Outside of Academics

• There are an array of GSG Social Events and Professional Development Events provided to graduate students throughout each year. 
• Student Leadership and Involvement can link you to activities on campus as well as our 200+ student organizations.
• Student Scoop is a weekly newsletter sent on upcoming student offerings on campus.
• The MTU Events Calendar is where you can find access to activities going on at Tech.
• Tech Today is a daily publication for important campus announcements, upcoming events, and more!

The Experience Tech fee is paid by students at the start of every semester, helping finance a wide variety of activities across campus available to all students.

• Sports and Recreation opportunities are widely available in the Houghton area.  Some options include intramural sports leagues, adult fitness classes, and many others.  The Student Development Complex (SDC) also has excellent facilities.
• The world-acclaimed Tech Trails is great for hiking and biking in warmer months, and skiing and snowshoeing in the winter.  
• Outdoor Adventure Program (OAP) offers MTU students in-season rentals of various outdoor equipment.  They have a wide range of things to choose from:  kayaks, snowshoes, skis, mountain bikes, and more.  Their office is one of the best places to rent your sports gear to experience outdoor fun.
• Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts offers a wide array of national and university-produced theatre, music, film, and dance productions.  Tickets can be obtained at the Central Ticket Office in the SDC, via email at tickets@mtu.edu, by calling (906)487-2073, or at the Rosza Ticket office up to two hours before the event.
• Winter Carnival celebrates the snowy playground our campus becomes each winter.  This unique Michigan Tech tradition exhibits student-constructed snow statutes, broomball tournaments, and many other student activities.
• The A. E. Seaman Mineral Museum showcases marvelous minerals from the Great Lakes region and around the world.  
• Mont Ripley is a great place for skiing, snowboarding, and downhill tubing during the winter months.    

The Keweenaw Peninsula constitutes the northernmost part of Michigan’s upper peninsula (UP).  It is a place filled with pristine beauty that can help you find inner peace amid your whirlwind adventure.  Here are some recreational places offering a range of activities:

• Explore many of the local waterfalls within an hour drive of Houghton such as Hungarian Falls, Douglas Houghton Falls, Eagle River Falls, Jacob Falls, and Canyon Falls.
• The Keweenaw peninsula is home to many natural trails and is pure bliss for someone who enjoys nature.  Check out a few maps to major trails offered in different counties of the Keweenaw.
• Get out to Copper Harbor for some of the most challenging mountain bike trails out there.
• Use a ferry or seaplane to take you to Isle Royale National Park.  This small island, rich in biodiversity, is in the middle of Lake Superior near the Canadian border and is a car-free natural habitat perfect for a rustic weekend getaway.
• There are many local businesses worthy of support tucked away in the Keweenaw.  The plethora of goods offered include The Keweenaw Brewing Company (KBC), the Jam pot, and Keweenaw Coffee Works, along with many others waiting for you to discover!
• At Adventure Mine in Greenland, you can take a tour of a copper mine.  In addition to walking tours, there are options for deeper explorations and repelling.  This touring mine is owned and operated by a Tech alum!
• Take a road trip through the ghost towns of the Keweenaw!

• Ray Kestner Waterfront park (aka Chutes and ladders) is situated by the Portage Canal and has a volleyball court, campground, and occasional live performances.  Chutes and Ladders is the perfect place for adults and children alike.  Rental kayaks are available in warm weather, and the park is converted into a skating rink in the wintertime.
• The North Canal Township Park (aka Breakers Beach) is situated across from the north side of McLain State Park, with a breakwater built to preserve the Keweenaw Waterway. 
• Agate Beach is a great place for beachcombing for agate rocks.
• Keweenaw National Historical Park is a perfect place for history lovers to learn how the ‘Copper Country’ was forged.  The US copper boom began in the Keweenaw, bringing mining industries to the area. 
• Bridgefest is an annual tradition celebrating the Portage Lake Lift Bridge, which connects the twin cities of Houghton and Hancock.  Festivities usually include a parade, fireworks display, and more!
• Take full advantage of the winter to go ice fishing in Portage Lake or one of the inland lakes.  The UP is also one of the best destinations for snowmobiling.  Please note that fishing in Michigan requires a fishing license through the DNR.

• McLain State Park is a huge park located on the shores of Lake Superior.  It offers warm-weather activities such as camping, fishing, hiking, hunting, beachcombing, as well as skiing and snowshoeing in winter. 
• Maasto Hiihto Trails and Churning Rapids Nordic Ski Area is a great place for cross-country skiing in winters and hiking in summers.
• Hancock Beach is the perfect summer picnic spot.  This scenic beach has trails wandering into the adjacent woods, and even has an ice cream stand!
• Tour the Quincy Mine, a 175-year old copper mine in the heart of Hancock and learn about mine history and how miners survived at that depth. 
• The annual Canal Run has walks and runs of various lengths available for all ages.  Many community members also enjoy volunteering for the event or simply cheering on participants.

• Calumet Waterworks is a serene park located on the shores of Lake Superior with an excellent view of the Northern Lights (under the right conditions).
• Equally beautiful in the summer and winter, Black Creek Nature Sanctuary is located along Lake Superior shoreline, preserving the indigeneous flora and fauna.
• The Calumet Theatre is a national historic landmark over 100 years old that continues to offer various events to the local community each year.
• Pasty Fest is an annual festival celebrating the Upper Peninsula’s traditional food – the pasty!  The event is held downtown Calumet along with a parade and community events.

• Brockway Mountain Drive  is a scenic roadway to the west of Copper Harbor.  It is one of the best lookout points for fall colors in the Keweenaw and a perfect location for bird-watchers during seasonal migration.
• The Estivant Pines Nature Sanctuary is one of the oldest nature sanctuaries in Michigan.  Consisting of 508 acres in the Keweenaw, this sanctuary is home to about 85 bird species and the oldest white pines in the Upper Peninsula.  Some of the trees here are 400 years old!
• The Copper Harbor trails are rustic and beautiful for bikers, hikers, skiers, and campers.

Fourth of July fireworks celebrate Independence Day in the US and take place after sunset.  The exact date may vary depending on what day of the week the holiday occurs. Check out the link to see the 2021 schedule.  Some local places worth considering:

1. • Village of South Range
   • Village of Lake Linden
   • Copper Harbor

• Centennial Park is located on the shores of Portage Canal, and offers activities for children and adults such as fishing, a playground, and swimming.
• The Strawberry Festival is an annual strawberry-themed event on a weekend close to July 4th.  It is a great time to sample the strawberries and locally crafted goods!

• Porcupine Mountains & Lake of the Clouds is one of the crown jewels of the western UP.  No matter the season, you can expect breathtaking scenery and a wonderful escape into nature.
• Tahquamenon Falls are located in a Michigan State Park on the eastern end of the upper peninsula and are some of the largest falls in the UP!  
• Pictured Rocks is a National Park located just outside of Munising featuring enthralling views and sandstone cliffs.
• Located near Manistique, Kitch-iti-kipi is one of the largest natural freshwater springs in Michigan.  The water is so clear that you can see all the way to the bottom!
• Learn to ice climb throughout the UP, and Munising in particular.
• Head out to beautiful Marquette, with its well-loved trail system and lovely downtown area.
• An engineering marvel, the Soo Locks in Sault Ste Marie (pronounced ‘Soo Saint Marie’) connect Lake Superior with the lower Great Lakes.  You can also enjoy exploring the rest of the town or hop over to Canada if your papers are in order!
• The best mode to explore all the UP offers is a road trip across the UP.  You’ll probably discover much more than mentioned in this list!
• A Circle Tour is another great road trip idea to explore the shorelines of any Great Lake bordering Michigan.  Lake Superior is closest to Houghton and is a great starting point.
• Throughout your adventures, be sure to keep an eye out for Yooperlite, a luminescent local mineral only found in the UP!
• If your adventures take you outside of the UP, you might get to see the Mackinac Bridge, also called the ‘Mighty Mac’, which was the world’s longest suspension bridge when built (now the fifth-longest).