Ironwood is home to many parks and recreational opportunities. In addition to being the start of Michigan's Iron Belle Trail, the Ironwood area has 5 Ski Hills, 100's of miles of ski trails, 1,000's of miles of snowmobile trails—all made possible and exciting as a result of our winters annual average of 200” of fresh white snow. Summer brings the best whitewater kayaking in the US, Lake Superior kayaking, and many miles of hiking and off-road vehicle trails.
Visiting Ironwood? Check out the Western UP Visitors Bureau! Find out more.
Downtown Ironwood is the perfect place to visit as well as a great place to live. Within very close walking distance you will find everything that makes a city great: dining, shopping, theatre, churches, artisan studios, trails, and parks.
Come downtown and enjoy the weekly summer markets, special events, vibrant sidewalks and streetscapes, along with art and theatre activity. Live in and by Downtown Ironwood! Find Your North!
Ironwood offers a complete educational experience from elementary school through college. Norrie and Sleight Elementary Schools, All Saints Catholic Academy, Luther L. Wright High School, and Gogebic Community College all take pride in offering first-rate instruction as well as an educational learning environment that mirrors the friendliness and community focus of Ironwood’s citizens.
Ironwood is home to a rapidly growing cultural arts community. Centered mainly in the downtown art district, you will find a closely-grouped array of venues for the performing and creative arts: Historic Ironwood Theatre, Downtown Art Place, Carnegie Library, Dancing Raven Art Studios, and 906BOOM! Creative Makerspace, Ironwood Dance Co., and Bethany Ann Hellen Dance Studios.
Far more than just books, computers, and archives, the Ironwood Carnegie Library features extensive year-round programming for kids and adults. The Library hosts both adult and children’s poetry and book clubs, a chess club, featured nature programs, story hours, creative writing programs, and sponsor involvement in many other community groups and events, such as the Awkward Stage Drama Club.
The Depot Farmer’s and Artisan’s Market runs from July to October on Friday afternoons from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m., providing locally grown and produced products. The market also features weekly musical/craft happenings which draw attention to the wide range of talents & abilities on the part of local residents. The market is located in the Depot Park Pavilion, right next to the Iron Belle trail.
Born of its mining heritage, Ironwood is home to a very unique neighborhood structure. From the hilltop communities of Jesseville, Norrie, and Aurora, to the original neighborhoods of Curry and Longyear, Ironwood offers an array of housing options, with many houses and buildings having direct links to the architecture of the mining days.
The Pat O’Donnell Civic Center is located on the campus of Gogebic Community College. Situated at the base of Mt. Zion Ski Hill, the Center has an all season skating rink and is home to the Ironwood Fighting Yoopers hockey team, Ice Crystals Figure Skating Club, and youth ice hockey teams. Open year-round, the Civic Center also hosts such popular community events as the craft show, the home show, and various sporting shows.
Ironwood has a rich history as a mining and logging town, and much of that history is visible yet today: take a stroll downtown and see the historic downtown buildings of Aurora street; visit the Miners Memorial Heritage Park and stand where the mines once were; visit the Depot Museum--home of the Ironwood Area Historical Society and Ironwood Chamber of Commerce, visit the Ironwood Carnegie Library follow the historical displays on the second floor of the Ironwood Memorial Building. In honoring and valuing the past, Ironwood is setting a course for a sustainable future.
The Ironwood Memorial Building was built as a memorial to Ironwood service men and women who have died in battle. On Display are many stained glass windows, a year round historic exhibit, an auditorium, and a basketball court. This building is also home to the City of Ironwood Offices.
Community involvement and neighbor-helping-neighbor are the foundational traits of Ironwood. Opportunities abound for the active individual who wants to contribute and make a positive difference to our city’s well-being. From international groups such as Kiwanis, Rotary, and Chamber of Commerce, to a very wide variety of local clubs and organizations, Ironwood has a place for you! Volunteerism is alive and strong in Ironwood! Come join us!
The Gogebic Range Local Foodies Group looks to develop a creative and interconnected food environment by encouraging production of local foods, supporting community gardens & farmer’s markets, and pioneering a community commercial kitchen. Ironwood is home to the Depot Farmer's and Artisan's Market, located Downtown Ironwoodin the Depot Park Pavilion and also located at the Trail-head for Michigan's Iron Belle Trail. Our city Community Garden is located at Norrie Parklocated along the Montreal River.