Brockway Mountain Drive

Infobox road
highway_name=Brockway Mountain Drive
marker_

maint=Keweenaw County Road Commission
length_mi=8.88
length_round=2
length_ref=cite web | author= | title= MiGDL - Center for Geographic Information - Geographic Data Library | date=May 2007 | work=Michigan Department of Information Technology | url= http://www.mcgi.state.mi.us/mgdl/?rel=thext&action=thmname&cid=14&cat=MI+Geographic+Framework+All+Roads+%28v7b%29 | accessdate=2008-02-04 ]
established=1933

---

map_notes=Brockway Mountain Drive highlighted in red
direction_a=West
starting_terminus=
direction_b=East
ending_terminus=
counties=Keweenaw

Brockway Mountain Drive is a convert|8.88|mi|km|2|adj=on scenic highway in the Keweenaw Peninsula of Michigan just west of Copper Harbor. Access to the road is gained from M-26 from either Eagle Harbor to the west or Copper Harbor to the east. The drive runs along a cliff on the Keweenaw Fault and climbs to a height of convert|1328|ft|m|0 above sea level, convert|726|ft|m|0 above the surface of Lake Superior.cite web | author= | title= Brockway Mountain Drive Web Tour | date=| work=Cable America | url= http://www.cableamerica.com/Michigan/brock1.shtml | accessdate=2006-10-26 ] Several turnouts along the route allow for views of Copper Harbor, Lake Superior, and undeveloped woodland. The road was constructed by the Works Project Administration and Civilian Conservation Corps in 1933, and has been recognized for its scenic nature.cite web | author= | title= Brockway Mountain Drive, MI | date=| work=National Scenic Byways Program | url= http://www.byways.org/explore/byways/13828/places/14317/ | accessdate=2006-10-26 ] cite news | author=Stetson, Damon | title= Circling Michigan's Scenic Upper Peninsula | date=1962-01-29| publisher=New York Times | page=249| quote= a side trip that should not be missed is the Brockway Mountain drive | accessdate= 2008-02-21 ] cite news | author=Gilbert, John | title= Keweenaw Peninsula; Fall colors undimmed | date=1996-10-06| publisher=Star Tribune | page=| quote= Brockway Mountain drive is worth the whole trip by itself, with a twisting road leading up to the crest, with panoramic views of Fall colors. | accessdate=2008-02-21 ]

Route description

The road can be accessed from either Eagle Harbor or Copper Harbor and serves as a scenic loop off M-26. From Copper Harbor, as soon as the road begins, the steep ascent starts. Drivers are faced with two hairpin turns, the second of which features a scenic turnout for drivers. After these first two sharp turns the road generally straightens out, but continues to ascend the mountain. Along the drive, several turnouts provide the opportunity for sightseers to exit the car and take in the surroundings. A few turnouts lie directly adjacent to the face of the bluff where the mountain quickly rises from the surrounding land.cite map |title=Brockway Mountain Drive & M-26, Mohawk MI 49950 to Brockway Mountain Drive & M-26, Mohawk, MI 49950 |url=http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&saddr=Brockway+Mountain+Drive+%26+M-26,+Copper+Harbor,+MI&daddr=47.466629,-87.988815+to:Brockway+Mountain+Drive+%26+M-26,+Eagle+Harbor,+MI&hl=en&geocode=&mra=dpe&mrcr=0&mrsp=1&sz=12&via=1&sll=47.52207,-88.010445&sspn=0.147455,0.22934&ie=UTF8&t=p&z=12 |publisher=Google Maps |year=2008 |cartography=NavTEQ |accessdate=2008-08-02 ]

Upon reaching the top of the mountain, drivers are greeted with a full panoramic view of the surrounding area, allowing views of Lake Superior, Copper Harbor, Eagle Harbor and the surrounding lakes and forests. Freighters occasionally can be seen traversing Lake Superior and on clear days, Isle Royale can be spotted nearly convert|50|mi|km| in the distance. Also gracing the top of the mountain is the Skytop Inn. Founded in 1933, originally housed in a log cabin, the Skytop Inn provides a selection of books and collectibles.cite book |author=Hunt, Mary and Hunt, Don |chapter= Brockway Mountain Drive |date=2007 |title=Hunt's Guide to Michigan's Upper Peninsula |publisher= Midwestern Guides |location=Albion, MI |url=http://hunts-upguide.com/ |chapterurl= http://hunts-upguide.com/copper_harbor_brockway_mountain_drive.html |accessdate=2008-02-21] From the Skytop Inn, the road continues to the west and descends the mountain in quick fashion, with the occasional twists as expected, but mostly straight and devoid of the sharp hairpin turns of its eastern half. The road ends at a junction with M-26 just east of Eagle Harbor.

This road has been claimed as the highest road above sea level in the U.S. between the Rocky Mountains and Allegheny Mountains. [cite news | author=Storm, Roger E. |coauthors=Wedzel, Susan M. | title= Hiking Michigan | date=1997| publisher=Human Kinetics Publishers | page=35 | accessdate=2006-10-26 ] These claims are disputed as roads in eastern Colorado, as well as the immediate vicinity traverse greater elevations.cite map |title=Limon, CO |url=http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Limon,+Colorado&ie=UTF8&ll=39.263759,-103.560562&spn=0.042264,0.057335&t=p&z=14 |publisher=Google Maps |year=2008 |cartography=NavTEQ |accessdate=2008-08-02 ] cite map |title=Eagle Harbor, MI to Central, MI |url=http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&saddr=Eagle+Harbor,+MI&daddr=47.421583,-88.195667+to:Central,+MI&hl=en&geocode=&mra=dpe&mrcr=0&mrsp=1&sz=14&via=1&sll=47.43099,-88.182964&sspn=0.036928,0.057335&ie=UTF8&ll=47.41322,-88.192019&spn=0.01847,0.028667&t=p&z=15
publisher=Google Maps |year=2008 |cartography=NavTEQ |accessdate=2008-08-02 ]

History

Construction of Brockway Mountain Drive began in 1933 by the Keweenaw County Road Commission with Federal highway funding designed to provide meaningful work to the many copper miners who became unemployed during the Great Depression. Up to three hundred laborers were employed for a wage of twenty-five cents per hour. cite web |url= http://stats.bls.gov/cpi/ |title= CPI Inflation Calculator |accessdate=2008-06-06 |publisher= Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor ] The road was opened for public use starting in the 1930's. cite book | last = Barnett Ph.D. | first = LeRoy | title = A Drive Down Memory Lane: The Named State and Federal Highways of Michigan | publisher = Wayne State University Press | location = Detroit, Michigan | date = 2004 | pages = 40 | url = http://books.google.com/books?id=HhG46TGapxoC&pg=PT45&lpg=PT45&dq=brockway+mountain+drive+1933&source=web&ots=w59Jk6wHyy&sig=4CPa0-LjtV659PQsOCU2F2qwlJI | isbn = 1886167249 ]

Awards and recognition

Many locales in the Keweenaw Peninsula are frequently praised for their beauty and pristine appearances and Brockway Mountain Drive is no exception. The road has been recognized in numerous publications. In 1994 and 2001, US 41 and Brockway Mountain Drive were selected as "one of the best fall color views and mountain biking areas" by "Michigan Living". It was also named "most beautiful bike ride in the United States" by "Bicycling Magazine" in 1995.cite web | author = Keweenaw Peninsula Chamber of Commerce | title = Map & Facts | work = Keweenaw Chamber of Commerce | url = http://www.keweenaw.org/index.php?page=maps_facts | accessdate = 2008-02-21]

Major intersections

The following table shows the major intersections along Brockway Mountain Drive.

MIint
county=Keweenaw
cspan=3
mile=0.00
location=Eagle Harbor
road=
notes=Western terminusMIint
location=Eagle Harbor Township
road=Brockway Mountain Drive
mile=4.92
notes=Location of Skytop InnMIint
location=Copper Harbor
mile=8.88
road=
notes=Eastern terminus

References