Day in the Lower Keweenaw

Each “round” or month in Marquette, I like to take at least one… day or weekend trip. So during MQT XI, I headed over to the Keweenaw for a quick day trip… and to check off two lighthouses from my list I hadn’t seen before! I hadn’t yet been to this part of the Keweenaw, so I was excited to explore. It’s the lower part of the eastern side of the Keweenaw. You still have to cross over the Portage Canal Lift Bridge (the only way to get to the Kee) but then you have to make your way around Portage Lake and back south down to White City/Jacobsville. I had a few ideas of things to do other than lighthouses, but a lot of these trips, I like to just… explore the area and see what’s around. Read on for my day and the things I discovered to do!

SUOMI HOME BAKERY & RESTAURANT

My first stop was to Suomi Restaurant. I visited for the first time last winter, and knew I had to go back. I waited to eat breakfast until I got to Houghton (about 2 hours from Marquette) to make sure I ate there, because it’s literally one of my favorite breakfasts ever now. It’s located in downtown Houghton and they feature traditional Finnish-style breakfasts and pastries. I love sitting at the bar, and I absolutely love their Pannukakku, which is an oven-baked, custard like Finnish pancake served with warm raspberry sauce. Holy moly. It slaps! You have to try… it’s a UP delight!

GRACE + GATHER

After that, I popped into Grace + Gather, which was my second time visiting. It’s so cute. I love it. It’s a clothing and home goods store located in downtown Houghton. They have such a beautifully curated selection, in an inviting space. They have a few different of their own brands in store — Covington & Co, which is their hand-picked clothing line. And Harbor + Pine Home Goods, which is their high-quality home goods that are both functional and beautiful. I picked up a UP spiral notebook, and a cozy green sweater tank. Be sure to stop in there if you’re visiting Houghton… but you can also shop everything online as well!

HUNGARIAN FALLS

After walking around downtown Houghton for a little bit, I made my way across the bridge into Hubbell to find Hungarian Falls. So I got a little lost… here. I made the mistake of following a bunch of college students, who I think were on a longer hike. But I saw cars and parked, and then ended up getting lost, having to go back to my car, and drive to the right spot to park. To find this one, you’ll drive up the hill a 1/2 mile to an access road marked by a closed gate. You’ll park along the shoulder, and hike in for 0.2 miles. (You’ll see signage if you park at the right spot!) There are four waterfalls apparently (I only saw one, I think, lol) but they can all be visited in 45 minutes to an hour. Happy waterfalling!

QUINCY MINING COMPANY STAMP MILL #1

After leaving the falls, I was making my way into Lake Linden, and drove past this abandoned stamp mill… and knew I had to stop! I knew there was an abandoned place for dope photos, but I wasn’t exactly sure where it was. But it’s right on the main road as you’re making your way north. This old stamp mill used to crush copper-bearing rock, separating the copper ore from surrounding rock and was built in 1860. The mill began to decline after World War I, but the Great Depression hit the mining industry hard, and it was closed in 1931. A very interesting place to explore!

DREAMLAND

Dreamland was one of my favorite places to visit on this trip. As I was making my way through Lake Linden and back down to the Portage Canal South entry, I drove past Dreamland… and had a little time to kill before sunset and visiting lighthouses, so I stopped in for a glass of wine. Walking into local bars can be so intimidating sometimes, but I mean… the welcome, and the human connection I had here was just so wonderful. I sat at the bar, and ordered my wine. I ended up chatting with the bartender who said that my TikTok popped up on his feed earlier that day. I was like… no way! And then I struck up a conversation with two local Yoopers sitting next to me who were so kind and recommended some additional places to visit. And then they told me to meet the owner, who gave me a little tour, and told me some of the history of the building/grounds. Dreamland has been in his family for generations! The town it’s in consists almost entirely of Dreamland, and was founded in 1913. There was once a dance pavilion, which burned in 1921, and Prohibition caused the closing of the bar, which didn’t reopen until 1947. Now it’s a full-service bar/restaurant, that serves up fish fry, burgers, pizza, sandwiches, fried snacks, and more. I loved this place. I’d go back every time I’m in the area. 10/10, recommend.

JACOBSVILLE LIGHTHOUSE

My next stop was to make my way to Jacobsville Lighthouse. I knew this was a private property/residence, which always makes me a little nervous because… most owners don’t want people just trespassing on their property. But when I arrived, I ended up spotting the owner outside working on the lawn, and he was incredibly kind and said I was welcome to take photos and even offered up a tour to see the keepers residence, and to climb the tower to the top. I was so incredibly grateful for that experience! From the top, you could see the Huron Mountains and also the Keweenaw Waterway Lower Entry Light, along with wonderful views of the Keweenaw Bay and the sunset. What an experience. This entire day just turned out to be so rewarding.

KEWEENAW WATERWAY LOWER ENTRY LIGHT

After that, I made my last stop to golden hour at the Portage Entry Light. This one has been on my bucket list for ages. And it did not disappoint. It’s located at the end of the breakwall at the mouth of the Portage River. The lighthouse you see today was built in 1920. The pier is open, and you can walk to the end to see the light, but it’s closed and the windows are covered. When I was walking out, it was incredibly windy and I was slightly nervous at the waves, as they can wash over the pier. So just be careful if you’re heading out there! But it’s an absolutely beautiful walk and the park it’s located at is great for beachin’ or picnicking!

Hope you enjoyed my day in the Keweenaw!