Along US-41, between
Houghton and
Baraga, there is a paved shoulder that can be used by bike riders. The shoulder is approximately four-feet wide and provides an even smooth surface for most of the journey. The route enables bike riders to travel along Keweenaw Bay and Portage Lake, which offer spectacular scenery on sunny days in the summer and fall. Starting just east of Michigan Tech University's Rosza Center, the wide-shoulder bike route travels past NARA Nature Park, through Chassell, near Sturgeon Sloughs Marsh, through Baraga to Baraga State Park. The distance from MTU's campus to Chassell is approximately 7 miles, and the distance from MTU's campus to Baraga is close to 28 miles.
Houghton and
Baraga have amazing waterfront views. Baraga's view of the Keweenaw Bay is particularly striking during the summer and fall. You can see Mount Arvon (Michigan's highest point) and L'Anse from Baraga's shoreline. Houghton's panoramic view of the Portage Canal, the Portage Lift Bridge, and its sister-city,
Hancock, is worth seeing anytime of the year.
Houghton is a town full of history. Many of the town's historic buildings date back to the mid-to-late 1800s, including the Houghton County Courthouse, Trinity Episcopal Church, and St. Ignatius Loyola Church. If you're interested in visiting an historic mining village, a trip across the Portage Lift Bridge to the Quincy Mine in Hancock is worth a visit.
Baraga is small community with a handful of hotels and restaurants. The town has one grocery store and a couple of gas stations. Houghton is a large town with many restaurants, stores and lodging choices.
Photographs
Pictures of Houghton, Baraga, Chassell, Keweenaw Bay, and more.
Houghton - Baraga Bike Route Map
Get a map of the bike route between Houghton, Chassell, and Baraga.