The Abandoned Mill Route: A Romp in the Keweenaw
ZZZZZZZZZZ.... That’s the sound you NEVER hear from anyone when you take a Michigan roadtrip through the Upper Peninsula. Well, maybe from kids who don’t know how to appreciate history yet, but not the rest of us...
One route you may want to consider taking provides many photo ops: there's a circle of highways that's a fun little romp for a couple of hours; you'll see many abandoned old mills, tons of old-time houses & buildings and small towns - some that may not appear on maps, not to mention beautiful countryside and some desolate, deserted surroundings. You'll see it all on this little circle of highways in the Keweenaw Peninsula.
Highway 41 will take you into Houghton; from there, cross the bridge into Hancock and get on Highway 26 heading east. This section will take you past the old Ahmeek Stamping Mill, the old Quincy Mine and other abandoned mills and buildings.
You'll go through the small towns of Ripley, Dollar Bay, Hubbell, Lake Linden and Osceola. When you get to Osceola, head west on Highway 203. You'll drive through miles of wilderness to the shores of Lake Superior and down the Keweenaw Waterway, where you'll pass through historical Michigan sites and a couple of unmarked villages, go past the Lakeside Cemetery and back to Hancock.
There are plenty more things to see in the Keweenaw Peninsula: more mines, hidden graveyards, ghost towns, abandoned buildings, and surprises everywhere.
This little circular jaunt in the Keweenaw is one guilty pleasure. Check out the route in the gallery by scrolling down...
Keweenaw Abandoned Mill Route
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