Brockway Mountain Drive Drive Guide
Brockway Mountain Drive is a nine-mile ridge road just west of Copper Harbor at the very tip of the Keweenaw, and it earns a real superlative: at 1,320 feet, it’s the highest paved road above sea level between the Rockies and the Alleghenies. Built as a Depression-era make-work project in the early 1930s, it climbs 720 feet above Lake Superior and runs the spine of the rock range, so you’re driving a rim with the great cold lake spread out on one side and unbroken forest on the other. On a clear day you can see Isle Royale, 50 miles out. In May it’s one of the best hawk-migration lookouts in the Midwest. It’s the closest thing to a mountain drive Michigan has.
| Cost | gas only |
|---|---|
| Time needed | 1–2 hours |
| Best season | May–October (closed winter) |
| Where | Brockway Mountain · Upper Peninsula Alabama |
📍 Where: Brockway Mountain Drive, Michigan · 47.4680, -87.9020
Common questions
When's the best time to visit Brockway Mountain Drive?
Best season: May–October (closed winter).
How much does it cost?
gas only. Prices drift — confirm before you go.
How long should I plan for?
Plan for about 1–2 hours.
Is it actually worth the trip?
Our rating: Non-negotiable. The highest paved road between the Rockies and the Alleghenies, a nine-mile rim over Lake Superior with Isle Royale 50 miles off. Closed in winter — go May to October.
One of 120 in Kick the Bucket List: Michigan
The full book is 120 checkable picks like this one — with a Bucket Rating on every entry telling you what's worth the drive and what to skip. A keepsake you fill in and score.
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Worth the driveVerified 2026-07. Prices and hours change — confirm before you drive. Something wrong? Tell us.