Exploring Michigan's Upper Peninsula (Part 5) - Journey to the Village of Lake Linden Campground, Keweenaw Peninsula

“I would rather own a little and see the world than own the world and see a little of it.”

-Alexander Sattler 

July 20, 2024

We couldn't check into our next campground on the Keweenaw Peninsula until 2:00, and because it would only take us a couple of hours to drive to there, we decided to start our morning with a visit to the nearby Bay Furnace Campground & Historic Site in Hiawatha National Forest. 

We parked in the picnic area and enjoyed a quick walk on the beach before taking the short trail to the historic Bay Furnace. The furnace is all that remains of the once thriving settlement of Onota. The blast furnace was built in 1870 and was used to make pig iron until the town burned down in 1877.

The beach at Bay Furnace A view from Bay Furnace

The beach at Bay Furnace Ruins of Bay Furnace

After viewing the ruins we headed back to our campground and finished packing up before heading out on the next leg of our journey. We were sad to leave Munising and Pictured Rocks because we had enjoyed it very much, but it was time to move on.

As we headed west we stopped along the Lake Superior shoreline at a scenic overlook, where we found the historical sign below.

Heading west toward Marquette, we stopped at the Lakenenland Sculpture Park. We had passed by it earlier in the week when we visited Marquette, and decided to return to it on our way to the Keweenaw Peninsula.

The park is the creation of owner Tom Lakenenland, who spent the last 25 years creating more than 100 sculptures on his land near Marquette. The park is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and is free to the public, although donations are gladly accepted. We enjoyed roaming around the 37.5 acres and looking at all the sculptures dispersed throughout the park. There's also a picnic pavilion, band shell, a couple of ponds and a fire pit.

Below are a few photos from the park. You can see more by clicking here to see our YouTube Channel slide show.

After leaving the park we took Rt. 41 just south of Marquette, then continued heading west past Lake Michigamme until it turned north toward the Keweenaw Peninsula. We stopped for lunch at Canyon Falls Roadside Park and spent some time following the trail to the waterfalls. The 3.9 mile out-and-back trail leads along the Sturgeon River as it meanders along a series of rapids to the 15-foot falls, and then winds its way through a high rock gorge.

Trail to Canyon Falls Canyon Falls

Sturgeon River The Sturgeon River leading into a narrow canyon

After enjoying the falls we drove north to L'Anse Bay at the southeast edge of the Keweenaw Peninsula. We followed around the western shore of the beautful bay before heading further inland through Houghton and onwards toward Lake Linden until we arrived at the campground where we spent the next week.

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