Whitefish Township has approximately 40 miles of Lake Superior shoreline. This includes the entire northern boundary along Lake Superior and the eastern boundary along Whitefish Bay. The coastline in this area is generally remote, pristine, and sparsely populated, with a mix of sandy and rocky beaches.
Perched on the shores of Lake Superior and Whitefish Bay, Michigan’s Paradise is an outdoor lover’s dream come true. Surrounded by lush state and national forests, Paradise earned its moniker as Michigan’s Wild Blueberry Capital after blueberries were introduced to the town after a major fire ravaged the Whitefish Point area in 1922. Since its introduction to the community, blueberries have become a Paradise staple, loved by locals and visitors alike. Paradise is also famous for being the gateway to the famed Tahquamenon Falls State Parks.
The area in and around the Paradise/Whitefish Point area is great for all sorts of hunters, anglers, campers, backpackers, snowmobilers, birdwatchers and just about anyone who loves the outdoors.
Things to Do
Much of the Paradise area is actually in the Tahquamenon Falls State Park, a sprawling park that extends across approximately 52,000 acres. Winding its way through the park is the Tahquamenon River, after whose famous waterfalls the park gets its name. This vast, serene wilderness is perfect for nature lovers and this splendid masterpiece of nature is always open for anyone looking for much needed peace and quiet in the Upper Peninsula.
As you might know, Whitefish Point is the area of many Great Lakes shipping disasters, and the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum houses some of the most excellent and informative exhibits about several of the better known shipping disasters, including that of the Edmund Fitzgerald. Visitors may also tour the Whitefish Point Light Station (the oldest working lighthouse on Lake Superior), the Life Saving Surfboat House, and the light-keepers’ residence, all of which may be accessed while on the museum grounds. The area is known as the “Shipwreck Coast” due to the high number of historical shipwrecks in the dangerous waters off Whitefish Point, a critical turning point for Great Lakes vessel traffic. The point is home to the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum and the Whitefish Point Light, the oldest operating lighthouse on Lake Superior that welcomes 100,000 visitors each season.
There are a myriad of things to do in Paradise all year round. Spring welcomes the migratory birds that follow one of the busiest migratory flight paths in the world, attracting avid birdwatchers from all over. Spring also heralds the opening of the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum, located at Whitefish Point. The museum is open from the first of May to the 31st of October every year.
Summer is the perfect time to cool off in the fresh waters of Lake Superior. With unprecedented access to the great lake, locals and visitors enjoy miles of beaches. The town’s annual Wild Blueberry Festival is celebrated every August, a family-friendly gathering hosted at the Whitefish Township Community Center. Other activities to enjoy during the summer are hiking, biking, kayaking, and four-wheeling. Hikers can explore the North Country Trail.
Solitude is best enjoyed in Paradise during fall, as the foliage of the forests takes on golden and fiery hues. The freshest cranberries are available at the Centennial Cranberry Farm. At the end of the year, Paradise becomes a winter wonderland. The finest groomed trails for snowmobilers are found here, and there are ungroomed ones for those who are feeling adventurous. Other winter sports you can try in Paradise are snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.
