Baraga and L'Anse are located at the southern end of the sparkling L'Anse Bay, at the bottom of the Keweenaw Bay. On the eastern shore, L'Anse has a charming downtown area with several shops within walking distance of the waterfront. Baraga is on the opposite side of L'Anse Bay, and much of its shopping district is located along US-41.
The two communities are only a couple of miles apart, connected by a scenic stretch of US-41. Bike routes, snowmobile trails, family-friendly parks, and watersports are some of the ways to enjoy the outdoors in the area.
Baraga State Park
On the western shore of L'Anse Bay, Baraga State Park is a popular place for camping. Its modern campground features 116 sites with electrical service, modern restrooms. The park also has a mini-cabin and tepee for overnight stays. For camping reservations or more information, call (800)447-2757. Baraga State Park has beach access to the L'Anse Bay for swimming, with nearby parking, comfort stations and a playground.
Baraga State Park's short hiking and cross-country ski trail starts near the edge of the park's drive and circles through a wooded area. The trail covers approximately three-quarters of a mile. See the
maps page for the Baraga area parks map.
Public Parks & Recreation in L'Anse and Baraga
L'Anse has a very nice park on the L'Anse Bay,
L'Anse Waterfront Park. Featuring a sandy swimming beach, playground and picnic shelter, the park is a popular spot for family gatherings and summertime fun. The park's bandshell hosts concerts on Thursday evenings at 7 p.m. in July and August. There are several benches at the park where you can watch a beautiful sunset over the bay.
L'Anse Village Marina has a couple of sand volleyball courts and small picnic shelters, located south of the parking lot. The marina has a boat launch and eight transient boat slips.
Ojibwa Recreation Area is located on the north side of Baraga, just off US-41. The park has a campground that's available for overnight, weekly, or monthly stays. The sites are available on a first come, first serve basis and no registration is needed. The Park Ranger will come to your site. The recreation area has two pavillions that can be rented. For more details, call the park ranger at (906)353-6955.
The Sand Point Lighthouse, which was established in 1878, is located at the Ojibwa Recreation Area. You can take photos of the lighthouse, but tours are not offered.
Village of Baraga Children's Park is located on Girard Street and features a nice playground with two small playscapes.
Village of Baraga Municipal Marina occupies a long strip of land in the L'Anse Bay. The marina has a paved walking trail that circles around the park, providing excellent views of the bay, Mt. Arvon, and L'Anse. The marina has three transient boat slips and a boat launch.
Memorial Field on Superior Avenue in Baraga hosts softball games during the summer.
Baraga Ice Rink hosts youth hockey teams and figure skaters. The rink has four locker rooms and a concession area. Baraga Ice Rink is at 1005 Superior Avenue, south of Michigan Avenue/M-38. For more details, call (906)353-7999.
See the
maps page for the locations of parks and other locations in Baraga and L'Anse.
L'Anse to Pequaming Bike Route
Starting at L'Anse Waterfront Park, cyclists can enjoy a ride along L'Anse Bay and Keweenaw Bay by using the narrow road shoulder along Pequaming Road. The route has great views of the sparkling water and Baraga in the distance. You'll end up in Pequaming, which was once a retreat for Henry Ford.
Pequaming is nine miles north of L'Anse, and an old water tower with the Ford script font is visible as you get closer to Pequaming. Henry Ford purchased the sawmill in Pequaming in 1923 to supply the Rouge Plant with wood for station wagons. The sawmill was decommissioned many years later, but Henry Ford's former 5,000 square-foot home overlooking Lake Superior still remains and can be rented for family gatherings.
The Henry Ford Bungalow has nine bedrooms and six baths.
From Pequaming, you can take an alternate route back to L'Anse, turning at Whirligig Road. The historic Zeba Methodist Church is located near Whirligig Road. The old church dates back to 1888. From Whirligig Road, you turn right on to Skanee Road and go south to L'Anse. You can turn at Jentoft Road to return to Pequaming Road or continue straight on Skanee Road, which will turn into Main Street in L'Anse. As always use caution when riding along or on a road and obey the traffic laws. See the
maps page for the L'Anse-Pequaming Bike Route.
Baraga to Houghton Bike Route
A longer route can take you from Baraga to Chassell and Houghton using the wide paved road shoulder along US-41. The route has rolling hills and some views of the Keweenaw Bay. For a map and more details, see the
Houghton-Baraga Bike Route section.
Snowmobile Trails
From Baraga and L'Anse, there are snowmobile trails that lead to Chassell, Houghton, and Ishpeming. The region gets lots of snow between mid-December and March.
Boating and Kayaking
Boating on L'Anse Bay and Keweenaw Bay can provide scenic views of Michigan's few mountains, including the highest point in Michigan at Mount Arvon (1,979 feet). The shoreline is very beautiful in the fall when the leaves are turning colors.
Village of Baraga Municipal Marina has three transient boat slips, a boat launch, and day-use dockage. Gasoline, diesel fuel, showers, water, electricity and pump-out service are available. Picnic areas and playground equipment are located at the marina. Kayaks can be launced from the boat launch area. Downtown Baraga's shops and restaurants are within walking distance. For more details, call (906)355-2256.
A smaller marina is located at Lakeside Best Western Inn, (906)353-7123.
L'Anse Village Marina has a boat launch and eight transient boat slips. Gasoline, electricity, and water are available at the L'Anse marina. A couple of sand volleyball courts and small picnic shelters are located south of the parking lot. For more details, call (906)524-6116.
Fishing
Anglers can try to catch a variety of fish in L'Anse Bay and Keweenaw Bay, including lake trout, steelhead, salmon, rainbow trout, brown trout, walleye, herring, whitefish, northern pike, and perch. In L'Anse, you'll find two small fishing piers near L'Anse Waterfront Park. You can also fish from shore on the long strip of land in Baraga, near the municipal marina.
In June, Baraga County hosts the
Lake Trout Festival. It features a fishing tournament with seperate classes for lake trout and salmon, offering cash prizes and merchandise awards for winners. The festival is held at L'Anse Waterfront Park.
A valid fishing license is required to fish on Michigan lakes and waterways, and you can get a Michigan fishing license at Indian Country Sports (17 South Front Street in L'Anse), Disney Bait & Tackle Shop (near Baraga's municpal marina), and other bait shops and sporting good stores. You can also purchase a license online at the
Michigan DNR E-License web site.
More About L'Anse and Baraga
Baraga County Historical Museum is located on US-41 in Baraga and features artifacts and exhibits related to Baraga County and the villages of Baraga and L'Anse. Baraga County Historical Museum is open from June through the end of September, and a small entry fee is required.
The Bishop Baraga Shrine is a unique attraction that honors Bishop Frederic Baraga, who did valuable missionary work among Native American tribes in the upper Great Lakes region and created a dictionary and a grammar book of the Ojibwa language. The shrine features a large statue in the likeness of Bishop Baraga and provides information about his accomplishments. During the harsh winters in the area, he would travel cross-country using snoweshoes, which earned him the knickname "The Snowshoe Priest". He was also the first bishop of the Diocese of Marquette, serving from 1853 to 1868. To get to the shrine from US-41, turn south on to Lambert Road; travel less than a quarter of a mile and then turn right on to Shrine Road and follow that to the Bishop Baraga Shrine.
For lodging, you'll find several choices in Baraga and L'Anse.
Baraga Lakeside Inn-Best Western is on US-41 and has an excellent view of L'Anse Bay and Mount Arvon.
4 Seasons Inn and
Ojibwa Casino Hotel are on M-38 in Baraga. While L'Anse Motel and
Hilltop Motel are located along US-41 near the village limits for L'Anse.
For restaurants, Burger King and Subway in L'Anse are fast food options. Near downtown L'Anse, Pizza & Subs, Canteen Bar & Grill, and George's Sports Bar are dining options, while Frostie Freeze on Broad Street has ice cream treats during the summer. In Baraga, Irene's Pizza on US-41 and The Drive-In on Superior Avenue are close the Baraga State Park. The restaurant at Baraga Lakeside Inn-Best Western offers informal dining with an awesome view of the bay. Superior Pizza on US-41, H&H Cafe on Superior Avenue, and Side Track Bar on M-38/Michigan Avenue are close to downtown Baraga. The Press Box Sports Bar & Grill is located at the casino on Michigan Avenue/M-38.
