The Best Spots to Watch the Ring of Fire Eclipse in the Upper Peninsula
Who's ready for a Ring of Fire, and we're not talking about the Johnny Cash type! This Thursday, June 10th, if, by chance, we have clear skies, a partial solar eclipse will be visable at sunrise! Northern and eastern sections of North America will experience this strange event where the rising sun will appear like a slightly dented, deeply crescent shaped, or even ring shaped depending on where you're watching!
We've put together a short list of the best spots to view this natural spectacle along the Lake Superior shoreline. So this Thursday make sure you get up early, grab your headlamp and a cup of coffee, and head to the Lake to watch.
Houghton Area - Brockway Mountain, Copper Harbor
With a spectacular view of Lake Superior and the Keweenaw Peninsula in every direction, the top of Brockway Mountain might be the perfect spot to watch the sunrise eclipse. A short drive up the mountain will reward you with perfect vantage point, no walking necessary. Grab a cup of coffee from Keweenaw Coffee Works in Calument on your drive up and a Thimbleberry donut at Jamsen's after the show. And maybe stick around for a quick ride on the world class mountain bike trails.
Marquette Area - Sugarloaf Mountain - 1.2 miles round trip
Not only is Sugarloaf Mountain is a must do for anyone who visits Marquette, it will be the perfect location to view a sunrise eclipse! The summit offers a 360 degree views of the surrounding area. Look north five miles off shore and you will see the tiny Granite Island. Behind you to the south west is Hogback Mountain, and down below you is the white sand beaches of Wetmore Landing. For the eclipse, you will need to look to the east where you will catch it rising just before Presque Isle and Partridge Island.
Munising Area - Grand Portal Point - 10.4 miles round trip
Want a unique viewing site? Try hiking making the trek out along Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore to Grand Portal Point. In our opinion, Grand Portal Point offers one of the best views in the park as it juts out into Lake Superior offering great views of the sunrise. Take your headlamp and allow yourself plenty of time to arrive before the sun starts its show. This might be one of the most scenic viewing spots in the state and will be sure to be an experience you won't forget!
Safety First
I'm pretty sure we don't need to tell you that staring directly at the sun is a bad idea, but we're going to do it anyway. Please don't, not even for a brief period. It can do serious damage to your eyes. Grab yourself a pair eclipse glasses. They will make the stunning show even better and you won't go blind.
If you want a little more "out of the way" spot to watch the eclipse, stop by any of our stores and our friendly staff will be happy to point you to any number of amazing spots that are a little more off the beaten path.