About
Michigan's Upper Peninsula is far more than an outdoorsman's paradise - it's a kitschy roadside wonderland. Just north of the Mackinac Bridge is Castle Rock - a delightfully tacky and quintessential Yooper tourist trap. Large carved statues of Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox greet visitors outside the gift shop, which is currently open from early May to mid October. If you get there early enough, you may even catch a glimpse of the plastic bag that is wrapped around Paul Bunyan's head at night to protect his aging wooden face. Now there's an offer you can't refuse!
Originally opened in 1929, Castle Rock is an honest - and cheap - roadside attraction that has seen very few updates since a gift shop was added in the 1950s. While the gift shop itself is relatively run-of-the-mill, there is a taxidermied black bear in a cowboy hat inside that is perfectly representative of the local humor.
The panorama from atop Castle Rock is spectacular, offering a clear view of Lake Huron, Mackinac Island, the Mackinac Bridge, and the Mackinac Straits. There are paid viewing binoculars at the top, but they have undoubtedly seen better days.
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Know Before You Go
Open daily at 9am, May through October. The $1 admission fee is paid in the gift shop.
Castle Rock is decidedly not handicap-accessible, and the steps to the top can be a bit precarious in the best of conditions. Their website advertises it as family and pet-friendly, although it would not be advisable to take a dog to the top with you.
Ten minutes from the Mackinac Bridge heading north on I-75, Exit 348.
Published
September 29, 2025
