Naubinway: Snowmobile Museum and Iron Belle Trail

Naubinway combines snowmobile culture with a route that connects several communities and a notable point on Lake Michigan. The Top of the Lake Snowmobile Museum is in the town center; the Northernmost Point of Lake Michigan Marker is at Garfield Township Marina. The nearby GarLyn Zoo offers a different focus. Which of these aspects particularly interests you can give your trip planning a clear direction.

Snowmobiles as a museum theme

The Top of the Lake Snowmobile Museum is located on the north side of US 2 in downtown Naubinway. It is a nonprofit museum dedicated to antique, vintage, and classic snowmobiles, with more than 185 exhibits. Its focus is therefore clearly defined: the collection showcases different types of snowmobiles rather than bringing together many unrelated subjects.

Those with a particular interest in these vehicles will find a specific cultural focus in Naubinway. The three designations—antique, vintage, and classic—reflect the museum’s focus; the number of more than 185 exhibits also conveys the size of the collection. This can add a different emphasis to your trip planning than a stop along a route or at a scenic overlook.

Snowmobile events and trip planning

The museum currently hosts four major snowmobile events per year. They are suitable for the whole family. The events therefore differ from the collection’s focus: if you want to plan your trip around an event, you’ll organize it more around a particular occasion; if you’re interested in the exhibits, your focus will be on the museum. Event dates may change, so check them before planning your trip.

Naubinway on the Trail and Circle Tour

The US-2/USBR-10/Iron Belle Trail connects several communities, including Naubinway. The route is also designated as part of the Lake Michigan Circle Tour. This places the town within a broader route context: Naubinway is one of the communities along the route, not just a single sightseeing stop. For travelers interested in the route, this is a distinct aspect in addition to the local museum.

Another stop is the Northernmost Point of Lake Michigan Marker, a visitor attraction at Garfield Township Marina in Naubinway. Travelers on US 2, cyclists and hikers on the Iron Belle Trail, and snowmobilers are invited to stop at this scenic overlook for a photo. The marker appeals to different types of travelers, even if they aren’t planning the same stretch of route.

Its location in relation to another road is also useful for orientation: the marker is a short detour from the Top of the Lake US-2 Scenic Byway. It is also a suitable stop for paddlers and boaters. Depending on their interests, visitors may consider the marker as a roadside photo stop or as a destination for those traveling on the water.

A destination nearby

GarLyn Zoo is located near Naubinway. Visitors can feed deer, goats, a llama, and a bear. Animals visitors may see include tigers, a cougar, wolves, a bobcat, a river otter, a camel, an alligator, and a grizzly bear. Feeding opportunities and the animal list may change; check both before your visit.

Choose your search location based on your trip’s focus

If the museum and marker are key to your trip, it makes sense to focus your vacation rental search on Naubinway: both attractions are in town. The zoo adds a destination nearby to the mix. If you want to plan your trip around one of the snowmobile events, check the dates first. And if the route is what matters most to you, the US-2/USBR-10/Iron Belle Trail, which connects several communities, offers a different focus from the individual local destinations.

Discover more destinations: Mackinac Island, St Ignace, Brevort.

For the broader travel overview: Mackinac.