Gogebic County: Lakes, Outdoor Experiences and History

Six named lakes in the Gogebic County Forest and several miles of rivers and streams shape the area’s waterscape. There are also hiking trails, fishing opportunities, winter sports and scenic viewpoints. As you plan, consider whether you want to focus your stay on water and nature, skiing or history.

Lakes, Fishing and Trails

At Lake Gogebic State Park, a paved boat launch accommodates boats of all sizes. You can fish there for perch, walleye, smallmouth bass and pike; fish populations and regulations may change. A scenic, two-mile nature trail leads back to the campground. If you plan to use the launch or trail, it’s a good idea to check current operating and trail conditions before your visit.

The Lake Gogebic County Park is separate from the state park. It has 53 campsites with electrical hookups, as well as a swimming area and access to a pier for day use. Seasonal conditions may affect the swimming area, and the number of campsites may change. When planning, you can consider camping, swimming and visiting the pier as distinct amenities at this park.

McDonald Lake County Park has a kayak launch and offers fishing for pike, largemouth bass, sunfish and crappie. Fish populations and regulations may change there as well. Little Girl’s Point County Park offers a different focus: Gogebic County established it in 1920, and the park has hiking trails. The two fishing areas therefore differ in their listed fish species and water access; the park at Little Girl’s Point also offers a historical perspective.

Winter Sports and Cycling

Snowriver Mountain Resort includes Jackson Creek Summit and Black River Basin. Jackson Creek Summit offers skiing for all ability levels, including a dedicated beginner area. Terrain and operations may change; check current information before your trip. Big Powderhorn Mountain Resort offers seven kilometers of groomed cross-country ski trails for skiers of all ability levels. The ski area also has ten lifts and 253 acres of skiable terrain. Trail length and grooming, as well as resort statistics, may change from season to season.

Cycling is another travel interest: The Iron Belle Trail includes a designated bicycle route in Gogebic County called the US-2 Bicycle Route. Route conditions may change. This gives you a choice of different ways to get moving as you plan: cross-country skiing on groomed trails, skiing at Jackson Creek Summit or riding the designated bicycle route.

Views and History

Copper Peak combines a distinctive sporting history with a scenic viewpoint. It is the only ski flying hill in the Western Hemisphere and has the world’s largest artificial ski jump. An 18-story elevator provides access to the observation deck. From the top, views extend 40 or more miles in every direction, though visibility varies. As visiting conditions may change, check current access information before your visit.

Built in 1892, the Ironwood Depot is now the Historic Ironwood Depot & Museum. Exhibits cover topics such as iron ore mining, railroad memorabilia, the Ironwood community and culture, and historical artifacts from the region. The Erwin Township Historical Society Museum offers another way to explore local history: its collection includes more than 2,000 objects organized by theme. The Gogebic County Courthouse, the county’s first and current courthouse, was built between 1887 and 1888 and is listed as a historic building. The depot, museum collections and courthouse thus each highlight a different aspect of urban, regional and architectural history.

Markets and Getting Around

There are two different places to get a glimpse of local markets. The Ironwood Township Farmers Market takes place at the Airport Park Pavilion; dates and location may change. The Depot Park Farmers & Artisans Market features locally made food in Gogebic County. Dates and vendors may also change, so it’s a good idea to check current market information before visiting.

Gogebic-Iron County Airport offers direct flights to Chicago O’Hare or Minneapolis; routes and schedules may change. Within Gogebic County, Gogebic County Transit provides demand-response bus service with no fixed routes. If you plan to use this service, plan around the provider’s current information. This lets you consider your arrival and your activities locally separately, rather than assuming there is a fixed-route network.

Discover more destinations: Ironwood, Wexford County, Muskegon, Houghton, Presque Isle County, Emmet, Ionia County, Alcona County.

For the broader travel overview: Michigan.