Killfish Charters offers guided salmon and trout fishing trips on Lake Huron, serving Alpena and Presque Isle in Northeast Michigan. Available from May to October, they provide an expert-led fishing experience for all skill levels.
Lee’s Miniature Golf Course in Alpena is recognized as Michigan’s oldest, continuously operating mini-golf course. While it may appear straightforward at first, Lee’s offers a challenging layout with a classic design that truly tests your skills.
Lumberjack Meadows Disc Golf Course
Alpena Community College boasts a beautiful 40-acre, 18-hole disc golf course that is open to the public and free to use. This scenic course offers a great opportunity for both beginners and experienced players to enjoy the sport in a peaceful outdoor setting.
Maple Ridge Township Park
Located at the end of LaComb Road in Maple Ridge Township, just 15 minutes northwest of Alpena, this 45-acre park offers a peaceful escape along the Thunder Bay River. Enjoy hiking on scenic trails, fishing, bird watching, or relaxing by the river’s rapids. The park also features a picnic area, swing set, and swimming opportunities, making it a perfect spot to unwind in nature.
Mich-E-Ke-wis Park
This park provides a nature preserve setting with open grass fields ideal for activities such as kite flying. It includes a grassy ball diamond, volleyball courts, a sandy swimming beach, and picnic areas. It’s a great spot for family outings, a game of kickball, nature observation, and outdoor recreation. The Lake Huron shoreline also offers opportunities to spot various shorebirds.
Middle Island Light Station
Middle Island Light Station, located in Lake Huron between Thunder Bay Island and Presque Isle, consists of seven buildings, including a lighthouse tower, Keepers Quarters, an Oil House, Tool Garage, Fog Horn building, and two brick privies. The 77-foot tall conical brick tower is white with an orange band and its light, positioned 78 feet above low water, can be seen from 17 miles away.
Mystery Valley Sinkhole
Mystery Valley, part of the Thunder Bay Karst Preserve, is a 76-acre nature sanctuary in Presque Isle County. Known for its large karst collapse valley, dramatic earth cracks, and a disappearing lake, the preserve offers two self-guided trails: Earthcrack Trail and Valley Trail. Visitors can explore deep cracks and fossils dating back 350-400 million years. The valley, 1.5 miles long and 150 feet deep, was formed by the collapse of the surface over subterranean chambers. More details are available at the Alpena Visitor Welcome Center.
Norway Ridge Pathway Trails
Norway Ridge Pathway offers 10 miles of trails with clear markers, perfect for hiking, biking, bird watching, and horseback riding. Groomed by the Thunder Bay Trails Association, the trails are also suitable for cross-country skiing in winter and snowshoeing. It’s a great destination for outdoor activities year-round.
Partridge Point Wetland
This lagoon and wetland on Lake Huron’s Thunder Bay features over 1/4 mile of boardwalks, offering views of wildlife from three observation decks. Visitors can see migrating birds, wetland animals, and diverse plants. Guided tours are available by appointment from May 1 to October 31, with admission at $1 for adults, children under 12 free. An educational library and classroom are also available.
River’s Edge Golf Club
18 Hole Public Golf Course, Grill & Bar Enjoy our scenic, challenging 18-hole course with a PGA Pro on-site.
Riverside Skate Park
Riverside Skate Park, located on Ninth Ave. east of the bridge, offers 15,000 square feet of space with 14 ramps and elements, including a halfpipe. Skateboarders and rollerbladers can test their skills at this park, which is situated next to the Thunder Bay River.
Rockport State Recreation Area
Michigan’s 100th State Park is one of the most unique in the Midwest, offering a diverse range of terrain and a rich blend of geological, historic, and natural features for visitors to explore.
Sanctuary Cinema
Sanctuary Cinema, located at W. Chisholm St. and 2nd Ave. in downtown Alpena, is a luxury three-screen theater featuring state-of-the-art projectors and sound. Named after the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, it offers a unique movie experience. The building, originally a J.C. Penney store in the 1920s, was renovated in 2020 by Alpena natives Jeff and Tina Konczak. The theater now features cushioned recliners and restored windows, providing a more comfortable and scenic viewing experience.
Starlite Beach
Starlite Beach offers family fun with a sandy swimming beach, playground, splash park, picnic pavilion, restrooms, and outdoor shower. It’s conveniently located near restaurants and lodging, and is next to Lee’s Mini-Golf, Michigan’s oldest continuously running mini-golf course.
Stevens Twin Sinkholes
Stevens Twin Sinks Preserve, a 31-acre site near Alpena, features two large sinkholes, each 200 feet in diameter and 85 feet deep. The preserve offers two self-guided trails, one around the sinkholes and another through the woods and meadows. The area is known for its visible earth cracks and ongoing geological activity.
Sturgeon Point Lighthouse
Sturgeon Point Lighthouse, operational since 1870, is still in service today. Restored in the 1980s by volunteers, it features a 70-foot tower with a historic Fresnel lens. The keeper’s house now serves as a maritime museum, open weekends from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The lighthouse tower is open for climbing during the summer, and the grounds are open year-round. Sturgeon Point Lighthouse and Bailey Schoolhouse are open Fridays to Sundays, 11-4, during the summer.
Thomson Park Swimming Beach
Thompson Park features a grassy picnic area and a sandy swimming beach along Lake Huron. The clear sandy lake bottom has a marked shipwreck site offshore. While swimming to the wreck is not recommended, paddlecraft can be launched from the shore.
