Black River
- Moderate
- difficulty
- May–Sep
- best months
Is Black River open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Ottawa National Forest. It doesn't name Black River, so check the source for the area it covers.
Temporary Road Closures
Agency closure covering Ottawa National Forest · Order 09-07-00-26-01 · USFS · Ottawa National Forest
Spring Road Conditions
Agency alert covering Ottawa National Forest · USFS · Ottawa National Forest
Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)
Agency alert covering Ottawa National Forest · USFS · Ottawa National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Ottawa National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Black River is a fishing destination in Michigan's Ottawa National Forest, within the Bessemer Ranger District. The land is managed by the USFS Ottawa National Forest, and the trip is rated moderate. Summer is the most comfortable time to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Ironwood show July highs around 77°F with lows near 55°F, while winter highs stay in the 20s. Potowatomi Falls is just 0.1 mile away, and Sandstone Falls and Conglomerate Falls are both within a mile. Black River Harbor Campground is about 2.2 miles off.
Local outfitters
- Chequamegon Bay Boats41 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
Potowatomi FallsHikingPhoto: chumlee10, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)0.1 mi- Sandstone FallsHikingPhoto: chumlee10, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)0.8 mi
- Conglomerate FallsHiking0.9 mi
- Black River Harbor PavilionCamping2.2 mi
Black River Harbor CampgroundCampingPhoto: Recreation.gov (RIDB) / public domain2.2 mi- Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State ParkHiking5 mi
- Porcupine Mountains State Park - West River Trail_North Country Trail_Iron Belle TrailHiking5.2 mi
North Country Trail_Iron Belle TrailHikingPhoto: Curtis Abert, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)5.9 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
- Bessemer Ranger DistrictRiver fishing · ~40 min drive
- Copper PondLake fishing · ~14 min drive
- Bass LakeLake fishing · ~22 min drive
- Berland LakeLake fishing · ~38 min drive
- Chaney LakeLake fishing · ~40 min drive
- Lake GogebicLake fishing · ~40 min drive
- Joann LakeLake fishing · ~40 min drive
- Lake GogebicLake fishing · ~40 min drive
- Heart LakeLake fishing · ~42 min drive
- Hook LakeLake fishing · ~42 min drive
Also worth it near here
Best time to visit Black River
Best months: May–September. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
20° / 2°
Feb
26° / 4°
Mar
37° / 14°
Apr
49° / 27°
May
64° / 40°
Jun
73° / 50°
Jul
77° / 55°
Aug
76° / 52°
Sep
68° / 46°
Oct
53° / 34°
Nov
38° / 23°
Dec
26° / 11°
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Ironwood #2, MI, 12.7 mi away at 1,520 ft. The station sits about 600 ft higher than this place, so expect it a little warmer here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Closures we've recorded since August 2026
Black River Waterfall Platforms and Trails Undergoing Major Repairs
Ottawa National Forest · Order dated May 15, 2026; seen Aug 23, 2026, no lift recorded · Forest Service
