Looking at a map of the Great Lakes basin, it is apparent that Michigan lucked out with an expanse of shoreline on three Great Lakes. In addition, Michigan is home to Isle Royale – the largest island in Lake Superior and a National Park. Michigan boasts some of the best beaches on Lake Superior and an abundance of parks and protected areas.

The Keewinaw Peninsula is the northern most section of Michigan’s “Upper Peninsula.” This region was home to the fist copper mines in the United States and the northern tip is sometimes referred to as Copper Island. The Island is separated from the rest of the peninsula by the Keweenaw Waterway - a natural waterway that was dredged and expanded in the 1860s.

The Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is located between the communities of Munising and Grand Marais. The Pictured Rocks are a series of colourful sandstone formations that are located northeast of Munising. The forces of nature have sculptured the cliffs into shallow caves, arches and other formations. The Grand Sable dunes are located at the eastern end of the Lakeshore. These are the highest sand dunes in the Lake Superior basin and rise upwards of 275 feet (85 m) above the lake.

The route between Munising and Grand Marais passes through a deciduous forest with a lush canopy. The vivid greens of the forest, combined with the vistas of Lake Superior give this section of the EcoTour a tropical feeling – at least, in the height of summer. Further east, the road dips south away from the shoreline and then to Paradise – a small town en route to Whitefish Point.