The drive takes about 10 miles to traverse. And thousands of people will enjoy expansive views from the very top of Michigan. This year the Brockway Mountain Drive between Eagle Harbor and Copper Harbor opens. A little later than last year. Due to this winter’s more than 300 inches of snow.
And excuse me, that’s the north one. So the north viewing platform overlooks Copper Harbor and then you have the larger south viewing platform with the bathrooms, vault toilets, right? So Broadway Mountain Drive is developed for visitors. It has lots of room, lots of parking. It’s opening late this year, really. When you compare to prior years with all the lighter winter of last year, it was open mid-April. So this feels pretty late, but it’s again, all of the snow melt just last week. They were clearing snow off of the upper parts of the drive. – Jesse Wiederhold, Events and Engagement Coordinator, Visit Keweenaw
The space attracts many people says visit Keweenaw’s Jesse Wierderhold, who enjoys bird watching, photography, and even a little hiking or biking.
Birding is popular too. It is right now the spring migration for a lot of the birds that migrate as well as the raptors. Songbirds, right, are finally returning to the area. So it’s very popular there. Very windy on top of the hill. I love to fly kites there myself. But what’s really exciting about it, as you mentioned, a lot of trails, people may not know that. I’ve personally never hiked Brockway. So I know that there’s miles of mountain bike and hiking trails. Again, If folks are at that North viewing platform, just last year we helped put in the Berry Picker Trail. So this is a new way to explore Brockway. Folks could park at Hunters Point Park and walk up Brockway. So that’s one new way to do it. – Jesse Wiederhold, Events and Engagement Coordinator, Visit Keweenaw
The Brockway Mountain Drive attracts people throughout the year. During the winter snowmobiles have the only access to the top of the mountain. But in the summer just about anyone can drive, or hike up the trail.
that is snowmobile only in the winter. We get this question a lot. We really want to respect the road commission, respect the sheriff’s office. Simply they’re not allowed to go up Rockway. That’s the rules. So, but again, it is maintained by Keweenaw County. That’s not a state highway. So they are the ones patching it. They are fixing it up. So we should all be very respectful and enjoy it. – Jesse Wiederhold, Events and Engagement Coordinator, Visit Keweenaw
ATVs and off-road vehicles are not allowed on Brockway Mountain Drive. Keweenaw County Road Commission officials say ORV cannot drive on the roadway because of the summer’s increased traffic and blind corners. Learn more about Brockway Mountain Drive here.
