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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. Diorite Diorite Mangum Rd Cliffs Wright ington North Cherry Creek River Nault d Hawk Park City Lakewood Little Lake Rd Saginaw Valley Rd Hoist S Pine Midway Fair Blackberry Maas Graphite Ea 2nd St 7th St Old M 35 Granite Lake Front St Division Pine shore Lake Maltin Lake St Grimes Carrie Heritage Tracey Mine Lake Werner Spring Grove Southwood Ready St Mill Rail St Krooks Blackhill Brickyard 4th St 7th St Ford Neejee Morgan Fish Lake Co Rd Gx Mt Marquette Co Rd Jy Lakewood Oak View Mingori Maas W a s h i n g t o n M e a d o w s Deer Lake Maas Forge L a k e s h o r e Lincoln McClellan Kawbawgam Big Creek Ortman Silver Creek Co Rd HJ G r e en w o o d Co Hwy Hc C r o i x C o o p e r Kivela W r i g h t Wash Kloman County Rd Camp Bal dwin B i s h o p W o ods D a l i b a voir R d 3 2 1 28 28 35 35 95 95 41 41 41 41 41 28B 553 553 Ne Ishpeming Humboldt Republic Wobic Champion Greenwood Winthrop Junction Negaunee Harvey Trowbridge Park Marquette Northern Michigan University Pellet Pavilion Michigan Iron Industry Museum National Ski and Snowboading Hall of Fame Van Riper State Park Deer Lake Lower Marquette Harbor Lake Angeline Morgan Creek Lake Sally Partridge Creek Carp River Lake Kawbawgam Fish Lake Lake Michi- gamme Lake Lory Lowmor Lake Tower Lake B r u c e C r e e k C a r p C r e e k B l a c k R i v e r Re p u blic / Ch am pio n Gr ade Trail L A K E S U P E R I O R T e a l L a k e 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 480 480 492 601 601 FO FY FFB 478 478 CN CH MI 482 496 478 CKC BU 28 28 28 28 28 Iron Ore Heritage Trail • Republic/Champion Grade Trail Upper Peninsula Trails Iron Ore Heritage Trail • Republic/Champion Grade Trail Iron Ore Heritage Trail Explore 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) 376-8827 RepublicMichigan.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 Access Trails Legend Paved Trail Limestone Trail Sand and Stone Trail Connector Route Highways Roads ©2020 Rockford Advertising. All rights reserved. 0 2 4 1 Miles The Iron Ore Heritage Trail crosses a bridge over the Carp River near the Michigan Iron Industry Museum. Republic/Champion Grade Trail The 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.
