By Rebecca Keyes

Nestled among sugar maples and towering pines along the southwestern shore of Lake Superior's Keweenaw Bay, Baraga State Park is not only one of the oldest parks in the Upper Peninsula, but also one of the hidden gems of the region. Whether you are a dedicated local who camps here each year, or a newcomer to the Copper Country, Baraga State Park has something special to offer everyone.

First opened in 1921, Baraga State Park has grown over the years to include 116 grassy campsites with electrical hookups; five designated pull-through campsites; a mini-cabin equipped with bunks and a kitchenette that includes a small refrigerator, microwave and coffee pot; two modern restroom/shower facilities; and for those looking for a unique experience, there is a tepee available for nightly rent. The beautiful picnic table outside the teepee was made of white pine by a local log home builder.

Summer activities in the park include horseshoes, hiking, picnicking, swimming and a children's playground, not to mention the daily explorer guide programs. The fishing is good for chinook, coho and pink salmon; lake trout; brown and rainbow trout; walleye; northern pike; herring and whitefish.  

The main snowmobile trail in the area passes right through the park. There are many unique opportunities for snowshoeing and ice fishing is popular on the bay.

The park also hosts a variety of popular events during the camping season: The Lake Trout Festival (June Free Fishing Weekend), 4th of July bike parade and festivities, Christmas in July (last weekend in July), The Negaunee Male Choir Gospel Concert, Cookout and Potluck (early August), and the Fall Harvest Fest (mid-September).    

Our campers frequently comment that Baraga is one of the cleanest and most well-maintained parks in the state! The staff is friendly and accommodating (and I'm not just saying that because I am one). As a regular camper once said, "Camping at Baraga is like staying with family." Kaye Frederickson, our returning camp host even gets Christmas cards from some of the campers she meets. 

Although one of the smaller parks in the system, Baraga has managed to avoid the hordes of campers that sometimes afflict other parks to retain its "small-town charm." Visit with our knowledgeable staff about local attractions or swap recipes and knitting techniques with our camp host, Kaye, or admire the walking sticks and miniature campsite display that Kaye's husband, Don, has carved from wood. If that's not enticement enough to stop and chat, our friendly hosts serve coffee and doughnuts every Saturday morning. 

During your stay, you also might run into Albert "Chink" Wallin, the former park superintendent, who celebrates his 101st birthday Dec. 16. Wallin still frequents Baraga State Park and regales campers with stories about the park and how he hand-picked the stones that decorate the outside of the north bathroom. He was park manager from 1937 to 1974.

For those who enjoy spending more time vacationing and less time setting up and breaking camp, Baraga State Park is the ideal place to set up a base camp. Popular day trips include the Porcupine Mountains (69 miles), Copper Harbor (75 miles), Houghton (30 Miles), Bond Falls (48 Miles) or the Marquette area (73 miles).

Baraga County offers numerous scenic and historical sites. You can hike along the rocky shore of Point Abbaye located on the tip of the Huron Peninsula on Lake Superior; climb to the top of Mt. Arvon (Michigan's highest point at 1,979 feet); explore numerous waterfalls, including Canyon Falls, Slate River Falls, Sturgeon Gorge (Michigan's 300-foot-deep canyon), Falls River, Big Erick's Falls and Tibbets Falls; fish various inland lakes; photograph the eagles and stunning sunrises that grace Keweenaw Bay; tour Henry Ford's model town and sawmill at Alberta Village and visit other points of interest, such as the Hanka Finnish Homestead and the Bishop Baraga Shrine and several attractions associated with the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, including the Assinins Mission and the Indian Cemetery.

If rest and relaxation, friendly and helpful staff, or a host of activities and day-trip options are what you're looking for, then Baraga State Park is the place for you!

This article was written by Rebecca Keyes, State Worker 4 at Baraga State Park for four seasons and a former MCCC member at Camp Alberta. Rebecca is now a high school English teacher at L'Anse High School. Rebecca is from Baraga and grew up just a few miles from the park.