Iron River: Winter Sports, Trails and River

Iron River brings together a range of outdoor activities for visitors: winter sports, riverside paths, park activities and disc golf on former mining land. At Ski Brule, options include ski slopes, cross-country trails and fat-tire bike trails; other points of interest include Ice Lake Park and the Mirkwood singletrack loop. The terrain and types of activities offer concrete points of comparison for planning your trip.

Winter Sports at Ski Brule

Ski Brule in Iron River has 17 ski slopes. In addition, 15 km of groomed, flat cross-country ski trails run around the mountain along the Brule River. Another distance of 15 km refers to mountain bike trails for fat-tire bikes around the base of Brule Mountain. The two 15 km figures describe different options: a groomed, flat cross-country loop along the Brule River and mountain bike trails for fat-tire bikes at the foot of the mountain. When choosing an activity focus, you can therefore consider not only the distance but also the type of trail, terrain and location.

Riverside Trail and Water Activities

The City of Iron River’s Apple Blossom Trail is 2½ miles long, paved and non-motorized; it runs along the Iron River. Its length, surface and permitted use are clearly defined. You can include the trail in your plans as a dedicated non-motorized riverside path and distinguish it from the ski and fat-tire trails.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has designated the Iron River as “Better Fishing Waters” for brown trout. Ice Lake Park has facilities for swimming, fishing and boating. These offer different options for a water-focused visit: the designation applies to the river, while the three activities are available at the park.

Disc Golf and Singletrack Trails

The Tailings is a disc golf course in a local park in Iron River. It runs across former mining land and lies in a river valley. The course is very hilly and moderately wooded, and runs alongside and across the Iron River. Its relationship to the river also differs from that of the Apple Blossom Trail: the trail runs along the river, while The Tailings runs alongside and across it. The river therefore serves as the setting for a paved, non-motorized riverside path in one case and as part of the disc golf course in the other.

Mirkwood offers a different type of trail in the area around Iron River: a singletrack loop through a pine forest south of the city. The trailhead is south of West Iron County Schools and near Stambaugh Airport. Mirkwood is therefore a forest singletrack option, while The Tailings is a disc golf course set in a river valley and on former mining land.

Plan Your Trip Around Your Interests

If you’re looking for a hotel in Iron River, you can start by deciding what you’d like to focus on during your stay. Details about trail length and terrain, as well as the different uses of the parks and paths, offer concrete points of comparison.

For an overview of the wider area: Iron County.