Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The oldest marathon in the state and second-oldest in the Midwest (dating from 1969)is
the Paavo Nurmi Marathon, named, appropriately, for a Finn—dubbed the “Flying Finn”
for his numerous Olympic gold medals—and run in August. It's a good place to feast on
pastiesand mojakaa, abeefstew.Thankstoallthesnow,Hurleyholdsits Red Light Snow-
mobile Rally earlier than most, in mid-December.
Recreation
This is Big Snow Country, so snowmobiling is king—bigger even than skiing. More than
350 miles of groomed trails are spread throughout the vicinity, and rentals are available in
Hurley.Thetownevenmaintainsa 24-hour recreation hotline (715/561-3866)forupdates
on snow conditions.
Threecross-countrytrailsaremaintainedinthevicinity,totalingabout40miles.Contact
the Iron County Development Zone Council (715/562-2922) for information. The trails are
maintained by donations.
A magnificent trail network for bikers is the 300-mile Pines and Mines Mountain
Bike Trail System, operated jointly by Michigan, Wisconsin, and the USFS and running
through the carpets of forests in Iron County and the Upper Peninsula. Michigan has two
good ones—the Ehlco Tract Complex and Pomeroy/Henry Lake set of gravel roads.
Iron County has the third section, an amazing spiderweb of trails and roads leading along
old railroad grades, logging roads, and roadways, passing historical sites (in particular the
Plummer mine head frame) and tons of forests, streams, and even waterfalls. Those in in-
credible shape could even make it all the way to Mercer, or west to Upson and beyond.
Thirteen of the best waterfalls are accessible via this system. For info or maps, contact the
Hurley Chamber of Commerce.
For type-T expert—read, expert—kayakers, the rare north-flowing Montreal River is a
dream between Saxon Falls and the top of the dam before Superior Falls—a once-you're-
committed type of white-water adventure through spectacular canyons over 200 feet high.
For camping, the closest county parkis Weber Lake, west oftownonWIS77,right on
Highway E. Another is at Saxon Harbor, at Lake Superior off U.S. 2 onto WIS 122. This
is really for RVs, though.
Accommodations and Food
Hurley's got a few budget motels, but you'd do best to head east into Ironwood, Michigan,
along U.S. 2; there you'll find some good $40 rooms, even in summer, and many of those
motels have Finnish-style saunas. But for real historic lodging, head for Montreal.
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