Does Michigan Have a Hidden Coast on the Great Lakes?

Michigan is treasured as a Water Wonderland - we even have that option on our license plates. With four different Great Lakes touching Michigan, it would be difficult to imagine there would be "Hidden" or "Forgotten" areas of coastline.

Or, perhaps, just the opposite. With so much coastline, there are bound to be overlooked areas.

That's exactly the question raised on the Yooper subreddit of Reddit which asked about a so-called Hidden Coast of Lake Michigan, or more properly Green Bay between Escanaba and Menominee in the Upper Peninsula.

READ MORE: Where in Northern Michigan Does the 'Great Lakes' Become the 'Northwoods'?

M-35 runs the length of this coast and it's a roughly 55 mile trip between the two cities.

User Perspectives: What Makes a Coast "Hidden"?

Is is truly hidden, however? Perhaps, yes. Here's how some users responded:

It's just a nice drive. I think most of it is private property, so that's why it is called the "hidden coast." There's really nothing to stop and do there, short of a rest stop with a view of the lake, maybe.

A lot of retired peoples homes, a few campgrounds and like 2 gas stations.

Pretty scenic drive in some parts though.

there is one state park with a campground along the way and several county parks.

Also a couple small villages and one passing lane.

Nice drive though.

 

Using the "Hidden" criteria, it may be possible to consider other parts of the state's shorelines as forgotten. Nothing on the Lake Michigan coast in the Lower Peninsula, it's arguably the state's most visited and known coast with vacation destinations stretching from New Buffalo to Petoskey.

Beyond Lake Michigan: Other Overlooked Michigan Shorelines

But what about the Lake Huron coast? The Sunrise Side of the state around Alpena gets many fewer visitors - and it's just the way locals, if not the tourism industry prefers.

So to could one make the argument about the Lake Erie coast. While millions drive the stretch of I-75 between Detroit and Toledo, the small towns with some beach frontage like Luna Pier are often overlooked.

👇🏼BELOW: The Only Destination For These Special Highways are Michigan State Parks + These Very Special Streets Run Directly Along the Coast of Lake Michigan👇🏼

So while Michigan has a clearly defined water wonderland on nearly every side, there may just be too much coast for it to be all well known and well traveled.