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The 5 Best Things to Do in Munising Michigan

| Updated Apr 16, 2021

Munising MI was one of the first destinations Jennifer and I ventured to when we started RVing!

Take a look at this video I did of the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore all the way back in 2012 when Jennifer and I first started our RVing adventures. This isn’t even on our YouTube channel!

This video will give you a good look at what to expect up near Munising.

 

Our Favorite Things to Do in Munising MI

Munising is part of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, about an hour and a half drive away from Tahquamenon Falls State Park. 

As you can see from the video, it's a beautiful destination with plenty of trees and water to enjoy. 

In addition to the natural beauty, there are lots of great things to do in Munising, MI. Here are some of our favorites!

Eat a Pasty!

I've already talked about Muldoons in another article of 7 Awesome Attractions in Michigan's Upper Peninsula but it's definitely worth mentioning again.

Muldoons' Pasties are a local favorite and why many visitors come to the area! Muldoons is just west of downtown. You can't miss it because it has a big statue of Bigfoot out front.

If you're wondering what pasties are, let me tell you– they're delicious! They are a sort of meat and vegetable pie that are a staple in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. They're made with beef or chicken and originated from the working class that worked the once-thriving iron and copper mines.

Yoopers (a nickname for Michigan U.P.ers) are divided on how they like their pasties. The “Trolls” (from below the Mackinac Bridge), “Cheeseheads” (from Wisconsin), and “Flatlanders” (from Illinois) tend to prefer thick gravy. Others, however, opt for ketchup.

Oh, and if you're interested in why there's a Bigfoot in front of Muldoons, you can watch this video:

Munising Falls

Munising Falls

After filling up on pasties, we recommend heading to Munising Falls and the Munising Falls Visitor Center.

There are TONS of waterfalls in this area, especially near Munising. The Munising Falls are located within the city limits of Munising, a short paved trail leads you up the cool sandstone canyon along Munising Creek to two viewing platforms at the base of the falls.

You can chase more waterfalls in and around the national lakeshore.

The Visitors Center has exhibits on early iron smelting, geology, forest history, rare and endangered species, and logging which portray the diversity of our nation's first national lakeshore.

Glass-Bottom Boat Tour

Take a glass-bottom boat tour and visit the amazing Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore by boat. All along the Pictured Rocks area are towering sandstone formations, you can explore the caves and rock formations up close from the water.

But why the glass-bottom, you might ask?

Well, this area is known for the large number of shipwrecks that have occurred over the years. And in the crystal clear waters of Lake Superior, you can see down up to 50 feet into these wrecks!

Here are your options for boat tours, they usually operate from Memorial Day weekend to mid-October.

Glass Bottom Shipwreck Tour: Two-hour tours are given out of Munising. Phone: 906-387-4477

Pictured Rocks Boat Cruises: Two and a half to three-hour cruises along the national lakeshore out of Munising. Phone: 906-387-2379

Munising Pirate Cruises: The pirate ship Good Fortune offers one-hour family cruises, with pirate training for kids, and one and half hour sunset cruises for adults. Phone: 920-940-8301

Kayaking

Pictured Rocks kayaking

If kayaking is more your style than a boat tour, these two companies offer guided kayak tours of Pictured Rocks.

Northern Waters Adventures: Full day and morning/evening half-day tours. Phone: 906-387-2323

Pictured Rocks Kayaking: Five-hour morning and afternoon tours. Phone: 906-387-5500

Hiking

birth trees

Inside the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore – trails, steps, and access roads abound leading to beaches and three National Park campgrounds (which we’ll talk about below).

There are many scenic places within the national lakeshore that have hiking trails including:

  • Sand Point
  • Sand Point Marsh Trail
  • Miners Falls
  • Miners Castle
  • White Birch Forest
  • White Birch Nature Trail
  • Chapel Rock
  • Chapel Beach

The majority of these are accessible from the National Park campgrounds within the lakeshore.

Visit these links to plan your visit to scenic sites and nature trails.

Things You Should Know…

There are several picturesque campgrounds in the Munising area, but there are a couple of things you need to know about before camping here. 

This is black bear country. Keep your food locked away. Watch your pets.

But a more common problem is another wild critter that is particularly irksome: The black fly.

There are swarms of them along the Superior shoreline that can make life quite miserable for most of the summer.

Of the five days we were in the area, the flies seemed to come and go. Two days were miserable. The other three, inexplicably, were relatively fly-free.

My advice is to be sure to bring long pants. The flies seem to bite the ankles and legs. Or, come in the fall, after the first killing frost. Otherwise, I'm sure you'll encounter them.

Again, the flies don’t bite all the time. And they are a small price to pay for some of the most beautiful wilderness you’ll find anywhere.

The 5 Best Things to Do in Munising Michigan 17 Day Adventure Guide to Michigan's Upper Peninsula

We've written a library of RV Travel books that lay out seven-day guided explorations of scenic areas of the US that we’ve explored and think would make an excellent RV trip for you.

And, the library includes Michigan's Upper Peninsula Travel Guide!

In each location (including Munising), we provide a suggested route and itinerary (7 stops in each guide, one for each day of a week trip!) as well as links to multiple campgrounds and boondocking spots, local tips, and interesting things to do at each location.

You can hit everything in seven days, do a whirlwind weekend tour, or you can take your time and explore the area over a 2+ week period.

Planning an RV trip can be very time-consuming so that’s why we’ve done the research for you! Just take our guides and use them, we’re sure you’ll have an RV trip for the ages! Instant download. CLICK HERE for information on our RV Travel Guides

Mike Wendland

Published on 2021-04-16

Mike Wendland is a multiple Emmy-award-winning Journalist, Podcaster, YouTuber, and Blogger, who has traveled with his wife, Jennifer, all over North America in an RV, sharing adventures and reviewing RV, Camping, Outdoor, Travel and Tech Gear for the past 12 years. They are leading industry experts in RV living and have written 18 travel books.

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