ods iron ore heritage trail • republic/champion grade trail iron ore heritage trail •...
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Michigan Trails Magazine 2020 • www.MiTrails.org • ©2020 Rockford Advertising. All rights reserved.Michigan Trails Magazine 2020 • www.MiTrails.org • ©2020 Rockford Advertising. All rights reserved.
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Dishno Rd
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Mangum Rd
Co Rd 510
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Wright
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Big Bay
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Cci Mine Rd
Little Lake Rd
Red Rd
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Saginaw
N Camp
County Road Ff
Valley Rd
Voelker Lake Rd Town Hall Rd
Hoist
S Pi
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Midway
Fair
Blackberry
MaasGraphite
East Rd
2nd
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7th
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Old
M 35
Three Mile
Granite Lake
Front St
Mail Route
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Dalton Rd
County Road Cce
County Road Cco
County Road Cl
Lake St
Kreiger Dr
Grimes
Carrie
Heritage
Tracey Mine
Makinens
Lake
Gold Mine Lake Rd
County Road Mp
Willow Creek Rd
Werner
Spring
Ingalls Rd
Grove
Southwood
Ready St
Mill
Rail St
E Johnson Rd
County Road Nna
Rd 9
Krooks
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Meadows
Deer Lake
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Lakeshore
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Chicken Coop/Iron Ore Heritage Trailhead
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Republic
Wobic
Champion
Greenwood
WinthropJunction
Negaunee
Harvey
TrowbridgePark
Marquette
NORTHERNMICHIGAN
UNIVERSITY
Northern MichiganUniversity
PelletPavilion
Michigan Iron Industry
Museum
National Skiand Snowboading
Hall of Fame
Van Riper State Park
Van Riper State Park
Deer Lake
LowerMarquette
Harbor
LakeAngel ine
Morgan Creek
LakeSal ly
PartridgeCreek
Carp River
LakeKawbawgam
FishLake
LakeMichi-gamme
Lake Lory
LowmorLake
TowerLake
Bruce C reek
Carp Creek
Black River
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GooseLake
Repub
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Upper Peninsula TrailsIr
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Ore
Her
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Upper Peninsula TrailsIro
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Grad
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Iron Ore Heritage TrailExplore the history of Michigan’s iron mining industry on the Iron Ore Heritage Trail. This 48-mile “path through the past” runs from Kawbawgam Road to the former mining town of Republic on an abandoned stretch of the Duluth, South Shore & Atlantic Railroad.
The eastern section of trail follows along the Lake Superior shoreline from Kawbawgam Road to the historic iron ore dock in Marquette harbor. It then travels west on a gradual uphill grade to the mining communities of Negaunee and Ishpeming, passing by several museums, abandoned mines, historic sites and scenic natural areas. A series of interpretive signs keep you informed along the way.
If you don’t have time to ride the entire trail, but would like to experience the most historic sections, we recommend the 38-mile round trip (19 miles each way) from the Marquette iron ore dock to Winthrop Junction and back. It’s mostly uphill on the way there and mostly downhill (easy) on the way back.
The paved path begins at Marquette Commons. After a couple of miles, the trail surface changes from asphalt to finely screened limestone. The uphill grade begins to level out as you reach “Pellet Pavilion,” a pitched roof under a railroad trestle that protects the trail from iron ore pellets (taconite balls) that occasionally fall from passing rail cars. West of M-35, a spur of the trail takes you about a half mile north to the Michigan Iron Industry Museum. You must travel a short distance north on Forge Road (around Negaunee Cemetery) to reach the museum entrance.
For Reservations, Call (906) 376-8827RepublicMichigan.com
REPUBLIC • MICHIGAN
Spacious RV Camping Water, Electric & Dump Station
Next to the Republic Trailhead on the Iron Ore Heritage Trail
Sandy Beach and Boat Launch on the Michigamme River
73 Forge Road Negaunee, MI 49866
(P) 906-475-7857
Learn more at:Michigan.gov/IronIndustryMuseum
Explore Michigan’s rich mining heritage through hands-on exhibits for all ages. The museum and the museum store are open year-round.
2 Location on map.
6 Location on map.
The Iron Ore Heritage Trail passes by the
flooded remains of several open
pit iron mines.
2 Republic Trailhead Yes No No
3 Cliffs Shaft Mine Museum Yes Yes Yes
4 Seventh St. Staging Area Yes No No
5 Jackson Mine Park Yes Yes Yes
6 Michigan Iron Industry Museum Yes Yes Yes
7 Schwemwood Park Yes Yes Yes
8 Marquette Commons Yes Yes Yes
9 Lakeshore Parking Lot Yes No No
10 MDOT Welcome Center Yes Yes Yes
11 Kawbawgam Road Trailhead Yes Vault No
Access Site Parking Restrooms Water
1 Van Riper State Park Yes Yes Yes
Republic/Champion Grade Trail Access
Iron Ore Heritage Trail AccessTrails Legend
Paved TrailLimestone TrailSand and Stone TrailConnector RouteHighwaysRoads
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0 2 41
Miles
0 2 4 6 81
Miles
0 2 4 6 81Miles
The Iron Ore Heritage Trail crosses a bridge over the Carp River near the
Michigan Iron Industry Museum.
Republic/Champion Grade TrailThe 11.5-mile Republic/Champion Grade Trail goes from Republic to Champion (former mining towns) on an abandoned railroad grade, ending at the beach at Van Riper State Park.
One of our favorite rides, this multi-use trail is exceptionally scenic and a pleasant ride on a fat tire or mountain bike. It travels along the Black River, several creeks
and wetlands, passing by Tower Lake and Fish Lake. You’ll see lots of beaver lodges and dams along the entire
trail. Camping is available at both ends of the trail.
The trail surface changes to asphalt as you approach Negaunee. Follow along Rail Street to Jackson Mine Park where you will come to the site of the Jackson Mine, the first open pit iron mine in the Lake Superior region. Stop and check it out.
As you arrive in Ishpeming, you will see three towering mine shafts dominating the landscape. At Lakeshore Drive, a northern spur of the trail takes you to the Cliffs Shaft Mine Museum. The paved trail continues west of Ishpeming for another two miles to Winthrop Junction. Here you will come to an observation deck overlooking a lake. This is the flooded remains of the Section 16 Mine. As you gaze across the water, you will see the mountainous tailings of the mighty Empire Mine (still in operation) off in the distance – the world’s largest open pit iron mine. West of Winthrop Junction, the limestone path travels through a lush landscape of woodlands and wetlands on its way to Republic.