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Why You’ve Got to See the Portage Lake Lift Bridge in Houghton-Hancock

If you’ve ever crossed between Houghton and Hancock in Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula, you’ve already experienced one of the coolest pieces of engineering in the state — the Portage Lake Lift Bridge.

This isn’t just any bridge. It’s the world’s heaviest and widest double-decked vertical lift bridge. The bridge connects two vibrant towns packed with history, adventure, and some serious small-town charm. Whether you’re into history, photography, or just chasing the next “wow” moment on your road trip, this spot delivers.

🚗 The Gateway to Copper Country

The bridge links the northern and southern halves of the Keweenaw Peninsula — known locally as “Copper Island” — carrying both US-41 and M-26 over the Portage Lake Waterway. That makes it the only land connection between the two sides of this beautiful peninsula.

When it lifts to let big ships through, traffic stops, cameras come out, and everyone just stands there in awe. Watching the center span rise from just four feet above the water to a full 100 feet is seriously impressive. More impressive when you find out it’s powered by over 7,000 tons of steel and 35,000 tons of concrete.

🏗 A Bridge with a Story

The current bridge opened in 1960, but the area’s first crossings date back to the 1800s. Back then the locals ferried horses, wagons, and even ice travelers across the frozen channel. The need for a reliable crossing grew as copper mining took off. This led to a series of wooden and iron bridges — some of which met rather dramatic ends, including a collision with a steamer in 1905!

Engineers from Chicago’s Hazelet and Erdal designed the modern lift bridge. The bridge quickly became a symbol of the Keweenaw’s innovation and resilience.

Today, the bridge is kept in top shape by the Michigan Department of Transportation, adapting to cars, snowmobiles, and boats alike. In 2022, it was officially named a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark, confirming what locals already knew — this bridge is a legend.

🎉 Bridgefest: The Ultimate Lift Bridge Celebration

Each June, the entire area throws a weekend-long party called Bridgefest to celebrate the bridge’s 1960 dedication. Expect live music, great food, parades, and fireworks lighting up the water. It’s one of those pure Michigan experiences that feels like a mix of community pride and summer magic.

📸 See It for Yourself

You can even check out a live stream of the bridge in action from the Michigan Tech Lakeshore Center webcam — but nothing beats standing there in person, watching this massive steel marvel rise and fall over the glittering Portage Canal.

So whether you’re heading to Copper Harbor, chasing waterfalls, or exploring the ghost towns of Copper Country, make sure you stop in Houghton-Hancock. The Portage Lake Lift Bridge isn’t just a crossing — it’s a piece of living history and one seriously photogenic pit stop on your Northern Michigan adventure.

Marisa Fancy along with her husband and four children dreamt of moving “Up North”. They had vacationed for years in northern Michigan and in 1995 they finally made the move.

The family was always out exploring, but with 4 kids there was some limitations on what they could do. Marisa discovered the amazing network of trails in Northern Michigan after Steve died and she would walk for miles. The trails provided her with peace, comfort and solitude at a difficult time in her life. Later, after meeting Guy who would become her second husband, she learned to golf and found another passion she could enjoy in beautiful Northern Michigan.

Marisa has been the family historian, writer, and poet for as long as she can remember. She has always loved to write and has now found a creative outlet for it other than family. You can read her articles in Adventures in Northern Michigan, Northern Michigan History and Golf Up North.