Spring comes late to Iron County and then all at once, with the rivers running high on snowmelt, the loons back the week the ice goes out, and the trout opener on the last Saturday in April. Here's every spring guide we have, with the openers and the weekends worth planning around, month by month.
April up here is still half winter, with snow lying in the shade of the spruce and every river running high and brown. That's when the waterfalls are at their loudest. The snowmobile trails close after March 31, and the trout opener on the last Saturday in April is the first real day of the new season.
May is the green-up. Walleye and pike open on May 15, the warblers come through, the trillium flowers in the hardwoods and the morel hunters go looking. By early June the musky opener, the free fishing weekend and the first warm evenings on the lake tell you summer is here. Remember Iron County runs on Central time, an hour behind most of Michigan.
Two honest warnings. Back roads and trails stay soft until they dry out, so go easy on them in April. And from mid-May, bring bug spray and long sleeves.
Fish, woods, water and a few good weekends in town. Pick one and the guide gives you the where, the when and the rules that matter.
The streams open April 24 in 2027. The Brule, Cooks Run, the Fence, the Iron and the Paint are the five blue-ribbon rivers.
Read the trout guide →
Walleye and pike open May 15, bass the Saturday before Memorial Day, and musky the first Saturday in June.
Read the fishing guide →
Morels come up in the hardwoods once the woods warm, and the timing moves with the weather. Know what you pick, and where you're allowed to pick it.
Read the morel guide →
Horserace Rapids, Chicaugon Falls and Duppy Falls run hardest in April and May. The paths are rough and slick, so wear boots.
Read the waterfalls guide →
The Apple Blossom Trail in Iron River, the Ge-Che Trail at Lake Ottawa and the Lake Mary Plains Pathway. Give the dirt trails time to dry.
Read the trails guide →
Many county roads are open to ORVs. Ride where it's signed and check locally, and go gently while the ground is still thawing.
Read the ATV guide →
Iron County is in Unit M. The season runs from mid-April through May, and you apply in January. The 2027 dates aren't out yet.
Read the turkey guide →
The rivers and lakes open up in May. The water is still cold enough to hurt you, so wear the life jacket, don't just pack it.
Read the paddling guide →
The Heritage Trail on US-2 between Iron River and Crystal Falls, and the loop home on County Road 424 through Caspian and Alpha.
Read the drives guide →
A Friday-to-Sunday plan built on what's actually open in spring, from the first cast to supper in town.
Read the weekend plan →
Services in the town cemeteries in the morning, then the first lake weekend of the year.
Read the Memorial Day guide →
One June weekend you can fish without a license and ride the ORV trails without a permit. The 2027 dates post in spring.
See the free weekends →Spring up here runs on openers and on the ice. These are the 2027 dates as the rules set them; the weather decides the rest.
The opener dates above follow the rules in the 2026 Michigan Fishing Guide. Check the 2027 Fishing Guide when it comes out in the spring before you plan around them.
The first open water in April brings the birds back in a hurry. Go early in the morning, find a quiet shoreline and bring binoculars. Give a nesting loon or an eagle plenty of room.
Sandhill cranes, red-winged blackbirds, turkey vultures and geese come first, in April. Loons are back on a lake within a day or two of the ice going out. The warblers peak in May, and the eagles are over the lakes and rivers all year.
These come back every spring, but most 2027 dates aren't posted yet. Hover or tap a card for more, and check the organizer before you go.
Brunch and an egg hunt on the snow.
MoreSki Brule serves Easter brunch from 10 to 2, with the egg hunt on the snow at 1 p.m. It falls on one of the last ski weekends of the year.
A birthday party at the brewery in Alpha.
MoreAlpha Michigan Brewing Company holds its anniversary celebration in late May, most years around Memorial Day weekend. The 2027 date will go up on the brewery's events page.
Services in the cemeteries, then the lake.
MoreThe towns hold their services on Monday morning. Our Memorial Day guide has the towns, the cemeteries and the rest of the weekend.
County history, back for the season.
MoreThe Iron County Museum in Caspian opens its exhibits in June and keeps them open through September. The office and gift shop are open all year.
Fish and ride free for a weekend.
MoreNo fishing license or ORV permit needed for one June weekend. The 2027 dates go up on our 3 for Free page as soon as they're set.
Concerts and shows in a historic downtown theatre.
MoreThe Crystal Theatre books music and shows through the spring. Check the season schedule before your trip.
Spring is a between-seasons time up here. Most things are open, but a few aren't ready, and the ground needs a few weeks to firm up.
Spring swings from snow to shirtsleeves in a week. Look before you pack.
Iron River ForecastOpeners, limits and the new license year that starts April 1. Our fishing guide has the lakes to go with them.
Michigan Fishing Guide (DNR)The forest west of Iron River, with Lake Ottawa, the Ge-Che Trail and the forest roads. Check what's open before you head out.
Ottawa National ForestMaps, trail brochures and what's going on this week, in Iron River.
Iron County Visitor InfoSnowmobiling, skiing, ice fishing and the winter events, from December to March.
Winter GuideColor, hunting openers and the fall festivals, from September to November.
Fall GuideFish the openers, hunt morels, see the waterfalls and watch the birds come back. Fish for trout and walleye, look for morels, walk to the waterfalls at snowmelt, ride the ORV trails and paddle a lake once the ice is out.
Trout opens the last Saturday in April. In 2027 that's April 24; walleye and pike open May 15, bass possession the Saturday before Memorial Day (May 29) and musky the first Saturday in June (June 5). Check the 2027 Michigan Fishing Guide when it comes out.
Mid-May to early June is best. That's when the openers, the green-up and the warblers all line up. April is still muddy and cold, but it's the time to see the waterfalls at full flow.
Fortune Lakes at Bewabic State Park and the Lake Mary Plains Pathway, both near Crystal Falls. Go early on a May morning for the warblers, and watch for loons and eagles on the lakes.
Mid-April through the end of May in Unit M, which covers the whole Upper Peninsula. You apply in January, and the 2027 dates come out in the winter. Our spring turkey guide has the details.
Mostly, but they're soft. ORV season opens April 1, the snowmobile trails are closed after March 31, and frost laws limit heavy loads on the roads. Check the DNR closures page before you go.
From mid-May to mid-June, in the daytime. Wear long sleeves and long pants, bring a head net for the woods, and check for ticks after every walk.
Some photos by Kevin Zini
Come in late April for the trout and the falls, or in May for the walleye, the warblers and the morels. Book a room close to the water, and pack a rain jacket and bug spray.
Spring, Things to do, Travel Planning and tagged bird watching, fishing, hiking, iron county michigan, morel mushrooms, spring, things to do, 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.
