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Post by Campfires&Concierges on May 1, 2016 18:34:09 GMT -8
Hey folks - with any luck, this is going to be my last year in the Midwest so I'm trying to see it all before I move away. I've got a weeklong road trip from Chicago mapped out to visit Apostle Islands, Porkies and Pictured Rocks. Car Camping with maybe some overnight trips.
I have to go a holiday week to maximize PTO, so is July 4th week better, or Labor Day?
Planning to travel both of those weeks and am still mulling the 2nd trip - Finger Lakes region, Red River Gorge...open to suggestions within 10-ish hours driving from Chicago. Same deal - car camping, maybe overnights - dog friendly so no national parks.
Thanks!
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Post by autumnmist on May 2, 2016 8:23:42 GMT -8
If you're in the northern part of the Lower Peninsula in Michigan around Labor Day, it's likely that traffic will be overwhelming and crowds will be massive. The annual Labor Day walk across Mackinac Bridge is Sept. 5 (http://www.mackinawcity.com/59th-annual-labor-day-bridge-walk-137/) - just a glance at the congested traffic and crowds on the Bridge is a good reason to avoid the area at that time. Although I don't have specifics, I'm guessing that camp areas in that area and ferries across to Mackinac Island will be jammed as well.
The "Fudgies" as they're apparently known in areas of the northern part of the LP generally begin their own sightseeing earlier in the season, around July 4, or earlier, depending on weather, so I'm told. I think there would be less traffic to get through if you began your Michigan visit earlier than later.
If you drove through Wisconsin, the trip might be easier though and less crowded because you could enter the UP via land as opposed to over water; then the Porkies would be on your way. Going through Michigan actually would probably be more time consuming, especially since we're approaching the Orange Barrel Season and there's a good possibility some of the freeways along the West side of Michigan will be under constructions.
It's been years since I've been in that area - beautiful, somewhat rugged, but definitely worth a visit. I remember a pine forest on Mackinac Island that was so fresh it instantly cleared my sinuses! It always reminded me of Longfellow's Evangeline poem - "this is the forest primeval..."
I have vague recollections of our family hiking in the Porkies when we were just kids.
Enjoy your trip and I hope you find a good route.
ETA: I apologize if I erroneously assumed you might be traveling from Chicago through Michigan. Being a Michigander, I sometimes forget that Wisconsin is a another route to the UP! |
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driftwoody
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Post by driftwoody on May 2, 2016 9:58:00 GMT -8
3 day holiday weekends would be my last choice for visiting these places. The bugs will almost certainly be horrible up north the last weekend of May, though probably not as bad the first weekend of September. I've found late September to the first weekend of October best for the Porkies. If there's any way you can swing a day off at that time, your experience would likely be much more enjoyable.
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Post by Campfires&Concierges on May 2, 2016 10:06:07 GMT -8
Well, I'm planning a full week, not just the 3 day weekend, but am squeezing 6 full vacations out of 4 weeks PTO this year, so it's going to be July 4th or Labor Day week. I live in Chicago, so crowds don't bother me, but any other advice on pros/cons to July / September would be helpful. Late September/early October is pretty much the best time to go anywhere, and I'll be in Colorado then  Thanks. |
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driftwoody
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Post by driftwoody on May 2, 2016 14:09:31 GMT -8
Up north, Labor Day would be better. I live in Chicago and go hiking, in part, to escape crowds. If you're doing dayhikes in the Porkies, be sure to do the Presque Isle Loop (2 miles perhaps) at the west end of the park. It has 3 big waterfalls, sculpted/terraced rock in the river bed, and a very pretty beach where the river empties into Lake Superior. At the east end of the park, most of the hiking loops (except to Summit Peak) are backpacking length. Be sure not to miss Lake of the Clouds overlook. There will be crowds at the overlook close to the parking lot, but you can walk a few miles in either direction along the Escarpment for some of the very best views in the upper Midwest. |
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Hungry Jack
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Post by Hungry Jack on May 3, 2016 9:25:51 GMT -8
September, without a second thought: cooler, drier weather (but plenty warm), warmer lake waters, fewer bugs, some hints of color (maybe the sugar maples).
I have done 3 Isle Royale trips and 4 Pictured Rocks trips from Chicago in late Augst / September, and have never noticed issues with traffic. Pix Rox gets pretty busy in September, and Isle Royale is also its busiest, but it never negatively impacted by experiences.
Traffic up 43 (Green Bay) and 41 should be manageable.
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Post by Campfires&Concierges on May 4, 2016 14:17:39 GMT -8
Thanks - yeah, I think U.P. in September sounds good - I went to Door County for my birthday (9/11) a few years ago and nearly froze, so you never know what you're going to get around here. But I prefer the cooler weather anyways...less bugs!
Now to figure out a July destination....I usually go West to Colorado, but I feel like once I move away, I'll never be East of the Mississippi again, unless it's a family visit or business trip.
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driftwoody
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Post by driftwoody on May 4, 2016 18:21:10 GMT -8
Now to figure out a July destination....I usually go West to Colorado, but I feel like once I move away, I'll never be East of the Mississippi again, unless it's a family visit or business trip. If you've driven as far as Colorado for a week of hiking, perhaps you should consider 10-12 hours to the mountains of North Carolina. Trails into the Shining Rock Wilderness are right off the Blue Ridge Parkway, already above 5,000 elevation. A great day loop of about 8 miles goes over Black Balsam Knob to Shining Rock, then back on the Ivestor Gap trail. This hike has many open mountain vistas, with blue ridge after blue ridge fading in the distance. Mount Mitchell, highest point east of the Mississippi, is a little further NE along the BRP. If you've never been to Linville Gorge a little further up the BRP, you should go. My favorite view in NC is from the top of Hawksbill Mountain, and Linville Falls is among the finest in the southern Appalachians. Just East of Linville Gorge is the Wilson Creek Wilderness, with several outstanding waterfalls. Not too far north into Virginia just above the TN/NC border is the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, with open mountain vistas and beautiful wild ponies roaming freely. Mid-late June has awesome displays of rhododendron, though that might be over by July 4. I did most of this with a buddy in one week a few years ago, except Shining Rock which I'd been too not long before. Pics are in the link below: martysphotoalbums.shutterfly.com/1168 |
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Post by Campfires&Concierges on May 5, 2016 15:06:29 GMT -8
Thanks - I have been thinking about heading in that direction - have not been to Red River Gorge, either, but not sure if it would be too hot in early July. Would love to swing through Nashville on the way home to see Guns N Roses the following weekend.
Will look these up, thanks!
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Post by indianabob on May 8, 2016 16:18:20 GMT -8
Plus 1 on a trip to Linville Gorge. We just got back from our 2nd annual trip to the Tablerock-Shortoff area. It is a great place. ![]() http: //i592.photobucket.com/albums/tt4/bobandblynnindianabob/IMG_0620_zpsecr8idr4.jpg [/IMG][/div] |
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driftwoody
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Post by driftwoody on May 9, 2016 9:15:05 GMT -8
Nice pics, indianabob!
That first one looks like you're on Shortoff with a view of Table Rock in the distance.
The distinct peaks of Table Rock & Hawksbill can be seen in the distance from a variety of high viewpoints off the BRP.
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