Copper Country Trail
Copper Harbor Scenic Tour

Departure:	Copper Harbor Lighthouse, Michigan
Destination:	Keweenaw Mountain Lodge, Michigan
Time to allow:	1 day

Enjoy a coastal tour along Lake Superior on the Copper Harbor Scenic Tour.

Day 1

• Start: Copper Harbor Lighthouse

  

  Suggested time at this stop:	30 minutes

  The Copper Harbor Lighthouse, a round tower begun in 1848 and put into operation the following year, was replaced in 1866 by the present building. The 1848 lightkeeper's dwelling opened to the public in 1998. The Lighthouse area includes historic buildings, various lights used through the past one and a half centuries, and a walking trail. The Copper Harbor Lighthouse Complex is part of Fort Wilkins State park and is only accessible by boat.

• Stop 2: Fort Wilkins State Park

  

  From previous stop:	4 minutes / 2 mi (3.2 km)
  Directions:	Head east on Lighthouse Rd and continue for about 1.5 miles. Turn right on U.S.-41 and drive for 0.7 miles to reach Fort Wilkins State Park.
  Suggested time at this stop:	2 hours

  Fort Wilkins was once an active U.S. Army base built to keep peace in Michigan's Copper Country. Begun in 1844 and abandoned just two years later, the fort was briefly re-garrisoned in the late 1860s. Today, Fort Wilkins is a well preserved example of mid-19th Century army life on the northern frontier. Nineteen buildings survive, twelve of them original structures from the 1840s. The Park also includes the Copper Harbor Lighthouse Complex, accessible by boat.

  Through Fort Wilkins' exhibits, audio/visual programs and living history interpretation, visitors may explore the daily routine military service. Visitors can learn to experience with the soldiers families the hardships of frontier isolation and discover the lifeways of another era.

• Stop 3: Brockway Mountain Drive

  

  From previous stop:	2 minutes / 1.6 mi (2.6 km)
  Directions:	From Fort Wilkins State Park and Historic Complex, head west on U.S. 41for 1.2 miles before continuing on Gratiot Ave. After 0.4 miles, make a slight left to begin Brockway Mountain Drive.
  Suggested time at this stop:	30 minutes

  If time allows, try a drive on Brockway Mountain Drive, a nine mile scenic drive that runs atop the spine of Brockway Mountain and has been a favorite of visitors since its construction by the Works Project Administration (WPA) and Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in 1933. Featuring stonework walls and spectacular views of Lake Superior and the landscape to the south of the Mountain, the Drive is a prime example of work done by the WPA/CCC crews, and helps tell the story of their role in the Keweenaw. Take the opportunity to view fall colors or a sunset over Lake Superior. On a clear day you can even see Isle Royale, 56 miles away, from the top of Brockway Mountain.

• End: Keweenaw Mountain Lodge

  

  From previous stop:	47 minutes / 36.5 mi (58.4 km)
  Directions:	From the western terminus of Brockway Mountain Drive, head south on S.R. 26 for about 4.5 miles. Take a right at Front Street, then, after 0.2 miles, turn left onto S.R. 26/North Street. After 10 miles, turn right to return to Copper Country Trail byway. Proceed for another 22 miles to reach Keweenaw Mountain Lodge and Historical Park.
  Suggested time at this stop:	1 hour

  Built during the WPA period from timber on the property, this facility is an outstanding example of the craftsmanship available in the area as a result of the varied cultures that migrated to the Keweenaw. The facility boasts a rustic lodge and dining room that is reminiscent of Camp David, another product of the WPA era. Amenities include a nine-hole golf course, meeting rooms, and twenty-six log-cabin style rental units, and one of the most spectacular views of Brockway Mountain in the areas. Rock walls, also built by the stonemasons of that period, are still present in almost perfect condition. These walls have been the subject of studies done by one or more groups in recent years, primarily because of their quality and unique character.

Totals for Day 1

Total Distance Traveled:	40.1 miles / 64.2 km
Total Travel Time:	53 minutes
Total Stopping Time:	4 hours