Lighthouses, legends, and wild Great Lakes shores
Lighthouses, legends, and wild Great Lakes shores
Duluth, MN 55802Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783
Trip overview
Trace the hauntingly beautiful shoreline of Lake Superior, a freshwater sea littered with the ghosts of maritime history. Journey between towering lighthouses standing sentinel on rocky points and visit museums that tell the chilling tales of the Shipwreck Coast.
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1 — Duluth
Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center
Start your journey overlooking Duluth's iconic Aerial Lift Bridge. This museum features fascinating exhibits on Lake Superior commercial shipping, historic shipwrecks, and active vessel traffic.
600 Canal Park Dr, Duluth, MN 55802
Meyers Beach Sea Caves Trail
A breathtaking cliffside hike through dense evergreens leading to dramatic overlooks of the famous Apostle Islands sandstone sea caves carved by Superior's relentless waves.
Meyers Rd, Bayfield, WI 54814
Old Rittenhouse Inn
A historic, elegant Victorian mansion offering cozy fireplace-lit rooms and gourmet dining with views of the bay.
301 Rittenhouse Ave, Bayfield, WI 54814
Manypenny Bistro
A warm, local favorite serving up hearty Lake Superior whitefish chowder and regional comfort food.
201 Manypenny Ave, Bayfield, WI 54814
Day 2 — Bayfield
Bayfield Maritime Museum
Explore the local heritage of commercial fishing, boat building, and the harrowing stories of early navigation through the Apostle Islands.
131 S 1st St, Bayfield, WI 54814
Quincy Mine
Descend underground into a historic copper mine active during the 19th-century boom, featuring the world's largest steam-powered hoist engine.
41976 US-41, Hancock, MI 49930
Brockway Mountain Drive
Drive along the highest paved road between the Rockies and the Alleghenies, offering mind-blowing panoramic views of Lake Superior's endless blue horizon and rugged Keweenaw cliffs.
Brockway Mountain Dr, Copper Harbor, MI 49918
Keweenaw Mountain Lodge
Built as a WPA project in the 1930s, this historic, rustic log lodge offers cozy cabins surrounded by dense northern wilderness.
14252 US-41, Copper Harbor, MI 49918
Day 3 — Eagle Harbor
Eagle Harbor Lighthouse
An active, picturesque red brick lighthouse standing sentinel on a rocky spit of land since 1871, featuring a maritime museum on-site.
670 Lighthouse Rd, Eagle Harbor, MI 49950
Fitzgerald's Restaurant
Feast on award-winning barbecue and craft beer in an intimate dining room positioned literally feet from the crashing Lake Superior surf.
5033 Front St, Eagle River, MI 49950
Canyon Falls and Gorge
Often called the 'Grand Canyon of Michigan', a short scenic hike along the Sturgeon River leads to a stunning, rushing slate gorge and powerful waterfall.
US-41, Lanse, MI 49946
The Landmark Inn
A historic, beautifully restored boutique hotel in downtown Marquette that has hosted celebrities and aviators since 1930.
230 N Front St, Marquette, MI 49855
Day 4 — Marquette
Marquette Harbor Lighthouse
This striking, bright-red lighthouse has guided iron ore freighters since 1866. Explore its history and walk the rocky breakwater.
300 N Lakeshore Blvd, Marquette, MI 49855
Lakenenland Sculpture Park
A whimsical, drive-through or walk-through folk-art park showcasing massive, creative metal sculptures welded from scrap iron.
2800 M-28, Marquette, MI 49855
Pictured Rocks Chapel Loop Trail
A world-class hike leading past Chapel Falls to Chapel Rock, a gravity-defying sandstone pillar topped by a lone pine tree overlooking Pictured Rocks' brilliant turquoise water.
Chapel Rd, Shingleton, MI 49884
Hilltop Cabins
Quaint, quiet cabins overlooking the scenic harbor of Grand Marais, ideal for relaxing after a day of rugged coastal hiking.
N14234 Lakeview St, Grand Marais, MI 49839
Day 5 — Grand Marais
Sable Falls
Walk down a wooden staircase to watch a cascading waterfall tumble down sandstone steps on its way to a wild, agate-littered pebble beach.
Grand Sable Dunes, Grand Marais, MI 49839
Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum
Located at the notorious Whitefish Point, this haunting museum tells the stories of Lake Superior's lost ships and displays the actual bell recovered from the SS Edmund Fitzgerald.
18335 N Whitefish Point Rd, Paradise, MI 49768
Tahquamenon Falls State Park (Upper Falls)
Witness one of the largest waterfalls east of the Mississippi. Tannins from hemlock swamps dye the massive rushing waters a unique rich amber, earned the name 'The Root Beer Falls'.
41382 M-123, Paradise, MI 49768
The Ojibway Hotel
A landmark hotel operating since 1927, offering a classic atmosphere directly overlooking the world-famous Soo Locks.
240 W Portage Ave, Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783
Day 6 — Sault Ste. Marie
Soo Locks Visitor Center
Watch in awe from elevated viewing platforms as massive, 1,000-foot lake freighters are raised or lowered to bypass the rapids of the St. Marys River.
312 W Portage Ave, Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783
Museum Ship Valley Camp
Step inside a massive, authentic 1917 steamship turned museum. The cargo hold houses historical exhibits, including two damaged lifeboats from the Edmund Fitzgerald.
501 E Water St, Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783
Karl's Cuisine
Finish your tour of the Great Lakes with a traditional, savory Upper Peninsula pasty while enjoying waterfront views of international shipping traffic.
439 W Portage Ave, Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783
Experiences & guides
Bookable tours and stops worth a detour along this route.
National Parks
Isle Royale National Park
National Park
Keweenaw National Historical Park
National Historical Park
North Country National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
National Lakeshore
River Raisin National Battlefield Park
National Battlefield Park
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
National Lakeshore
Guide content may not reflect current conditions. Always verify information before your trip.
Frequently asked questions
The Superior Shipwrecks road trip covers about 806 mi and roughly 21h 37m of driving, comfortably spread across about 6 days.
This itinerary maps out 23 stops from Duluth, MN 55802 to Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783. Highlights include Brockway Mountain Drive, Pictured Rocks Chapel Loop Trail, and Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum.
It begins in Duluth, MN 55802 and ends in Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783, following a mapped, road-following route the whole way.
The estimated cost is around $1,505, covering fuel, lodging, food, and activities. Your actual total varies with the season, your pace, and the choices you make along the way.
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