In Crystal Falls, the fungus known as the Humongous Fungus, a specimen of Armillaria gallica, spans 38 acres; its weight is estimated at 200,000 pounds. This extraordinary natural history is an introduction to Iron County, where the lakes also vary widely in size: the county has 250 lakes ranging from 2 to 5,200 acres.

Lakes and Winter Trails

At Fortune Lake in Bewabic State Park, there is an accessible boat launch. It provides the only public boat access to the Fortune Lakes Chain. Kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, and canoes are also available to rent at the same state park from Memorial Day through September. Check the current rental details before your trip.

In winter, options range from groomed snowmobile trails to cross-country and downhill skiing: Iron County has 260 miles of snowmobile trails, which connect to additional routes across the Upper Peninsula and in Wisconsin. There are also miles of cross-country ski trails and two downhill ski areas. Ski Brule also offers two snow tubing hills: the Whitewater Snow Tubing Park and the Homestead Snow Tubing Park. Since operations are seasonal and may change, check the latest information in advance.

Mining History and Historic Buildings

The Iron County Museum in Caspian includes 25 buildings and two art galleries. It is designated the “Log Cabin Capital of Michigan.” A striking testament to the area’s mining history is the headframe at the museum: it stands above a flooded mine shaft 539 feet deep and is considered the oldest surviving headframe of its kind in Michigan.

The Iron County Courthouse is another historic landmark: built in 1890, it is listed on the state and national registers of historic places and is part of the Western Upper Peninsula of Michigan Heritage Trail. The Iron County Heritage Trail itself is a 36-mile route with 14 designated stops; some are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The route thus combines a clearly stated length with a series of marked historic points of interest.

The Amasa Museum is located in Amasa’s Main Street Historical District, in a former township hall. The building is an example of late-19th-century balloon-frame construction. In the Alpha Circle Historic District, meanwhile, early engineering is evident in the arrangement of prominent public buildings around a traffic circle. Another trace of the past can be found at the Camp Gibbs Recreation Area, established in 1935 as a Civilian Conservation Corps camp.

Culture, River Landscapes, and Natural History

The Historic Crystal Theatre in Crystal Falls hosts live performances several times a month, as well as classic films and documentaries of local interest. If you have a particular date in mind, check the schedule before your visit. In August, the Humongous Fungus is celebrated at the Humongous Fungus Festival; check the date for your travel period.

The Paint River Boardwalk in Crystal Falls has parking, accessible facilities, accessible fishing piers, and a nature trail with interpretive signs. Larson Park offers a different connection with nature: it is surrounded by an old birch-maple forest. Fortune Pond, in turn, is a former mining site reclaimed by nature.

Indigenous history is also part of what visitors can discover here. The Pentoga Park Indian Burial Grounds mark the site of a pre-European Indigenous settlement and a permanent regional gathering place for Ojibwa groups. Pentoga Park also has a beach. Together, these places reveal different sides of Iron County: lakes and winter activities, architectural and mining history, and landscapes whose distinctive features can be explored at specific locations.

Discover more destinations: Iron River, Muskegon, Ionia County, Oceana County, Schoolcraft County, Lenawee County, Otsego, Kalamazoo

For the main travel overview: Michigan.