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Hunts' Guide to Michigan's UPPER PENINSULA

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THOMPSON
POINTS
OF INTEREST

Thompson State Hatchery. Millions of trout, walleye, and salmon call this home until they're big enough to stock Midwestern lakes and streams. Visitors can view the indoor tanks, outdoor raceways, and show ponds with giant trout. Signs and photos show the destruction and restoration of fish habitat in the U.P. ... more

Big Spring (Kitch-iti-kipi). One of Michigan's most enchanting sites, this deep, clear spring in a pine-cedar forest is viewable from a raft visitors pull themselves ... more

Indian Lake State Park. The lake here is up to six miles long and three to four miles wide, fourth largest inland lake in the U.P. Good walleye and perch fishing. The shallow lake warms up early for swimming ... more

Rainey Wildlife Area. Boardwalks and an observation platform provide good bird-watching perches on the northeast side of Indian Lake. Songbirds are abundant in spring ... more

Bishop Baraga Mission at Indian Lake. This peaceful park on Indian Lake commemorates the "Snowshoe Priest" with a memorial chapel and a version of an Odawa bark house he had built at his mission here. There's a lakefront observation deck, too. ... more

THOMPSON

Rainey Wildlife Area

There’s good birding here from boardwalks and an elevated platform on the northeast side of Indian Lake. Especially during spring and fall warbler migration, songbirds are plentiful where Smith Creek creates a slough before entering the lake. The Michigan Wildlife Viewing Guide suggests calling warblers into view by standing still and softly going "pssh pssh pssh." There’s a good chance of seeing bald eagles and ospreys from the observation platform from spring through fall.

For a bit more on the wildlife area, visit the fabulously information-rich wildlife section of the DNR web site. First visit www.michigandnr.com, then click on the "Wildlife and Habitat" bar to the left, then "viewing wildlife," and then "Michigan Wildlife Viewing Guide." Just don’t trust the locator map. At this time the Rainey Wildlife Area is in the wrong place.

Take M-94 north from Manistique and U.S. 2. In about 5 miles, turn left (west) onto Dawson Rd. In 11/2 miles you'll get the access road that goes north to the parking lot. (906) 452-6227. Wheelchair access: observation ramp is barrier-free. Trails appear to be accessible.

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