Two-lane roads run past clear lakes, high spring rivers and old iron towns, and you'll have most of them to yourself. Here are the routes, distances and stops worth the drive, from snowmelt to the end of summer.
It comes down to how much time you have. With an hour, drive the Iron County Heritage Trail, 16 miles of US-2 between Iron River and Crystal Falls and a Pure Michigan Byway since 2000.
With half a day, come back the long way on County Road 424 through Caspian, Gaastra and Alpha. It makes a loop of about 36 miles. With a full day, take the waterfall loop out to Bond and Agate Falls.
Spring is for high water. In April and May the rivers run full and the falls are at their loudest. Summer is for the lakes, long evenings and a slow drive home at dusk.
Coming in October? Our Fall Color Drives guide has the fall routes.
Eight drives, from a twenty-minute run down the byway to a slow day on the back roads. Hover or tap a card for directions and stops.
The official byway, Iron River to Crystal Falls.
MoreThe four-lane between Iron River and Crystal Falls is the state's Iron County Heritage Trail. Four miles before Crystal Falls, Bewabic State Park sits on Fortune Lake, and you'll need a Recreation Passport to drive in. Use the Heritage Trail stop list to plan where to pull in.
Old mining towns, a lake park and Alpha's circle.
MoreTake M-189 south to Caspian, where the Iron County Historical Museum opens its exhibits in summer. Then follow CR-424 east through Gaastra and past Pentoga Park on the south end of Chicaugon Lake, with its Chippewa burial grounds. Go around Alpha's 1914 traffic circle, stop at Alpha Michigan Brewing Co., and come back from Crystal Falls on US-2.
A national forest loop just southwest of Iron River.
MoreTake US-2 to M-73, then Lake Ottawa Road about four miles to the Lake Ottawa Recreation Area. There's a day-use fee in season. Come around on Hagerman Lake Road and back out to M-73. If you've got more time, West Brule Lake Road leads on toward Mile Post Zero, the 1840 survey marker on the state line.
Two short highways down to the Brule River.
MoreBoth run south from US-2 to the Brule River, which is the Wisconsin line. M-73 leaves US-2 west of Iron River and runs about eight miles through the woods past the Hagerman and Bass lakes. M-189 runs about eight miles south from Iron River past Caspian. Go down one and come back up the other.
A county favorite along Chicaugon Lake to the Brule.
MorePentoga Trail, County Road 639, runs to CR-424 along Chicaugon Lake. From there Pentoga Road drops about two miles down to the Brule River. It's one of four Iron County roads on Michigan's statewide list of favorite county backroads.
North along the Paint and the Hemlock.
MoreCounty Road 643 runs north from US-2 to US-141 beside the Paint and Hemlock rivers. Come back down US-141 from Amasa, about 13 miles to Crystal Falls, and you've made a loop.
Paved highway or gravel backroad into the national forest.
MoreForest Highway 16 leaves US-2 about 13½ miles west of Iron River and runs north through the Ottawa National Forest toward Kenton. Golden Lake is just up the road, and the turn for Duppy Falls is on it too (see our waterfalls guide). For a slower drive, take Gibbs City and Ponozzo Roads about 13 miles north out of Iron River.
An old arched bridge, a lake and a mine-disaster church.
MoreStart at the Harbour House Museum, open Saturday afternoons, then follow Superior Avenue down from the courthouse, over the old arched bridge on the Paint River and east past Runkle Lake. Up Mansfield Cutoff Road stands Pioneer Church, a memorial to the 27 miners who died in the Mansfield mine in 1893.
Both falls are over the line in Ontonagon County, but they make the best full-day drive out of Iron River. Go after the snow is gone and the water is still high.
When the snow lets go, the rivers come up. In April and May the Paint, the Brule and the Iron run high and fast, and Horserace Rapids south of Crystal Falls is at its loudest. Directions are in our waterfalls guide.
Watch the forest floor for trillium in spring, especially around Pentoga Park off CR-424. The birds come back too, and loons and eagles show up on the Fortune Lakes by Bewabic.
Trout season opens the last Saturday in April, so pack a rod. Our trout fishing guide has the streams. For more to do, see our spring guide and the spring weekend getaway.
Summer drives end at the water. Drive out to Lake Ottawa, to Chicaugon Lake at Pentoga Park, or to Fortune Lake at Bewabic. Pentoga opens the Friday before Memorial Day (see our Memorial Day guide), and our Best Lakes guide goes lake by lake.
The history stops are open in summer too. The Iron County Historical Museum in Caspian opens its exhibits from June through September, and the Harbour House Museum in Crystal Falls opens on Saturdays.
Get coffee at Contrast Coffee or Seven Embers in Iron River. Have lunch at Logans' Place in Crystal Falls or a beer at Alpha Michigan Brewing Co. Check hours before you go.
Drive home slow. Deer cross at dawn and dusk, and the county roads are where you'll meet them.
Iron County runs on Central time, an hour behind most of Michigan.
The same roads in October, with the backroads the locals pick for color.
Fall Color DrivesHorserace Rapids, Duppy Falls and the rest, with how to find each one.
Waterfalls GuideBeaches, paddling and fishing, lake by lake across the county.
Best Lakes GuidePark the car and walk or ride, from a short stroll to a full day in the national forest.
Hiking & Biking GuideThe Iron County Heritage Trail on US-2, 16 miles between Iron River and Crystal Falls. For a slower drive, come back on County Road 424 through Caspian, Gaastra and Alpha.
Yes. It has been a historic Pure Michigan Byway on US-2 since 2000, with 14 stops across the county.
About 43 miles, or about an hour. Take US-2 west to Watersmeet, then US-45 north. Bond Falls is just outside Iron County, in Ontonagon County.
Some are and some aren't. The state highways and Forest Highway 16 are paved, but many county and forest roads are gravel, and they're softest in spring.
April and May, for high rivers and loud waterfalls. Wait until the snow is gone and the forest roads have dried out before you leave the pavement.
Along the highways, especially West US-2 toward Watersmeet. Eagles and loons also show up on the Fortune Lakes by Bewabic State Park.
Come in May when the rivers are loud, or in July when the lakes are warm and the evenings run long. Then find a room close to the road you want to drive first.
Spring, Summer, Travel Planning and tagged crystal falls michigan, heritage trail, iron county michigan, iron river michigan, road trips, scenic drives, upper peninsula michigan, waterfalls.
Duck and Goose Hunting in Iron County, Michigan
Morel Mushroom Hunting in Iron County, Michigan
Waterfalls in Iron County, Michigan
Christmas Tree Galleria in Caspian, MI
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.
