Keweenaw Mountain Lodge Review

Copper Harbor is a quiet little town at the end of the Keweenaw Peninsula. Copper Harbor is the northernmost northern town in Michigan. During Michigan’s copper rush, Copper Harbor was found as a mining town. Today, this former mining town is a year-round resort town. It is for three things – mountain biking, winter sports, and a gateway city to Isle Royale National Park. The historic Keweenaw Mountain Lodge is a perfect place to stay while exploring the area and heading out to Isle Royale or a relaxing place to put your feet up after your return.

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Disclaimer: Thank you to Keweenaw Mountain Lodge for hosting my stay. They provided me with two nights of accommodations before my Isle Royale National Park visit.  All opinions are 100% mine.

Keweenaw Mountain Lodge

Copper Harbor was founded in the 1830s or 1840s after the Ojibwe people ceded the land in the Treaty of Washington, D.C. The first miners arrived in the 1840s. In 1845, the Pittsburgh and Boston Copper Harbor Mining Company struck it rich and the Michigan copper boom started. By the 1870s the boom was over, but mining continued on a smaller scale until the 1930s.

When the stock market crashed in October 1929, the area was hit hard and the mine’s profits dropped even further. On September 12, 1932, the mining companies suspended all mining activities. Almost instantly, most of Keweenaw County was unemployed. Keweenaw County had the highest unemployment rate in the entire country.

When President Roosevelt’s Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA)/Works Project Administration(WPA). FERA provided the state and local governments with financial assistance to Keweenaw County. Lake many parts of the country, this money was used to finance construction projects which in turn provide much-needed employment. The first major project was the Brockway Mountain Drive. This scenic drive runs between Copper Harbor and Eagle Harbor and is the highest paved road east of the Rockies and west of the Alleghenies. This road is often considered the most scenic road in Michigan.

During the time, a second project was started. The local road commission wanted to build the Keweenaw Park & Golf Course. The 167 acres of land was given to the county by the Keweenaw Copper Company with the condition that the golf course is built and the park would be open to the people of the Keweenaw County. The project provided jobs for 124 men and the present-day Keweenaw Mountain Lodge and Cabins were built. The Lodge was owned by the county and managed by private companies until 2018. The lodge has fallen into disrepair and needs a major renovation. In September 2018, the lodge was purchased by the Keweenaw Resort, LLC and revocation and revitalization work began.

Keweenaw Resort, LLC is working to grow both the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge and Copper Harbor as an adventure resort destination.

Getting to the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge

Keweenaw Mountain Lodge is located at 14252 US Hwy 41 in Copper Harbor, Michigan 49918. The Lodge is off the Brockway Mountain Drive and a little under two miles from the main town of Copper Harbor.

Getting to the Keweenaw Peninsula

The closest airport to Copper Harbor is the Houghton County Memorial Airport (CMX). This is a small airport and is only served by United.

Estimated Drive time to Copper Harbor

• Houghton, MI – 1 hour
• Marquette, MI – 3 hours
• Green Bay, WI – 4.75 hours
• Duluth, MN – 5 hours
• Minneapolis, MI – 7 hours

Keweenaw Adventure Company offers shuttles from the Houghton Airport to Copper Harbor and can drop you off at the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge. If you are headed to Isle Royale and trying to avoid renting a car, speak with them or the Lodge about arranging transport from the lodge to the ferry dock.

RELATED – 16 Things to Know Before Visiting Isle Royale National Park

Keweenaw Mountain Lodge Review

Disclaimer: Thank you to Keweenaw Mountain Lodge for hosting my stay. They provided me with two nights of accommodations before my Isle Royale National Park visit.  All opinions are 100% mine.

I fully agree that the Brockway Mountain Drive is one of the prettiest drives in the country. I really enjoyed the nature drive and the scenic views of Lake Superior on my way from Houghton to Copper Harbor. When I arrived in Copper Harbor, I took a few moments to explore the town and grab some snacks before heading up to the lodge.

I found the lodge entrance easy enough. It is about a mile from town and the entrance is well marked. The first thing I noticed as I drove in was the cabins. The 20 odd cabins are nicely spaced and interspersed with trees. It is a nice shady area that gives the feeling of being remote.

I pulled up to the main lodge to get checked in and my first thought was National Park rustic. IT

Keweenaw Mountain Lodge Accommodations

The Keweenaw Mountain Lodge offers two different kinds of accommodations.

This is a remote historic mountain lodge. The new owners is working to balance modern life while maintaining the historical flare. As such televisions are being removed from the rooms so visitors can focus on other activities such as board games or conversions. At the same time, wifi is available in the main lodge and in select cabins. As other cabins are renovated access will expand. The wifi speed is limited and is only able to check email and web surfing.

Keweenaw Mountain Lodge Cabins

Keweenaw Mountain Lodge has a range of 25 cabins on their property. These cabins are 1-bedroom duplexes or standalone 2- or 3-bedroom cabins. These cabins date back to the building of the lodge.

The cabins come with queen-sized beds, mini-fridges, and most of the cabins have a wood or gas fireplace.

Keweenaw Mountain Lodge Restaurant

The Keweenaw Mountain Lodge has a Dining Room and Bar. The bar focuses on craft beer, liquor, and wines. They have a nice selection of local beers and mixed drinks are available. The Dining Room is a throwback to yesteryear when dinning was a slow experience and food is meant to be enjoyed in a grand location.

Keweenaw Mountain Lodge Finial Thoughts

I really enjoyed my spending a couple of days at the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge before heading to Isle Royale National Park for a week. If I was going to do it again, I would reverse it and spend time relaxing at the lodge after my Isle Royale trip. Keweenaw is perfect for a couple of days of relaxation after a backpacking trip on Isle Royale. I would gladly stay here again.

Disclaimer: Thank you to Keweenaw Mountain Lodge for hosting my stay. They provided me with two nights of accommodations before my Isle Royale National Park visit.  All opinions are 100% mine.