A few weekends a year Michigan sets the license aside, and anybody, from here or out of state, can fish, ride the snowmobile trails or take an ORV out for free. That's 3 for Free, and Iron County's lakes and trails are a fine place to spend it. Here's how it works and when the free weekends usually fall.
Three sports, free on set weekends: fishing with no license, snowmobiling with no registration or trail permit, and ORV riding with no license or trail permit. You can try one, bring the kids or a friend from out of state, and not spend a dime on paperwork. Size limits, seasons and every other rule stay the same.
The state sets the dates each year, and the 2027 dates haven't been announced yet.
Here's when each one usually falls, with last year's dates so you can see the pattern. We'll post the 2027 dates as soon as the state sets them.
Fish any Michigan water without a license, residents and visitors alike. The winter weekend is Presidents' Day weekend, which means ice fishing up here. State park and boat-launch fees are waived too.
Ice fishing guideRide without a registration or a trail permit, on more than 6,000 miles of state trails, including the groomed trails across Iron County.
Snowmobile trails guideRide the state's ORV trails with no license or trail permit. The June weekend lines up with free fishing, and state parks are free that weekend too.
Free ORV detailsThe 2027 dates haven't been announced yet. The winter free fishing weekend falls on Presidents' Day weekend in February, and the summer one is in early June. In 2026 they were Feb. 14–15 and June 13–14.
No. Residents and out-of-state visitors can fish without a license for those two days. Every other fishing rule still applies.
Yes. The free weekends are open to everyone, whether you live in Michigan or not.
No. You can ride without a snowmobile registration or trail permit that weekend. All other snowmobile laws still apply.
On the June weekend, yes, the Recreation Passport is waived for state parks. It's also waived at state parks and boat launches during the free fishing weekends.
Pick the weekend that fits, whether that's the snowmobile trails in January, the ice in February or the lakes and trails in June, and book your room early. We'll post the 2027 dates here as soon as they're set.
Fishing, Summer, Things to do, Travel Planning and tagged 3 for free, atv / orv, fishing, free fishing weekend, iron county michigan, Iron County Trails, upper peninsula michigan.
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906-214-2308
906-265-9100
40 E Adams St
Iron River, MI 49935
906-265-9244
1700 County Road 424
Gaastra, MI 49917
906-265-3611
1257 W Ice Lake Rd
Iron River, MI 49935
800-362-7853
373 Brule Mountain Rd
Iron River, MI 49935
800-DO-BRULE
906-265-4957
397 Brule Mountain Rd
Iron River, MI 49935
906-822-7713
1968 US 141 Highway
Amasa, MI 49903
Iron County is one of the Upper Peninsula’s best kept secrets. From camping to fishing, hunting to canoeing, mountain biking to forest bathing – no matter your interests, the great outdoors and clear crisp air await you here.
