Bare Bluff Trail

Dogs Off-leash

Features Fall Colors · Lake · Views · Wildflowers

Getting to the trail can be tricky; when turning off Lac La Belle Rd. take the furthest north of the roads at the intersection that is marked private. You'll drive past a few private residences before arriving at the parking area. Note: Smith Fisheries Rd. is an old logging road and is not well maintained; I would not attempt to conquer it after a heavy rain.

From the parking area, a two track leads you 3/4 of a mile to where the loop trail splits; there is a sign that clearly marks where the trail divides. Do not be fooled by the old logging road that intersects the trail before the actual division of the loop.

At this point you can take the left (clockwise) trail for an easy ascent to the bluff through a well groomed forested trail or you can take the trail right (counterclockwise) for a much more challenging ascent to the cliffs with scrambling and some easy climbing.

If you take the more difficult trail, be sure to pay close attention to the trail markers, as it is easy to wander off onto a nearby logging road. The view from the top is spectacular; one of the best views in the Upper Peninsula, in my opinion.

A brochure for the trail is available at the Grinnell Memorial Nature Sanctuary Website.

After visiting the bluff, you can drive to the end of Smith Fisheries Rd. to the trailhead for Montreal Falls for another outing along Lake Superior. Here, you'll see the upper and lower falls.