CASCADE FALLS AND HIKING TRAILS

The Cascade Hiking Trail is a short scenic trail located within the Bergland Ranger District, 7 miles north of M-28 on Forest Road 400.

The trail consists of two routes to the falls. The Valley Route is the easiest at 0.7 miles in length. The more difficult route, Twin Peaks Route, is one mile in length, steep at some points, but by far the most scenic.

The lower trail will take you through aspen, balsam, and hemlock timber stands. Evidence of past timber cutting activities can be observed.

On the Twin Peaks Trail you will hike through a variety of timber types, such as oak, maple, aspen, and hemlock. The trail overlooks the Cascade Creek and the West Branch of the Ontonagon River. Scanning the distance from the west to the north you can see the Trap Hills. Looking to the south you may catch a glimpse of Lake Gogebic.

Located in the Trap Hills, this small and picturesque falls is on the scenic Cascade Creek, just before it empties into the West Branch of the Ontonagon River.

As you hike the trail, imagine yourself an early prospector exploring the Trap Hills for copper in the 1850's. These hardy explorers had to travel up the Ontonagon River to the American Landing and then over the primitive "Miner's Road" to the chain of mines located from Rockland to Lake Gogebic. The trip was made by canoe and then by wagons pulled by oxen, with the journey lasting as long as three days.

Today you will find only traces of where these early explorations took place. If you do happen to find any artifacts - you MUST leave them as they are; these artifacts are archaeological evidence and removing them is illegal.

For further information contact the District Ranger, Bergland Ranger District, Bergland, MI 49910. Phone: (906) 575-3441

ALLIGATOR EYE

The main view of Lake Gogebic to the most casual visitor is generally along the east or west shores. Visitors who have friends or relatives in the area are generally taken to the Alligator Eye overlook near the 19 mile marker on the west shore.

It's a trail that's barely noticeable with its wooden steps at the beginning which thins to just a foot path and steep inclines. The view is most picturesque and provides great photographic opportunities. In some photographs, the view at Alligator Eye has been mistaken as Lake of the Clouds in the Porcupine Mountains.

The forest service has been doing some archaeologist explorations near the top of alligator eye. It was discovered as a quartz mining site for Indians many years ago.

Anyone who knows the lake area is sure to tell you how to find Alligator Eye if you have trouble finding it yourself.

The only thing we don't really know is how Alligator Eye got its name. The owner of the Gogebic Lodge says its because when you are traveling by boat coming from the north end, you can see a hump in the hill that resembles an alligators eye and that the front of this property is the tail. Others yet have said that the lake itself is the shape of an alligator and that the peninsula which protrudes out from the shore is the eye. Anyone out there know the truth? Or another theory? Let us know, we'd be happy to publish your version.

An ancient Indian legend centers around the Lake Gogebic area and described a great city of stone built by a lost tribe known as the Mus-to-tams or Mus-to-tains.

These people were attacked and persecuted by other Indian nations and , in the end, even fought amongst themselves. But, "at length the great spirit lifted up into the sky the whole city in one solid mass.

For generations after this alleged event, people claimed that they sighted a mirage of this "City of Stone" in the vicinity of Lake Gogebic. This legend is just one example of an extensive list of historical items that revolved around the Lake Gogebic area.

OLD VICTORIA COPPER MINE: A Journey to the Past

A relic of the copper-mining days is the town of Victoria, built near the original site of the site of the famous Ontonagon Boulder. Like so many communities, Victoria lost its spark of life when the copper industry abandoned the area. But unlike other small, almost forgotten mining towns, Victoria is being brought back to life by a large restoration project aimed at recreating the mid-1800's community as it was in its peak. Old Victoria, as it is called, is already open to the public, and when you walk across its green lawns, past blooming lilacs, the past has never been so near.

Miners came to the hills of Victoria in 1849 seeking copper and silver. Mining camps such as Victoria sprung up overnight, usually near ancient miners' pits, then vanished just as quickly. Although Victoria was a low-grade operation, it continued to produce sufficient copper to make mining in those hills profitable.

One of the reasons for the success at Victoria was the use of the mighty Ontonagon River. It produced power to operate the mine's operation through the famous Taylor Air Compressor, the most powerful device of its type ever built.

When seeing the Old Victoria Restoration today, visitors will see the log homes hewed out of the Ontonagon Country wilderness in which sturdy pioneer miners lived and raised their families. There are several buildings open to the public which display the rustic lifestyle of the miners. Copper samples are displayed on old crocheted table cloths and the wood cookstove displays other goods from the 1800's. Nothing is under glass or locked away in show cases. At Victoria it is as it was and you are free to reach out and touch a bit of the past.

Experience the walk into the mine site on the same trails trod by those pioneers so long ago. Search the mountainous poor rock heap for copper samples; climb the summit of Mt. Lookout where you can see the site of the legendary Copper Boulder of the Ontonagon River; pass through the area of one of the greatest conflicts of all time in which the Ojibway battled the Sioux for the possession of that great Manitou, the Copper Boulder. From Mt. Lookout you can also view the highest hydroelectric dam in the Midwest.

The Victoria Lake Reservoir is just about a mile beyond the Old Victoria Historic Townsite. The West Branch of the Ontonagon River flows into the reservoir and can be fished or enjoyed for its scenic waterfront spot, a great place for a picnic too.

The Old Victoria Restoration is located four miles west of Rockland, Michigan in Ontonagon County. The road is clearly marked off US-45