The Complete Travel Guide: Copper Harbor
At the tippy top of the Keweenaw Peninsula, Michigan’s northernmost village is nestled. Copper Harbor is one of the Midwest’s oldest frontier posts. In the early 1870’s, Copper Harbor quickly became well-known as the entry way to the peninsula and acquired the nickname “The Copper Island”. But now, travelers seek out Copper Harbor for its history, mountain biking trails, waterfalls, outdoor adventures, thimbleberries, slow-living lifestyle, and so much more. It’s also a gateway to Isle Royale National Park, with a ferry service departing daily during the summer months. You can enjoy anything from self-guided fishing trips, organized mine tours, checking out Fort Wilkins, guided trail rides, and homemade brews. Its strong connection to Scandinavian culture remains, nearly a century after the first immigrants arrived from Finland, in the city’s architecture, museums, local foods, and local hospitality.
Related: Our Wedding In Copper Harbor & Travel Itinerary
A Quick History on Copper Harbor
Copper Harbor’s history begins long before the arrival of European explorers, traders, missionaries, and immigrants. More than 7000 years ago, an ancient population began digging and ‘mining’ for copper using heavy stones to separate the copper from the rock. Ancient objects made of pure Keweenaw copper have been found all across the Americas and beyond.
In 1837, Michigan was admitted into Statehood and Douglass Houghton was appointed as the first State Geologist. He was then assigned to conduct a state geological survey. With the well-known presence of copper in the region, Houghton made his way up the Keweenaw to the present day site of the Copper Harbor Lighthouse. It was originally the “La Roche Verte”, or “Green Rock”, which had attracted earlier voyagers.
Houghton published his findings in 1840 and despite his appeal for caution, the land was soon rushed by opportunists for the copper-rich real estate. In an effort to protect its interests in this new-found copper boom, the U.S. government established Fort Wilkins in 1844 to oversee Copper Harbor’s Mineral Land Agency and maintain law and order. The U.S. war with Mexico in 1846 required the garrison to be replaced and shipped to the warfront. Following the Civil War in 1867, the post was re-occupied by U.S. soldiers until it was permanently abandoned by the government in 1870.
All travel to Copper Harbor was by boat, there were no roads to the town. Due to Lake Superior’s storms and rocky reefs, Congress constructed the first lighthouse in 1848 - though it went into disrepair and was rebuild in 1866 and was automated in 1933. There is currently no public access to the lighthouse, but can be viewed from the Copper Harbor viewing deck.
After the copper mining had proven not as prosperous as anticipated, only a handful of families remained in the town. Its tourism is now the town’s primary industry and attracts adventurers from all over to try and conquer its mountain biking trails, enjoy a relaxing summer, or try to catch some fish to add to their repertoire.
How to Get to Copper Harbor
If you are flying in, you can land in the Houghton County Memorial Airport (CMX). Or, you can come in through the Sawyer International Airport (MQT) in Marquette, but you’ll still have a few hours of driving until you are at the tip of the Keweenaw. If you plan to experience the true Midwest travel experience, then taking U.S. Route 41 to the northern most end will take you straight there. Or, you can take the scenic M-26 drive once you are up in the Keweenaw Peninsula.
When To Visit
Copper Harbor is a small village that is becoming increasingly popular with many adventure enthusiasts and families looking to relax unplugged. Memorial Day weekend through Peak Color Season in the Upper Peninsula is when many of the businesses are open and tourism will be busiest.
Copper Harbor in the Spring
April through June is a wonderful time to visit and beat the crowds. If you visit in April or early, you may have to pack for cooler days. There’s no guarantee that the snow will be melted until around Memorial Day Weekend. Early May is when the ferry rides to Isle Royale National Park resume. You are sure to find spring flowers, bird migrations, and beautiful wildlife this time of year.
Copper Harbor in the Summer
During the summer, you can enjoy endless trails, lake life, ice cream cones, and sunsets on top of Brockway Mountain. Many restaurants are making wonderful spaces for outdoor seating. You can enjoy self-guided excursions or with the aid of a tour guide through the Keweenaw Adventure Company. There is no cell service in Copper Harbor, so it’s the perfect place to un-plug and enjoy a slow, relaxing summer.
Copper Harbor in the fall
After summer, there’s nothing quite as breathtaking as the beautiful fall colors, the final weeks of seasonal activities and shops. If you are coming to catch the trees ablaze with color, late September-early October are typically the ‘peak color’ times. Peak color week is typically the last week for businesses to remain open, making it the perfect weekend for grabbing any last-minute holiday gifts or discounted merchandise.
Copper Harbor in the Winter
The end of fall doesn’t stop the true adventurers, though. Although many places may close during the winter, that doesn’t stop the beauty of frozen lakes, fresh fallen snow, and the northern lights. If you are coming up in the winter, be prepared for seasonal road closures, snowmobile trails, cross country skiers, and more! Winter does come early to the Upper Peninsula, with the first snow coming as early as late October on occasion and not leaving until May (if we are lucky).
There is truly no wrong time to visit Copper Harbor, depending on your interests!
Planning a wedding or elopement? I’d love to support you on your special day!
What to Do in Copper Harbor
Visit Fort Wilkins Historic State Park
Be sure to visit this living museum with a fully reconstructed 1844 army military outpost, several walking trails, picnic area, playground, gift shop, and camping. You can find special events and programs throughout the summer and historical interpretation, including the Living History program.
Hit the Trails
Selected as an International Mountain Biking Association “Epic Trail” in October 2009 and an “Epic Ride Center” in 2011, Copper Harbor trails are the adventurers dream. You can find technical singletracks with natural obstacles, challenging climbs, and fun downhills. There are also streams, some waterfalls, woods, and rock bluffs.
Things you can do on these trails:
Biking
Cross Country Skiing
Hiking
Kayaking
Running
Estivant Pines Nature Sanctuary
This is a 508 acre wilderness sanctuary and the largest tract of old-growth Eastern White Pines in Michigan. It is home to hundreds of 300-500 year old white pines measuring anywhere from 3 to 5 feet in diameter! You can also find hiking trails, 85 species of birds, 23 species of ferns, 13 types of native orchids, old mine workings, rock out-cropping, and virgin cedars. During the winter, you can also find cross country skiing trails and snowshoeing trails. Don’t follow Google Maps to get there. Get here the old fashioned way by following US-41 to Copper Harbor and turning right on Second Street (just past the Copper Harbor Visitors Center and just before the Lake Effect Bar and Grill). Follow Second Street for 1.2 miles, bear left onto Clark Mine road. Travel 1.2 miles and turn right on Burma Road (you’ll see sign postings that say E. Pines). Travel another .65 miles to the trail head and parking area. You’ll find a parking area to the left of the large “Estivant Pines” sign and additional parking just before that on the right side of Burma Road.
Brockway Mountain Drive
Whether you want to watch the sunset, view the Keweenaw from a bird’s eye, or checkout the Copper Harbor overlook, driving up Brockway Mountain is a must for your visit. Brockway is a 9 and a half mile drive with breathtaking views of lake Superior and thousands of acres of the Keweenaw. It is also designated as an official Michigan Wildlife Viewing Area and you can witness the annual migration of birds-of-prey from mid-April to mid-June.
See a Lighthouse
View this Lighthouse from the Copper Harbor viewing deck while there is no public access on the road, you can now take a ferry to the Lighthouse. It is now a part of the Ft. Wilkins State Park Complex.
The lighthouse itself is closed to the public, but the grounds are open for visitation. A dock lies 2/3 of a mile from the lighthouse to the west (however the fast-changing weather and strong currents urges boaters not to cross from the mainland). Manitou Island Light Station and the surrounding 93 acres of land are part of the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act and a wonderful spot for bird watching.
Isle Royale Line Ferry Service
Isle Royale National Park was established in 1940 to preserve the second largest island in the Great Lakes. The island is 45 miles long, 9 miles wide, and located 55 miles northwest of Copper Harbor across Lake Superior. With more than 150 miles of beautiful hiking trails and dozens of wilderness campgrounds, Isle Royale has become a treat for hikers, backpackers, kayakers, canoeists, and fishing. If you want to visit, but experience the wilderness in comfort, you can stay at the Rock Harbor Lodge - the one and only facility on the island.
Attend A Service
Shephard of the Sea Lutheran Chapel
Our Lady of the Pines Catholic Church
Play at the Park
The One Room School house and Welcome Center recently installed a wonderful park! There’s a beautiful green space at the Welcome Center with picnic chairs. Events are often hosted in this space throughout the summer. The playground at the One Room School has two spaces: one for younger ones and an area for more advanced climbers & explorers.
Go Shopping
Brockway Inn Shop
Country Village Shops*
Dapple-Gray Antiques*
Fort Wilkins Park Store
Gas Lite General Store*
Grandpa’s Barn - Bookstore (hosts book signings throughout the year)
Into the Woods Shop
Jamsen’s Bakery and Gifts
Keweenaw Adventure Company
Keweenaw Agate Inn and Curio Shop+
Keweenaw Mountain Lodge*
Lake Fanny Hoee Shop
Laughing Loon*+
Sundae in the Park
Swede’s Gift Shop & Keweenaw Minerals
Take an Art Walk
Eagle Rock Studio+
Earthworks Gallery+
Elizabeth’s on the water+
Fisherman’s Daughter
North One Gallery*+
Swede’s Gift Shop & Keweenaw Minerals+
Thunderbird Gift Center+
*Indicates locations that are open year round
+indicates locations that feature artists work
Copper Harbor State Harbor Marina
Located on Lake Superior, you can enjoy the harbor at this marina full of amenities. Copper Harbor is a ‘walkable’ town, so shopping and activities are only a short walk away.
Go Fishing
The DNR has been planting splake on Lake Superior since 1972 and designated Copper Harbor as a splake fishery. At the mouth of the harbor, you’ll find steelhead running in spring and salmon in fall. You can also find walleye, pike and lake trout in the spring, with sporadic visits throughout summer.
You can check Copper Harbor’s website for marinas & launches.
Hit the Green
Hit the green on your trip, either with disc golf, fling golf, golf at the Keweenaw Mountain lodge, or putt putt at Into the Woods Mini Golf.
Rock Hounding
Are you a rock collector? Copper Harbor has wonderful pebble beaches! Whether you are looking for a specific type of rock or mineral, just picking pretty rocks, or want to take a look, the Lake Superior Shoreline in and around Copper Harbor is a relaxing and fun area to be!
Enjoy Stargazing or Look for the Northern Lights
You can enjoy the stunning clarity of the northern sky at the Keweenaw’s first ever dark sky park. The Keweenaw Mountain Lodge is now a dark sky park and you can find workshops, educational opportunities, and events throughout the year.
Other Historic Locations to See
There’s no shortage of history in the Harbor. If you haven’t seen these yet, then you might want to add them to your list:
Where to Stay
Because Copper Harbor is a smaller town, they keep to smaller motels, bed & breakfasts, locally owned cottages & rentals, and of course the beautiful campgrounds & State Parks.
A few places you can stay in the area:
Bella Vista Motel & Cabins
Brockway Inn - Motel & Shop*
Cedar Point Cabins*
Dapple-Gray Bed & Breakfast*
Eagle Lodge and Lakeside Cabins
Fort Wilkins Historic State Park Campground*
Fresh Coast Cabins
Keweenaw Adventure Cottage
Keweenaw Agate Inn
Keweenaw Mountain Lodge*
King Copper Motel
Lake Fanny Hooe Resort & Campground*
Minnetonka Resort Motel
Mount Bohemia & Aqua Log Cabins
North Port Motel
Pines Resort*
The Bear Den Lodging*
The Mariner North Resort*
*indicates locations open year round
Where to Find Food & Drink
Copper Harbor has a select few restaurants and breweries that all serve delicious food. Parking ‘downtown’ is free, and most restaurants have space, although you can find people parking along the main road during the busier parts of summer.
A few places to grab a bite or a drink:
Brickside Brewery (they don’t have food, but they have fresh, local brews!)*
Brockway Inn Coffee Roasters
Copper Harbor Fuel Stop*
Country Village Shops
Fort Wilkins Park Store
Harbor Haus Restaurant
Jamsen’s Fish Market & Bakery (wake up first thing and grab a fresh thimbleberry donut!)
Keweenaw Mountain Lodge*
Lake Effect Restaurant & Bar*
Pines Resort
Tamarack Inn Restaurant
The Berry Patch (for ice cream!)
The Mariner North Restaurant*
*indicates locations open year round
Emergency Services
Keweenaw Sheriff 906-337-0528
Emergency 911 Phone (Welcome Center/Marina/Ft. Wilkins)
