For an active day

• Take a morning walk or run along the  Iron Belle Trail to catch the sunrise and tree colors over the Bluffs. The weather may be cooling off so bring a light jacket or hat with you.
• Have breakfast at our Bread of Life Bakery and Café. They also serve ice-cream and subs, making it a great lunch destination too.
• Bike to Black River Harbor (10 miles) to see the nation’s northern border and our beautiful Lake Superior. The shore is the best place to find interesting stones or sea glass, bring dogs, and skip rocks. Read up on the story and listen to the local song about the Edmund Fitzgerald to really get a feel for the lake itself.
• Located at or near the harbor are great camping sites, kayaking and boating facilities, ample fishing and wildlife opportunities, and public outdoor grills are perfect for picnics.
• While at the harbor hike the many trails to see over 150 official waterfalls. The changing colors and the leaves make this the best time of year to walk the falls. Rainbow Falls, Potawatomi Falls, Sandstone Falls, Gorge Falls, and Great Conglomerate Falls are all located in this area. This can take anywhere from an hour to an entire day or more, depending on the length of your trip.
• Take a stroll on the docks under the Black River bridge and take a peek at the local boats. Some locals do offer evening Lake cruises for the sunset.
• Call ahead and schedule a visit to Copper Peak , the only ski flying hill outside of Europe. From the top there is an unbeatable view of the valley and surrounding mountains all in their fall color glory. Copper Peak is undergoing a movement to revitalize and become operational once more, so be sure to take in its past, present, and future tales from those that volunteer and work there. In May, Copper Peak hosted the Red Bull 400, toughest 400-meter race in the world. Racers run straight from the base of the mountain to the top of the ski jump. It has cousin events globally, from Finland to Japan.
• Another option is to visit the Ottawa National Forest, Porcupine Mountains,  and. The Lake of the Clouds, trails and nature here are very much alive and besides beautiful scenery, there are many wild animals including birds, white-tailed deer, foxes, coyotes, and sometimes even moose.  Bears are in the region but very rare to come across.  It is important to remember that wild animals are more afraid of you than you are of them, and keeping respectful distances is important.
• When you return to Bessemer, visit Tacconelli’s To-Go for a small sit-down dinner to jukebox music or order their famous pizza and wings to go, they also deliver. The Pit Stop is open later into the evening and attracts all types of people from the area. On Fridays, the VFW’s weekly Fish Fry is legendary.
• To see the sunset over the valley, go to the second bridge on the Iron Bell Trail Take or take the short hike up the Bessemer Bluffs (bring light jackets, flashlights, and maybe blanket or two and have an exit plan if you decide to stay late to see the stars) for the best views.

For a relaxed day

• Whether sleeping in or waking up early, a day on the town is a perfect way to enjoy the area and fresh air. The town may be small, but with a little inquiry and adventuring, there is no shortage of things to see and do.
• Start off your day with a walk or bike on the Iron Belle Trail, off-shoots and loops will take you through all parts of town and has lots of historical marks along the old railroad grade. A short distance away is Powder Mill Creek, a great place to nature watch or go fishing. The trail currently bridges the river, and more direct access is underway.  ATVs and other motorized vehicles are allowed on the motorized trails that stretch miles beyond the area and lead into Wisconsin and the Eastern Upper Peninsula.
• After a nice breakfast or brunch and a coffee from our local Bread of Life Bakery and Café, take a small tour of Bluff Valley Park. The park has a large pavilion and complete playground. Beside the Bluff and woods trails, the park has a frog pond; skate loop; basketball, and volleyball; and a public baseball diamond. There is also various outdoor workout equipment available along the park trail. Visit the A.D. Johnston High School webpage to see complete schedules for football games, track meets, and baseball games at Massie Field.
• Leisure and Shopping:  On S. Sophie Street, our main route through downtown, there are a variety of small shops including Misky’s Haircuts; Abelman’s outfitting and clothing store; JDM Woodworks; and the Bessemer Public Library. Other business to check out around town are The Box fitness center and Platinum Dance Studio, the Leather and Gift Shop, Steiger’s Hardware, and Mel's Cuts. For a sit-down lunch or a calm place to relax, visit the Ethnic Commons or the pocket park next to Abelman’s. Both of these places offer a nice view of downtown and the city.
• For lunch or dinner Bessemer’s Dairy Queen, Pit Stop, Tacconelli’s, and VFW are local favorites.
• Local events get the town bustling and the Bessemer Pumpkin Fest is a weekend long event with Pumpkin sales and events, a tractor pull, a ventriloquist performance on Sophie Street, and a large arts and craft fair in the A.D. Johnston High School gym. Purchase 50/50 Raffle tickets to win almost $5,000. Bessemer is also home to Marty’s Goldenaires , a renowned drum and bugle Corps that travels all across the region to perform live at fairs, parades, and celebrations.