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We've partnered with © Leave No Trace: www.LNT.org to keep the Keweenaw's wilderness, lakes and special places pristine. Please take a moment and get familiar with these principles so your visit will be safe and enjoyable while preserving the Keweenaw for future generations.
The Keweenaw offers a wide variety of outdoor activities - from ORV/ATV experiences to hiking or mountain biking through vast Keweenaw forest. With proper planning and preparation, everyone can have a safe and enjoyable experience, while also minimizing recreational impact on the environment.
Travel: To minimize your impact on the environment, be sure to stay on designated trails within our nature areas. Avoid trampling natural vegetation and stick to more durable surfaces like gravel or rock. When trails are wet and muddy, walk through the puddles or step over them, rather than around them to prevent trail widening.
Camping: If your trip to the Keweenaw includes camping, be sure to plan ahead to ensure that you find a suitable campsite. We recommend making reservations at our local campgrounds in advance, as they can fill up quickly during the summer months.
For those interested in dispersed camping on Michigan state-owned land, it is essential to know land boundaries and only camp in areas that are accessible without trespassing. The Keweenaw has limited dispersed camping areas available, but the the Ottawa National Forest near Baraga is a great option. Camp registration cards are required for dispersed camping. The Visit Keweenaw Welcome Center can provide you with more information.
Protect wildlife, water sources, and other visitors by disposing of all waste properly, this includes human and pet waste. If you pack it in, be sure to pack it out. Bring a plastic bag with you to collect any trash so that it can properly be disposed when you reach a garbage can. Make sure to toss those peels, cores, and all other food waste in your trash bag, as well!
Human Waste: When nature calls and no restroom is available, it is recommended that you bury your waste 6-8 inches deep and at least 70 big steps away from water, camp, and trails. Make sure to pack out any toilet paper and feminine products.
Pet Waste: Bring bags to collect your pet's poo, and make sure to pack it out to the nearest garbage can.
Keep the Keweenaw pristine by leaving it the way you find it. Plants, rocks, and other natural items should be left alone to protect the environment and so that they can be enjoyed by others. Help reduce the spread of invasive species by brushing off boots and boot tires, as well as draining and cleaning your water vessels before launching into different bodies of water.
It is essential to be careful when building campfires, and be mindful of the current fire danger as reported by the DNR.
Fire Safety Tips:
The Keweenaw is full of interesting critters, and it's important to respect and protect Keweenaw wildlife during your next visit.
People come to the Keweenaw to disconnect from the daily hustle and bustle of life and to reconnect with nature. Respect the solitude of others by eliminating excessive noise, keeping your pets controlled (in pet-friendly places only), and following basic trail etiquette rules.
Trail Etiquette:
Visit Keweenaw’s partnership with Leave No Trace is intended to create a culture which embodies leave no trace principles and enhances our communication to visitors as they plan their travels and experiences. At the end of the day, we hope that our visitors become world-class stewards and advocates of our lands and communities.
The partnership with Leave No Trace starts with a review of VisitKeweenaw.com, our social media channels and other area information resources we produce to identify opportunities to better incorporate leave no trace principles. Once the review is complete, Leave No Trace offers technical assistance, training, and messaging collateral to Visit Keweenaw for ongoing improvements. At this time, Visit Keweenaw is one of three Michigan destination marketing organizations partnering with Leave No Trace. The other two are Travel Marquette and Cadillac Area Visitors Bureau.
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