THREE LAKES

Region: Keweenaw Peninsula

The southern-most of the three lakes, Beaufort presents this pleasant view from the quiet little campground off Beaufort Lake Road.

The northwest-to-southeast chain of Ruth, George, and Beaufort Lakes, bisected by highway U.S. 41, gives the name to this locale. Actually there are at least ten lakes, flowing into the Spurr River, which goes to Lake Michigamme, which ends up in the Menominee River and Lake Michigan. The area is basically flat, but it's very high, what weather reports call "the highlands." Marquette's elevation is 666' and Three Lakes is 1,782', just 200 feet lower than Michigan's high point, nearby Mount Arvon (1,979'). Here U.S. 41 can be snowy and slippery in October's fall color season, when surrounding areas haven't seen a snowflake. This is one of the snowiest places in the U.P., and among the coldest.

Even during the late 19th-century lumber boom, Three Lakes was never much more than a small station on what was then the Marquette, Houghton, and Ontonagon Railroad. (Now it's a spur of the Canadian National Railway system that ends just past Baraga.)

Fishing and snowmobiling are the area's economic mainstays. Hundreds of cottages dot the area. Stump's Tavern is the local watering hole. Four miles west is the Cozy Inn bar and restaurant; four miles east in Michigamme is Mount Shasta.

Return to Keweenaw Peninsula

PLACES AROUND THREE LAKES TO

Eat Sleep Camp