Iron Ore Heritage Trail
check with the trail manager for updated details before visiting.
Iron Ore Heritage Trail
City, Town, or County
Rail Trail
- Length
47 miles
- Elevation Gain
--
- Route Type
out & back
- Length
47 miles - Elevation Gain
-- - Route Type
out & back
The Iron Ore Heritage Trail is a 47-mile, multi-use, year round trail that connects people to the sites and stories of the Marquette Iron Range by following rail lines across the County of Marquette. These rail lines were used to transport the iron ore the mine sites to the Marquette harbor.
Mile marker made of rail with double jackers. Photo by Ali Fulsher
Bike riders stopping by the Negaunee MIne Memorial to honor those lost in underground mine cave in. Photo by Carol Fulsher.
Restored kiln for making charcoal for blast ore furnace. Photo by Carol Fulsher.
Dehlin Family biking on the ledgeway. Photo by Nick Jensen, Floline Media.
Snowshoeing near Negaunee trailhead in beautiful fresh snow. Photo by J. Birdie.
Snowmobiling along ledgeway at Pine Hill Quarry. Photo by Carol Fulsher.
Fat tire bike race on trail
86 year old on the trail
Biker at the lakeshore with one of our mile markers (made from rail used to transport ore to harbor)
Photo
Location: Railtrail that connects Marquette, MI to Republic, MI in the north, central Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
- States: Michigan
- Counties: Marquette
- Cities/Townships: Chocolay Township, Marquette, Marquette Township, Negaunee Township, Negaunee, Ishpeming, Tilden Township, Republic
The Iron Ore Heritage Trail is a 47-mile rail trail across the Marquette Iron Range, a significant historical site where iron mines operated to serve the country during the Civil War, World War I, World War II, and the industrial revolution.
The trail follows the rail corridors where the mines in the western half of the County operated, both underground and open pit mines, and follows the corridor that the railroads used to transport the iron to the Marquette harbor for shipping. This industry has been ongoing for over 150 years and allowed the United States to defend our democracy through the use of these ore reserves. The trail connects the most populated areas of the Upper Peninsula but also interprets the human story of mining in the 19th and 20th centuries.
The trail takes people from the iconic towering concrete mine shafts in Ishpeming to the large, unique iron ore docks in Marquette's harbor. It goes right by the location where iron ore was discovered in the region in 1844 and the first mine sites opened in 1845. It also takes trail users through ethnic neighborhoods that were moved to accommodate the underground mines, to furnaces used to make iron.
The trail is managed by the Iron Ore Heritage Recreation Authority which gains funding from a .2 mill property tax that was voted in by the people in the eight municipalities that the trail travels through.
Accessibility Information
No text provided.
Allowed Uses:
Bicycling Dogs, off leash Dogs, on leash Equestrian Hiking/Walking Motorized vehicles, – ATV/ORV Motorized vehicles, snowmobiling Snow, cross-country skiing Snow, snowshoeingOther Activities
- Heritage and history
- Rock climbing
- Snow, snow play general
Public Contact
Carol FulsherIron Ore Heritage Recreation Authority
102 W. Washington Suite 232
Marquette, MI 49855
[email protected] • (906) 235-2923
Contact the trail manager for current maps and visiting details.
More Details
- Elevation (low): 600
- Elevation (high): 1680
- Elevation (cumulative): --
- Part of a Trail System? No
- State Designations: Michigan Trail of the Year 2016
- Surface (primary): Paved
- Surfaces (additional): Paved, Rock, crushed
- Tread Width (average): 127"
- Tread Width (minimum): 127
- Running length (minimum): --
- Tread Grade (average, percent): 3
- Tread Grade (maximum): 12
- Running length (maximum): --
- Cross-slope (average, percent): 3
- Cross-slope (maximum): --
- Running length (maximum): --
- Certified as an NRT
May 16, 2018