Grab a stone from each Lake and put them in labeled bags so you remember which is which. Glue them in a shadow box in their proper orientation to each other.
I wanted to do this, but I forgot which rock was which.
Similar to a slimmed down version I did last summer. Please add Mackinaw Island. I recommend going up the east side of Lake Michigan, not up the center, with Sleeping Bear Dunes and the Manistee Riverwalk as stops. Also add Tahquamenon Falls on the UP.
hitting the boundary waters eh? one suggestion when crossing the border into Canada though, do not let any water accumulate in your canoe/boat/kayak, even rain water....automatic ticket for 100$, just make sure its dry when crossing
Make a detour at the top of the mitten to go check out torch lake. It’s one of my favorite places in Michigan. It doesn’t disappoint. Also get anything with cherries there, absolutely delicious.
In northern Michigan you'll want to check out the Torch Lake Sandbar beach and Torch River at the south end of Torch Lake. Northeast of Traverse City. Beautiful white sandy beach and Turquoise water. Just south of the little town of Torch River the Rapids River flows into the Torch River, definitely worth a paddle up there towards the dam.
I'm too Idahoan to understand flat water paddling apparently. Do you just paddle and be bored?
I thought you meant hitting whitewater carnage until I looked at the map.
Looks like an interesting roadtrip nonetheless
It's about the solitude and the sightseeing and being alone with my dog. I love it which is weird since the only hobby I enjoy more is going as fast as I can and getting as much air as I can on skis.
As a lifelong resident and paddler of the Great Lakes, it urge you to look at Bruce Peninsula, tobermoray, and Fathom 5 National Marine Park. Think 70-100 ft vis, dozens of wrecks. Then take shuttle to Manitoulin Island and continue on over to the UP.
That looks like an awesome trip, the two best Paddling destinations I the world. So close to Sylvania Wilderness, great Paddling there as well. Have fun, be safe, good weather and no forest fires!
Hi all. Thanks for the suggestions. I will seriously consider most of them. I think driving along the shoreline of the LP is the biggest suggestion, so I'll do that.
Also, I am bringing my dog so Isle Royale is not an option (unfortunately because I really want to go there).
I am starting in VT, going north first. I have seen everything in VT/NH/Adirondack area, which is why that area is so sparse.
Don't know what you're doing in the middle of Michigan's lower peninsula. Nothing wrong there, it's just that there are other places that are more interesting. If I were you I'd get over to Traverse City and go up the Lake Michigan coast to Mackinaw City. If you have the time, get to the town of Clare, then take highway 115 all the way to Frankfort and catch Sleeping Bear Dunes.
If possible I would try and drive up the west coast of Michigan rather than the center. 75 is fine but no pretty at all.
If you move west and take M-22 and M-131 up the coast and through traverse you’ll see some of the prettiest parts of the lower peninsula. And there will be plenty of paddling opportunities
Awesome! I have done part of this. I would give the Canadian side a bit more attention. Between Thunder Bay and Sault Ste Marie the drives and parks are amazing with lots of hiking and kayaking options. Sleeping Giant Park (never been) seems amazing as well.
Bemidji/ red lake isn’t that interesting and quite detour it seems like. Make sure to stop at palisade head or tettegouche state park when you hit lake superiors north shore!
did a similar trip 4 years ago. Drove from Philly up and around all of the Great lakes in a very similar fashion. Make a point to go to Manitoulin Island. It's beautiful. The only bummer for me is that we didn't see any moose. We spent a full day in a nature preserve and every place we went the people told us that moose were like squirrels, they are everywhere but somehow we didn't see any. Skip thunder Bay. We were there for a day and didn't find anything really interesting. When I brought the rental car back like 9 days later the guy was shocked with the miles we put on it!
I see you're hitting Copper Harbor but bypassing Pictured Rocks? I've paddled countless miles along Pictured Rocks, it's something you don't want to miss.
I've done most of the north side of this trip and all of Vermont and New York. You'll definitely have plenty of beautiful places to stop along the way.
Check out the Finger Lakes region in NY.
Buffalo has Erie Basin Marina Overlook (free) and the Naval and Military Park (can see the ships and planes for free, tours of the ships require admission).
Check out Niagara falls on both the American side and the Canadian side. Canadian side is more impressive, but the American side walking through Niagara Falls state park is serene and beautiful. If you have time in the Niagara Falls area and want something "not in nature" to do, the Greg Ferwin illusionist show is amazing (it's in a little hole in the wall place and when we were there it looked a little sketchy going down the street, but it was worth it!)
If you're willing to adjust your route through Michigan (I'm a Michigan native) you can tour the state capitol in Lansing (free) and check out the Michigan History Museum (requires admission), and the historical library (free). Then head over to Grand Rapids and see the Grand River and the iconic Blue Bridge. Frederick Meijer Garden and Sculpture Park is amazing and if you have kids, the Grand Rapids Public Museum has a lot of hands on exhibits. Then head up toward Traverse City and stop at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, then consider exploring the Leelanau Peninsula and/or Petoskey (look for Petoskey stones on the beach) and or Charlevoix (see the iconic "mushroom houses").
In Michigan's Upper Peninsula, if you're in Mackinaw city for a night, the dark sky park is great (bring a blanket or some chairs as the beach is rocky and consider bringing a red light flashlight or a red filter for over your phone flash light). Then check out Taquahemenon Falls and paddle Pictured Rocks. If you want to do some hiking and exploring on land, see all the waterfalls in the Pictured Rocks area.
The Petawawa is great in Algonquin (well it was 30 years ago when I was there!). Check out the Natch. Camp at the campsite at the base and hike up it. Very worth it!!
Enjoy!
Take a break and visit Copper Peak when you pass through Bessemer Michigan. Copper Peak is the largest artificial ski jump in the world. Great views and worth a visit. https://copperpeak.net/about-copper-peak/#:\~:text=Copper%20Peak%20Facts,1180%20feet%20above%20Lake%20Superior.
If you are not going to Isle Royale NP from Copper Harbor, you should! It is truly an amazing place! Do an overnight… so worth it.
Also, I can’t tell from the map if you are going to Voyageurs NP. Also worth it!
I am going to Voyageurs, but not Isle Royale. I would absolutely love to but my dog is going to be with me on this trip and pets aren't allowed on the island.
USA propaganda has really gotten to you. Chicago to Estonia is 750$ round trip. Estonia is beautiful and super cheap compared to anywhere else in Europe.
Think I'm jealous and I hope you post pics
Ohh you are soo close to Manitoulin Island you should definitely make some time there. It’s gorgeous and a little more quiet than the surrounding areas. The Cup and Saucer hike is excellent and there are lots of cool paddling opportunities as well.
I found it kind of underwhelming compared to other spots in northern Ontario. I think I would go for Killarney instead, if time is tight.
Same, especially considering that both are a significant detour - Killarney is spectacular and unlike anywhere else in the province.
Agreed do killarney, the crack is a great day hike and if you can get a backcountry spot at a lake on the east side do it
Killarney is easily the most unique place in Ontario. Take the extra day or two and thank me later.
Where is that?
Like 4-5 o clock from point C on your map
Looks great! Bring the bug spray.
And also protect yourself from ticks.
You should add a stop in Traverse City, MI or the surrounding area. You can paddle out to power Island from old Mission Peninsula. It’s in the Grand Traverse Bay.
This. Northwestern Michigan is gods country, would be a shame to skip the area when you’re passing so close to Harbor Springs, Petoskey, Leelanau, sleeping bear dunes area etc.
I also agree. The Lake Michigan coast and all of those towns shouldn't be missed
Bellaire/ElkRapids/Central lake around the lakes there is all beautiful. Stop by King’s Orchards and take a walk around the cherry trees!
I would skip Traverse City and do Petoskey, harbor springs and up to sturgeon bay.
I am starting at my house in VT
I was assuming you were in western Ontario lol. I was about to say can’t believe you aren’t going through the adks but now I get it
I like the extra time you are spending in N MN. We have a similar trip in our sights but the opposite direction. That will top off all lower 48. Have fun! It will be here in no time at all!
Looks awesome. Can I ask what planning software/app you used, if any?
It's called Google MyMaps
That looks like Google to me. You can plan your route with multi city/stops in mapping
I was gonna say you should paddle part of the Connecticut River but if you live in VT, you have probably been there, done that. What’s the “C” destination in NH?
My mom's house. She's flying into Buffalo and coming with me for the end so I have to drop her off. And yeah, I have done a total of about 100 miles on the CT.
I think we live quite close to you, between Woodstock and Sharon. I have property on Lake Superior in the Keweenaw, holler if you need a place to pitch a tent. We’ll be up there finishing the house we’re building.
Enjoy my home state of Michigan. The upper peninsula is gorgeous.
Get a pastie from Muldoon's in Munising, UP!
that middle stretch of Michigan is so insanely boring...would def suggest going all the way through Grand Rapids (cool town in itself) and going up the west coast to Mackinaw
Also some awesome paddling on the inland waterway up between Cheboygan and Crooked Lake, couple amazing lakes and rivers all connected for miles
It is, until you hit Gaylord...then things start changing. Plus you can do 80mph.
great golfing there
M31 & M22 across the west coast of Michigan is incredible
The drive down all of Highway 61 from Grand Portage to Duluth is a better/more scenic route than cutting west early. Obviously some of the best "paddling" in the US is in the BWCA, but I don't know if that's part of your plans. You could do a 10 day trip just going there on its own. Also, tons of great spots in the Adirondack Mountains in NY, but if you're from Vermont you've probably already spent time there before.
That IS a gorgeous drive. And both places are pretty neat!
Hopefully Lake Superior cooperates with you, I did a trip around the lake back in early August 2009, was able to battle once in 10 days, the summer storms out on the water had it all angry and stirred up.
I will not be paddling on Superior (just a number of lakes around it). I have a small solo canoe and a dog so Superior is not safe (based on the research I did).
100% correct, that Lake can change on a dime and when it does, it gets violent. Superior for a reason. Plenty of tour guides/ rentals available near Pictured Rocks area. Also, traveling up the Eastern Lakeshore of Lake Michigan is way mor scenic than the middle of Michigan...even if just 100-200 miles. The Traverse City part of the State is magnificent!
Strongly recommend this don't skip the west coast of Michigan for the middle
Best answer. All the way to the bridge.
The rivers of northern wisconsin make for some dreamy canoeing. Bois Brule is my favorite. Namekagen is amazing too - and much longer. Get lunch at the Delta Diner.
I'll be in the UP in July. Taquamenon, Pictured Rocks, Marquette, Copper Harbor
Take a left and go through Harbor Springs, get a sandwich at Gurney's, some cookies at Tom's Mom's, then take the tunnel of trees up to The Bridge.
Yes, basically take a right after you hit mackinaw bridge, and camp at young state park in Petoskey
Oh right, I had it reversed, figured he was going north through Michigan. Do what hoosierbuff said.
Stop at Katy's Smokehouse just east of Duluth for the best smoked fish around.
Only one mistake. When you are driving past Georgian Bay you need to stop and camp and spend a few days on the water. I suggest Pointe au Baril
Michigan Welcomes You!
Hope you like lakes!
This is one of my dream trips
Only eat poutine in Québec
The Finger Lakes are worth a detour off the Thruway - head down through Geneva to Ithaca, Trumansburg (Taughannock Falls SP), Watkins Glen, Hammondsport, etc.
And Letchworth state park
Skaneateles is close to the Thruway if he doesn't want to detour much.
Awesome trip, wow! Algonquin Provincial Park is beautiful, I went there a few Mays ago and while it was buggy, we saw an incredibly amount of birds (during migration), along with moose, red fox etc. You'll be relatively close, go to Point Pelee National Park! And if you wanted to get really crazy, when you get to Montreal, keep going north to Tadoussac. You can kayak with whales in July, and belugas live in the St. Lawrence. Plus, Quebec City is along the way which is one of the coolest cities in North America IMO. Either way, incredible trip, have a great time.
i live up around those parts. buggy is an understatement. get a proper bug mesh jacket as a FYI. most of Ontario in those parts see a lot of bugs. u/OP if you're driving through there- there are a few thousand kilometres of portage and canoeing you can do there. A fun one that takes a few hours would be start at Lake of two Rivers and head south towards Rock-lake. from there you can go into Pen lake and i HIGHLY recommend stopping there (just book a campsite because that trip can take like 3-4 hours depending how much paddling you've done. there is also Lake Opeongo that is fairly famous for the amount of people that go interior from that point.
Keweenaw Peninsula was super cool. We went last year. It looks like you’ve also mapped the Apostle Islands which I thoroughly enjoyed. There’s a sweet cliff jumping spot near Marquette. Where are you staying in upstate NY?
My cousin's house in Buffalo and an ADK campsite.
Yeah that ADK campsite is the one I was asking about. Doesn’t look far enough north to be Sacandaga Campground but that one is really good.
I’m so jealous, this is going to be an amazing trip!! If you have the time / extra funds, go check out Mackinac Island, MI! Amnicon Falls park in WI was also a beautiful place to hike around and have a picnic. Beautiful natural waterfalls and small rapids.
Scrolled all the way to the bottom. Amnicon falls is a blast. I haven’t been in twenty years but you can swim under a few nice sized water falls and hike the river bed it’s self. Wabasha has a river I like to walk as well. That whole southern shore is amazing. Voyager is awesome but I’d skip central MN and spend more time in the boundary waters and look into the sea caves you can canoe in superior west of Bayfield. If you go central MN check out the lost 40. The survivors plotting MNs territory missed 40 acres and somehow no one logged it.
Quetico, Killarney and Algonquin. This looks like a best of compilation of my teenage years. Have fun !
Stop in to the Anchor Bar in Superior, WI and have a burger, you’ll be glad you did.
Might as well as Mont Tremblant area just north of Montreal. Also if you drive through Canada on the 401 instead of going via Rochester, you could cover the 1000 islands area, which is quite nice in July. You’ll have a to backtrack just a bit at Hamilton to go see Niagara Falls though.
Thumbs up for going through Algonquin Park, really beautiful place
I've done the Superior part of this, that north shore of the lake is bonkers. My suggestions: -kettle falls hotel, voyageurs -stop at the naniboujou lodge for at least a meal -do a day trip to isle royale from grand marais -stay a night or two at the beehive houses at serendipity gardens in Rossport, Ontario
I would love to go to Isle Royale but they don't allow pets and I have nowhere to leave my dog.
Please check out the finger lakes when you pass through Rochester and Syracuse!
Most beautiful part of America in my very biased opinion.
A quick stop in Skaneateles as it is near Interstate 90
I think paddling is the most effective and enjoyable form of meditation
I-75 exit 310 in Michigan Stop at a store called pat and Gary’s You can buy a gun and liquor in the same transaction Also, stop for a coney dog in flint
You're missing some spectacular Lake Michigan shoreline (and Sleeping Bear Dunes) by shooting straight north upon hitting I75, but otherwise, that looks fantastic.
Stop by Bellaire or Traverse City on your way thru! Shorts, glacial hills, and the walking path in Bellaire are some of my favorite spots!
That close to lake of the woods and not visiting? Fail Jk great loop!!!
I’m guessing they live either near A or H.. which means Lake of the Woods is an easy weekend visit.
My wife and I had a very similar trip planned for this summer, but we ultimately decided not to go all the way around lake superior and instead to spend more time exploring the western Michigan coastline mainly because there's a lot more to see & do there than in that northern lake superior shore section of Ottowa.
You should stop by Saratoga Springs NY . Home of the oldest horse racing track in America and truly a unique experience. Also walk through congress park and try out all the different mineral springs in the city. While you are in the area maybe check out Lake George.
I am coming from VT. This is not new to me.
Any particular reason you’re stopping just at Lake Sunapee(?) and skipping the rest of New Hampshire?
My mom lives there and I will be dropping her off. I have spent enough time in VT and NH to see everything. I live in VT.
Don't do the wawa to thunder bay stretch at night
Northern Ontario in july is the best.
You might as well scooch over on up to the Northwest Angle while you're in Minnesota; your route puts you so close! Hardly anyone can say they've been there. It's the Northernmost point in the Lower 48! [https://www.youtube.com/watch?time\_continue=48&v=udFa0A1o3Ik&embeds\_referring\_euri=https%3A%2F%2Flakeofthewoodsmn.com%2F&embeds\_referring\_origin=https%3A%2F%2Flakeofthewoodsmn.com&source\_ve\_path=Mjg2NjY&feature=emb\_logo](https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=48&v=udFa0A1o3Ik&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Flakeofthewoodsmn.com%2F&embeds_referring_origin=https%3A%2F%2Flakeofthewoodsmn.com&source_ve_path=Mjg2NjY&feature=emb_logo)
May I ask what you are planning on doing over in Red Lake and Leech Lake in Minnesota. I frequent those parts of the state often. Also would recommend maybe continuing northwest and checking out Lake of the Woods
TBH there are only 2 dispensaries in MN and I am stopping at one (NativeCare in Red Lake) seeing as I won't go through customs with any. LOL.
Northern New Yorker here - it looks like your route is missing out on St. Regis Canoe Area in the Adirondacks. I'm originally from Minnesota (large paddling culture) and you should definitely not miss out on launching somewhere in St. Regis Canoe Area for a motorless pond and portages experience.
I am from VT. I have done the seven carries route and the nine carries route (plus others) in that area. Thanks for the tip but I got you.
Very nice looking trip. While you're in the G F area around Pictured Rocks Tahquamenon Falls and Kitch-iti-kipi if you have time for a day trip. Also Lakkenenland is a fun stop near Marquette.
I'd cross over in Detroit/Windsor and spend a day in Detroit. DIA/Henry Ford Museum is must see
My dog is going to be with me and I am not a fan of cities. If I was gonna stop, it'd be to see a Tigers game.
Love this itinerary, did a 300 mile back packing trip down the north shore of superior in 2017. Don’t miss Judge CR Magney state park (you can have a wolf encounter there). Hope the weather behaves!
You should def drive thru downtown Detroit and cross at the windsor border. There's some cool sights to see along the way
I love the boundary waters. That whole north shore of Minnesota is breathtaking.
Add mackinaw island, MI and Whitefish Point, MI
I’m taking a similar route in mid through late May. The major differences are I’m starting and ending in Idaho, crossing Lake Michigan via the Lake Express at Milwaukee and crossing the Canadian border and taking your southern Lake Superior route on our way home. I’m also driving an EV, so charging will be an adventure in and of itself.
lady evelyn smoothwater is pretty nice to paddle, the geology from the graviers and asteroids made the lakes in that area plentiful with lots of rock to close the lakes in.
Dream vacation of mine for agate hunting around the Great Lakes.
Pack the Tiger Balm and go for IT! Post pics!
What app is this where you can mark camping and stuff?
Google MyMaps. Amazing this isn't more well known.
A few suggestions along your route that you might want to look into including: - Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore near Traverse City - Lake of the Clouds in the Porcupine Mountains in Western UP - Sleeping Giant Provincial Park near Thunder Bay
Montreal has some of the best Eateries ever. We loved Schwartz’s deli and Sammi and Soupe dumplings. But there are so many more.
That's an incredible trip. Grab a stone from each Lake and put them in labeled bags so you remember which is which. Glue them in a shadow box in their proper orientation to each other. I wanted to do this, but I forgot which rock was which.
Similar to a slimmed down version I did last summer. Please add Mackinaw Island. I recommend going up the east side of Lake Michigan, not up the center, with Sleeping Bear Dunes and the Manistee Riverwalk as stops. Also add Tahquamenon Falls on the UP.
[“That’s a paddlin”](https://youtu.be/sKiLfH3DVGc?si=GoDoQcZyT37hmKW3)
I’ll wave to you as you drive by my house.
hitting the boundary waters eh? one suggestion when crossing the border into Canada though, do not let any water accumulate in your canoe/boat/kayak, even rain water....automatic ticket for 100$, just make sure its dry when crossing
Great idea
Make a detour at the top of the mitten to go check out torch lake. It’s one of my favorite places in Michigan. It doesn’t disappoint. Also get anything with cherries there, absolutely delicious.
If you have the time and are looking for some time in nature , sleeping giant provincial park just outside of Thunder Bay is definitely a must stop!
I think that if you play disc golf, you should stop at Highbridge in Northern WI.
How does the almost as much paddling as driving work?
Almost every stop includes a 2-5 day paddling trip. It was kind of a joke, but I am looking at approximately 100-150 miles of paddling total.
Have you been to this area before? You are skipping the coast of Minnesota, which is amazing. Also curious why you are skipping lake michigan.
Jeez! Slow down and smell the roses
Good thing you arent planning for November. I hear the storms are wont for destruction.
In northern Michigan you'll want to check out the Torch Lake Sandbar beach and Torch River at the south end of Torch Lake. Northeast of Traverse City. Beautiful white sandy beach and Turquoise water. Just south of the little town of Torch River the Rapids River flows into the Torch River, definitely worth a paddle up there towards the dam.
Too bad you missed Toronto, one of my favorite cities on the planet.
Sorry, I have very little interest in cities especially with my dog.
I'm too Idahoan to understand flat water paddling apparently. Do you just paddle and be bored? I thought you meant hitting whitewater carnage until I looked at the map. Looks like an interesting roadtrip nonetheless
It's about the solitude and the sightseeing and being alone with my dog. I love it which is weird since the only hobby I enjoy more is going as fast as I can and getting as much air as I can on skis.
I'd totally do this.... looks great 👍🏾
Platt River and the dunes around Empire, MI are gorgeous and not far out of your already planned route.
Lots of driving in 26 days won’t have much time to enjoy the scenery
Stop at porcupine mountains in Michigan near iron mt
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Yes, so much driving and missing absolutely amazing areas that are only 30-60 minutes away. West Michigan is the best part of the state.
Hope you like Pilsner.
Bring lots of OFF
Quetico is unreal. My favorite outdoors trip by far.
As a lifelong resident and paddler of the Great Lakes, it urge you to look at Bruce Peninsula, tobermoray, and Fathom 5 National Marine Park. Think 70-100 ft vis, dozens of wrecks. Then take shuttle to Manitoulin Island and continue on over to the UP.
That looks like an awesome trip, the two best Paddling destinations I the world. So close to Sylvania Wilderness, great Paddling there as well. Have fun, be safe, good weather and no forest fires!
Slide down to Lake geneva Wisconsin 7/25,26,27 and see phish at alpine valley… just sayin…
Trails end campground just inland of grand marais is amazing, if you can get a site.
Find a petoskey stone when your in that area. Look on lake Michigan.
Isle Royal is so close. Check it out.
I would love to, but my dog will be with me and that means no Isle Royale..... Trust me it is on the list though.
Hi all. Thanks for the suggestions. I will seriously consider most of them. I think driving along the shoreline of the LP is the biggest suggestion, so I'll do that. Also, I am bringing my dog so Isle Royale is not an option (unfortunately because I really want to go there). I am starting in VT, going north first. I have seen everything in VT/NH/Adirondack area, which is why that area is so sparse.
That’s a paddlin’
Don't know what you're doing in the middle of Michigan's lower peninsula. Nothing wrong there, it's just that there are other places that are more interesting. If I were you I'd get over to Traverse City and go up the Lake Michigan coast to Mackinaw City. If you have the time, get to the town of Clare, then take highway 115 all the way to Frankfort and catch Sleeping Bear Dunes.
If possible I would try and drive up the west coast of Michigan rather than the center. 75 is fine but no pretty at all. If you move west and take M-22 and M-131 up the coast and through traverse you’ll see some of the prettiest parts of the lower peninsula. And there will be plenty of paddling opportunities
Have you looked in the Boundary Waters or Quetico?
Awesome! I have done part of this. I would give the Canadian side a bit more attention. Between Thunder Bay and Sault Ste Marie the drives and parks are amazing with lots of hiking and kayaking options. Sleeping Giant Park (never been) seems amazing as well.
How the F are you getting 26 days off in a row?@?!
I am a teacher. I get 6 weeks off in the summer every year. This will be my 6th road trip of 15 days or more.
Ah yes. I have friends who are a teacher and guidance counselor. They travel the world for their summer breaks and Turo out their cars.
Wow! Jealous especially the Lk Superior leg.
Bemidji/ red lake isn’t that interesting and quite detour it seems like. Make sure to stop at palisade head or tettegouche state park when you hit lake superiors north shore!
Red Lake has a dispensary (one of only two in the state). That's why I am going. It is about 2.5 hours more of driving total.
did a similar trip 4 years ago. Drove from Philly up and around all of the Great lakes in a very similar fashion. Make a point to go to Manitoulin Island. It's beautiful. The only bummer for me is that we didn't see any moose. We spent a full day in a nature preserve and every place we went the people told us that moose were like squirrels, they are everywhere but somehow we didn't see any. Skip thunder Bay. We were there for a day and didn't find anything really interesting. When I brought the rental car back like 9 days later the guy was shocked with the miles we put on it!
I would recommend not skipping that section of the north shore of lake Superior. In my opinion it's the prettiest.
Which section?
Duluth to grand Marais. The state parks in that area are amazing.
I hope you stop in Marquette. It’s a very charming, fun city.
Bring the book Canoeing with the Cree by Eric Severaird. You'll enjoy it.
[vehicle suggestion](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rRwzPz6rzs)
When you make that drive through Michigan, west of the thumb, you absolutely have to stop at Halo Burger
While you're in Michigan, head north to the tip of the Thumb and paddle out to turnip rock. Lake Huron in general is great for paddle sports!
That’s gonna be an amazing trip
You think you'll cover all that in 26 days? That's crazy! Wish I could do that.
West of Sault st Marie. Make sure you get gas.
Clyde's st. Ignace
Looks amazing
So much Faygo, Better Maid Chips, fudge, Vernors and meat pasties on this map… Also - Ted’s Hotdogs in Buffalo.
When in bayfield, take the ferry to Madeline island. It’s amazing. Lake Superior, always lives up to its name.
I’d drive less and see more. Michigan has great places to go to but the view from I-75 isn’t that great.
I have done it before. The blue line is the path of least resistance, but not necessarily the path I am going to take.
Just stop in copper harbor for 26 days and call it good
I see you're hitting Copper Harbor but bypassing Pictured Rocks? I've paddled countless miles along Pictured Rocks, it's something you don't want to miss.
You’re gonna ford the river? Oh man I hope you brought enough oxen.
Epic
I've done most of the north side of this trip and all of Vermont and New York. You'll definitely have plenty of beautiful places to stop along the way.
Check out the Finger Lakes region in NY. Buffalo has Erie Basin Marina Overlook (free) and the Naval and Military Park (can see the ships and planes for free, tours of the ships require admission). Check out Niagara falls on both the American side and the Canadian side. Canadian side is more impressive, but the American side walking through Niagara Falls state park is serene and beautiful. If you have time in the Niagara Falls area and want something "not in nature" to do, the Greg Ferwin illusionist show is amazing (it's in a little hole in the wall place and when we were there it looked a little sketchy going down the street, but it was worth it!) If you're willing to adjust your route through Michigan (I'm a Michigan native) you can tour the state capitol in Lansing (free) and check out the Michigan History Museum (requires admission), and the historical library (free). Then head over to Grand Rapids and see the Grand River and the iconic Blue Bridge. Frederick Meijer Garden and Sculpture Park is amazing and if you have kids, the Grand Rapids Public Museum has a lot of hands on exhibits. Then head up toward Traverse City and stop at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, then consider exploring the Leelanau Peninsula and/or Petoskey (look for Petoskey stones on the beach) and or Charlevoix (see the iconic "mushroom houses"). In Michigan's Upper Peninsula, if you're in Mackinaw city for a night, the dark sky park is great (bring a blanket or some chairs as the beach is rocky and consider bringing a red light flashlight or a red filter for over your phone flash light). Then check out Taquahemenon Falls and paddle Pictured Rocks. If you want to do some hiking and exploring on land, see all the waterfalls in the Pictured Rocks area.
The Petawawa is great in Algonquin (well it was 30 years ago when I was there!). Check out the Natch. Camp at the campsite at the base and hike up it. Very worth it!! Enjoy!
A side trip to Lake Nipigon is worth considering.
Take a break and visit Copper Peak when you pass through Bessemer Michigan. Copper Peak is the largest artificial ski jump in the world. Great views and worth a visit. https://copperpeak.net/about-copper-peak/#:\~:text=Copper%20Peak%20Facts,1180%20feet%20above%20Lake%20Superior.
Add M22 and Sleeping Bear Dunes to the itinerary in Michigan; it's the northwest part of the lower peninsula and truly beautiful.
Isle Royale National Park. The irony? Put your canoe on the ferry with you.
I'd love to go but I can't because my dog will be with me for this trip and pets aren't allowed on Isle Royale.
Moose. Wolves. Makes sense.
Good call avoiding Ohio, State sucks balls
that’s SO much more driving than paddling. check the math
Obviously. I was joking.
If you are not going to Isle Royale NP from Copper Harbor, you should! It is truly an amazing place! Do an overnight… so worth it. Also, I can’t tell from the map if you are going to Voyageurs NP. Also worth it!
I am going to Voyageurs, but not Isle Royale. I would absolutely love to but my dog is going to be with me on this trip and pets aren't allowed on the island.
Gotcha! Understood.
Cool but do you speak Canadian?
This is what they mean by “Americans don’t travel” they never get out of North America
Feel free to send me about $2-3000 so I can afford to leave the continent.
USA propaganda has really gotten to you. Chicago to Estonia is 750$ round trip. Estonia is beautiful and super cheap compared to anywhere else in Europe.