Copper Harbor Michigan & the Keweenaw Peninsula - Hiking, Camping, Travel Attractions. South Shore Lake Superior Circle Tour

Heading to the Keweenaw & Copper Harbor from the Porcupine Mountains, take Highway 64 east to Ontonagon. If you are in a hurry, take Highway 38 to Highway 26 which goes north to Houghton-Hancock.

An interesting side excursion is taking US highway 45 to Rockland, then take a county road SW (4 miles) to the historic community of Victoria. Old Victoria Restoration Site is a restored pioneer mining homestead that is an interesting tour. Nearby there is a waterfall at the Lake Victoria Dam (actually a powerplant spillway). The drive takes you down into the steep canyon formed by the Ontonagon River and then up again to the pioneer village. Figure about an hour plus for the drive and tour.

Continuing on Highway 26 you eventually arrive in historic Houghton-Hancock, Michigan - home of Michigan Tech University, the Seaman Mineral Museum, and gateway to the Keweenaw National Historical Park and the Keweenaw Peninsula.

Houghton-Hancock Gateway to the Keweenaw

Usually we're so looking forward to getting to Copper Harbor that, except for getting gas and ice, we whiz right through these twin cities. To the right is a view of Hancock across the Portage Waterway from Houghton. These are old towns and have some history worth appreciating if your interest lies in this direction. In 2009 we plan to spend more time in this area to catalog interesting places to see and things to do.

Crossing the bridge into Hancock, you continue through the mining communities of Calumet and Larium, staying on Highway 26 & 41, until the town of Phoenix. Here you can take the lake shore scenic route (Hwy 26) through Eagle River & Eagle Harbor or the more direct route (Hwy 41) which is also scenic (especially during fall color) but does not go along the lakeshore.

We usually take Hwy 26. Along the way you'll pass Jacob's Falls >>>
A little guy, compared to what we seen elsewhere around Lake Superior but still enchanting. There's a few more waterfalls along the way, but in general the Keweenau waterfalls are long on cute but short on impressive . . . which is why I have included few of them here.

Copper Harbor

An overlook of the village of Copper Harbor from the Brockway Lookout on Brockway Mountain Drive.

Near the tip of the Keweenaw Peninsula is Copper Harbor - which began as a mining settlement in the 1840s. The value of the huge copper deposits that were discovered there gave rise to the construction of Fort Wilkins in 1844 to provide some law and order oversight (of the miners and of the ore asset). The natural harbor soon became an important port for shipping copper out and supplies in. The present lighthouse was built in 1867. Mining and commercial shipping is no longer a part of the harbor, but it is a port for trips to Isle Royale, an outpost for recreational scuba diving, sailing, canoeing, kayaking, and sunset cruises on excursion boats.

Hunter's Point - the spit of land projecting from the left in the above picture - is a favorite local hiking destination that residents have protected from development. Go here for more pictures and Hunter's Point link information.

Camping - State Park
We camped at Fort Wilkins State Park about a mile north of Copper Harbor off US Highway 41. A nicely appointed campground. Level, spacious campsites, paved park roads, ample bathrooms and showers, and a park store and gift shop - including a tasty selection of ice cream. The park occupies the isthmus between Lake Superior and Lake Fanny Hooe - a narrow clear water lake well suited for canoeing, boating and fishing. The fishery includes perch, trout and smallmouth bass. East of the park, US 41 just ends . . . at a roadless state forest.

The park hiking trails run the length of Lake Fanny Hoe. One of the trails allows you to hike to Copper Harbor. There is also a trail loop that runs along Lake Superior. The restored Fort Wilkins is an interesting tour of a 19th century military post (built in 1844) with 21 restored buildings and costumed interpreters. - - Click here for more info and a map of the park - -

We ended one hike at this Lake Superior Overlook. That's the 1866 Copper Harbor Lighthouse in the background. > > >

Some of our favorite Copper Harbor travel attractions

• Touring the artisan and gift shops, including Keweenaw Agate Shop, the North Station, and the Sugar Plum Shop.
• Dining at the Harbor Haus restaurant overlooking the harbor.
• Visiting the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge.
• Going to the Jampot near Eagle Harbor to get baked goods and jam made by the Monks of the Holy Transfiguration Skete. "They are truly monks when they live by the labor of their own hands." (Holy Rule, Chapter 48) .
• Rock Picking on the beaches.
• Hiking the trails at the Estevant Pines Conservatory.

The Estevant Pines trails offer a good hiking workout as well as seeing some magnificent specimens of old growth white pine. Sprinkled among the pines are some pretty impressive sized maples, oaks, and birches.>>>

The Sanctuary totals 377 acres with some of the groves of trees located away from the designated trails. Backcountry hiking is permitted

Southeastern Shoreline of the Keweenaw

The northwest shoreline of the Keweenaw from Eagle River to Copper Harbor has more to offer the traveler, but if you have time take the return trip via US 41 and then south to Lac Le Belle and Bete Grise. On the way you go by Mount Bohemia - an advanced to expert downhill ski area that deserves the title "extreme."

The stretch of highway from Point Isabelle to the town of Gay runs along the lakeshore. You are not likely to have much competition along this stretch - just you and nature. Here we stopped at wayside south of Point Isabelle. > > >

At Gay the road turns inland on the way to the community of Lake Linden. There's a clean municpal campground for tents and RVs at the north end of the lake. From that point, take Michigan 26 to Hancock and across the Portage Lift Bridge to Houghton. Once in Houghton, take US 41 south heading towards Baraga. The stretch between Houghton and Baraga is scenic drive running adjacent to the Keweenaw waterway for a bit, then inland, and then rejoining Lake Superior. In the summer of 2004, Baraga had the best gasoline price bargains in the UP.

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