Eagle River
Ahhh, the Keweenaw. I’ve been getting out to the Keweenaw Peninsula to explore a bit more the last couple of months… and was really excited to revisit Eagle River and Eagle Harbor. I’ve been wanting to stay at Eagle River Inn and have dinner at Fitzgerald’s for a while now… so it was the perfect excuse to head up there, take a little overnight, see some waterfalls, two different lighthouses and enjoy some of those late autumn vibes and gale November winds on Lake Superior. I’ll do a separate post for Eagle Harbor… but here are some fun things to do in Eagle River! It’s a small town, but absolutely beautiful. Definitely worth the visit.
EAGLE RIVER FALLS & DAM
Eagle River Falls is right on Eagle River on M-26. It’s super easy to get to, just off the roadside. You can park by the museum (there’s a small area) and walk out to the pedestrian bridge where you can get a really nice view of the falls. There’s an old dam at the top of the falls, and there’s also a picturesque timber bridge if you look west from the pedestrian bridge. The bridge you walk on used to be the main bridge, and it’s a historical one! It’s an early steel bridge but the new Eagle River Timber Arch Bridge is muuuuch prettier. Worth a photo, for sure!
EAGLE RIVER LIGHTHOUSE
Eagle River Lighthouse was built in 1855, after a need for a lighthouse at the “mouth of the Eagle River” was determined. It used to contain a sixth-order Fresnel lens. This lighthouse was deactivated early in 1908, and was sold into private ownership and has had various owners over the years. It’s been well taken care of, but with the new siding, you might not guess the historical context of this lighthouse without knowing it! You can actually stay here too, as it’s currently a Vrbo listing. I’ll have to stay here someday… just to say I did! It’s in a great location, super walkable to the falls and to Fitzgerald’s and the beach!
EAGLE RIVER INN
So I think it’s now officially called the Fitzgerald’s Hotel & Restaurant, but okay, this place is dope. It just underwent a huge renovation, so I can’t vouch for how it looked before, but it is boss level. I got a corner room for the night, but I didn’t expect a full living room/kitchenette situation… along with a bedroom! It was so spacious. But yeah, the decor was gorgeous, the views were insane, and there was a slider door with Lake Superior access. It was perfect. I already can’t wait to go back someday. I cozied in for the night, and was able to order a drink which they delivered right to my door. I walked along the beach, snapped a few photos, watched a movie on TV before my reservation for dinner. Suuuuch a cozy spot and would be really beautiful any time of year to stay.
FITZGERALD’S RESTAURANT
This was my first time dining at Fitzgerald’s… and oof! It was so good! They’re known for their real smokehouse barbecue, so I knew I had to try that, even though their specials sounded really good too. But yeah! I made a reservation just in case, but it wasn’t too busy when I was there. I’ve been really into aviation cocktails lately, they’ve sort of been my go-to drink. And their aviation was my favorite I’ve had. No joke. It was really good. For dinner, I got the beef brisket, which came with smashed taters and green beans. Every bite was delicious! Definitely 10/10 recommend. Again, I already can’t wait to come back!
Hope you enjoyed my afternoon/overnight trip to Eagle River and it gave you a couple of ideas to get out and explore this area! The next day I headed to Eagle Harbor, so I’ll do a separate blog post on that area… another waterfall, lighthouse, a cool spot to stop and take in the views of Lake Superior and a good breakfast spot. Alright, I’m off. Happy adventuring!