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Upper Peninsula Attractions | UP Attractions | Tahquamenon Falls State Park | Upper Tahquamenon Falls | Upper Tahquamenon Falls |  Upper Peninsula Waterfalls
Duffy's Motel
Wander. Explore. Discover.
Upper Peninsula attractions abound in all directions from Duffy's Motel.  Below we have provided a multitude of great things to see and do here in the Eastern Upper Peninsula.  All are within a short drive away and well worth the time.  From waterfalls to lighthouses, we know that you will surely enjoy our great Upper Peninsula attractions!

Upper Tahquamenon Falls - Distance from Duffy's Motel = 18 miles
One of the most extraordinary attractions in Michigan's Upper Peninsula is the great Upper Tahquamenon Falls.  Surrounded by wilderness, this massive waterfall is over 200 feet wide and 50 feet high. 50,000 gallons of water spill over this incredible waterfall per second - the highest flow is mainly in the spring after the winter thaw.   Take a nice hike on the pristine path that leads through the forests of the Tahquamenon Falls State Park down to the majestic rush of water - you will hear the water's flow the closer you get. The Tahquamenon Falls Park is open all year round and the Upper Tahquamenon Falls are particularly beautiful during the winter.

There are 94 steps down to the main viewing deck at the end of the walk. On the platform below there is a bench to sit and rest on while taking in the majestic views of the falls.  The Tahquamenon Falls State Park offers a large array of activities such as birding, fishing, hiking, sight-seeing, camping, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling. Wildlife abounds throughout the Tahquamenon Falls and by chance you may see black bear, whitetail deer, and moose, along with a variety of birds.

Located just 22 miles north of Duffy's Motel and 4 miles north of the Upper Falls is the Lower Tahquamenon Falls.  Lower Tahquamenon Falls has so much to experience.
Lower Tahquamenon Falls - Distance from Duffy's Motel = 22 miles
The Lower Tahquamenon Falls is located just 4 miles north of the Upper Falls.  This experience is very unique - it is like a natural waterpark for visitors to come and cool off in.  There are many small waterfalls that surround the island. There are boat rentals available at the Lower Tahquamenon Falls and a seasonal concession stand is there for your convenience.  People come here seeking an escape from the hot weather.
This is a great opportunity to take photos and hike. Here you will find a four mile hiking trail that connects the Lower to the Upper Tahquamenon Falls.

The Lower Tahquamenon Falls four mile hike to the Upper Falls is a great experience that entails a winding path along the Tahquamenon River. This is a long trail, please bring adequate clothing, food and water with you along this hiking excursion - because of the terrain, traversing the trail may take a while to accomplish. 

Oswald’s Bear Ranch is an outstanding Upper Michigan attraction for the entire family. This complex is the largest bear ranch in the United States. Since opening to the public in 1997, Oswald's Bear Ranch has grown in size and in bears. The ranch now has 29 black bears, 2 huge habitats and 2 smaller habitats. This allows visitors to explore the outside of the enclosures and see the bears in their natural environment.
Oswald’s Bear Ranch - Distance from Duffy's Motel = 4.5 miles
Oswald’s Bear Ranch is a family fun Upper Michigan attraction that is perfect for all ages to enjoy. This refuge is the largest bear ranch in the United States. Since opening to the public in 1997, Oswald's Bear Ranch has grown in size and in bears. The ranch now has 40 black bears, 2 huge habitats and 2 smaller habitats. This allows visitors to explore the outside of the enclosures and see the bears in their natural environment.

Oswald's Bear Ranch has 4 habitats that allow visitors to explore the perimeters and view these great live roaming bears. Platforms allow visitors to have a barrier free view of the bears. This is a great place to bring the family.

Bring Your Camera
Rescued cubs are brought here every year and they are always a joy to see. Area youth enter contests yearly to name these newborn creatures.  Make sure to bring your camera and get your picture taken with the cubs!

The Newberry Country Club is made up of 200 pristine acres in the UP. This Northern Michigan Golf Course has been redesigned with new bunkers, lengthened holes and new tee boxes, thus adding length to the entire course. A golf course of unique variety for all levels of golfers situated in the beautiful Upper Peninsula of Michigan, located 45 minutes north of the Mackinaw Bridge.
The Newberry Country Club - Distance from Duffy's Motel = 10 miles
The Newberry Country Club is made up of 200 pristine acres in the UP. This Northern Michigan Golf Course has been redesigned with new bunkers, lengthened holes and new tee boxes, thus adding length to the entire course. A golf course of unique variety for all levels of golfers situated in the beautiful Upper Peninsula of Michigan, located 45 minutes north of the Mackinaw Bridge.

The Newberry Country Club is a Public Golf Course that invites everyone to come out and experience our newly renovated course, clubhouse, restaurant, sports bar, and pro shop.  No membership is required to enjoy this wonderful facility. 

The Toonerville Trolley
Toonerville Trolley - Train and Riverboat Tour to the Tahquamenon Falls - Distance from Duffy's Motel = 30 miles

This 6 1/2 hour wilderness tour starts with a 35 minute narrow gauge train ride, followed by a 2 hour, narrated riverboat cruise.  After reaching the rapids above the falls, the riverboat docks for one hour and fifteen minutes, allowing for a 5/8 mile nature hike to our private view of the upper Tahquamenon Falls.

After the stopover, the riverboat and train retraces their route back to Soo Junction. The nature hike includes stairs and is not handicap accessible.


Seney National Wildlife Refuge - Distance from Duffy's Motel = 48 miles
Upper Michigan’s Seney National Wildlife Refuge  is located in Germfask Michigan, just a half an hour west of Newberry, MI. This is one of the most pristine nature refuges in the state. The Seney National Wildlife Refuge is one of Upper Michigan’s top tourist attractions with over 88,000 visitors every year.  Visitors can enjoy: hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, interpretation programs, environmental education, photography, hiking, biking, canoeing, kayaking, geocaching, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, birding, mushroom picking, and berry picking.

A variety of wildlife species can be seen throughout the Seney Wildlife Refuge. Currently, there are approximately ten pairs of common loons nesting each year. The refuge is also well known for the impressive numbers of sand-hill cranes that migrate back year after year. Their bugling can be heard throughout the refuge. Eagles, osprey, owls, and swans along with other bird species make Seney their seasonal home. Wolves, deer, otter, bear, coyote, and moose also find their place here and thrive throughout the 95,238 acre refuge.

Newberry's Tahquamenon River Logging Museum
Tahquamenon Logging Museum - Distance from Duffy's Motel = 3.7 miles
The Tahquamenon Logging Museum and Nature Study, located just 1 1/2 miles North of Newberry Michigan, invites you to come to their museum and park to explore the original buildings and memorabilia from lumberjack days of the past. Come and see the original C.C.C. buildings full of old photos, models and original logging equipment. Eat a real lumberjack's breakfast in the Authentic Cook Shack made over a wood stove with home made care and goodness. Stroll along the boardwalk and nature trail and see part of the Tahquamenon Forest. The Tahquamenon River is nestled along this beautiful trail, where blue herons, ducks, birds and other wildlife abound.


Nature's Kennel - Distance from Duffy's Motel = 8 miles
Nature's Kennel offers guided sled dog trips that give you the opportunity to drive your OWN dog team on a 10 mile loop, 20 mile loop, overnight or to ride along with a friend. These trips are all family friendly and great for all ages. Each trip also includes a kennel tour, brief instruction and a guided sled dog adventure.


Whitefish Point Light Station - Distance from Duffy's Motel = 40 miles
Since 1849, the Whitefish Point Light Station has been a working life-saving beacon for traveling ships on Lake Superior. It is the oldest working Upper Michigan lighthouse on this lake.  The legendary Edmund Fitzgerald steamer sank just fifteen miles northwest of this light house in 1975.  The Whitefish Point Light Station's tower remains working and standing today.

The Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum is located at Whitefish point and is open May through October. Founded in 1975, this non-profit organization offers a glimpse into the rich history of Lake Superior. The Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum has a large collection of information and historical relics from shipwrecks including the famous Edmund Fitzgerald. There are 550 major shipwrecks throughout Lake Superior also known as Gitche Gumee, by the Ojibwe, meaning “big water”. Approximately 200 of these sunken ships lie within the area surrounding Whitefish Point. At the museum, guests can also check out the Shipwreck Coast Museum Store.


Soo Locks Boat Tours - Distance from Duffy's Motel = 68 miles
One of our featured Sault Ste. Marie attractions is the Soo Locks Boat Tours.  This is one of the top five attractions in the State of Michigan.  They have a fleet of five tour vessels which offer:  Soo Locks sightseeing tours, Luncheon and Dinner Cruises, along with their adventurous Lighthouse Cruise.

The Soo Locks Boat Tours also offers Fireworks Cruises and Fireworks Dinner Cruises on July 1st and Independence Day on July.  They also have many other Special Event Cruises.

Guests will see all four of the US Locks, the St. Mary's Rapids, the Historic Canadian Lock, and the giant hydro-electric plants.


Pictured Rocks Cruises - Distance from Duffy's = 65 miles
Pictured Rocks Cruises, LLC is an authorized concessionaire of the National Park Service Department of the Interior. For over 50 years, these summer cruises have been guiding visitors to the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. The boat cruises are 2 1/2 to 3 hours and will travel into and alongside the most visually stunning 40 miles of shoreline on the Great Lakes! They offer 3 distinct Michigan cruises:  the Regular Cruise, the Spray Falls Cruise, and the Sunset Cruise. Each cruise departs from the Munising, Michigan City Dock. The crew will assist in ticketing, safety instructions, and other needs. The day cruises are narrated by the captain and will inform you of a brief history of the tour boat, local area facts, and Michigan points of interest on this national park tour.


Crisp Point Lighthouse -Distance from Duffy's: 50 Miles
Crisp Point was one of five Lake Superior U.S. Life-Saving Service Stations along the coast between Munising and Whitefish Point. It is located about 14.5 miles west of Whitefish Point. It was built in 1875 and became operational in 1876 as Life Saving Station Number Ten, of the U.S. Life-Saving Service District 10 (it was later part of District 11) . Crisp Point inherited its name from one of the Life Saving Station keepers, an iron-willed boatman named Christopher Crisp. The other four Life-Saving Stations were Vermillion Point (now Vermilion, which is about 5 miles east of Crisp Point and became operational in 1876), Two Heart River (built 1876), Deer Park (became operational in 1876formerly Sucker River Station and Muskallonge Lake Station) and Grand Marais (built in 1899 and became operational in 1900).


Garlyn Zoo - Distance from Duffy's = 45 miles
GarLyn Zoo is home to hundreds of native North American Animals including, Alligator, Badgers, Fox, Wolves, Bobcat, Whitetail deer, Javelina, Cougar, River Otter, Porcupine, Bison,as well as exotic animals from around the world, Siberian Tigers, Syrian Brown Bear (Grizzly), Patagonian Cavy, Ring-tailed Lemur, Camel, Reindeer, Sika deer, Sulcata Tortoise just to name a few.


Upper Peninsula Casinos
The Upper Peninsula has 10 gaming casinos for your entertainment.  We are located within an hour of each of the following casinos.  

Kewadin Casino of Sault Ste. Marie
2186 Shunk Rd
Sault Ste Marie, MI

Kewadin Casino of St. Ignace
3015 Mackinac Trail
St Ignace, MI

Kings Club Casino
12140 W Lakeshore Dr
Brimley, MI

Bay Mills Resort and Casino
111386 W Lakeshore Dr
Brimley, MI


Kitch-iti-kipi - Distance from Duffy's = 75 miles
Kitch-iti-kipi is Michigan's largest natural freshwater spring. The name means big cold water and is sometimes referred to as The Big Spring. It is northwest of Manistique about six miles (9.7 km) west on US Highway 2 and 12 miles (19 km) north on M-149


Mackinac Island - - Distance from Duffy's = 64 miles + Ferry
If you ever dreamed what it would be like to step back in time, Mackinac Island can make that dream a reality. Located in Lake Huron, it served as a center for the Great Lakes fur trade back in the 17th century.  No motorized vehicles are permitted on the island (accept for emergency vehicles).  Transportation is made by horse, horse and carriage, bikes, roller-blades, and during the winter snowmobiles are permitted. 

As early as the late 19th century, Mackinac Island became a tourist attraction.  The island has gone to great lengths to preserve and restore the forts, buildings, walls, churches, and other establishments.  The entire Island is a National Historic Landmark.  One of the most fascinating buildings on Mackinac Island is the Grand Hotel.


Mackinac Bridge - Distance from Duffy's = 64 miles
Spanning the Straits of Mackinac, the Mackinac Bridge is the world's 16th longest suspension bridge and the 3rd longest in the Nation.  It connects Michigan's Lower Peninsula and Upper Peninsula.  Connecting city's are Mackinaw City and Upper Peninsula's St. Ignace.  This incredible marvel was envisioned as early as 1880's.  The completion and grand opening of the bridge was held on November 1st, 1957.

The total length of the Mackinac Bridge is 26,372 feet. The length of the suspension bridge (including anchorages) is 8,614 feet. The length from cable bent pier to cable bent pier is 7,400 feet. Length of main span (between towers) is 3,800 feet. 

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