Welcome tips/input on trip to Lake Gogebic State Park

[reinita]

We usually spend at least a week at Muskallonge Lake State Park, north of Newberry, but couldn't get in this year, so we're heading to Lake Gogebic State Park.

Welcome info on the following:

* Nearby smaller lakes where we can fish from a canoe
* Nearby grocery store(s) and a place to do laundry
* Tips on nearby trails for running/hiking
* Places for day trips

Thanks!

[reinita]

Thanks again. El husbando camped and fished at Sylvania when he was a kid; we didn't realize it was so close to Lake Gogebic! We're definitely taking the canoe there.

I will also check out the State Line trail.

[Trekkar]

Much has already been answered. Not too many hiking trails right at Goegbic, but the Sylvania Wilderness is available in Watersmeet. You can also access the State Line trail near Marinesco.

[travelnutz]

Yes, Dodge and Island Lakes (connected by a short smaller boat-able channel) has a good public launching ramp too on the south shore of Dodge Lake.

[ken56]

Beautiful area but as said, desolate. Be well provisioned before getting to the RV park. It's not impossible though to find a small store that has basics. Find a couple streams to fish too. Cast Rapala's into the eddy's behind rocks to pull out some nice Brookies and Rainbows. Fishing is plentiful even from shore or there are boat rentals you can do too.

[reinita]

travelnutz wrote:
YES, the U.P. is a lot bigger than most realize and very spread out places with only around 300,000 population compared to the L.P. which has 9,650,000 population with 90+% of them living in the southern half of the L.P. Michigan has thousands of campgrounds with a total of over 300,000 campsites per the DNR and has more than 11,000 inland lakes larger than 5 acres in size and over 3,200 miles of Great Lakes shorelines on 4 of the 5 Great Lakes. Bet you can't guess why we won't ever move away and have lived here on the Lake Michigan Lakeshore so happily for all of our 77+ years.

Get tips, thanks! We’ve camped at Indian Lakes and loved it. Great fishing st nearby Dodge Lake, even from shore.

[travelnutz]

YES, the U.P. is a lot bigger than most realize and very spread out places with only around 300,000 population compared to the L.P. which has 9,650,000 population with 90+% of them living in the southern half of the L.P. Michigan has thousands of campgrounds with a total of over 300,000 campsites per the DNR and has more than 11,000 inland lakes larger than 5 acres in size and over 3,200 miles of Great Lakes shorelines on 4 of the 5 Great Lakes. Bet you can't guess why we won't ever move away and have lived here on the Lake Michigan Lakeshore so happily for all of our 77+ years.

[travelnutz]

Some other possibilities:

Did you check Indian Lake SP a couple miles west of Manistique. Nice place. Lots to do in the area and see, like Kitch-iti-kipi Spring SP about ~12 miles away and lots of fishing lakes in the area with having a canoe type boat too. Drive down the Garden Peninsula for a day trip to Fayette Historic SP and Snail Shell Harbor. A restored iron smelting large park that also has a SP CG within walking distance of the historic part. The CG is adequate but not prime like the fancy LP CG's but it has electric and restroom/showers.

Could even stay a couple days there if desired. Lots to see there. We have been there many times with an RV or our large sailboat or our cabin cruiser by water from Grand Haven, MI.

We are "travelnutz" and for over 55 years now whether by RV/land, Water or Cruise ship 16 times, or even by air when a must like for Hawaii or across the Atlantic. Yes, drove to Alaska a few time too and also flew and cruised there 4 times too. So many places yet or again to go but so little time because we are old farts now but that's not going to stops us, just slow us down a little.

[reinita]

Yeah, distances in the UP are different than down here, no?

Loving all of the tips and suggestions. Keep ‘em coming.

Thanks!

[travelnutz]

OP, we go up to Tahquamenon Falls State Park for the last 57 years starting from home usually by October 1st for the brilliant colored leaf peeping and usually to Muskallonge State Park for a couple days too as we RV. Gorgeous trip every year.

Tahquamenon Falls State Park and the Upper CG (Hemlock) at the lower falls is open and kept plowed with electric on for RV's year around. The Lower CG (Portage - our favorite), Rivermouth and Muskallonge CG's closes down on October 11th to the 14th each year. The falls and the parking lots, both Upper and lower, with some of the amenities are open for use year around. We have been there with an RV in Jan and Feb a few times in the past.

[travelnutz]

Distance from Gogebic State Park to Ontonagon is 44 miles and takes 50 minutes of travel each way at the speed limits. Heck, going all the way west to Ironwood on US-2 would be closer and 7 minutes less each way than going to Ontonagon and Ironwood is a lot larger city than Ontonagon.

[Bob806]

If you're into waterfalls, check this link out:
http://gowaterfalling.com/waterfalls/maps/statemichigan.shtml

Grocery store in Ontanogon, a short drive north. Wakefield might have a store as well. Not sure about laundry.

Good hiking at Presque Isle State Park, a bit northeast from Gogebic.

[reinita]

Aah. That's what we suspected. We're spoiled by the Deer Park store near Muskallonge Lake State Park because it's ridiculously well-stocked and has laundry facilities.

Thanks!

[travelnutz]

Quite desolate around Lake Gogebic and when we were there, basically no commercial businesses within maybe 15 miles. Nearest laundromat either Watersmeet or Wakefield both over 30 miles drive in opposite directions.

A real grocery store is at Wakefield and a very small one at Wattersmeet. Didn't see one on M-28 north side of Lake Gogebic when there as from there it's closer to Wakefield but a farther drive from the stat park than via US-2.

Lots of smaller lakes for fishing or canoe type boat south of US-2 a little southwest of Wattersmeet. Lake Gogebic is very large and can get way to rough for canoe fishing real quick. All depends on wind direction and wind speed.