Hiking to Montreal Falls from Fish Cove

After the bridge building project last Wednesday on the North Country Trail, the remaining part of the week would become a blur getting ready for family to come to town on Saturday night. The bed in our study which would be needed during the visit doubles as my in-basket for my various projects and organizational activities, including Remote Workforce Keweenaw, Chassell Township Planning Commission, Chassell Recreation Committee, Hancock Trails Club, Chassell Historical Organization, Houghton County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority, Houghton County Recreation Authority, Team Peninsula, and MTEC SmartZone. This would be the best excuse in some time for getting all of these materials better organized and organized into the file cabinet. This project occurred in fits and starts over the following few days as we had a Chassell Lions Club meeting Wednesday evening, eye appointments in Calumet requiring dilation on Thursday, a Recreation Committee meeting on Thursday evening, swam 2,800 yards on Friday morning, cutting grass on Friday afternoon, and going to see our friends John and Cheryl on Friday evening. By mid-afternoon on Saturday, I would have my organizing project wrapped up along with associated house cleaning, so I would actually have time to get over to the Chassell Fitness Trail with my mower to cut the grass, weeds, and ferns leading up to the first station on the trail.

Since I was on a roll, I went ahead and cut the grass along the inside of the outfield fence at Misslitz Field and then cut the grass at the Chassell Heritage Center.

Millie Pyrola had planned to cut the grass at the Heritage Center that evening but taking care of it was a nice present for her birthday this past week.

After slipping in a nap, I ran up to the airport to pick up Jessica and the guys at midnight. Even though their time here will be short, we jumped on the opportunity to plan an adventure with our hiking leader, Mark, for Sunday afternoon. After scoping out the weather forecast, we planned a hike to Montreal Falls from Fish Cove up near the tip of the Keweenaw Peninsula.

Getting to Fish Cove requires you to abuse the shocks on your vehicle more than just a small amount as continuous potholes, rocks, sand, mud holes, and rock outcroppings are found throughout this passageway beyond the end of US 41 on the Mandan Road to Fish Cove.

Once we reached the parking area for the trailhead to Fish Cove, the hike to Lake Superior is short and immediately brings you to a very scenic spot on the big lake!

The air was pleasantly cool which had the additional effect of inactivating the black flies! Lake Superior’s clarity at this place is truly something to marvel.

Jagged shoreline here is punctuated by alternating cobble beaches. You might enjoy checking out a YouTube short of this place on the Remote Workforce Keweenaw YouTube channel at this link: https://youtube.com/shorts/PTjpzR0UCzQ?si=IQccmsC4wJqmPVM5

It is about a mile and half hike to Montreal Falls. As we would start westward down the shore, we immediately came upon a young couple that was camping and burning a campfire along the shore in the sanctuary. Both actions constitute violations, but no one in the group chose to take on the responsibility of addressing the violations as we started the hike.

The views enjoyed throughout this hike leave you feeling rewarded for having made both the drive to get to the trailhead as well as the trek along the lakeshore.

After hiking the mile and a half along the Lake Superior shore, we reached the point where the Montreal River tumbles into the lake.

There are two more decent sized waterfalls above this one, but we would limit our hike on this day to the falls at the lake. Take in Montreal Falls’ sound and beauty at this YouTube short: https://youtube.com/shorts/LAP3VaSH82M?si=Esynx_ZGTIWyfzBR You can get a feel for the full adventure from my GoPro video on the Remote Workforce Keweenaw YouTube channel at this link:

Do you embrace winter and have the ability to work remotely? Consider locating in the Keweenaw where you will find ubiquitous natural beauty, no congestion, and lower crime! Not sure? Come UP for a workcation to check it out! Learn how at Visit Keweenaw at: https://www.visitkeweenaw.com/plan/trip-ideas-itineraries/workcations/ Visit Remote Workforce Keweenaw at https://remoteworkforcekeweenaw.com. Learn about those making the decision to locate here by following the Remote Workforce Keweenaw Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/RemoteWorkforceKeweenaw