Day 9, Saturday, 19 September 2026 – Grand Marais to Sault Ste Marie
I woke up early as the motel was very much lacking in attention to detail and the stars were bright; Grand Marais isn’t bothered by a bunch of nearby light pollution. So I leave before 5 AM! I consider going to the beach & star gaze or to hit the road early. There’s my turn-off – the road wins. It starts off paved, but soon turns to more-dirt-than-gravel. It’s headed eastward, so I’m committed. Almost an hour of seemingly wandering and I finally hit pavement again. County Rd H-37 takes me to MI-123. It’s still very dark out at 0600, so I run into Newberry looking for breakfast; I find only a snack at a gas station..
I head north again and arrive at Tahquamenon Falls State Park, Upper Falls unit. The parking lot is rapidly filling up despite the early hour, so I grab my cameras and head for the overlooks, only ¼ mile away. The falls are spooky; mist shrouds the view of the falls. The water lacks the color most associated with them – it will soon regain the leaf-derived tannin that supplies the color.
Impressive even at seasonal minimum flow.
Yesterday’s excursions for waterfall viewing required over 300 steps each way, down & back up. The view I need today only requires a boardwalk and a 900 foot ramp. The boardwalk sports decorations and a natural archway.
View from rim of the falls
Now I drive to the lower falls unit, a few miles away. No climbing here, just a lot of walking, about 2 miles worth.
Falls are done. It’s time to head for Whitefish Point, one of the major ship graveyards of the Great Lakes. The Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum is hosted in a now-inactive Coast Guard lighthouse and lifesaving station, its featured exhibit is the Edmund Fitzgerald’s ship bell. The light is now automated and rescuers no longer need to face the storm in an 8-oared boat.
A beach shot - my last view of Superior! Can you make out Canada in the distance?
Another long (and rather boring) drive on MI-28 and I’m at the Soo. I can see the industrial build-up at the locks area, but can’t park nearby – the meters are app based and I allow no financial apps on my phone. I’ve been there before, even taken a tour boat through the locks. I occasionally check out my HIE hotel window in case a ship appears.
Supper at Don Jose’s, revamp a suitcase, and review Sunday's routes.
Tomorrow: I-75 to St. Ignace for a look at the bridge, then US-2 along Lake Michigan’s north shore and US-41/I-41 to Oshkosh.
For the day: 178.4 miles, for the trip: 1737.6
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