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Quiet Sports

Quiet Sports are generally those sporting activities referred by the “Green Community”, of which we are a part of, that do not use any form of gasoline or electric engine for propulsion and in which propulsion is provided by nature or human power.

In our quiet world here in the Upper Peninsula the only sounds we hear are natural. Exercise, scenic views of lands, rivers, lakes, wildlife, and fauna make up wonderful memories of a pristine land between the great lakes where nature still abounds.

Quiet Spots enjoyed here in the Upper Peninsula are listed below along with links to websites that will give you additional information or allow you to schedule a trip or outing:

Canoeing and Kayaking- Great paddling on the Escanaba, Au Train, Michigamme, Manistique, Indian, Fox, Two-Hearted, Ontaganon, Brule, Whitefish, and Sturgeon Rivers.
www.paddlingmichigan.com

Sea Kayaking- Sea Kayaking on Lake Superior at Marquette, along the Hiawatha Water Trail, and at the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. On Lake Michigan from Garden to Fayette on the Garden Peninsula.
www.paddlingmichigan.com

Rafting- Whitewater rafting in the spring run-off on the Michigamme and Ontaganon Rivers in April, May, and early June. Raft- Eco tours on the Escanaba and Au Train Rivers from April thru October.
www.raftingmichigan.com

Fly Fishing- Fly fishing in the legendary trout streams of Hemingway and Traver. Drift boat or wade trips. Instruction available. All tackle and flies provided.
www.upflyfishing.com

Hiking Trails- Many great hiking trails are found in Marquette County and in the nearby area including the famous “North Country Trail” that runs from the East Coast of the US into Minnesota and beyond. Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, the Van Riper State Park and Craig Lake areas, the McCormick Tract Wilderness areas , and Sugar Loaf Mountain at Marquette are all great hikes and great fun.
www.marquettecountry.org
www.nps.gov/piro/

Waterfalls- Marquette County alone has 12 waterfalls that can be found on the website listed below:
www.marquettecounty.org

Seney National Wildlfe Refuge-The refuge Headquarters and Visitor Center are located on Highway M-77 approximately 3 miles north of Germfask, Michigan and 15 miles northwest of Curtis, Michigan.
One of the best wildlife excursions you can make is to the Seney National Wildlife Refuge, managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Seney is a photographers delight - bring your camera!
Seney National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1935 for the protection and production of migratory birds and other wildlife. The refuge is composed of a rich mosaic of marsh, swamp, bog, grasslands and forest, with nearly two-thirds wetlands. Today, it protects habitat for threatened and endangered species, as well as a variety of wildlife.

A diversity of wildlife species utilize the refuge with over 200 bird species, 26 fish species and 50 mammals recorded. This diversity of wildlife is maintained through wetland, fire and forest management. On a quiet summer's eve, one has only to stop and listen to hear the soft whisper of wings and the symphony of sounds echoing from the marshes.

www.fws.gov/midwest/seney/

The Au Train Songbird Trail -If you’re on the hunt for songbirds, you’ll want to follow the Au Train Songbird Trail. Located near the Au Train Campground in the Upper Peninsula, this interpretive three mile trail is ideal for birdwatchers. In May and June, over 20 varieties of song birds have been sited along the trail. Warbler lovers are in for a particular treat since magnolia, black and white, Connecticut, Nashville, Wilson’s, and bay-breasted warblers have been sighted along the trail. If you know the songbird calls, you can sit in the natural habitat and try to communicate with the birds. If you don’t know the calls, several stores in Au Train rent tape recorders, bird guides, and binoculars that you can use to tour the trail.
The Au Train Songbird Trail leads through uplands, forest and bog to an observation platform that overlooks Au Train Lake and its surrounding wetlands. From there, visitors have spotted bald eagles, ospreys, and shorebirds, such as killdeer, greater yellowlegs, American bittern, and spotted, least, and solitary sandpipers.

Whitefish Point Bird Observatory -Whitefish Point is a jack pine covered dune peninsula surrounded by the waters of Lake Superior. During the migration season, this peninsula, which becomes a haven for birds flying from or to Canada, is one of the best birding sites in the Great Lakes region. That’s why birdwatchers, naturalists, and others visit the Whitefish Point Bird Observatory, part of the Whitefish Point Management Unit of Seney National Wildlife Refuge, in Paradise in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
From March to May, visitors can see raptors like the broad-winged, red-tailed, and rough-legged hawk circling the peninsula. One of the best ways to see them is to follow the boardwalk and stairs up the dunes to the hawk-viewing platform. Nearly 25,000 species of raptor will pass over Whitefish Point. Owl lovers are also in for a treat at the Point as it’s not uncommon to hear the hoot of a boreal, great gray, hawk, short-eared, long-eared, or great horned owl in the pines. If you’re visiting the Point in May, you may catch sight of American robins, Harris’ sparrow, and spruce grouse as well as loons, whimbrels, and scoters.

When the weather gets colder, that’s when the real show begins at Whitefish Point as songbirds, waterfowl, and shorebirds fly through the peninsula. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources estimates that 50,000 to 100,000 birds migrate through the area every autumn. During these months, you may be surprised at the different kinds of loon, geese, or duck you see flying by. Once migration ends, there are still birds like the Bohemian waxwing, redpoll, white-winged crossbill, or pine grosbeck that frequent the park.

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