The Lake Michigan shore and the Cut River Bridge

West of St. Ignace, US-2 swings over to follow the Lake Michigan shore, and the stretch around Brevort is one of the most beautiful drives in Michigan. For miles, rolling sand dunes and wide, sandy Lake Michigan beaches line the road — much of it part of the Hiawatha National Forest — and you can pull off almost anywhere to walk the beach or dip your toes in the water. On a warm August day the water is shallow and surprisingly swimmable.

A few miles farther west, the highway crosses the Cut River Bridge, a tall steel bridge that soars nearly a hundred and fifty feet above a deep, forested gorge. It’s one of just two bridges of its kind in the state. There’s a roadside park at either end, with picnic spots and overlooks, and a long staircase that winds down through the trees to a hidden beach where the Cut River meets the lake.

For buyers, this western shore is a quieter, more affordable side of the county — wooded lots, Lake Michigan frontage and beaches, and easy access to the forest — with the bonus of one of the prettiest beach drives in the Upper Peninsula right out front.