Iron County: Lakes, Waterfalls and Winter Trails
Accommodation in Iron County
Iron County has 228 lakes covering a total area of more than 34,000 acres. At Saxon Harbor, sandy beaches line the county’s Lake Superior shore. Waterfalls also shape the landscape: Saxon Falls plunges 90 feet into the Montreal River on the border between Wisconsin and Michigan; Potato River Falls drops 90 feet into the Potato River southwest of Gurney.
Waterways and practical information
The Turtle-Flambeau Scenic Waters Area covers 40,000 acres in Iron County. It has 66 remote campsites accessible only by water. If you plan to stay overnight, check the current camping rules; they may change. To explore by car, there is also a 24-mile self-guided driving tour with 15 stops. Before setting out, also check the tour materials and access to the stops.
At Potato River Falls, 131 steps lead to the Upper Falls and 204 to the Lower Falls. Maintenance or safety work may affect access; before your visit, check whether the steps are accessible. North of Wren Falls, there is a basic campsite on Iron County Forest land. Check the camping rules and availability before you travel.
Driving routes in the Iron County Forest
The Iron County Forest offers 120 miles of well-maintained ATV and UTV trails. These trails connect to hundreds of miles of routes in the neighboring Wisconsin counties of Vilas, Price and Ashland, as well as on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Check the route and conditions before setting out.
Cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobile trails
The Iron County Forest has more than 50 km (33 miles) of groomed cross-country ski trails. The Mecca Trails offer more than 15 km of groomed cross-country ski trails, as well as a 1.1 km loop for snowshoeing or hiking. The Uller Trails run for 18 km through remote, rolling and hilly terrain in Pence and Iron Belt. The 11 km Montreal Ski Trails system is located in Montreal and Pence, Wisconsin, and runs through the Montreal River Watergap in Iron County and the remnants of the former Montreal iron ore mine.
Iron County has 308 miles of groomed snowmobile trails, connecting to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and the Wisconsin counties of Vilas, Price and Ashland. At Schomberg Park, the snowshoe trails consist of two loops totaling 1.7 miles over easy terrain. Grooming and seasonal access may vary on winter trails; check current conditions before heading out.
A chapter of local history
The Iron County Historical Museum building was constructed in 1893 as the town hall of the now-defunct Town of Vaughn. The following April, it was sold to serve as the Iron County courthouse.
Discover more destinations: Hurley, Iron Belt, Montreal, Jackson County, Jefferson County, Washburn County, Winnebago, Marathon.
For the main travel overview: Wisconsin.
