Paradise, MI Road Trips

Paradise is on the northeastern portion of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, on the western side of Whitefish Bay, Lake Superior. It is a tourism gateway to the Tahquamenon Falls and Whitefish Point. All vessels entering or leaving Lake Superior must sail past Whitefish Point, also known as the "Graveyard of the Great Lakes", 11 miles outside of town, one of the easternmost points on the Lake Superior coastline. The numerous shipwrecks in the area include the very first ship known to sail on Superior, the 60-foot trading vessel Invincible, which was lost in 1816.

1 Whitefish Point Light, 18335 N Whitefish Point Rd., ☏ +1 906 635-1742. The oldest active lighthouse on Lake Superior when it was automated in 1971. The first light tower, built with stone in 1848 and powered by whale oil, was replaced with the present steel tower during the Lincoln administration in 1861. Home to the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum, which exhibits salvaged artifacts from shipwrecks in the Whitefish Point Underwater Preserve, and the bell from the wreck of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald, a US ship which sank in 1975 in the area (but just across the international boundary into Canada, which is water). Admission to the museum includes access and tours of the former coast guard buildings and an exhibit of a lifesaving boat and equipment. Access to the grounds is free. 2 Tahquamenon Falls (Upper and Lower Falls), 41382 W. M 123 (From the Mackinac Bridge: I-75 north to exit #352. Turn left (west) onto M-123 toward Paradise. Turn left (west) at the blinking light in Paradise to continue on M-123. Lower Falls is 10 miles west of Paradise, Upper Falls is 14 miles west of Paradise. From Newberry/M-28: Turn north onto M-123 at the blinking light near McDonald's and Comfort Inn. The Upper Falls is 25 miles ahead, the Lower Falls is 29 miles ahead.), ☏ +1 906-492-3415, [email protected]. 8AM-10PM. The Tahquamenon Falls are two different waterfalls on the Tahquamenon River. Both falls are near Lake Superior in the eastern Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The water is notably brown in color from the tannins leached from the cedar swamps which the river drains.

1 Whitefish Point Underwater Preserve, ☏ +1 906-492-3415, +1 906-492-3415 (off-season), toll-free: +1-800-447-2757. Scuba diving. Wrecks including the Comet, John B. Cowle, Drake, Samuel Mather, Miztec, Myron, Niagara, John M. Osborn, Sagamore, Superior City and Vienna are protected by the Whitefish Point Underwater Preserve for future generations of sports divers. Many of the 23 known shipwrecks lying in depths from 30 feet (9.1 m) to 270 feet (82 m) are moored to protect the wrecks and enhance the safety of divers. The preserve has good visibility and offers deep water diving on a variety of shipwrecks. The preserve is one of the last places in the Great Lakes to observe shipwrecks without zebra mussel encrustation. Dry suits are recommended due to cold temperatures and unprotected coves or bays. Most of the dive sites are deep and divers must be certain of their ability and their equipment before they attempt to dive in this preserve. The wrecks in Whitefish Bay are accessed at the Whitefish Point State Harbor. Free. 2 Whitefish Point Bird Observatory (end of North Whitefish Point Road), ☏ +1 906-492-3596, [email protected]. Bird watching. Whitefish Point is a premier birding destination during spring and fall migration. The Whitefish Point Unit of the Seney National Wildlife Refuge provides important migratory bird migration habitat for raptors, waterbirds, and songbirds. Whitefish Point is a designated Important Bird Area.

1 Tahquamenon Falls State Park, 41382 W. M-123, ☏ +1 906 492-3415. Camping available year round. (updated Jan 2021)