Bessemer Summer Day
For an active day
- Take a morning walk or run along the Iron Belle Trail to catch the sunrise over the Bluffs.
- Have breakfast at our lovely Bread of Life Bakery and Café. They also serve subs and ice-cream, 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 bring pets, find interesting stones, and swim when the temperature is warm enough. Read up on the story and listen to the local song about the Edmund Fitzgerald to really get a feel for the Lake itself.
- Besides beach days and agate or sea glass hunting, the harbor offers camping sites, kayaking and boating facilities, ample fishing and wildlife observation, and public outdoor grills perfect for picnics.
- While at the Harbor, hike the many trails to see over 150 official waterfalls. Rainbow Falls, Potawatomi Falls, or the Conglomerate Falls are all located in this area. These can take anywhere from an hour to an entire day or more depending on the length of your trip.
- Call ahead and schedule a visit to Copper Peak, the only ski flying jump outside of Europe. It offers a beautiful view of the valley and surrounding mountains. (particularly with the changing leaves in the late summer and fall). The view is unbeatable. 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, racers partook in the Red Bull 400, coined the toughest 400-meter race in the world. Runners start at the bottom of the landing and race straight up the hill and the skim jump. This race has cousin events all around the world.
- Hungry? Visit Tacconelli’s To-Go for a small sit-down lunch or dinner to jukebox music or order their famous pizza and wings to go or call for home delivery. The Pit Stop Bar and Grill is social and is open later, attracting all types of people in the area. The building used to be the old Fire Station and anyone there can give you great background story. Visiting on a Friday? The VFW’s weekly Fish Fry is legendary. To finish off your day, take in the sunset from atop the Bessemer Bluffs (bring flashlights and have anexit plan if you decide to stay late to see the stars), just north of the city connected to the Bluff View Park
For a relaxed day
- Whether sleeping in or waking up early, a day on the town is a perfect way to enjoy Bessemer and take in the fresh air. The town may be small, but with a little inquiry and adventuring, there is no shortage of things to do.
- Start off your day with a nice walk or bike on the Iron Belle Trail, there are many historical marks along the old railroad grade that really bring it to life. A short distance away is Powder Mill Creek, a great place to nature watch or go fishing. The trail 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 and coffee at the Bread of Life Bakery and Café, take a short trip to Bluff View Park. The park has a large pavilion and complete playground. Besides the Bluff and woods trails, the park has a frog pond; skate loop; basketball, volleyball, and tennis courts; and a public baseball diamond. Visit the A.D. Johnston High School webpage to see complete schedules for football games, track meets, and baseball games at Massie Field.
- For lunch or dinner, Bessemer’s Dairy Queen, Pit Stop, Taconelli’s, River Valley Pub, and the VFW are local favorites.
- Leisure and Shopping: On S. Sophie Street, our main route through downtown, there are a variety of small shops including Misky’s Haircuts, The Yellow Umbrella, an arts and antique store; Abelman’s outfitting and clothing store; 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 The Bath Shoppe. 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.
- Local events are always fun and the Bessemer Blast Thunder on the Mountain firework show and grand parade celebrate the Fourth of July. Lasting a week and filled with everything imaginable from a Domino Fall and bed races to a Hometown Run and a $30,000+ 50/50 raffle contest, it truly is the event of the year. The Gogebic County Fair in early to mid-August, is located 10 minutes West on US 2. The fair features harness racing, live music, carnival rides, great food, and livestock shows. 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.