Iron Mountain, Michigan: A Central Hub

Iron Mountain Michigan City Guide

Power of Words Project "Welcome" mural in downtown Iron Mountain

Iron Mountain is the county seat of Dickinson County in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. It is the largest city in the county and boasts a thriving manufacturing, healthcare, and construction industry, along with a vibrant downtown district.

In addition to commerce and local government, the city also offers a variety of parks, outdoor recreation, area attractions and annual events.

Schools in Iron Mountain

Bishop Baraga Catholic School 406 West B St, Iron Mountain, Michigan 49801

Bishop Baraga is a private Catholic school providing preschool through 8th-grade academic programs integrating core subjects – religion, literature, grammar and composition, math, science, and social studies. It is a ministry of the Iron Mountain and Kingsford parishes of American Martyrs, Immaculate Conception, St. Mary and St. Joseph, and St. Mary Queen of Peace.

Iron Mountain Public Schools 300 West B Street, Iron Mountain

Iron Mountain Public Schools (IMPS) offers pre-K through 12th-grade education, working in partnership with students, families, and all stakeholders in the relentless pursuit of student excellence. North Elementary serves grades EK-4 and is located at 900 5th Street in Iron Mountain. Grades 5-12 and the main office are located in the Senior High building at 300 West B Street in Iron Mountain.

IMPS collaborates with the Iron Mountain Homeschool Partnership (IMHP), allowing families who choose to homeschool to connect to Iron Mountain's core virtual program for subjects like math, language arts, science, and social studies. IMHP is located at the East Elementary building at 800 East E Street in Iron Mountain.

Parks and Recreation in Iron Mountain

Neighborhood playgrounds and parks are plentiful in Iron Mountain, making it an ideal place to call home. No matter which side of town you settle, a park is sure to be nearby.

City Park

A 69.2-acre public park managed by the City of Iron Mountain, City Park is on the west side of the city. In addition to a playground, the recreational area also offers a skate park, a dog park, tennis courts, bocce ball courts, disc golf, picnic areas, and pavilions. Local sports clubs utilize the soccer and football fields for practice and games. During winter, miles of trails are groomed for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, and a former ski jumping hill is a favorite sledding spot for kids and teens.  

City Park is at the end of West A Street in Iron Mountain.  

East Side Park

An expansive playground with picnic areas makes the East Side Park a favorite neighborhood spot. The playground is adjacent to the East Side Ball Field, home to Little League teams, and the East Side Tennis Courts.

East Side Park is located between East Hughitt Street and East A Street in Iron Mountain, across from the Mountain View Ice Arena.

Stanton Street Park

Nestled on the North Side of Iron Mountain, Stanton Street Park features four outdoor hard and concrete pickleball courts. The playground area has been recently renovated with new equipment and includes a pavilion picnic area.  

Stanton Street Park is at Stanton and Devereaux Streets in Iron Mountain.

Kiwanis Park

Kiwanis Park is a cozy pocket park on the west side of Iron Mountain, perfect for neighborhood playdates. The Iron Mountain-Kingsford Kiwanis Club recently upgraded the playground equipment and picnic areas with a small pavilion.

Kiwanis Park is at Forest and Houghteling Street in Iron Mountain.

Crystal Lake Park

The Crystal Lake Park is another great neighborhood park with updated playground equipment and a gazebo for picnicking

Crystal Lake Park is at 700 Detroit Avenue in Iron Mountain.

Lake Antoine Park

Lake Antoine Park offers a host of outdoor activities, including fishing, swimming, camping, kayaking, and boating. The park, supported by the Lake Antoine Park Partner 501(c)(3), aims to preserve, improve, and protect the county park for public use. Amenities include picnic pavilions, playground equipment, an accessible beach mat, and both a boat launch and kayak launch.

Lake Antoine Park is at N3393 Quinnesec Lake Antoine Road in Iron Mountain.

Dickinson Trail Network Iron Mountain Trail Systems

The Dickinson Trail Network features eight single-track mountain bike trails on Millie Hill in Iron Mountain, built to International Mountain Bike Association (IMBA) standards. The trails cater to all skill levels, with a 200-foot vertical drop providing stunning views of Downtown Iron Mountain and the surrounding areas. The Pewabic Trail System will feature three loops, two descents, and connector trails, located at the end of East B Street.

View Trailforks.com, Trail Genius, and printable maps on the DTN website.

Tri-County ORV and Snowmobile Trail Network

Information about trail conditions and trail maps are available on the Tri-County ORV and Snowmobile Club website.

Things to do in Iron Mountain

A place where everyone belongs, the Imagination Factory focuses on the theme of imagination, transforming the former classroom environment into interactive and creative play areas. The three exhibit room themes—environment, industry, and health—each include 8-10 engaging exhibits. The facility promotes interactive learning, leadership development, parent networking, family fun, educational series, and community leader meetings.

Imagination Factory Children's Museum and Community Center is at 217 West Hughitt Street in Iron Mountain.

The Dickinson County Library main branch is a full-service public library that also offers youth services and programs. With activities ranging from children's puppet shows and Wiggle Worms to Messy Masterpieces and Bow Wow & Books for tweens and teens, there is something available for everyone.

Dickinson County Library is at 401 Iron Mountain Street in Iron Mountain.

For arts and culture, the historic Braumart Theatre in downtown Iron Mountain provides live music, performing arts, and classic movies. Since 1925, the Braumart has brought the best in art and entertainment to the community and serves as a unique venue for gatherings in Dickinson County.

The Braumart is at 106 East B Street in Iron Mountain.

The Pine Mountain Resort offers four seasons of fun, including downhill skiing in the winter, mountain biking in the spring, summer, and fall, as well as golfing at Timberstone, located off Pine Mountain Road in Iron Mountain.

Shopping in Iron Mountain

The downtown district is vibrant with clothing boutiques, home décor and gift shops, restaurants, and cafes, allowing easy access for shopping.

Outside of the downtown area, along the US 2 corridor, a variety of small, regional, national, and international brands offer everything from groceries and back-to-school supplies to home renovation items and workwear.

There is no need to go out of town to find what you need; however, our centralized location makes trips to urban centers such as Minneapolis-St. Paul, Detroit, Chicago, and Green Bay a breeze.

Annual Iron Mountain Events

Downtown Iron Mountain, the City's downtown development authority, hosts events throughout the year. In the summer, there are weekly Farmers & Artisans Markets on Saturdays and Out to Lunch on Thursdays. The city hosts two summer festivals, Brew Fest in June and ItalianFest in August. Fall features events like Oktoberfest, the Pumpkin Walk, and Girls Night Out, while the Christmas Walk in December kicks off the holiday season. For more information, visit downtownironmountain.com.

Arts & Music attracts residents and visitors alike to City Park in the summer. Art for All is an annual art fair taking place in June. Saturday in the Park is an annual fundraiser for the park held in July with bands, food trucks, and concessions.

Winter spectator sports include the Continental Cup Ski Jumping Tournament held at Giant Pine Mountain each February. Lake Antoine Park Partners hosts the Kites Over Awesome Lake Antoine (KOALA) festival, where spectators can watch larger-than-life kites take to the sky.

Outdoor recreation competitions for bikers, runners, and triathletes are hosted year-round, with a strong emphasis on summer. In August, the Lake Antoine Classic run brings racers around Lake Antoine. Tour de Dickinson offers 5-mile, 45k, 70k, and 100k tours of the county, starting and finishing at Pine Mountain Resort. Run Iron Mountain features races for everyone - half marathon, 10k, 5k, and 1k fun runs. The Northern Lights YMCA hosts the UP Northwoods Triathlon each summer with Olympic and sprint distances, starting and finishing at Lake Antoine Park.