Directions
From Brimley The scenic byways pull-offs are a series of five stops along the Curley Lewis Scenic Byway also known as West Lakeshore Drive/Lake Superior Shoreline Road. Start in Bay Mills and head west 11 miles on the Byway to the first stop the Big Pine Picnic and Day Use Area on the north side (right) of the road. From there continue working your way west 10 miles to Naomikong Overlook on the north (right) side of the road. The Shallows Pull-off is just 1.5 miles further west and is also on the north (right) side of the road. Ankodosh Creek is a half-mile past the Shallows Pull-off. Once you have passed the creek there is a road to the south (left) with a pull off. You may park there to access the Creek. The last stop is two miles down the road on the north (right) side at The Bark Dock.
From Paradise take M-123 south to the Curley Lewis Scenic Byway also known as West Lakeshore Drive/Lake Superior Shoreline Road. The Bark Dock is approximately 4 miles down the road on the north side (left). Continue two miles to the east to Ankodosh Creek, a parking area is on the south (right) side of the road. About half-mile past the creek you will find the Shallows Pull-Off on the north (left). Another 1.5 miles down the road is the Naomikong overlook on the north (left) side of the road. Finally, 10 miles past the overlook is the Big Pine Picnic and Day Use Area on the north (left) side of the road.
Scenic Byways Pull-offs
Scenic Byway/Bay Mills Area
Birding Information
All along the Curley Lewis Scenic Byway, you will encounter multiple pull offs on the north side of the road. A number of pull offs have paved parking, vault toilets, access to trails (North County Trail), and swimming. From the beach, you may see bald eagle nests in the tallest white pines along the shoreline.
You might also spot the occasional shorebird such as spotted sandpiper and semipalmated plover and you're likely to see common mergansers on the water. Horned and red-necked grebes are also noted. Keep an eye out for common terns plunge-diving for fish. Along the trails off the byway pull offs, you might encounter ruffed grouse in adjacent wooded areas. In the forests near the Naomikong Overlook, you might come across pine warbler, red-eyed vireo, yellow-bellied flycatchers, eastern phoebe, cedar waxwing and Lincoln's sparrow.
Area Information
The Curley Lewis Scenic Byway is a stretch of highway along Lake Superior's Whitefish Bay that offers many scenic views of the bay and lake while traversing many acres of U.S. Forest Service lands. Bay View USFS rustic campground (opens May 15 through fall, reservations for some sights) is situated just west of the Big Pine Picnic and Day Use Area and requires a Federal Recreation Pass to enter.
Dollar Settlement is also situated along the Lake Superior shoreline along the Curley Lewis Scenic Byway, just east of the Big Pine Picnic and Day Use Area. It is reported to have been a likely location for ships to dock to transport lumber and was named after lumber baron Robert Dollar who has several other communities named after him despite his short time in the UP (1885-1888). There is a Dollar Settlement Cemetery just 2 miles south.
Bathrooms
Yes, vault toilets are available at the Naomikong Overlook parking lot, the Shallows Day Use Area Parking lot, and the Bark Dock parking lots.
Parking
Yes, parking is available at the Naomikong Overlook, the Shallows Day Use Area Parking lot, and the Bark Dock parking lot.
Road Birding
Yes
Hiking Trails
The North Country Trail runs from the Naomikong Overlook parking lot west to the Shallows Day Use area and Bark Dock parking lots and continues west beyond that
Viewing Platform
No
Winter Access
Yes