Barbara Bouwkamp recently took a drive with a friend to Copper Harbor and stopped along the way at one of her favorite parks on M-26, Esrey Park. It was a foggy day, but still made for some interesting photos. She was shocked and saddened to see the iconic tree toppled over somehow and laying on the rocks. This tree has been the subject of innumerable photos and even used as a landmark for boaters coming into Agate Harbor over the reef there. Barbara’s second photo was taken previously (also on a foggy day) when the tree was still standing there proudly. Her bottom photo was snapped in Copper Harbor with the Harbor Haus dock and the fog beginning to fill in the entry to the Harbor.

Midwest Mood and Food is taking us with them on the drive up and over Brockway Mountain in Copper Harbor. The lead-in to their video says: “You’ll have a front row seat for the stunning views of Lake Superior and undeveloped woodlands in the Keweenaw! Well worth your time for the 9.5 mile drive from Copper Harbor to Eagle Harbor. We took the GoPro and loved every second! Definitely a must do! Enjoy!”

Brockway Mountain Drive is a must see when you in the
UP! When my son was little, he claimed you could see
the North Pole! Oh the imagination and wonder of a
child! Great video Thanks!

It saddens me to see the tree at Esrey
had toppled. I haven't made it to
Esrey this year. But I've hardly made
it anywhere this year. Will have to
try to get up there. I'm happy I have
many pictures of that tree. These
pictures are terrific, cloudy day or
not. There's not a bad day to take a
drive north.

Hi
The view from the top of Brockway Mountain is indeed
spectacular.

Snowmobiling to the top of Brockway Mountain is
surreal. The haunting quietness is something to
experience.

Eerie and sad set.
“If a tree falls at
Esrey Park and no
one is around to
hear it, does it make
a sound?”
The only constant
in the universe is
change and this
too shall pass.
And a really good
looking video too!
One of my all time
favorite roads and
I will definitely be
watching it later on
this afternoon and
visualizing riding the
Wing along the way
as I have done so
many times in the past.

I am so bummed about that tree....sniff...That was
definitely in many pictures...wow....

Janie...I got to ride up the mountain on the night
of a full moon. Unreal. What absolute PURE beauty!
Unreal.

The road is in desperate need of replacing. I
don't think it's been fixed since it was put down
by the CCC workers...I've sent a ton of emails to
Whitmer to replace it...that ain't gonna happen.

“Since opening in 1934, Brockway Mountain Drive
has been a leading attraction for visitors to the
Keweenaw Peninsula, offering unparalleled views of
the picturesque region of Michigan,” the
nomination said. “The scenic road, together with
two other Depression-era projects, Lakeshore Drive
and the Keweenaw Mountain Resort and Lodge, helped
Keweenaw County to diversify its economy and
emerge from its dependence on mining.”

That road is 91 years old.....it's time.

It was a rough ride
on the Wing, but it
was doable and I’d
do it again if I could.

It appears that the road and land is now owned by
Grant Township. My guess is to get it fixed they
will need to get some money from some where. It
does need to be repaired but like anything nowadays
its a question of where does the funding come from.
Because its not a road that the state is responsible
for it will probably languish. As it is now, a lot
of roads in Michigan are either kept gravel or being
let go back to gravel as there isn't money to repair
them.

Looks like the road is maintained by the Keweenaw
County Road Commission. There is your starting
point for getting it fixed. Because its only a
seasonal road, it probably sits low on the priority
list for repairs. Looking at their 2024 budget, my
guess is there is no funding to repair it.

There is no funding anywhere...and what a shame.

Oh my! When I was at Esrey Park 2 weeks ago the toppled tree was all the way down to the water level. Not realizing the situation, I assumed the Lake had brought it in from somewhere else and planted it on the beach.

It must have gotten pushed off the rocks.