Calumet and Laurium are neighboring communities on the Keweenaw Peninsula that share a vibrant history in copper mining during the mid-to-late 1800s and during their early days split time using the name Calumet. The Village of Laurium was originally named the Village of Calumet and incorporated in 1889, but in 1895, the name was changed to Laurium, after the mining town of Lavrion, Greece. In 1875, the Village of Red Jacket was incorporated, but its name was changed to the Village of Calumet in 1929.
The Keweenaw region was fertile ground for copper mining, and mining companies were active in many locations along the peninsula, with some finding more success than others. The Calumet and Hecla Mining Company in Red Jacket (now Calumet) was among the most successful. Between 1871 and 1880, the company produced half of the United States' supply of copper.
Recreation Trails & Walking Routes
During the early 1900s, the railroad route between Hancock and Calumet was used for transporting rocks, timber, freight and passengers between the two cities. Today, the route is known as the
Jack Stevens Trail, a rail trail used for snowmobiling, mountain biking and hiking. The 14-mile trail starts in
Hancock near the Portage Lake Lift Bridge and goes west/northwest through Hancock before going north to Calumet. Within the Hancock city limits, the trail is paved; the rest of the way, the route has a gravel/dirt surface.
During the winter, the snowmobile trailhead in the area is located at the George Gipp Recreation Area (see the Laurium map for the location). Snowmobiles leave the trailhead and go north to a three-pronged fork in the trail. From there, you can either go east to Calumet and then travel south on the the Jack Stevens Trail to Hancock; go north to Eagle Harbor, Copper Harbor, and other locations on the Keweenaw Peninsula; or go west and angle south to Lake Linden, Hubbell, Tamarack City and
Hancock. There's typically an abundance of snow in the area, so snowmobiling is very popular in the region during the winter.
McLain State Park has nature trails that snake through wooded areas, near Bear Lake and Lake Superior. The two trails total approximately 4 miles and are used for cross-country skiing during the winter and for hiking the rest of the year.
Near Calumet, the
Swedetown Trails offer over 30 km of groomed ski and snowshoe trails. The routes are popular from mid-December through March and have trails for beginners to experts.
Across the street from the Swedetown Trails trailhead, Swedetown Recreation Area has a scenic hiking trail that winds around a pond.
Using the sidewalks in Calumet and Laurium, you can see many historically significant spots that date back to the Copper Boom, when Calumet was known as Red Jacket and Laurium was known as Calumet. See the Calumet and Laurium maps for suggested walking routes.
Wide-Shoulder Road Bike Routes
For cyclists who enjoy riding along country roads and rural highways, the Keweenaw Peninsula offers beautiful and hilly rides. Using the wide, paved road shoulder along US-41, cyclists can
ride between Hancock and Calumet, or north of Calumet, cyclists can ride along the paved shoulder to Phoenix and then share the road along US-41 to Copper Harbor or follow M-26 for a beautiful ride along Lake Superior to Eagle Harbor and Copper Harbor.
Another wide-shoulder, country road
bike route is along M-203 between Calumet and McLain State Park, which is a large, beautiful park located along Lake Superior. The route is about 10 miles long from the M-203/US-41 intersection to the entrance of McLain State Park. The terrain is hilly and offers a scenic ride, with glimpses of Lake Superior when you're riding toward the state park. A short distance from the entrance to the McLain State Park, the shoulder narrows, and you may need to ride closer to the road.
From Laurium, cyclists can use the wide-paved road shoulder on M-26 to
ride to Lake Linden, Tamarack City and Mason. If you want to continue to Hancock from Mason, you can use the gravel trail that is used for snowmobiling on the east side of the road.
F.J. McLain State Park
The closest state park to Calumet and Laurium,
F.J. McLain State Park, is approximately 9 miles away on the western edge of the Keweenaw Peninsula. McLain State Park is one of the best spots in the Upper Peninsula to watch the sunset over Lake Superior. The scenic park features two-miles of sandy beach on Lake Superior with a pier that leads to the Keweenaw Upper Entrance Light, a lighthouse that was built in 1950. The pier buffers the incoming waves on Lake Superior and shelters the swimming beach near the west parking lot. Fishing is permitted from the lighthouse pier and at Bear Lake.
Near McLain State Park's central parking lot, there are many picnic tables with views of Lake Superior and a large picnic shelter with nearby playground equipment. A second picnic shelter, bathhouse, and play area are located near the west parking lot.
McLain State Park has a large modern campground with 98 sites featuring electrical service and nearby restrooms. The park has rustic cabins for rent. For camping reservations, call (800) 447-2757.
Two hiking trails are located at McLain State Park:
- Bear Lake Hiking Trail: One curves southeast from the eastern edge of the campground towards Bear Lake and then goes west to the park entrance; campers can walk along the edge of the drive and back to the campground.
- Lake Superior View Hiking Trail: Starting from the park's central parking lot, the trail meanders through the woods offering periodic views of Lake Superior and the Keweenaw Upper Entrance Light. At a couple of spots along the trail, you can walk to the sandy beach on Lake Superior. The trail ends near the western parking lot.
Parks and Recreation Areas
Keweenaw Historical Park is located along US-41 in Calumet and also in Hancock in the Quincy Mine area. The locations are managed by the U.S. National Park Service and feature several historic buildings. Both locations in Calumet and Hancock are very informative and worth seeing when visiting the Keweenaw Peninsula. See the
Historic Locations & Attractions page for details about the park, other historic spots, and attractions in Calumet and Laurium.
In Laurium, the George
Gipp Recreation Area is the largest athletic complex in the area, with three ball diamonds, tennis courts, horseshoe pits, a beach volleyball court, and a basketball court. A large playground is located at the center of the park with several nearby picnic areas.
George Gipp Arena is located at the recreation area and is used for ice skating and hockey during the winter. It features a small ice surface that is used for Mite hockey and hockey practices.
George Gipp Memorial Park honors the Notre Dame football All-American, who was born in Laurium on February 18, 1895. During his career at Notre Dame, Gipp excelled at halfback, quarterback, and punter, and rushed for 2,341 yards during his career. Gipp died on December 14, 1920 at the age of 25 after a bout with pneumonia and a streptococcal throat infection. "The Gipper" is remembered in Laurium at the memorial park that features plaques and a memorial dedicated to his playing career.
During the summer,
Daniell Park in Laurium hosts free outdoor concerts on Thursday nights in July and August. Bring a lawn chair and enjoy a night of entertainment. The rectangular-shaped park in Laurium also has picnic tables for gatherings.
In Calumet,
Agassiz Park is on Fourth Street and features horseshoe pits, a basketball court and picnic areas during much of the year and an outdoor ice rink during the winter. The park is named for Alexander Agassiz, president of the great Calumet & Hecla Mine, and when it was dedicated in 1923, it was a sprawling park with intricately designed walkways and a large monument of Alexander Agassiz. Public housing and municipal parking lots later consumed parts of the park, but in 1995, the Village of Calumet worked to revive Agassiz Park into a family recreation area. A building that resembles an old train depot houses the restrooms for the park and serves as a warming spot for ice skaters during the winter.
Southwest of downtown Calumet,
Swedetown Recreation Area has a hiking trail that circles a shimmering pond. The trail is partly paved and connects to fishing piers at the park. Catch-and-release fishing is permitted at the park. Across the street is located the Swedetown Trails, several lengthy cross-country ski trails.
Calumet Colosseum is an ice rink and community center located on Red Jacket Road. The arena is home to the Calumet Hockey Association, and its ice surface is used for hockey games and public skating. Calumet Colosseum features four locker rooms and a concession area that is open during hockey practices and games.
At the intersection of North Tamarack and Pine Street/M-203 in Calumet, there is a soccer field on the northeast corner.
More About Calumet and Laurium
There are many
Historic Locations & Attractions in the Calumet and Laurium, including the Calumet Theatre, Laurium Manor Inn, Coppertown USA, and much more.
For Lodging, small hotels in the area include AmericInn in Calumet and Northgate Motel on US-41. Bed and Breakfasts include Laurium Manor Inn and Victorian Hall Bed and Breakfast in Laurium and the Oak Street Inn in Calumet.
Calumet has many choices for restaurants, with quite a few on or near Sixth Street. Jim's Pizza and Family Restaurant has good pizza. In Laurium, there are several restaurants on Hecla and Third Streets. Toni's Country Kitchen on Third Street is a popular spot to eat.
