Iron Belle, Gogebic County Michigan

Westernmost Iron Belle Trail

I got out this morning to ride a portion of the Iron Belle Trail in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Actually, it was the westernmost portion of the trail, meant to one day connect all the way through the state, and the trail route will eventually allow you to loop through both the Upper and Lower Peninsulas. It will also provide a bike route from Ironwood in the far western UP to Belle Isle near Detroit. The portion I took begins in Hurley, Wisconsin, just across the Montreal River which forms the border between the two states there. This portion is paved and mostly over an old rail route, and is just over 6.5 miles, leading to Bessemer, Michigan and passing through the city of Ironwood on the way. The trail is exceptionally well maintained (a crew was out doing clean up as I rode), although the trailhead in Hurley seems somewhat neglected - apparently this is primarily a project of the state of Michigan, though it is nice that the interstate connection is made. Below is a picture of the trailhead on the far eastern end of this section, in the city of Bessemer, within a few hundred meters of the city hall and downtown. Not exactly sure how the funding for it all worked, but there are notably more informational and interpretive signs as well as amenities like benches in the Bessemer area compared to the Ironwood part of the trail, although there are regular signs telling you how far you have come all along the trail - at least once you are in Michigan, there really isn't much of anything but a couple picnic tables in a clearing by the trail on the Wisconsin end. And a bike rack, which was helpful for me to chain my bike at when I had dinner and breakfast in Hurley after biking from my hotel, the new Econolodge (and formerly the Snow Country Inn - I'd give it just two stars but it did serve my needs and is a good base for biking the area). While you travel the trail through Ironwood, it does take you right by the chamber of commerce tourist information center which also has a bike maintenance station right out in front, and Ironwood is really the larger community that forms the heart of this string of small cities along the trail, so there are plenty of opportunities there to get off the trail and explore the city.

This second picture shows across the street from the trailhead, where construction is underway to connect further east to the city of Wakefield. I'm excited to see this section completed, as it will make the trail a more compelling destination. I was a little pressed for time today, so I ended up riding a bit around the cities on both ends before having to leave the area but it would be nice to come back for a longer outing.