Houghton County has 51 miles of Lake Superior shoreline and more than 900 miles of rivers and streams. Northern hardwood forests cover about 338,155 acres—around 50 percent of the county’s area. Water and forest provide a rich setting for exploration: the lakes and streams offer habitat for freshwater fish such as lake trout, walleye, perch, pike, whitefish and salmon.
Hiking Trails and Nature Experiences
For hiking, the North Country Trail runs east to west through the southern part of Houghton County; it is designated for hiking only. Other trails accommodate multiple uses. The Maasto Hiihto Trails are designated for cross-country skiing, biking, hiking and snowshoeing. The Michigan Tech Trails also offer routes for cross-country skiing, biking and hiking: 35 kilometers in total, including seven kilometers of lighted trails. The Chassell Ski/Snowshoe Trails have more than ten kilometers of ski and snowshoe trails, including one kilometer of lighted trail.
Other destinations offer their own distinctive features. Paavola Wetlands encompasses 215 acres, with hiking trails and historic features. Hungarian Falls offers hiking trails, waterfalls and views of the landscape across ten acres. The 115-acre Nara Nature Park has trails for cross-country skiing, biking, hiking and snowshoeing. This gives you options, from brief descriptions of individual natural areas to a broader selection of trails and activities, without treating the different routes as interchangeable.
Seasonal uses also vary: the 4.5-mile paved Waterfront Trail is used for non-motorized travel in summer and snowmobiling in winter. The Lakeshore Drive Boardwalk adds ways to enjoy the waterfront, with fishing piers, picnic facilities, boat slips and a launch for paddle boats. Activities in forested areas may include camping, mountain biking, hiking, ATV riding and snowmobiling—only where permitted.
At F.J. McLain State Park, two miles of Lake Superior beach provide a setting for camping, fishing, windsurfing, beach walks and rock collecting; berry picking, sightseeing and hunting are also offered. Park operations and individual offerings are seasonal. Before your trip, check the options relevant to your visit.
Copper History and Cultural Discoveries
The Houghton County Historical Museum is located on the former site of the stamp mills of the Calumet and Hecla Mining Company in Lake Linden. The complex includes seven buildings with artifacts and photographs spanning 100 years, including a one-room schoolhouse, a log cabin, a railroad depot and a research center. It also includes an operational 1915 steam locomotive.
On its tours, Quincy Mine takes visitors more than 360 feet underground to mining areas where miners worked in the 1860s. The Quincy Smelting Works tell another part of the copper story: the Quincy Mining Company built them in 1898 on the Portage Canal to refine and ship its own copper, and to take on custom work for neighboring mining operations. Guided tours are offered Monday through Saturday from late June to mid-October; check the specific dates before your visit.
The museums also focus on different topics. The Carnegie Museum of the Keweenaw features changing exhibits on local cultural and natural history. The A. E. Seaman Mineral Museum was founded in 1902 and designated Michigan’s official mineral museum in 1991; it is also a Heritage Site of Keweenaw National Historical Park.
Exhibits at the Chassell Heritage Center trace the history of Chassell from its founding as a lumbering settlement in 1888 to the present day. The Center also documents strawberry farming and the Chassell Strawberry Festival. A historic interpretive trail on the sites of the Sturgeon River Lumber Company and the Worcester Lumber Company is accessible from Centennial Park.
Practical Information for Your Visit
The Finnish American Heritage Center is open to the public and admission is free. The Finnish American Historical Archives there house the world’s largest collection of Finnish-North American materials; the Center also offers exhibits, lectures, plays, musical programs and community events every year. The Finlandia Art Gallery features exhibitions by contemporary Finnish, Finnish American and American artists. It is free and open to the public Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Michigan Tech Archives are separate: researchers can access them Monday through Thursday from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. by appointment only.
For a trip to Isle Royale, the RANGER III passenger ferry travels from Houghton to Rock Harbor or Windigo. Schedules are seasonal and may change; check them as you plan. Whether your focus is hiking trails, nature, or mining and cultural history, exploring these topics can help you shape your stay around your own interests.
Discover more destinations: Hancock, Houghton, Torch Lake Township, Barry County, Otsego, Roscommon County, Gratiot County, Grand Traverse
For the main travel overview: Michigan.
