With mammoth Lake Superior providing the requisite moisture, the northwestern corner of the U.P. isn’t exaggerating when it markets itself as Big Snow Country. Cool air moving across the warmer waters of Lake Superior create lake effect snows when they hit land, generating an average of 200 inches per season. This combines nicely with the area’s rugged hills and Midwestern mountains, home to many of the Midwest’s largest downhill ski resorts.

As a result, the western U.P., especially around Ironwood, is one of the Upper Peninsula’s more heavily marketed tourism areas, luring sizable crowds of skiers up I-39/U.S. 51 every weekend from Wisconsin and the Chicago area.

Cross-country skiers and, increasingly, snowshoers also take advantage of the abundant snows. Gogebic County has more dedicated Nordic skiing resorts than you’ll find elsewhere in the Upper Peninsula. And the Ottawa National Forest offers a dizzying array of terrain for those seeking solitude. The U.P. never overlooks snowmobiling, though, and you’ll see plenty of trucks pulling snowmobiles; snowmobile routes radiating out from Lake Gogebic seem especially popular. To avoid them, ask state park/national forest officials about the proximity of snowmobiling trails where you plan to set out.

Follow M-505 north from Ironwood to reach Little Girl’s Point, an area favorite. Perched high on a bluff over Lake Superior, this county park features a sand beach, a boat launch, picnic tables, grills, and fantastic views—the Porcupie Mountains to the east, the Apostle Islands to the west.

From Little Girl’s Point, continue west on M-505 to reach Superior Falls. The rushing Montreal River puts on its final spectacular show here, plummeting more than 40 feet, then squeezing through a narrow gorge before spilling into Lake Superior a short distance away. You can also reach it by taking U.S. 2 about 11 miles west from Ironwood and turning north on W-122. (You’ll travel through Wisconsin and back into Michigan in the process.) In about 4.8 miles, watch for a small brown sign that directs you west into a small parking area near a Northern States Power substation. From here, it’s a short walk to the falls. You also can continue down the path past the falls to Lake Superior, a fine sunset spot.