Looks like a watercolor, not a photo. Is the U.P. really that beautiful?

Oh, Yes it is.

Beauty and peaceful too! That is why so many of us pass on the financial gains elsewhere in the world. Can't buy what comes natural in our back yards.

This picture is peace. I often look at the sky and think it's as pretty as a picture...same goes for water. But then it is, from the Greatest Artist. Who can perfect what God has made.

Wonderful! Thank you. If my children and grandchildren weren't here in Arizona, I'd be living in the UP now!

I'm familiar with where Freda and Redridge are located, but have never been to that area in my visits to the U.P. I'm curious because it looks like another one of those beautiful areas at the end of the road. Can anyone provide some more information on these areas? Are they year-round small communities or only accessible at certain times of the year. Looks so quiet and peaceful.

Yes it is,that is why all of us displaced dream of being back there. Also why we all look forward to our pasty cam "fix" each day

RD, its even more beautiful than the pictures. You always think of yourself as "from the Copper Country" even if you go away. Being a yooper is like being a marine- once a yooper, always a yooper!

I don't know the name of the road near Frieda but the trees form a canopy over the top and its like going thru a tunnel. During the fall with all the colors its just beautiful. I think God spent more time creating the UP than anywhere else. Much to be thankful for. Wish I was back home right now.

For Pat B. from Mishawaka, IN, the "covered" road near Freda is called "Covered Drive." I agree, it is a scene all it's own. I always say that I'm not leaving the UP's Copper Country til someone kicks me out. Occasionally, I do the "tourist" thing to appreciate once again what we have here and what those who don't live here have to travel to enjoy. Happy fall color season.

Beautiful waters, wonderful colors, and untouched terrain. That is what keeps the U.P. the way it is today.....almost the way it was 200 years ago! So please everyone who visits lets keep it this way. Oh and lets try not to tell to many people about our secret hiding place.

to patb, mishawaka - "I think God spent more time creating the UP than anywhere else." - What a nice way of putting it! Who could argue?

I was born and raised in Calumet, but never got out to the Redridge area. I assume you get out there on the old Brewery road?
How about putting a UP Map window on the PastyCam
site so all of us can pull it up to reference the great photos!

Every day I get my U.P. fix by going to the pasty net ..I enjoy it so much. thanks for all the good pictures and letters..GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU that work so hard to make so many happy.

I have lived in Michigan all of my life, but had never been as far as the Keweenaw until this year. My husband had been telling us how beautiful it is up there while snowmobiling during the winter months and that it will be a real treasure to see during the summer. What a gorgeous adventure it was! Think about it constantly now. Breathtaking, peaceful, clean, friendly and mind-clearing. It truly is one of God's finest pieces of work! The beach at Eagle River Inn and Devil's Washtub near Copper Harbor are really something to see!

Hi, to Mr. "D" in Freda.

That is a very beautiful picture. I wish i could take pictures that well. Oh well. Only one more day before i'm back in the UP! I can't wait.

mr d in freda was my 6th grade teacher, if you are reading this mr d, plz write back, you were one of, if not my favorite teacher.

I remember going down to some of the bonfires with friends (and huge all out parties as well;) that MTU had down at the stampsands right at the end of the road on the way to Freda (the name of the park/and the place escapes me right now)But I am sure in true Huskies spirit that the tradition continues...Seeing the beautiful waters,enjoying the company of good people,and seeing the beacon of the upper enterance light flashing showing the way, there were definetly some fun times spent out that way ....what a nice memory this pics brings back of days gone by - Time marches on and everything in life changes...but the memories that I have of the "good ol U.P." never will fade..I agree with what "frogman" said in a comment listed above..."once a yooper always a Yooper! " And I will always be a "Yooper" at heart, born and raised in Calumet/Laurium, and even as I live here in Lansing , I am proud to be a Yooper at heart forever!

For RD, Iowa: Yes, it really is that beautiful and often even more so. You should go check it out.

Mr. "D" kept a picture on the wall of his restaurant for many years (and it may still be there) of a collage of the kids he taught. It was fun to go there and point yourself out as a geeky 12 year old. A great teacher...

When I overhear people say they are going up north and I ask where they are headed, and they say, "Way up north, Houghton Lake." I say, "Oh, that's nice." Then they ask where I like to go on vacation and I say the Keweenah Peninsula. More often than not it elicits a blank stare and they say "Keweenah Who?" I think the greatest two factors that keep the Copper Country clean and open is the fact most people don't have the SISU in them to handle the long drive to get there and the hard winters. If the Copper Country were close to a big city and warm year round, it would have the all the congestion issues California has. Thank the winter and the inconvenient location for preserving the beauty!

I agree with Magnus. (Is that your real name? its great.) When I tell people we spend 10 hours in the car from Detroit area to get to our cottage in the U.P., they think we are crazy. And when I tell them the Mackinac Bridge is only half way, they can't believe it. They want to know if we take two days to drive to the U.P.!! (No way, we want to get there as soon as we can.) It is amazing how many people downstate have never been over the bridge. Good thing. It would be nice if we could keep the beautiful U.P. a secret.

thanks for bringing me home every day........

Jan in Milford--
How do you get to Devil's Washtub near Copper Harbor? I have heard of it, but never been able to find it.
Thanks!

i agree with naomi the U.P. is great. i live in houghton and did not notice how wonderful it truely is until a few days ago.

I used to go the Freda/Redridge area quite frequently during my days at Tech. Just about anytime of the year had something really interesting to see. Though not shown in this photograph, there are some really nice cliffs on the shoreline. When the ice breaks up in the early part of the year, it can be quite spectacular view from Freda.

I also heard the covered road called the arboreal tunnel.

Don't I always say that God's area code is 906? It's not a long distance call from UP here. :o) Hei, RR from WI, the washtub is just out of Copper Harbor on the lake shore road (M 26 or M 28, I forget which). Just behind the guard rail after the first corner it'll be just past the trees toward the lake. Follow the trail but don't fall in the tub! Keep your eyes open. When the waves are high the devil's washtub is pretty impressive.
Hei, Peg R, Very nice pic from up there.

Ashley,it is beautiful around Houghton but do you know why they allow the new businesses to cover the hills that they denude with those awful rocks.They are an eyesore.I e-mailed those in authority in the City and never got a reply. Just curious.

Sorry, RR, but Devil's Washtub is actually on private property (or so I've been warned). The old sign for it is long gone, too. It had been filled with rocks for years to discourage visitors, but from the sound of Jan in Milford's post, it may have washed clear again. I haven't walked down there lately. M26 to Copper Harbor is a fantastic drive in itself, however. There are several turnouts and a few parks (Esrey and Hebbard) to pull off the road and stop to enjoy the view and play on the rocks. I always tell people, "If you take 41 in, take 26 out" and vice versa. US41's "tunnel" and the M26 lakeshore drive are each not to be missed!

We leave at 4:00 in the morning. Have breafast at the bridge by 8:00, then off to Marquette. We are usually pulling into Marquette by noon. Have lunch, stock up on supplies, then off to Big Bay. I would not trade my 2 weeks in the yoop for anything. I just wish I could spend more time up there. My son is going to go to NMU next fall, so at least I'll be up more.

Hey Julie in Novi, If folks think you are crazy, then someone needs to get the rubber truck for me. I drive from Florida, 1600 miles with two Labradors, two cats and my 73 year old widower father. but it's worth it. Was born and raised a troll, but spent summers in the ancestral summer home on the "big pond" purchased by my great great grandfather in 1864. Due to being on medical leave, I was able to spend 6 weeks being a yooper this summer. Dad and I are thinking of moving "home". Florida weather is gross and it's time for a change. Life's too short. Oh how I miss the U.P.

Hey Julie in Novi, If folks think you are crazy, then someone needs to get the rubber truck for me. I drive from Florida, 1600 miles with two Labradors, two cats and my 73 year old widower father. but it's worth it. Was born and raised a troll, but spent summers in the ancestral summer home on the "big pond" purchased by my great great grandfather in 1864. Due to being on medical leave, I was able to spend 6 weeks being a yooper this summer. Dad and I are thinking of moving "home". Florida weather is gross and it's time for a change. Life's too short. Oh how I miss the U.P.

This is Pegg, sorry for the repeat, but I got distracted wasn't sure whether I sent the first one....ya see Florida is full of stress too....

Pegg, you could always move to Florida Location outside of Calumet.

Passing the second bridge is when we give the sigh of contentment. At the first bridge(Mac) we know we still have quite a ways to go.

To R.D. in Iowa,
It makes me feel good inside when someone who has not seen the Keweenaw asks if it is really that beautiful. I have been many places in this world, and there are only one or two that would come up to match the UP and the Keweenaw in beauty in my opinion, and they would be Hawaii and the Olympia Peninsula in Washington. The shot above is actually a very average-looking evening here, believe it or not. There are some sunsets that just completely blow my mind. Come visit, and you'll find that not only is it beautiful up here, but the people are open and friendly as well.

For Peg in FL, you're not alone; we come from California with our Labrador mix and 2 cats. And for Karen in AZ, we spend our summers here in the U.P. even though our kids and grandkids ARE back there. It gives them a nice place to come for summer vacation! And it is so beautiful here that we find ourselves coming earlier in the spring and staying later in the fall each year.

I remember years ago there was actually an effort to secede from the lower peninsula and create the state of Superior....I had that bumper sticker on my car for years....I remember hiking down to the old mill ruins at Freda and the wonderful Covered Road...

Why did I EVER leave?

Really makes me homesick for the Great Lakes.

Pegg from Florida, we gladly drive 2500 miles to our paradise every summer. It's worth every mile. I can relate with you...I'm trapped in California for now, but I enjoy wherever I am.

Its very peaceful and therapeutic....its our sanctuary.

No, it is not that beautiful. It's more then that pic can even attempt to convey to the one that sees it. It is haven on earth, the garden of eden, a place to call home with people that tell you where they stand and always lend a hand. You can hunt, fish, have a bonfire, or just be at peace with nature and GOD. You hear things that you can never hear in the city. But, you can go to town and really enjoy shopping, movies, and talk'n to real down home folk..... anyone for some yooper talk?????? lenny& dawn come up home soon.

Z-Man that is nicest picture of a group of leaves
I have seen in along time.

Just got back from a two week visit "back home." It's true. Once a yooper, always a yooper. Seriously thinking of getting a summer home there on the canal. It takes another yooper to understand the depth of beauty. It's where my mind takes me whenever I need a cerebral vacation!

It is one of the most relaxing places I have ever been. Sure miss living in the UP. I know it is the most beautiful place on earth