Looking for the best things to do in Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula? For the best places to hike, swim, waterfalls, where to eat, and more, check out this guide to the Keweenaw!

why this blog? Hi there! My name is Maddy, and I live in Northern Wisconsin and have spent the past eight years exploring around Lake Superior as a professional outdoor guide and now as a freelance outdoor writer. My favorite thing in the world is helping people find incredible places in the outdoors. I’ve spent quite a bit of time up in the Keweenaw with Visit Keweenaw and I’m stoked to show you around!

Oh hey there! This blog uses affiliate links. That means if you choose to make a purchase based on my recommendation, I make a small kickback at no additional cost to you.

Best Things to do in the Keweenaw Peninsula

From the best hikes and waterfalls, to the best places to grab a pasty here’s a quick guide to all of the best things to do in Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula for outdoor lovers!

1) Hike O Kun-De-Kun Falls

If you’re looking for a relatively flat and beautiful hike to two waterfalls, check out O Kun-De-Kun Falls. The trek is about 3-miles round trip, and from here you can both hiked to Konteka Falls (aka Peanut Butter Falls) as well as several viewpoints of O Kun-De-Kun Falls.

O Kun-De-Kun falls is on the North Country Trail and personally I think this is one of the best waterfall hikes in the Upper Peninsula.

2) Grab a Pasty from Jen’s Kitchen

The Upper Peninsula is known for it’s Pasties, delightful little hand pies stuffed with meat, potatoes and veggies. There are so many great spots to grab a pasty in the Keweenaw Peninsula! I recommend Jen’s Kitchen in Calumet.

When I visited in June 2025 I grabbed a breakfast pasty from Jen’s and headed up to Bete Gris Bay for a tailgate breakfast before heading out on the water to kayak to a waterfall.

3) Visit Delaware Mine

If you’re looking to experience some both recent and ancient history in the Keweenaw, I recommend Delaware Copper Mine. Here, you can view both a prehistoric Indigenous copper mine site, then head into the earth to check out an underground mining site from the mid-1800s. Back on the surface, tour some of the scenic above-ground ruins.

4) Hike Mt. Baldy

I’ll be honest: compared to the rest of the Upper Peninsula, I personally think the hiking in the Keweenaw Peninsula is pretty sparse. Many hikes are sort of difficult to access, or really far off the beaten path. Beyond hiking though, there are more scenic picnic spots and short walks than just about anywhere else in the Upper Peninsula.

One six-mile hike I 100% do recommend is Mt. Baldy near Eagle Harbor.

Mt. Baldy is part of the Helmut & Candis Stern Preserve and despite being a medium-long hike with steady uphill one way and steady downhill on the way back, the hike to Mt. Baldy is relatively easy, albeit time-consuming. There is one stream crossing, so come ready to get your feet wet! I recommend a waterproof pair of hiking boots like the Bridger Mids.

Mt. Baldy offers nearly 360 views of Lake Superior, Eagle Harbor, and the inland valley below, and is part of the rare Northern Bald ecosystem found only in the Keweenaw, Goegebic County and the Western Upper Peninsula, and Isle Royale National Park in Michigan.

READ: Best Things To Do In The Upper Peninsula, Michigan

5) Sea Kayak with Keweenaw Adventure Company

One of the best things to do in the Keweenaw Peninsula if you’re looking for an off-the-beaten path adventure is sea kayak the rugged shores of the Keweenaw! Keweenaw Adventure Company offers guided day trips (and overnight trips to Isle Royale!) ranging from shorter, 2.5-hr trips all the way to a full-day 12-mile kayak adventure.

When I visited, I did long paddle to Montreal Falls (pictured above). While I went solo, keep in mind that I have 8+ years of working as a coastal kayaking guide on Lake Superior. I strongly recommend booking a guided trip on the Lake! This is because the weather patterns in the Lake can be difficult to anticipate, leading to wind and large waves seemingly kicking up “out of nowhere”.

A guide is someone familiar with the area and hazards who can help keep you safe in addition to provide local information. Beyond this, kayaking on Lake Superior is best done in a sea kayak, or a kayak longer than 16 feet in length with sealed pockets of air (bulkheads) at either end of the kayak to prevent it from sinking when swamped, and by someone with deep water self rescue skills in this type of kayak. If that doesn’t sound like you, book a guided tour!

6) Drive Brockway Mountain

One of the most popular things to do in the Keweenaw Peninsula is drive the scenic Brockway Mountain. Keep in mind that the road can be a little rough here; when I visited I met a couple who got a flat on this drive so keep your eyes open for hazards! There are several scenic viewpoints on Brockway Mountain and the Berry Picker Trail offers additional views on a hiking trail.

7) Adventure out to Isle Royale National Park

If you’re looking for the ultimate Keweenaw Peninsula adventure, hop on a ferry and head out to Isle Royale National Park which boasts nearly 200 miles of hiking trails, shipwrecks, scenic campsites, rugged shoreline and world-class wildlife.

To best experience Isle Royale, you’ll likely need at least one night to camp on the island. Beyond this, there are so many great backpacking routes to consider.

READ: Ultimate Guide to Isle Royale National Park

8) Grab a cinnamon roll from Slim’s Cafe

One of the best bakeries in the Keweenaw is Silm’s Cafe in Mohawk, Michigan. Slim’s serves breakfast and lunch but their cinnamon rolls truly steal the show.

Personally, I love to take breakfast on the go and enjoy a hot coffee and a pastry on the beach! Luckily in the Keweenaw there are so many options for beach stops.

9) Hike Hungarian and/or Douglass-Houghton Falls

Both Hungarian Falls and Douglass-Houghton Falls are great choices for intrepid waterfall hikes. Both of these hikes are moderate-difficult in order to get to the base of the falls, and my personal opinion is that there are so many other great more accessible hikes in the area with better parking that I would recommend starting at those places instead.

10) Sauna with Takka Sauna

One of the best things to do in the Keweenaw Peninsula is hop in a sauna with Takka Saunas. With two locations, one in Hancock on the Portage Canal and one near Copper Harbor on Lake Superior (pictured below), this is a great relaxing experience for anyone from groups to solo travelers.

My first experience at Takka was in the winter at the location in Hancock with a group of friends after cross country skiing and it was so much fun! Highlight was easily the cold plunge in the snow. My second experience was a solo sunset session and it was beautiful and relaxing in a completely different way. 5/5 stars to both.

11) Grab a burger at Lake Effect Bar and Grill

For the prefect lunch or dinner after a long day on the trail, head up to the Lake Effect Bar and Grill in Copper Harbor.

Lake Effect is a great place both for atmosphere and for awesome burgers!

12) Explore Great Sand Bay

My favorite spot in the Keweenaw Peninsula is Great Sand Bay, a Northwest-facing beach with a dunescape and several access points and overlooks.

This is the perfect spot for a beach day in any season and also makes for an excellent spot to watch the sunset.

13) Visit Fitzgeralds Restaurant

Looking for one of the best places to eat in the Keweenaw? Check out Fitzgerald’s hotel and restaurant (reservations required) for delicious food and views of Lake Superior.

This is one of my favorite place to eat ever and it’s really fun to swing by Eagle River Falls while you’re in town.

14) Stop at Lake Superior Roadside Parks

One of the best parts of the Keweenaw Peninsula is that there are tons of little roadside parks to stop and enjoy!

I recommend Esrey Park, Hebard Park and Bete Gris Beach.

15) Haven Falls Park

Another great spot for a picnic with a view is Haven Falls Park on Lac La Belle, where you can enjoy your lunch at a picnic table with a waterfall view.

16) Hike Canyon Falls

In the southern Keweenaw Peninsula you can find a spot sometimes referred to as the “Grand Canyon of Michigan”! Canyon Falls is a great stop for a relatively flat one-mile round trip hike out to the waterfall and canyon.

This spot is beautiful in all four seasons and one of my personal favorite waterfalls in the Upper Peninsula.

17) Cocktails at Cliff View Bar

The newly renovated Cliff View Bar is the perfect spot to grab a thoughtfully-crafted drink and a foot-long hot dog!

WATCH: Vlog from my last trip to the Keweenaw

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• Explore the nearby and super beautiful Porcupine Mountains

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