Mount Bohemia,

Despite spending four winters in the Keweenaw and Each summer, I attempted to return, but I never made the turn from U.S. Route 41 onto Lac La Belle Road…until now. With the SUV loaded to the gills with sleeping bags, food, and clothes for all sorts of adventures and five mountain bikes hanging off the back, we were ready to take on all the summer offered at Mount Bohemia.

Onsite lodging

Mount Bohemia’s Aqua Log Cabins sit on Lac La Belle, constructed of majestic 16 to 20-inch diameter red cedar logs. The lakeside cabins allow swimming for the kids in the shallow water from the dock, while parents can lounge on the deck with seating for more than 40 people. Ample firewood for the campfire and grills allows guests to spend the

day enjoying the lake. Don’t forget to grab paddles and lifejackets for the kayaks and paddleboards at the gift shop, which are included with your stay! The no-wake area to the marina around the corner makes the paddle smooth, with lots to see with the slow-moving boat traffic.

With lodging from Mount Bohemia, renters receive free chairlift rides and full use of the Nordic spa. The Nordia spa includes three saunas, a steam room, a cool plunge, a crystal relaxation room, a salt pod, a cool mist rain cave, plus a hot tub and pool. Several of the amenities are restricted to adults for those looking for a more relaxing rather than stimulating experience. The spa is steps away from those renting yurts and a 2/3 mile up the road from the lakeside cabins. The onsite bar and pizza cabana offering a variety of wood-fired pizzas allow for many hours to enjoy all the spa’s amenities.

For the silent sport enthusiast, the summer retreat offers miles upon miles of trails right out of the cabins and yurts. Although trail maps were sparse, the snowshoe trails weren’t overgrown and runnable. Meanwhile, the kids enjoyed fishing and tubing on the relatively quiet Lac La Belle. The Lac La Belle State Harbor allows overnight docking to avoid the hassle of taking out the boat each day.

Cooling off

For a scenic ride, continue down Lac La Belle Road to Haven Falls located right along the road, and splash in the falls. Then head down the road, capped off with a ¼ mile hike in Bete Grise Wetlands Preserve to cool off on 4000 feet of Lake Superior’s sandy shoreline. The red water flowing from the wetlands is reminiscent of the first of the 10 Plagues from Genesis, but soon dilutes into Gitche Gumee. Another nearby access point to Lake Superior is Bete Gris Beach, which is just a few minutes in the opposite direction down Bete Gris Road.

Stretching the legs

After a chairlift ride to the top, stretch your legs on the 2-mile Hike back down the hill on the Cliff View Trail. Take in fantastic views on the top third of the mountain before the forest obscures views. The downhill ski run signs may leave you in awe of the adventurous spirit of winter skiers and snowboarders that launch off cliffs and plunge between trees on the gladed runs. Even the open runs are impressively steep, where you can gain 680 feet of elevation gain in less than ½ mile if you dare. [Author’s note: The combination of the grade with the tall grass gave me the most Barkley-like experience I’ve had outside of Frozen Head State Park.] But if you want to go the conventional route, the chairlift ride down with views of Lac La Belle is spectacular.

For some extra adventure, the nearby Bare Bluff hike in Russell and Miriam Grinnell Memorial Nature Sanctuary offers 180-degree views 588 feet above Lake Superior. See how many boats you can spot, then scramble down a break in the bluff into another world of towering moss-covered rocks as you circle back around, scrambling over rockfall. Be sure to download directions before you go, since you’ll lose service quickly. To expedite your hike, load up the bikes for a zippy ride after the gate on Smith Fisheries Road for a mile on jeep road to the start of the 3-mile loop. Note, you’ll need to work hard to stay in the saddle for the ride back, though. A GPS file is highly recommended since the turn onto the hiking trail from the jeep road is not marked unless you’re lucky and spot the rocks arranged in an arrow, but that makes it feel a little more adventurous!

Bonus adventure in Copper Harbor

Copper Harbor is only 12 miles further up Hwy 41, offering a silent sport lover a plethora of mountain biking, hiking, and water adventures. If you only have time for one mountain bike ride, make the drive to the end of historic Hwy 41 (only 2,008 miles to Miami!). Continue onto Mandan Road and then onto East Bluff Trailhead.

If you’re a downhill junkie, take a few laps on the East Bluff bike park. Or if you’re a cross-country lover, roll 8 miles on the Keweenaw Point Trail to the eastern point of the Keweenaw Peninsula, where you’ll have fresh air and an endless view of Lake Superior. Enjoy raspberries and thimbleberries for a trailside treat on your ride back during the later summer months.

Berries too

If you time the visit just right, don’t miss out on the opportunity to rake wild blueberries at Pancho’s Blueberries (616-843-1899). You can rake 20 pounds of blueberries in 15 minutes! And even if you miss raking, the cultivated blueberries are some of the biggest (and yummiest) blueberries you’ll ever pick. If you want to forgo picking berries but still enjoy the scrumptious berries of the Keweenaw, stop at Jampot for excellent jams you can enjoy through the fall and winter.

So, if you’re not drawn to Mount Bohemia as a downhill junkie (all but three ski runs are rated black diamond or harder), there’s still plenty to enjoy, in summer…or come for the winter wonderland of backcountry cross-country skiing or snowshoeing!