Looking for things to do in Ironwood Michigan? You came to the right place! We spent a winter weekend here in February and were so surprised at the amount of activities in this little corner of Michigan. Keep in mind…most of these locations would be amazing to visit in summer too.
Located right over the border of Wisconsin, Ironwood is in the upper peninsula of Michigan and averages 166 inches of snow per year. And with 4 ski hills all within a 10 mile radius, this Northwoods area is a winter adventurer’s dream!
Things to do in Ironwood Michigan – Outdoor Activities
Downhill skiing at Big Powderhorn Mountain
Big Powderhorn Mountain is the closest ski hill to the town of Ironwood, only 10 minutes away. It has GREAT skiing as far as Midwest skiing goes, and it’s all thanks to the 166 inches of light, fluffy snow they get each year! With 622 ft of vertical skiing, 45 trails, 9 lifts, and 2 restaurants, it’s a perfect way to spend a winter day. We had so much fun here and ended our day with live music at the Caribou Lodge!
Cross Country ski at ABR ski trails
ABR ski trails are the best cross-country ski trails I’ve ever been on. Located on 1100 acres of terrain, the scenery is beautiful and the trails are well-marked, even telling you the difficulty and warning you when hills are coming up. Ski rental is available at the warming hut for $15, along with a day ski pass which is also $15. If skiing isn’t your thing, strap some snowshoes on and walk one of the many snowshoe trails!
Hike to Potawatomi Falls
In the winter, the road leading up to Potawatomi Falls is closed, so it requires you to hike in the snow to get there. As long as you have boots or snowshoes, you’ll be good to go! Once you get to the river (about 10 minutes), there’s a few lookout points, but our favorite was the one that requires you to go down the stairs. These aren’t maintained in winter, so just be careful and carry on at your own risk. But the views are SO worth it!
Hike to Rainbow Falls
Can you tell I’m a sucker for frozen winter waterfalls? There’s so many in the area, so we drove a little further down the road, parked on the side, and followed a little 10 minute path to Rainbow Falls. There’s not any marked trails or signs here, so just type it into your maps and pull over at the closest location. Again, be careful using the stairs, but the icicles here are AMAZING. So gorgeous!
Things to do in Ironwood Michigan – Indoor Activities
Visit Stormy Kromer
The only indoor activity in Ironwood to make this list is to visit the Stormy Kromer store or check them out online at StormyKromer.com. These iconic Northwoods hats are made right in Ironwood and on weekdays you can take a tour of the factory. I SO wish we came earlier for a tour, but we were there on a Saturday and still were able to visit the store and learn about the history of the brand. Keep in mind they are closed Sundays. The pull-down earband is what makes these hats so unique. Keeps your ears warm in the cold and also keeps it from flying off in the wind!
Things to do in Ironwood Michigan – Food and Drink
Try local beer at Cold Iron Brewery
Cold Iron Brewery is the spot to be in Ironwood! Located right downtown, the Northwoods-industrial taproom is spacious and offers free popcorn, plenty of games, and live music in addition to great beer! We tried the honey cream ale and LOVED it. A great way to spend the night or afternoon!
Have breakfast at Bake Superior Bread
First of all, I love the name of this place. Second, it’s so yummy! Bake Superior Bread makes fresh gourmet, but affordable, bread everyday, along with a variety of pastries and sandwiches. Definitely a must-visit hidden gem in the town of Ironwood!
Try a famous pasty at Joe’s Pasty Shop
Open since 1946, Joe’s Pasty Shop is the most popular place to get a Pasty on Michigan’s UP. All pasties are made in small batches with local ingredients. We tried the breakfast pasty which is only available on Saturday mornings, and it was amazing. HUGE, but amazing! We’ve never had a pasty before, so my favorite part was the warm, flaky crust. YUM.
Get caffeinated at Contrast Coffee
Contrast Coffee is an adorable coffee shop located in downtown Ironwood. The baristas are so friendly and made our experience so much fun! We definitely recommend the French toast and the oatmeal for breakfast. Both are really tasty, but the fresh roasted coffee is a must!
Have a chili breadbowl at Brewsters Northwoods Bar
You can’t go into the Northwoods without visiting the local bar. Brewsters Northwoods Bar is everything you’d expect: chainsaws hanging from the ceiling, fishing poles on the walls, friendly waitstaff, and great food! I ordered the chili in a breadbowl and it was amazing. Hit the spot after a day on the slopes!
Get home cooking at Mike’s Restaurant
Mike’s Restaurant is a tiny hometown diner that specializes in Italian food. Definitely unexpected in this area, but we drove by, saw good reviews online, and decided to stop in! I had the cheesiest meal of my life here – ricotta ravioli topped with meant sauce and lots of mozzarella. AMAZING.
There’s so many things to do in Ironwood Michigan that you could easily spend a week here on the different ski hills, trials, and water features. But it also makes for a great weekend trip! We did all of these activities in one weekend, so you can too!
Did you make it to the Historic Ironwood Theatre ?
Our main attraction in downtown Ironwood.
No, we unfortunately didn’t have time! Next time!
RE: Next time….ask for Vic & Zona for a tour. Our theatre has a good story.
Don’t forget a visit to the Hiawatha statue; the tallest In the world! Numerous thundering waterfalls, agate hunting on Lake Superior’s shore and the abundant wildlife (wolves, bears, cougars, deer and porcupine) make for endless adventure. I drive up from Florida to visit every summer.
Great post! I was at Potawatomi Falls late March/April ’85, after skiing ~5pm. I got out of my car at Copper Peak, slipped and fell. Got back in the car drove to The falls. Then, walking to the falls , fell into the snow up to my armpits. The falls were magical. Though I would not do that alone again. The woods were dark, and the falls were roaring with the melting snow; frozen lapis and diamond light-guides to the sun at the treetops. Of course, I had no camera. And Vic, thanks for the memories. I remember stuck in my motel room on April Fools day, with 24″ fresh snow, wishing I could get to the Ironwood Theater for its first WWF pay-per view. I don’t ski anymore, but now I’ll have to make a spring trip to Big Snow Country with a camera or two. Thanks again Lindsey, et al!