What's your favorite season to go to the U.P.?

Hi there,

I%26#39;m told summer is best because it%26#39;s warm, but I also read the warnings about mosquitoes and biting black flies. Fall has the colors, winter has it%26#39;s sports, and spring? Perhaps waterfalls at their peak?

What%26#39;s your favorite season to go?

Thanks! :-)

What's your favorite season to go to the U.P.?

Summer is best, after the 4th of July, though there can still be the mosquitos (based on the rain they have received, usually), but I think black fly season is over with latter in the summer. Don%26#39;t quote me on it, though. Someone will chime in that is from there. Or early fall, when the colors first come out-late September is nice. No bugs, no crowds, hopefully fairly warm weather, but if not, you can bundle up. Where in the UP are you thinkin of going, or the whole UP? Let us know.

What's your favorite season to go to the U.P.?

That depends on what you want to do...

My favortite time here is from July 1 through Labor Day....days are long and nights are warm usually with low humidity.

Great for hiking, biking, and of course berry season peaks around early July...

Mosquitoes, check, got %26#39;em.

Black flies, check, got %26#39;em, too, but late May and into June is usually the worst dependingon wher eyou are in the U.P.

But don%26#39;t let a few bugs keep you away...

After Labor Day the fall season can be beautiful...and warm temps can be had through September...October usually cools with crisp autumn air and nice color into early to mid-October.

I am not big on winter sports but if you enjoy snow, well it%26#39;s pretty much guaranteed you will find it in the U.P. We just completed 27 straight days of measurable snowfall (a record).

Spring is hit or miss....can be great temps and sunny skies or snow as late as Memorial Day...

All the seasons have their particular charm it just depends on your interests and how active you want to be...

(Disclosure-- not a fall-color seeker.)

Another vote for the period of July through the first two weeks of September. Late summer/start of autumn allows almost all swimmable lakes to be sufficiently warm and doesn%26#39;t provide a shock when wanting to do morning bike rides. Summer%26#39;s tail end also provides chances to see fairs (incl. Escanaba%26#39;s UP State Fair) and high school football games.

Not going beyond early September means avoiding the start of small game hunting season for my hikes, runs, and bikes... though many grouse hunters wait until later in the fall than the opener, once fall winds knock down leaf cover; just one fewer worry.

Agree about the biting insect summary as well. The best situation is a stretch of warmer-than-normal weather after a cold spell; then mosquitoes have been knocked down as well as no black flies. However, it%26#39;s tougher to plan or predict around it.

Last half of July and all of August are great times. Hardly any bugs, warm nights, and the lake has finally warmed up enough to swim in. Laying on the beach, kayaking in the lake, hiking around the Keweenaw...can%26#39;t beat summer!

Then again I love to cross country (skate) ski and conditions are perfect right now so I love it up here now as well. Low 20%26#39;s...fresh snow...no wind..Awwww...can%26#39;t beat winter!

Thank you for the replies!

I%26#39;m really hoping to get up to the UP at some point this year with my hubby and 17 year old son.

It%26#39;s a pilgrimage of sorts... about a year ago I was talking to an uncle of mine right after my mom passed and found out a little more about the family history. I was born in California but most of my older family were from the great lakes area orininally, and some are still around there, specifically Michigan and Wisconson. Apparently both my mom and dad (who died years ago) were born in Hancock Michigan. I grew up on pasties and have been to a sauna or two, but I never knew about all the Finnish culture in Hancock! I never knew my parents were born in such a rustic beautiful area! I do remember hearing stories about a lot of snow though! Ha ha!

Anyway, I%26#39;m specifically interested to see the Keweenaw peninsula, and perhaps stay around Hancock or Houghton. Any serious planning is still in it%26#39;s beginning stage concerning lodging, length of stay etc. I do know I want to eat lots of pasties and meet some ';Yoopers';! :-) We%26#39;d probably want to rent bikes for some leisurely rides, take lots of pictures, relax and explore any historical sites.

If we go in summer, we may try some canoeing or go for a swim. I also hear there are some beautiful waterfalls around. Any horse riding in the area?

Thanks for asking, and thank you for your help! I already know I%26#39;m going to be overwhelmed!

:-)

Hello podo944,

Here are a few sites about Waterfalls.

Upper Peninsula Waterfall Page

(has pictures of some falls)

http://home.comcast.net/~ratburt/web/up.html

Upper Michigan Waterfalls

www.uppermichiganwaterfalls.com/home.html

I know here in the Manistique area there is horseback riding. The UP is full of things to do outdoors. When you do get more into the planning stage and know how many days you have then it will be easier to tell you about places to go and see.

True there are mosquitoes here and black flies but a lot of where you go will determine how bad or not bad they are. You can always go where there not.

If you copy and paste the link that shows some pictures it will take you to that web site. I just tried it.

Thanks for the waterfall links! Those pictures are so beautiful! Do they continue to run through the fall, or are they ususally dry by then from the summer heat?

Also, does a good bug spray keep the critters away? I really can%26#39;t stand insects on me! Ew ew ew!

I%26#39;d like to tell you a good bug spray would keep all the critters away...

That%26#39;s what I%26#39;d like to tell you...but nothing will keep every bug away...

That said, an insect repellant with 100% Deet is the best and will usually work pretty well.

As mentioned, the later in summer you visit the fewer bugs you will encounter and of course it also depends on where you are in nature and timing...as a general rule you will find many more insects in swampy areas and at dusk than in highlands and during the day...

Like I mentioned before, don%26#39;t let a few bugs keep you away...and if bugs are a huge concern, plan your visit for the early fall when the weather is still nice and the bugs are less, well, ';buggy';

The waterfalls do not dry up in the summer. We have lots of water around us. A hot day to us is 85°.

If your into waterfalls the Tahquamenon Falls State Park is something you may want to check out.

www.exploringthenorth.com/tahqua/tahqua.html

From Hancock to Paradise (paradise is just east of the falls) is about 240 miles. The Upper Falls is the 2nd largest falls East of the Mississippi River.

Here are some web sits about the Upper Peninsula -

http://hunts-upguide.com/

http://www.uptravel.com/

http://www.superiorsights.com/

http://www.michigan.org/

About bug spray, a good one is the one Avon sells but as 24fan has said, no bug spray will stop them all and it depends where you are.