What do you know about Michigan’s Upper Peninsula?
Commonly referred to as the “UP”, did you know that in 16,377 square miles (42,610 sq km) there is only 312,000 people? That’s just 16 people per square mile (7 per sq km)! The population to landmass ratio is so small that there’s but one area code for the whole UP, 906.
Of course where population squanders wilderness blossoms. Michigan’s Upper Peninsula holds 1,700 miles (2,700 km) of continuous shoreline nestled between three of the Great Lakes. As an added bonus there are around 4,300 inland lakes, Lake Gogebic being the largest, and 12,000 miles (19,000 km) of streams!
The most prominent perk is that about one third of the peninsula is government-owned recreational forest land, including the Ottawa National Forest and Hiawatha National Forest. This leaves space for a tranquil, untouched retreat.
My favorite informational tidbit is that the Upper Peninsula is connected to the better known half of Michigan’s lower peninsula by just one 5 mile (8 km) long bridge, The Mackinac Bridge.
Click and scroll through the gallery below for more information and a taste of 24 of my favorite rustic retreats in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Check out the links below to help plan your next trip!
