Hiking and Biking Iron County

Hiking In Iron County

Hiking & Biking

Unofficially, the first sign of spring may not be the robin but rather the first hiker or biker on the Apple Blossom Trail, which runs from Iron River through Caspian. It’s time you were hiking in Iron County.

Located in Iron County of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, the Iron County Heritage Trail is composed of a 36 mile loop connecting 14 premier sites that provide visitors the opportunity to discover the historic and recreation resources of Iron County.  The paved trail begins in Iron River and travels to Pentoga Park in Crystal Falls.  Heritage Trail consists of 14 trail sites along the route.
Bewabic State Park has a trail that starts in the campground and ends in the day-use area of the park. It’s an easy trail to hike and only takes around an hour.

Glidden Lake Foot Paths offers 3 loops that start in the parking area. Loop 1 – 3.4 mi. – 5.5 km. Loop 2 – 4.5 mi. – 7.2 km. Loop 3 – 3.9 mi. – 6.2 km. There are signs every 1/2 mile to follow.

Lake Ottawa: The Ge-Che Trail begins at the Lake Ottawa Recreation Area boat landing. There are nine miles of hiking trail between Lake Ottawa and Hagerman Lake. The Bennan Lake loop (2 miles) and the Ge-Che loop (2.5 miles) are the most popular summer loops.   Brule Lake: Brule Lake has a stateline historic site, a one-half mile recreation trail to historical Treaty Tree and the Wisconsin/ Michigan overland border. There is parking at the Brule Lake picnic grounds   Pentoga Park: The Brule River Trail starts at the registration booth, crosses Co Road 424 and continues to the Brule River. It’s a five mile long pathway.
The Indian Ceremonial Bowl Trail is a short walking trail one mile long.  Wolf Track Nature Trail: Wolf Track Nature Trail is a unique self-guided interpretive nature walk offered to the public by the George Young Recreational Complex. A 1/2 mile loop trail (with a 1/3 mile spur to Mt. Margaret) winds leisurely through scenic woods, paced by well stationed signs interpreting nature in words and art.

Apple Blossom Trial: Begins on Brady Avenue in Caspian across from the Iron County Museum. This restored walking/biking trail along the banks of the Iron River was originally the major corridor for the rail lines that hauled thousands of tons of iron ore from local mines to the steel mills of Chicago and Indiana. See the site of Harvey Mellon’s discovery of iron ore along this route in 1851, when only one settler lived here. Local high school students continue to contribute and develop sites and natural history signage on this historic route. This trail is also one of the main points on the Heritage Trail system. Heading in a northeasterly direction from Caspian, the paved trail proceeds exactly two miles to Genesee street in downtown Iron River. For more information, contact the Caspian City Hall at 906-265-2514 Access the trail system at the Chamber of Commerce in Iron River.

General and tagged biking, cycle, heritage trail, Hiking, hiking trails.