This rocky point serves as the western arm of the harbor that gives Copper Harbor its name.
- Location
- 47.39229, -87.84658
- Visit Duration
- You could easily spend 1-2 hours exploring here.
- Adventure Details
- Easy to moderate, 1.8 mile loop, 649 ft. elevation gain.
- Don't Forget
- A lunch to enjoy on the beach, a swimsuit or change of clothes, comfortable shoes.
It’s also the name of one of the Keweenaw’s most popular and accessible hikes.
Starting from the parking area off M-26, a trail sheltered by old-growth cedar leads over rolling terrain through the boreal forest, following 4,800 feet of the peninsula’s northernmost coastline.
Fresh Coast Tip
There is an alternate trailhead that begins at the Marina that leads through a cedar swamp.
Along the way, you’ll encounter frequent openings onto the calm harbor to the south, and the thundering Big Lake to the north.
Make sure to also keep a lookout for otters, martins, beavers, and birds such as kingfishers, Cooper’s hawks, and pileated woodpeckers. In the summer, fuel your adventure with the thimbleberries that grow thick on both sides of the path.
The trail ends at a red rock beach fringed with volcanic shoals that disappear into the surf. The water here is shallow and relatively warm (by Lake Superior standards, that is), making it a great spot for wading, floating, and sifting through the rocks for agates, while the outlying basalt reefs make a wonderful perch for spying freighters on the horizon.
And while we’re on the subject, take a moment as you scramble over these rocks to appreciate them-you’re touching some of the oldest geological formations on Earth.
Photo: Lynn & Jason Makela / @freshcoastcabins