Houghton is a region in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, situated on hills bordering the Portage Waterway and serving as a gateway to the Keweenaw Peninsula. This area offers diverse landscapes and natural features, including expansive forestland, distinctive geological formations, and views of Lake Superior. The varied terrain and waterfront access create opportunities for several sports like road cycling, touring cycling, hiking, mountain biking, and more.
Houghton provides a range of outdoor activities and routes for enthusiasts.…
110
Routes
4.5
(175)
Average rating
1468
People visited

4.6
(29)
119
hikers
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.7
(15)
52
hikers
4.89km
01:20
80m
70m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.2
(5)
23
hikers
21.9km
06:02
380m
380m
Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.8
(8)
13
hikers
18.6km
05:05
270m
270m
Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.0
(3)
7
riders
79.3km
04:57
840m
840m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(2)
10
riders
32.8km
02:10
380m
380m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

61
riders
13.2km
01:18
250m
250m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
67
riders
42.0km
04:06
730m
730m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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5.0
(2)
20
riders
45.9km
02:23
490m
490m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

5.0
(2)
15
riders
44.9km
02:14
480m
480m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

12
riders
70.5km
03:21
810m
810m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

7
riders
81.0km
03:34
580m
580m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
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4.7
(3)
22
riders
29.3km
02:47
520m
520m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.

4.0
(3)
13
riders
19.5km
01:57
420m
420m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.

17
riders
7.14km
00:41
120m
120m
Easy mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Suitable for all skill levels.

14
riders
7.36km
00:42
130m
130m
Easy mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Suitable for all skill levels.
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11
runners
8.33km
01:00
160m
160m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

9
runners
6.72km
00:42
40m
40m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

9
runners
8.86km
01:03
140m
140m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

8
runners
14.9km
01:45
260m
260m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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5.0
(1)
4
riders
27.5km
02:23
530m
530m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

3
riders
52.3km
04:18
870m
870m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.

3
riders
16.8km
01:19
240m
240m
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
8
riders
53.7km
03:22
420m
420m
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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Houghton offers a variety of outdoor activities, including Road cycling, Touring cycling, Hiking, Mountain biking, Jogging, and Gravel biking. The region's diverse landscapes, from the Portage Waterway to the Keweenaw Peninsula, provide varied terrain for these sports. More than 75 routes are available, with an average rating of 4.61 stars from over 19,000 visitors.
Houghton features a paved, non-motorized Waterfront Trail that spans the city, offering scenic and leisurely rides. Other bike-friendly routes include Houghton Avenue, which connects to the waterfront and Michigan Tech Campus. For more options, consult the Road Cycling Routes around Houghton guide.
Extensive hiking options are available within the Keweenaw Trails system. Nara Nature Park, combined with the Michigan Tech University trails, provides over 50 miles (80 km) of interconnected trails. Nearby Baraga State Park and Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park also offer significant hiking opportunities. The Hiking around Houghton guide details many local options.
Yes, Houghton offers family-friendly options, particularly along the Waterfront Trail for cycling. Nara Nature Park also features an elevated boardwalk along the Pilgrim River, suitable for various ages. Komoot highlights indicate several family-friendly routes in the area.
Houghton is a destination for mountain biking within the Keweenaw Peninsula. The Michigan Tech Trails and Nara Park trails offer a range of wide-track and technical mountain biking routes. Popular trails include 'Sure Would Trail,' 'Outer Limits Loop,' and 'Time Trial.' The MTB Trails around Houghton guide provides more information.
Houghton is situated along the Portage Waterway and serves as a gateway to the Keweenaw Peninsula, known for its expansive forestland and views of Lake Superior. Nara Nature Park is a 100-acre preserve with wooded trails and a boardwalk. The region's hilly terrain and dense forests contribute to its natural appeal.
Komoot offers several guides for Houghton, including Road Cycling Routes around Houghton, Hiking around Houghton, and MTB Trails around Houghton. Other guides cover Touring cycling, Easy hikes, Running trails, and Gravel biking.
Houghton is a popular destination on komoot, with more than 19,000 visitors having shared their experiences. The region's routes have an average rating of 4.61 out of 5 stars across various sports. There are over 75 routes documented in the area.
The Houghton Waterfront Trail is a paved, non-motorized path suitable for easy road cycling. It offers a scenic and leisurely experience along the city's length. The city's designation as a 'Bicycle Friendly Community' indicates its commitment to accessible cycling routes.
For information pertaining to the City of Houghton, the official website is www.cityofhoughton.com. The city's phone number is (906) 482-1700. For broader tourism information about the Keweenaw Peninsula, visit www.visitkeweenaw.com.
The Houghton Waterfront Trail is a paved, non-motorized path that extends along the city's length. It provides scenic views and is suitable for leisurely road cycling and other activities. This trail is a key feature for outdoor recreation in Houghton.
Yes, the Houghton Waterfront Trail is an excellent option for beginner cyclists due to its paved surface and flat profile. Additionally, Houghton Avenue is designated as a bike-friendly route, connecting to the waterfront and Michigan Tech Campus, offering accessible cycling. The city holds a 'Bicycle Friendly Community Silver level designation'.

