Military Trail Roadside Park

This viewing stand overlooks the Ontonagon River, naturally muddy from clay banks, not from erosion. U.S. 45 follows the route of the old military trail, built in the 1850s to connect Fort Howard at Green Bay to Fort Wilkins at Copper Harbor. Shady picnic tables and grills make this roadside park a pleasant stop.

One of the Michigan Department of Transportation's prettiest inland parks overlooks the Middle Branch of the Ontonagon River where the old military trail ran between Fort Howard (Green Bay) and Fort Wilkins (Copper Harbor). There are picnic tables, vault toilets, and a river overlook.

The road has been an enduring source of local legend around lost cannons and the Paulding Light. (See Watersmeet section of this web site.)

On U.S. 45 2 1/2 miles south of Rockland and 11 miles north of Bruce Crossing. Wheelchair-accessible.

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