Fall is here, and if you’re planning a road trip to Northern Michigan to take in the colorful scenery, go hiking or enjoy other seasonal activities, don’t miss the chance to hit the Keweenaw Pasty Trail.
The Keweenaw Peninsula, which is part of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, offers several communities where visitors can enjoy outdoor activities, discover local history, and unwind along the shores of Lake Superior.
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Stretching from Twin Lakes to Mohawk, the trail features 12 pasty shops, and visitors who stop at each one can win fun prizes.
What is a pasty?
A pasty, pronounced “past-ee,” is a hand-held pie filled with meat and vegetables.
The iconic U.P. meal dates back to the Cornish miners, who arrived in the area in the 1800s.
They’d bring the pasties to work with them for lunch in the copper mines, holding them by their crimped crusts, which was a safe way to eat with arsenic-covered hands.
When they were done, they’d toss the crusts to the “gremlins” that were believed to be living in the mines. (This tidbit of local folklore inspired Houghton High School’s mascot: the Houghton Gremlins.)
Copper mining in the area faded by the mid-1900s, but the pasty has since remained a part of everyday life in Northern Michigan.
The area even hosts a Pasty Fest each August, which features several activities, including a truck pull, live music, a car show and of course, a lot of pasties. In just four hours, between 3,000 and 4,000 pasties are sold, according to Visit Keweenaw.
Even though there are still several months until that festival rolls around again, visitors are still able to partake in the pasty fun with Visit Keweenaw’s Pasty Trail Challenge.
Challenge: Try pasties from 12 different places
Visitors are invited to take on a tasty challenge: try the meat-and-vegetable pie from 12 different pasty shops.
To get started, pick up a free Keweenaw Pastry Trail Map at the Keweenaw Visitor Center in Calumet. You can also find the maps at Visit Keweenaw’s office in Houghton when it opens next month.
Once participants have the map, they’ll need to purchase a pasty and get it stamped at each shop. Each pasty place has its own custom stamp.
“The Keweenaw Pasty Trail is in its second year and continues to grow,” said Jesse Wiederhold of Visit Keweenaw. “It started as a simple, homegrown idea from our small three-person staff — a way to celebrate something uniquely us while keeping it easy to manage and fun for visitors."
What pasty shops are included in the challenge
The pasty shops featured in this food trail challenge include the following:
- Slim’s Cafe & Bakery - 38 Mohawk Street, Mohawk, Michigan 49950 (serves pasties on Thursdays only)
- Bear Belly Pit Stop/Jules Place - 11627 Superior St, Mohawk, MI 49950 (May 24th through Oct 12. Served Daily)
- Mohawk Superette – 158 Stanton Ave, Mohawk, MI 49950
- Pasty Central (The Hut) – 58540 Wolverine St #41, Calumet, MI 49913
- Toni’s Country Kitchen – 79 3rd St, Laurium, MI 49913
- Jen’s Kitchen - 56901 S. Sixth St, Calumet, MI 49913
- East Fork Pasty Company at Ramona’s Kitchen – 501 Elm St, Calumet, MI 49913 (Sundays and Mondays only)
- Amy J’s Pasty & Bake Shop – 1000 N Lincoln Dr, Hancock, MI 49930
- Griffin Family Cafe & Catering – 200 Michigan St #313, Hancock, MI 49930
- Roy’s Pasties & Bakery – 305 W Lakeshore Dr, Houghton, MI 49931
- Suomi’s Home Restaurant & Bakery – 54 Huron St, Houghton, MI 49931 (Closed Wednesdays)
- Krupp’s Mini Mart – 32260 M-26, Toivola, MI 49965
Each place was contacted by Visit Keweenaw and agreed to participate.
These are all of the shops that currently serve pasties regularly, but Uncle’s Diner in Hancock recently started serving them weekly, so they’ll be added to the map next time it’s printed.
How long do I have to complete the challenge?
There is no set timeline for completing the map, and Visit Keweenaw said that some people finish it in a few days, while others finish it within multiple trips.
About 80% of the participants are visitors, and 20% are locals.
“Many locals already have their go-to pasty shop, but even they admit it’s fun comparing styles across the peninsula,” said Wiederhold. “Every pasty is a little different, and it always sparks conversation (and hunger) in our Welcome Center.”
What happens after I visit all 12 shops?
After completing the challenge, guests can bring the map to the visitor center at 56638 Calumet Avenue or mail it in to the center.
Those who complete the challenge will receive some Keweenaw swag.
How many people have completed the challenge so far?
So far, 19 people have completed the challenge. All the winners get featured on the Visit Keweenaw website.
For more information about this challenge, visit here.