Black River Harbor

In the Ottawa National Forest, this popular park and campground at the end of County Road 513 (the Black River Scenic Byway) was developed on the site of a fishing village. The park was a 1930s Civilian Conservation Corps project. In fact, the CCC improved the entire road from the vicinity of Copper Peak; it had been merely a wagon trail.

By the parking area at the road's end are a marina and a pleasant, shady picnic area with a handsome stone and wood changing house and pavilion. A suspension footbridge (wheelchair-accessible) leads across the river mouth up to a popular, sandy Lake Superior beach. Kids love to jiggle and sway on the bridge. Crossing the bridge, turn left to reach the beach.

Warmer river water mixes with lake water, so this is one of Superior's warmer swimming spots. The granite breakwater, used by walkers and anglers, is another CCC-era legacy, built to keep the harbor from silting up.

To get to Rainbow Falls (below), after crossing the bridge, look for the North Country Trail's triple blue diamonds in about 50 feet and turn immediately right.

To get to Rainbow Falls (above), look for the North Country Trail's triple blue diamonds in about 50 feet and turn immediately right.

At the end of CR 513. For directions from U.S. 2, see Black River waterfalls above. (906) 932-1330. http//Xfs.usda.gov/ottawa Free.

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BLACK RIVER HARBOR
POINTS OF INTEREST

Black River Harbor. The site of an old fishing village, this harbor was transformed in the 1930s into a pleasant park, with stone changing house and pavilion, a beach, campground, and suspension bridge across the mouth of the Black River ... more

Great Conglomerate, Potawatomi, Gorge, and Rainbow Falls. Five memorable, very different waterfalls in one area testify to the power and varied character of water. A swinging footbridge reaches Rainbow Falls (via the North Country Trail) and a delightful Lake Superior swimming beach by a pretty CCC-era harbor. Four other waterfalls are accessed by individual trails from CR 513, or by a North Country Trail segment. ... more

Manakiki Falls & Maple Creek Falls. An exceptionally fine short walk along Maple Creek takes you to a string of four waterfalls ... more

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