Gogebic County MI Trail

The snowmobile/ATV trail from Montreal, WI, to Wakefield, MI, is part of a vast network of trails in Northwest Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The (~3 mile) Wisconsin segment we'll visit is the Wisconsin DNR Trail #77; aka the "Iron Horse". The other 12 miles from Ironwood, MI, to Wakefield, MI, are Michigan DNR's Trail #2.

This trail is a former Chicago and Northwestern (CNW) rail line which served the iron mining industry there from the 1890's until the 1960's, when mining shut down. While not technically challenging, the trail can be rough, rocky, muddy, and loose red dirt; e.g., mountain bikes, only! From a personal safety point, you are never more that a few blocks from US Hwy #2 and never more than 2 miles from the nearest towns of Montreal, Hurley, Ironwood, Bessemer, and Ramsey. It's really urban riding with a wilderness theme!

Unless otherwise noted, all photos from July 1-2, 2009.

The snowmobile/ATV trail from Montreal, WI, to Wakefield, MI, is part of a vast network of trails in Northwest Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The (~3 mile) Wisconsin segment we'll visit is the Wisconsin DNR Trail #77; aka the "Iron Horse". The other 12 miles from Ironwood, MI, to Wakefield, MI, are Michigan DNR's Trail #2. This trail is a former Chicago and Northwestern (CNW) rail line which served the iron mining industry there from the 1890's until the 1960's, when mining shut down. While not technically challenging, the trail can be rough, rocky, muddy, and loose red dirt; e.g., mountain bikes, only! From a personal safety point, you are never more that a few blocks from US Hwy #2 and never more than 2 miles from the nearest towns of Montreal, Hurley, Ironwood, Bessemer, and Ramsey. It's really urban riding with a wilderness theme! Unless otherwise noted, all photos from July 1-2, 2009.
We'll start this part of our tour behind the Hobby Wheel bike shop in Ironwood, MI, and head east. Signage points out other nearby services.	We're still in Ironwood when "Bambie" shows up! This is a typical trail surface.	As we leave Ironwood we pass Walmart on the right in this 9-12-14 photo.
This section is on the outskirts of Ironwood. It is the Gogebic Range Solid Waste Management Authority bypass and not part of the CNW roadbed; hence it lacks the usual rocks and can be muddy after rains, like today. (7/29/10 photo)	As we approach Bessemer, MI, we ride under the former Soo Line's Siemens truss bridge. The SOO had tracks parallel to the CNW, but ended service about 2 miles east of Bessemer. In this 5/24/17 photo, the Iron Belle Trail now uses this "flyover".	We're now entering downtown Bessemer, MI. We'll ride parking lots, city streets, back alley's, and through a gas station!