Munising Ice Curtains Nature Photography

by pArt of Life Photography | Feb 24, 2021 | Fine Art Photography, Nature Photography, Travel Photography | 0 comments

Took a road trip this week-end for Munising Ice Curtains Nature Photography!  And boy, Upper Peninsula Nature Photography did not disappoint!  The ice formations against the gorgeous and rugged rock is a site to behold.  So, in case you didn’t know I’m a huge fane of Michigan, the state and especially the beauty of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula!  If you’re planning a trip and have any questions let me know.  Just today a friend asked if they could fill a week around Munising.  I quickly replied with an itinerary that should keep them all busy for a week, and then some.  What started out as a trip to see the Mackinac Bridge Blue Ice quickly transformed to extending our destination to Munising.  I can’t get that close to the UP and not go and stay for a bit.  Even though I went to Michigan Tech in Houghton there is still quite a bit that I have not explored.  We planned on going to the Eben Ice Caves in Eben Junction but doing a little more researched I switched out main destination the Ice Curtains in Munising.

So after a stop at the Mackinac Bridge and Tahquamenon Falls we spent the night in Munising.  In the morning we drove to H-58, the road towards Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and took the turn off for Sand Point Road.  We parked at the lot for Marsh Trail.  This is also a popular spot for ice fishing out on the bay so it fills up and the day we were there people parked along the road even though it is technically not allowed.  We walked back along the road until we saw the first sign (about 12″ square) noting the trail to No Boundaries.  The trails are well travelled so the snow is backed but it’s not the easiest trek.  This year there are fallen trees so we were climbing under and over them.  The packed snow gets slick when there is an incline so even before you make it to the ice, ice cleats are pretty much a must have.  People also slide down the trails where the decline is steep so so spots are really slick.  At No Boundaries we watched some ice climbers.  There were ice climbing lessons by Downwind Sports going which was cool to watch.  Downwind Sports is a great store and the perfect place to buy your ice cleats, or rent equipment.

We returned to the road and continued back to the next signs for Amphitheater, then Dryer Hose then Curtains.  Dryer Hose features a 35′ frozen waterfall, with more ice climbers.  Grand Island has amazing ice formations and ice climbing but requires more time and logistics to get there and the ice is not as thick this year, although people are still making the trek.  Next was Curtains Ice Formations.  This place was especially amazing as it was the widest expanse, with such a variety of frozen ice flows, they look like works of art.  It really shows off where and how much moisture seeps out of the rocks the rest of the year.  The walk back to the car is only about 3/4 of a mile.  I have links to my other Upper Peninsula Nature Photography at the bottom of this post.  I plan to come back and hike more of the Marsh Trail in the summer, that follows along the top of this rocky bluff.

Munising Ice Curtains Nature Photography

No Boundaries, first ice formation south of Sand Point Marsh trail parking lot

Dryer Hose, 35′ tall ice formation Munising Ice Curtains

Thanks for checking out my Munising Ice Curtains Nature Photography. After lunch we took a tour with Lake Superior Ice Cave Tours to Miners Falls and Miners Castle in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.  Here are my summer Pictured Rocks photographs.

Upper Peninsula Travel Photography

Are you into hiking?  If so, the North Country Trail in Michigan travels along the top of this rocky bluff.  What a wonderful place to hike and take photographs.  It’s on my bucket list to plan a hiking and photography trip to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and other fabulous spots in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.  Comment below if you want to keep in touch about future hiking and photography opportunities!

Upper Peninsula Nature Photography

Here are some more nature photography posts from my latest Pure Michigan Upper Peninsula winter photography trip to the Mackinac Bridge, Tahquamenon Falls and Munising.  It was amazing!

Mackinac Bridge Blue Ice

MIners Castle Nature Photography

My nature photography is available in prints, metals and canvas, as well as custom creations.  I’ve added most of the images from this trip if you are interested in new art for your walls or as a gift.  Feel free to send me a message regarding custom orders or multiple purchases.  I’d love to hear your comments or questions below.  Thank you!

Mackinac Bridge Blue Ice

by pArt of Life Photography | Feb 23, 2021 | Fine Art Photography, Nature Photography, Travel Photography | 3 comments

Blue Ice doesn’t happen in Michigan every year so when the Mackinac Bridge Blue Ice is there it’s time for a photography road trip!  The ice looks blue when the air bubbles get squeezed out.  However it happens it sure looks cool and is really something to partake.  On my way north on the I-75 towards Mackinaw City Blue Ice the blue sky kept popping out but the clouds looked solid on the horizon so I figured it would be grey at the bridge, just like the forecast said.  I kept driving and kept seeing blue skies!  We arrived to a beautiful blue sky and a very cool cloud line as the backdrop for the afternoon.  I didn’t realize just how much blue ice there was to see.  Even though there were people around it was easy to find a spot with just you, blue ice and the Mighty Big Mac bridge.  We walked west along the shore and checked out under the bridge.  It was cool to get a closer look, standing on what was usually a few feet of water.

Mackinac Bridge Blue Ice

Thanks for checking out my Mackinac Bridge Blue Ice photography.  After crossing the Mackinac Bridge we drove on to the upper Tahquamenon Falls, then Munising to explore the ice curtains along Sand Point Road, then a snowmobile sled ride to photograph Miners Castle and Miners Falls in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.  We also checked out Munising Falls.  Pack your ice cleats, it’s time to hit the road!

Miners Castle and Miners Falls Nature Photography

Coming Soon:

Munising Ice Curtains

My nature photography is available in prints, metals and canvas, as well as custom creations.  I still need to add all the image from this trip so I’d love for you to check back or feel free to send me a message for updates.  I’d love to hear your comments or questions below.  Thank you!

Miners Castle Nature Photography

by pArt of Life Photography | Feb 22, 2021 | Fine Art Photography, Nature Photography, Travel Photography | 0 comments

I took a photography field trip this week-end for some Miners Castle Nature Photography in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.  I really wanted to go back to this amazing spot in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.  In the winter the road to Miners Falls and Miners Castle is not plowed so getting there takes a long walk, with or without snow shoes or cross country skis, or a snowmobile.  For me the choice was an easy one since it’s quite a long walk and we had other places we wanted to see on our too-short visit to Munising.  By the way, every visit to the UP is too short in my book!

We booked a tour with Lake Superior Ice Cave Tours for their Pictured Rocks National Lake Shore Tour to Miners Castle Overlook and Miners Falls Trail Head.  One of these years when the ice is right I’d love to go on one of their tours to Grand Island to see more fabulous ice formations.  They pull sleds with seats behind their snowmobiles so you can bring along a camera bag, snow cleats, snacks, etc.  The first stop on our tour was the trail head for Miners Falls.  The walk is .6 miles through a snow laden forest.  We were lucky to a have a sunny day, about 25° in February, just perfect!  The trail is easy and the last half is slightly rolling and winding.  The upper lookout is easily accessible.  For the stops down to a better view you will really want ice cleats.  It makes walking on the snow packed steps easy instead of treacherous.  This was not the first time that day that ice cleats saved the adventure.  With ice cleats you can also walk down to where these climbers were.  There is an impressive rock overhang to the right.  I love seeing where water seeps out of the rocks and freezes.  At the top of the darker area of the falls you could see the water flowing underneath a layer of ice. It was so cool to see the rush of water!

Miners Falls Winter Photography

Miners Castle Nature Photography

We headed back up the steps then hiked back to the trailhead to hop back in the sleds for a ride to Miners Castle.  There are few viewing spots to view the iconic Miner’s Castle.  You’ve probably seen this view often in the past but to see it in the winter is another treat!  Here she is in all her glory!

Don’t miss the lower overlook as well, just follow the fence line back towards the woods.  The trail winds back and forth and is marked by a wooden railing.  We did not need our ice cleats here.  From here you are treated to a view of the Pictured Rocks and you get a close up view of Miners Castle.

Thanks for checking out my Miners Castle Nature Photography.  It was a fabulous trip and with a ride from Lake Superior Ice Cave Tours you can fit more great adventures into your day.  That morning I did some Munising Ice Curtains Nature Photography along Sand Point Road.  Here are my summer Pictured Rocks photographs.

Here are some more nature photography posts from my latest Pure Michigan Upper Peninsula winter trip to the Mackinac Bridge, Tahquamenon Falls and Munising.  It was amazing!

Mackinac Bridge Blue Ice

Munising Ice Curtains Nature Photography

My nature photography is available in prints, metals and canvas, as well as custom creations.  I’ve added most of the images from this trip so I’d love for you to check back or feel free to send me a message for updates.  I’d love to hear your comments or questions below.  Thank you!