We have made our trip plans for Tahquamenon Falls, Pictured Rocks, etc. in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. We leave next week (week of June 14). A colleague warned us that there could be biting black flies at this time and we may want to reconsider. I've never experienced these black flies. Is mid-June the peak time for the flies? Are they bad enough to postpone a trip over? If we go, is there a way to combat them?

This is the beginning of black fly season. You may also run into stable flies. They look like house flies but swarm around your legs and bite. We usually do the UP in August to at least eliminate black flies. Good luck!

Hi Gbhost,

YES, the flies can be awful at that (this?) time of year. Sorry. Bring long sleeves and pants with long legs and hoodies to give them less biting area. Even if you wear repellent, they'll still swarm.

Like millions of people who live and visit Michigan's Upper Peninsula you will learn to cope with black flies. many of us deal with mosquitis in alaska, heat in Florida, humidity in Texas, black flies in Lake George, cold in New England, tornados in Oklahoma and on and on. Go, buy proper repellent and have a great time.
Ask local people how to combat them, after all many people live there

Its funny how the problems you grow up with don't seem as bad as the ones you move into.

I grew up with the black flies, deer flies and mosquitoes and didn't like them. But I am much more bothered by the tics, chiggers and fleas that I have found in warmer climates.

Keith

When does the season end? We are going as far north as Mackinac Island the last week of July.

Thannks.

Doug

I've never noticed black flies on the Island.

Keith

Or for that matter, noticed them much in any of the communities, you run into the blackflies when you are in the woods.

Keith

We just returned from our trip and are happy to report that we did not see one black fly - even in our treks through the deepest woods in the incredible Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore nor at Taquamenon Falls nor Whitefish Point. We did encounter an amazing swarm of mosquitos, however, at Taquamenon Falls, Whitefish Point and Paradise, but we came armed with plenty of Deep Woods Off, which kept them mostly at bay. Bugs were not bad at all anywhere else on our trip - from Traverse City to Pictured Rocks to Mackinaw City...

How about a trip report?

Please.

Keith

Hi, we're going to the upper part of michigan this week from July 9 through July 17.....will we have problems with the black flies????

We were told (when we planned this trip in May) that the black flies would be gone by this time...true or not????