U.P. Fun Facts – Did You Know?

🔹 What’s Iron River Famous For?

Iron River is home to more than just its rugged good looks. It boasts a Blue Ribbon Trout Stream flowing right through town, the Apple Blossom Trail (perfect for hikers and bikers), and the rowdy, rootin’-tootin’ U.P. Championship Rodeo. History buffs will dig the Iron County Historical Museum, and the whole town oozes that cozy, “everyone-knows-your-name” vibe.

🏛️ A Bit of History...

Iron River officially became a village in 1885, when the iron boom brought people (and opportunity) to this corner of the U.P. The Panic of 1893 hit hard, but the town bounced back — and by 1926, it was a full-fledged city with plenty of grit and pride.

🧭 How Big Is the U.P.?

Big enough to feel like a country of its own. The Upper Peninsula covers 16,542 square miles — about 28% of Michigan’s land, surrounded by three Great Lakes and connected to the “mitten” by the mighty Mackinac Bridge. It’s vast, it’s wild, and it’s full of hidden gems.

🧍‍♂️What’s a Yooper?

Say it out loud: U.P. = Yooper! It’s a nickname, a badge of pride, and a whole culture. Yoopers are famously friendly, fiercely independent, and know how to handle a snowstorm without blinking. (They also make a mean pasty.)

👥 How Many People Live Here?

Despite its size, the U.P. is home to only about 3% of Michigan’s population—around 328,000 people total. So yeah, it’s spacious. Quiet. Peaceful. The kind of place where you actually hear birds... and your own thoughts.

🌲 Why the U.P. Is So Special

Waterfalls. Hiking. Pictured Rocks. Some of the best stargazing in the country. The U.P. is famous for jaw-dropping scenery and off-the-grid adventures. You’ll find dark sky parks, pristine forests, and shores that stretch forever. It’s wild in the best possible way.

🧠 Famous Folks from the U.P.?

Oh yes. We’ve got Tom Izzo (MSU basketball legend), Pam Reed (ultrarunner), and aviation genius Clarence "Kelly" Johnson, who helped design the SR-71 Blackbird spy plane. The U.P. might be quiet—but our people make noise in all the right ways.

🌊 What’s Hiding Under Lake Michigan?

Try cars, boats, Civil War-era piers, and… wait for it… a 10,000-year-old underwater stone circle, sometimes called “Michigan’s Stonehenge.” Yep, the lakes hold secrets.

🌅 Oldest City in Michigan?

That would be Sault Ste. Marie, founded in 1668 — making it Michigan’s oldest town and one of the oldest in the U.S. It sits right on the edge of the U.P., across from Canada, where history (and giant freighters) flow like the St. Marys River.

🧭 Who Was the First Settler?

Father Jacques Marquette started it all, founding Sault Ste. Marie in 1668 and later St. Ignace. That’s some serious history under your hiking boots.

💧 Freshwater Goals

Michigan has more freshwater shoreline than any other state — over 3,000 miles. And some of the most jaw-dropping views? You’ll find them at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, where sandstone cliffs meet turquoise waves.

✨ Dark Skies, Big Wonder

Want to see the Milky Way with zero light pollution? Visit The Headlands Dark Sky Park in Mackinaw City — one of only 30 certified parks like it in the world. You’ll wander 600 acres of old-growth forest and two miles of wild shoreline, all under a blanket of stars.

So whether you’re planning your first trip or coming back for your fifth, the Upper Peninsula is packed with magic, mystery, and more fun facts than we can fit in one blog.

Ready to plan your U.P. adventure? Let’s go. 🚗🌲

👉 Find your perfect basecamp while you explore and book your stay with an ICLA member — comfort, charm, and adventure await! Check out a list of our member's lodging options.