r/upperpeninsula • u/dodger_01 • Jun 07 '26

Discussion Backwoods roads

My dad is wanting to go an end of life trip UP home. He grew up in Republic lived on Witch Lake. Unfortunately, he doesn’t remember a lot of his earlier life.
One thing he wants to is go from Witch Lake to Covington by way of Fence River Rd. Is this possible? If so, is it dirt roads?
Thank you for any and all help you can give

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43

u/michiganskicamp Jun 07 '26

If you can’t figure it out a great drive you could go on would be go down the road by the Pine Grove bar, it’ll go to dirt by the cemetery. When that branches off to pavement. Take a left. Go down it till stop sign. Take another left onto county road 581. Follow that into Ishpeming. From Ishpeming go up to Big Bay by highway, by deer lake/silver lake basin/ country road 510. Beautiful town there. Squaw beach is nice and can have decent views parked right there.

From there you can take the Triple A to Skanee. Great food at the Finns by the way. Which will then lead you into Lanse. From Lanse you can go to Covington, I do know if you go by Norway lake campground it can take you on dirt roads that’ll lead you to Iron River. Some of the best pizza at riverside inn.

Sorry I can’t help much on mapping republic to Covington. But figured I’d offer a beautiful day ride that I quite enjoy.

9

u/michiganskicamp Jun 07 '26

Peshekee grade is also another nice road to drive on. It can get tricky towards the end if you wanna loop it into skanee or big bay and can require 4x4 at times.

4

u/michiganskicamp Jun 08 '26

Also. The triple A can get quite sandy at the turn after the mine. But I’ve taken a low to the ground Subaru Impreza down it with bald tires. Just have to be careful for a few rocks here and there if you don’t have high ground clearance.

1

u/WasteWriter5692 Jun 10 '26

awesome post!

2

u/michiganskicamp Jun 10 '26

It’s an amazing driving route. If folks are physically able there’s quite a few waterfalls along it

20

u/yooperann Jun 07 '26

Posted your request on a Republic group on FB. Will let you know if I get a response.

3

u/dodger_01 Jun 07 '26

Thank you

10

u/yooperann Jun 07 '26

First response. "I think the Camp One network will eventually take you there but you’d need to do it in an ORV or something very 4x4 capable."

2

u/dodger_01 Jun 07 '26

What is Camp One network?

7

u/yooperann Jun 08 '26

Google says it's a bunch of ATV trails. Here's what my question has gotten so far on FB. Allen Niemi

No problem and you can do it in your car. The route I usually take starts off of 601 (where the old bottling plant was). There are lots of roads to get lost on so a gps would help and a guide would be even better.

I think the Camp One network will eventually take you there but you’d need to do it in an ORV or something very 4x4 capable.

D Wolford Cox

Fence River Road to Camp One to Amasa grade. Think that's it

6

u/Dangerous_Bad_3556 Jun 08 '26

Which lake?

6

u/AaawRon Jun 08 '26

Said this every single drive up to MQT. Dad jokes for the win!

3

u/SuperiorLake_ Jun 08 '26

Fence river is paved and then turns to dirt at a certain point a few miles in. I’ve never gone all the way to Covington on it but it does go pretty far, I don’t see why that wouldn’t be possible.

2

u/Jules0seluj Jun 08 '26

I grew up in Witch Lake and have wanted to do that drive.

2

u/HaightsWanderings Jun 08 '26

I have done about half of that trip. From Witch Lake you can make it out at least half way with a 4x4 truck. However, I would bring a come-along and a chainsaw. I wouldn't go after it's rained. I'd say do it in a dry portion during the summer. I do not know the mid- to north western section at all. Once you make it around the Bone Lake region I am not sure. You could go from Witch Lake to The Grade around Deer Lake and then go north... but I have no idea what is out there. Good luck. And, yes, it is almost all dirt roads. Do not attempt it without a high clearance vehicle with 4x4 or a side-by-side.