Portage Lake Lift Bridge

Built in 1959, this is most recent in a succession of bridges that replaced earlier swing-bridges that allow even giant freighters to pass across the peninsula through the Portage Waterway. This metal behemoth, manned 24 hours a day in all but the winter months, hovers four feet over the water and can rise 100 feet, backing up traffic in both Houghton and Hancock.

The lower deck of the bridge was originally a railroad line. Now it's used for snowmobiles in the winter and raised for cars to use in the summer to provide clearance for small boats.

The bridge is the only link between Houghton and northern Keweenaw. If it breaks down, which is hardly unthinkable, folks north of the bridge will have an interesting time of it. The local Army National Guard engineering unit began an exercise to span the Portage Waterway with their pontoon bridge, but this was interrupted by the Iraq War.

US-41 between Houghton and Hancock.

Return to Houghton

HOUGHTON
POINTS OF INTEREST

Downtown Houghton. Shops, eateries, historic saloons, and a brewpub line Shelden Ave., with its handsome sandstone buildings and a dramatic location a block uphill from the Portage Waterway path and Bridgeview Park. ... more

Keweenaw Brewing Company. A wonderfully comfortable place to taste good fresh-brewed beers ... more

Portage Lake Lift Bridge. A local landmark iss the world's heaviest lift bridge, permitting giant freighters to cross the peninsula ... more

Windeye: Architecturals & Antiques. Fabulous stained glass windows, lamps, unusual furniture, much of it from the Copper Country's boom times when mining managers built big fancy homes ... more

Houghton Waterfront Path and Park. Along a 4 1/2 mile paved path are fishing platforms, kayak access, the new library with beautiful views, and Dee Stadium, home of a huge summer history display and a mini-museum about Houghton's pioneering hockey history. ... more

Nara Nature Park and Houghton-Chassell bike trail. A mile-long boardwalk with fishing benches is a highlight of this 10-mile-long path past shops and through wetlands ... more

Seaman Mineral Museum. One of the country's finest collections of U.P., Michigan, and world-wide minerals, artfully displayed and interpreted by professional geologists. ... more

USDA Forest Service Rhizotron. Through large underground windows see the root systems and insects of northern forest ... more

Michigan Technological University. One of the country's better technological universities provides a dramatic entryway to Hougton and lots of exceptional winter activities. Ice sculptures for the MTU Winter Carnival are worth a trip! ... more

MTU Archives/Copper Country Historical Collection. Lots of interesting old photos and loads of historical documents from a fascinating region ... more

Keweenaw Gem & Gift. Gemologist and geologist owners provide expert perspective on Copper Country rockhounding, agates, copper, greenstones, datolite, and more. ... more

Houghton Wi-fi Hotspots. • Portage Lake District Library downtown by the waterfront (on map) has free wi-fi & public computers for $1/hour.
• Cyberia Café has wi-fi. 524 Shelden at Isle Royale, ... more

Best of the Best U.P. Maps

See our U.P. interactive maps that locate the best experiences the U.P. has to offer—from camping & hiking to good eating & vistas! We also have created useful maps to major U.P. TOWNS.

Incredibly Useful!
Hunt's Map Guide to the Upper Peninsula • Favorite hikes, beaches, restaurants, shops, lighthouses, scenic drives, waterfalls, & much more
• 13 detailed U.P. maps
• Full color, on sturdy, water-resistant paper
• Folds out to 12”x38”
• Only $6.95
To learn more & buy online, click here