Eagle River Beach
Eagle River is a lowly populated census-designated place, but it was once one of the many important port towns during the copper boom of the 1800s. The town was settled in the 1840s after copper was discovered at the Cliff Mine. The population never boomed like the communities of Houghton of Calumet, but it had enough people to warrant becoming the county seat of Keweenaw County.
Today, Eagle River is a small community that has a number of tourist attractions. Eagle River Falls is probably the most popular of these, but Houghton Township Square Park is worth visiting, too. Many visitors pass through without stopping by the water, and in my opinion, they would be disappointed in what they’re missing.
The Eagle River Beach is split into two halves, with a beach on either side of the Eagle River. Depending on the time of year, the river is fairly easy to cross near Lake Superior. The beach is red and rocky, making it a popular place for rockhounds to hunt for agates. Although we didn’t find any on our visit, a woman we met found two while she was hunting the shores with her mother, who was visiting for the long weekend. She showed us her stones as we looked on in awe, as we hadn’t had any luck all weekend.
Fitzgerald’s, a hotel and restaurant, calls the beach home. We haven’t had the pleasure of staying here or trying the food yet, but you can’t beat the location. The hotel underwent a thorough renovation during the pandemic, and the restaurant is known to locals and tourists alike.
Whether you just want to slow down during your trip up the Keweenaw, fancy finding an agate, or just love the water, Eagle River Beach is the place for you!
