Island Time, U.P. Style: Where to Go & Things to Do 

Does your idea of the perfect escape include forging new paths through wild terrain, watching sunsets across turquoise waters and uncovering long-ago stories of intrepid adventurers? If that’s the case, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula islands are calling.

Surrounded by the mighty freshwater seas of Lake Michigan, Huron and Superior, these islands offer the off-the-grid freedom and awestruck wonder that explorers crave. Whether hiking remote trails, biking along windswept ridges, paddling through tranquil coves or stepping into the echoes of the past — you’ll find yourself in a world far removed from routine and rich with the thrill of discovery. You will long to return to these islands again and again.

Explore These Five Vastly Different, But Equally Alluring Islands
 

Mackinac Island | Drummond Island | Isle Royale National Park | Grand Island | Les Cheneaux Islands | More Islands

Mackinac Island | Lake Huron

Often called Michigan’s Crown Jewel, Mackinac Island is a car-free destination. It invites you to wander storied streets on foot or to  bike along a shoreline so breathtaking you'll keep stopping to take it all in. The island hospitality is so heartfelt that you feel instantly you belong. 

How to get to and around Mackinac Island

Your island adventure begins at the ferry docks in St. Ignace, where you'll set off for a world unlike your own. To create an extraordinary start, request tickets for the route that goes beneath the mighty Mackinac Bridge that links Michigan’s Lower and Upper Peninsulas. Or you can fly into Mackinac Island Airport or come by private boat. 

The moment you arrive at Mackinac, time begins loosening its grip. You will hear the cheerful ring of bicycle bells and the rhythmic clip-clop of horse hooves — reminders that there are no cars on this 4.35-square-mile retreat.

Most historic sites, shops and restaurants are easily explored on foot. You’re welcome to bring your bike on the ferry, but with more than 1,500 available for rent — including tandems, fat-tire bikes, kids' burleys and mobility scooters — it’s easy to find the right ride. Rental shops line Main Street, with rates that vary by location.

Horse-drawn carriage tours offer fascinating glimpses into the island’s past and present. For a more personal pace, you can rent a horse or carriage and set out on a self-guided journey back to a simpler time.

Things to do on Mackinac Island

With so much to do, it’s easy to craft a new adventure every time you visit. The link below offers a full list of ideas from hearing the cannon fire at Fort Mackinac to standing in a cloud of fluttering wings at the Original Butterfly House.

Mackinac is famous worldwide for the tempting scent of creamy, homemade fudge drifting from downtown shops and the mouthwatering meals and thirst-quenching drinks served at tranquil waterfront patios, lively pubs and elegant, history-filled restaurants.

Time your visit with one of the island’s iconic summer festivals, like June’s Lilac Festival and parade or July’s W.T. Rabe Stone Skipping Contest, Fireworks, Yacht Races and Vintage Baseball Games. These are moments that bring families and friends together.

However you choose to spend your time, a visit to Mackinac is more than a getaway - it’s a tradition worth sharing for generations.

Drummond Island | Lake Huron

Drummond Island is located off the coast of the far eastern end of the Upper Peninsula. It is a rugged, adventure-packed, recreational playground that doubles as a relaxing year-round “Island Time” destination. 

Getting to Drummond Island

Most visitors reach Drummond Island via the car ferry from DeTour Village. Crossing over the St. Marys River takes around 15 minutes, with ferries running regularly and accommodating everything from cars and motorcycles to ATVs, ORVs and snowmobiles. You can also arrive by private boat, docking at several full-service marinas or by air through the island’s paved-runway airport.

Top reasons to visit Drummond Island

As the second largest island in the Great Lakes, it is a place where you can do what you love most on land or water. There are miles of scenic off-road vehicle and snowmobile trails and a heritage water trail for kayaking. You can take a daysail on a tall ship, enjoy world-class fishing for perch, pike and walleye or scuba dive for historic shipwrecks. Explore the Maxton Plains Preserve to see plants native to the Arctic tundra, Great Plains and the Great Lakes, hike to fossil ledges or simply soak up the sun on a quiet beach. 

Everywhere you go on this island, new vistas and adventures await. Don’t miss them!

Isle Royale National Park | Lake Superior

Isle Royale National Park is one of the least visited national parks in the U.S.A., but that doesn’t mean you should skip over it. Come once and you will understand why this park is also one of the most revisited national parks nationwide, booked for months in advance. 

The Wall Street Journal named Isle Royale the “Best National Park,” outranking Denali, Yellowstone, Big Bend and others. National Geographic even added it to its “Best of the World” picks! If you thrive on exploring the Earth’s wildest side, put it on your island bucket list.

Getting to Isle Royale

Isle Royale and over 450 smaller islands surrounding it are part of an archipelago 53 miles northwest of Copper Harbor, Michigan, and 20 miles east of Grand Portage, Minnesota. Reaching this national park is not a spur-of-the-moment decision. It requires planning and coordinating transportation and lodging at least one to two months in advance. 

The quickest way to reach Isle Royale is by seaplane from Hubbell, Michigan to Windigo or Rock Harbor. Weather permitting, flights run between May 18 and September 20 and take about an hour one-way.

You can also catch a ferry from Houghton, Michigan, a six-hour one-way trip or from Copper Harbor in about three-and-a-half hours — both boats dock in Rock Harbor. 

Day trips are doable, but not recommended because of how tough it is to experience the island in such a short period. Plan to stay at least two to three nights at Rock Harbor Lodge and cottages, the two rustic cabins in Windigo or any of the 36 campgrounds.

Whichever way you travel, the journey across Lake Superior makes visiting Isle Royale unforgettable.

Incredible wilderness experiences

If there is a paradise for hikers, backpackers, paddlers, divers and wildlife watchers, this is it. With more than 160 miles of trails, inland lakes, shipwrecks and historic sites, Isle Royale is a haven for those seeking solitude, scenic beauty and a deep connection with nature. Explore boreal forests, watch moose wade through quiet coves, paddle calm harbors, hear wolves howl  or hike to lighthouses and rocky overlooks. Free of cars and filled with natural wonders, Isle Royale is a place where you can disconnect and then answer its call to return soon and often.

Grand Island | Lake Superior

Grand Island is a half-mile off the north coast of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula near Munising and more than lives up to its name. This spectacularly scenic island is home to pristine beaches, towering sandstone cliffs, inland lakes and old-growth hardwood forests — rivaled only by the nearby Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.  

Getting to Grand Island

Most visitors reach Grand Island via the Grand Island Ferry Service, which runs several times daily from late May through mid-October. The boat departs from a dock along M-28, just 2.5 miles west of Munising. Personal watercraft are not permitted to land on the island and there are no permanent docks; boats must be anchored offshore or beached with caution. For those arriving by kayak or private boat, always check local weather and nautical charts before making the trip, as much of the shoreline is cliff-lined and challenging to access.

You can only reach Grand Island in winter by snowmobile, cross-country skis or snowshoes. Be cautious crossing the ice — this is done at your own risk. It is gorgeous and serene in the snowy months, but know before you venture there that the weather near Lake Superior can become ferocious quickly.

Before going to the island, pay the day-use forest and camping fees. You can find fee prices, a map and additional visitor information here.

Things to do on Grand Island

The link below describes 10 favorite things to do on the island.  Among the top five are kayaking along the sandstone cliffs, mountain biking the 21-mile perimeter trail, taking the interpretive bus tour to hear the island’s geological, Native American and cultural stories, visiting the lighthouse and, in winter, exploring the picturesque ice caves. 

Become one with Nature’s grandeur and gentle grace.

Les Cheneaux Islands | Lake Huron

The Les Cheneaux Islands are a chain of 36 small islands along 12 miles of Lake Huron shoreline in the southeastern Upper Peninsula. The name is the French word for “The Channels.” It is a peaceful archipelago with a rich heritage, wooden boat-loving residents and annual events that draw people from near and far. 

Getting to the Les Cheneaux Islands

You can access these islands by car, boat or plane. Two islands, Government Island and  Hill Island, are reachable by road, while Hessel and Cedarville serve as ideal launch points with public marinas. Travelers can also fly into Albert J. Lindberg Airport, just outside of Hessel.

The forever allure of Les Cheneaux

Explorers are nothing new on these islands. Native Americans and European fortune seekers once used this chain of islands as a strategic outpost and hub for explorations. Bootleggers stopped over here during Prohibition on their whiskey runs between Canada and Mackinac Island. You can learn more about these and other adventurers in local museums. Locals recommend that you go on the lighthouse cruise, book a sunset or overnight kayak trip or attend the acclaimed Antique Wooden Boat Show in August. You can also take a boat-building or restoration class and then hunt for art treasures in local shops or at the Festival of the Arts.

Experience firsthand why the islands’ pristine water, air and woodlands earned the Nature Conservancy’s designation as one of the Last Great Places in the Western Hemisphere. It truly is.

Many more island-time gems beckon

The Upper Peninsula is home to many other Great Lakes, river and inland lake islands. Some are uninhabited, others have historic lighthouses and still others enjoy year-round communities. Add these four to your island escape list:

Sugar Island | Sault Ste. Marie | Named for its sugar maples, it has miles of hiking and biking trails. Fun fact: The island once vied to be the United Nations Headquarters. 

Neebish Island | Sault Ste. Marie | Excellent place to watch freighters. Ships going to Lake Superior pass on the east side of the island and those going to Lake Huron on the west side. The island has an unspoiled landscape with an abundance of wildflowers and wildlife. | It is accessible by ferry. 

Voyageur Island | Sault Ste. Marie | Do you long for a private island experience? This secluded island is reachable by kayak, canoe or paddleboard | Ideal for freighter watching, it also allows glimpses of wildlife, including deer and moose, on hikes.

Little Presque Isle | Marquette | The 18 miles of trails are popular for day hikes and mountain biking. It’s a great destination for fishing, wildlife viewing and paddling, too. | The exposed rock formations date back 2.3 billion years.

Plan your U.P. island getaway today

Whether you’re planning a weekend getaway or a longer adventure, there’s an island in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula waiting to welcome you. Make your lodging reservations now and experience how rejuvenating life can be when you’re on island time.