Bête Grise refers to a beach, a bay, and a nature preserve, all located just below the tip of the Keweenaw Peninsula.
- Location
- 47.3888, -87.9551
- Don't Forget
- Pool floaties, binoculars, basket for thimbleberry picking.
- Best Time to Go
- Summer
The beach is the longest in the Keweenaw and one of its most popular destinations in summer, thanks to the pristine white sand that extends along the lake floor. (No need for water shoes here!)
The protective coves on both ends of the bay tame the waters of Lake Superior into a shallow, calm lagoon perfect for enjoying with small children and pets.
The south end of the beach gives way to a 62-acre wildlife refuge, home to a diverse wetland ecosystem where you can spot loons swimming and bald eagles nesting in the trees. A channel near the south end of the beach provides access to and from Lac La Belle for fishing boats and other vessels, and the surrounding roadsides are thick with thimbleberries in the summer.
Fresh Coast Tip
Keweenaw Adventure Company will bring kayaks, paddle boards and other equipment to Bête Grise for your day on the lake.
Along with its spectacular beauty, Bête Grise is a place rich in legend.
The singing sand is believed to echo the voice of a Native American woman who lost her lover to the Great Lakes, while the name Bête Grise refers to a mysterious grey beast that roams the coastline when mists enclose the area at nightfall.
Photo: Jackie Johnson / @jackie.johnzon