U.P. MICHIGAN REGION

Lake Gogebic Shines Bright as a Vacation Destination

By Dennis Fearson The Lake Gogebic area is a beautiful, four-season vacation gem. The lake itself is one of the largest inland lakes in Michigan, with over 13,000 acres of prime fishing for walleye, smallmouth bass, jumbo perch and pike, and 36 miles of winding, scenic shoreline. The million-acre Ottawa National Forest, as well as the 21,000acre Sylvania Wilderness, surrounds the Lake Gogebic area, providing endless opportunities to enjoy nature in a variety of ways, including many great choices for scenic hiking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and biking. With so much forest surrounding the area, fall colors are absolutely breathtaking! The area is also flush with wildlife, with a few shy or rare species adding to the excitement as you may come across animals such as a black bear, coyote or fisher and the occasional moose wandering about. Predator birds are especially exciting to watch: peregrine falcon, osprey, owls, bald eagles and occasionally golden eagles. Wild turkey, loons and sandhill cranes and blue herons all make this area their home. Alligator Eye, on the southwest end of Lake Gogebic, a short but challenging hike where you can experience a beautiful stretch of forest that will take you to a spectacular lookout above the lake. You can see for miles and it’s a treasure worth discovering. The Lake Gogebic area is the hub for hundreds of miles of multiuse trails, with gorgeous scenery, mines, historic settlements, unique little towns and waterfalls are yours to explore. Multi-use trail maps are available upon request. The area has a wide variety of attraction and activities. There are three campgrounds on the west side of the lake, one campground on the north end and several private campgrounds. For paddling enthusiast, the Lake Gogebic area boasts three water trails with family-friendly appeal, from placid water and short distance to challenging. All three of the water trails offer wilderness flavor.

There are several fishing tournaments throughout the year. Many businesses have boat, pontoon, kayak rentals, ATV and snowmobile rentals and fishing guides available. Eating establishments are all family friendly and casual. Lake Gogebic lies in two counties. The northern half of the lake is in Ontonagon County and in the Eastern Time Zone and the southern half in Gogebic County is in the Central Time Zone, which means you can celebrate the New Year twice in one evening! Just a bit of history: In the late 1880s, the lake was known as one of the best black bass lakes in the country. Anglers came from all the major population centers by rail to Gogebic Station, five miles south of the lake. There they boarded a stagecoach for the bumpy ride to the Gogebic Hotel & Cottages, now known as the Whitehouse. The last stagecoach robbery east of the Mississippi River took place on the road to Gogebic Station on Aug. 26, 1889. The robber was captured five days later. “Stagecoach Road” runs straight south of the lake to State Hwy. 2. You’re invited to enjoy one of the most relaxing and scenic vacations you’ve ever taken and meet some of the friendliest “Yoopers” in the UP!

Join the Fun at the Gogebic County Fair

IRONWOOD -- For 100 years, the Gogebic County Fair has been a place where participants can show off the fruits of their animal and plant husbandry skills and where thousands of visitors gather for four days of music, games, food and arts & crafts. That tradition continues Aug. 12-15 when the 2021 version will be held at the fairgrounds in Ironwood. Each year 4-H’ers dream that their carefully raised animal will win a coveted Blue Ribbon. But beyond the moos and quacks of the animal buildings, the county fair brings a wide variety of family entertainment, including interesting displays, grandstand and small stage concerts, carnival games and rides, cornhole tournament, harness racing, exhibits of all kinds (from vegetables and quilt making and photography), and those “extra special” events that truly make fair-going fun for everyone. This year’s fair will showcase Lake States mud racing, a pedal tractor pull, antique tractor show and parade, chicken bingo, and the ever-popular WLRA lawn mower races. The Gogebic County Fair has an “All Inclusive” price program. With a gate admission wristband, you can enjoy free carnival rides, free grandstand shows and other free shows on the grounds. To schedule your trip for the event, check out the official Gogebic County Fair website: gogebiccountyfair.com. For the latest news, like their Facebook page: facebook. com/GogebicCountyFair. A great deal has changed in rural America over the past 100 years, but the anticipation and festival atmosphere that surrounds the county fair remains just as vivid now as it did in 1921.

Ironwood – Emberlight F tival of the Arts, August 26 to September 3rd Ironwood – Gogebic County Fair, August 12th to 15th Lake Gogebic – 48th Annual Walleye Tournament, September 10 – 11; entry form on we ite B semer – Pumpkin F t, September 24th – 26th B semer-Ironwood, Iron Belle Trail Bridg & Blu s ½ marathon race, September 25th Rockland - e Old Victoria Cra Fair, August 15th

Ironwood Chamber of Commerce

150 N Lowell St. Ironwood, Michigan 49938 1-906-932-1122 chamber@ironwoodchamber.org ironwoodchamber.org facebook.com/IronwoodChamber/

Lake Gogebic Chamber of Commerce

PO Box 114 Bergland, Michigan 49910 1-888-464-3242 info@lakegogebicarea.com lakegogebicarea.com facebook.com/lakegogebicarea

Wake eld Chamber of Commerce

M-28 at US-2 Wakefi eld, Michigan 49968 PO Box 93 1-906-224-2222 chamber@wakefi eldmi.org wakefi eldmi.org

Travel Ironwood

213 Marquette St. Ironwood, Michigan 49938 1-906-932-5050 info@travelironwood.com travelironwood.com