Splendid Views at Every Elevation: Explore the Mouth of the Cut River Gorge

Look left. Look right. For 641 feet you (and your vehicle) will be suspended high in the air and the scenery is breathtaking. Don’t stop your car on the bridge. There’s no stopping when you cross the Cut River Gorge, along US Highway 2 in Epoufette, MI., so don’t stop on the bridge!

You can walk across the bridge, and you’ll be gazing out across treetops.

But the greater treat is parking your car at the designated Cut River Bridge State Roadside Park and descending, and descending, and descending, down into the gorge.

“Be careful in this area- the gorge is steep!”

Such is the cautionary note on the Michigan Water Trails website.

“From the topside, it seems like most bridges. But if you stop at the rest area next to the bridge, you can walk down underneath it and see a myraid of green steel gerders.” (Lost in Michigan.net)

“The Cut River Bridge was built in 1947 and is one of only two cantilevered deck truss bridges in Michigan. The bridge is 641 feet long and is composed of over 888 tons of structural steel. Along with the bridge, there is also a roadside park that visitors can stop at and enjoy the beautiful view of Lake Michigan and the mouth of the Cut River Gorge. The Roadside Park provides picnic areas, restrooms, and access to the river, making it a perfect spot to relax and enjoy the natural beauty of the area. This is also a fantastic spot to view spring wildflowers and plants, as well as a variety of wildlife!”
The Upper Peninsula – website

I knew little about the bridge, the gorge, or having access to the sandy shore of Lake Michigan when I started down the many stairs, but I was up for an adventure! The initial set of stairs takes you to a path to cross under the bridge, so of course I wanted to check our the views from the the underbelly. The crisscross of green metal, studs tracing its length, able to carry the road above is impressive. Having just made your way across the bridge, you’re glad the engineers knew what they were doing, dreaming up and then building this structure that carries you across the gorge.

Turn away from the scenic view and you’ll discover a wooden door, tucked away in a cut in the surrounding stone, there at the connection point where the bridge transitions to land. The door is barely tall enough for me to pass through, upright at 5′ 3″. It’s possibly too narrow as well. A sign on the door reads “T Troll” but there is no other indication of what’s on the other side.

Online, in the world created by bloggers like me, I’ve read stories that other visitors have knocked on the door, just to see if anyone answers. There’s been no response – is there really a troll living behind this elf-shaped door? Not so far as I’ve seen documented.

The mysterious door is securely locked. It’s also covered in graffiti, in the shape of “Bob was here” and “Jessica loves Chris”. Does this qualify as graffiti? It’s vandalism at least. A fox, looking like he’s up to some mischief (because what fox isn’t up to some mischief), is spray-painted in white against the brown door. He’s a sharp contrast to all the scribbles in black Sharpie. I read “D+3 24′,” which is puzzling. It’s exciting to learn that Jeff was also here, possibly with Julie. Written on the plaque is “Halbrook’s 2024”. . . making me wonder what the Halbrooks are in possession of.

No matter the location, it’s a little sad to hear someone say “I’ve crossed that bridge 100 times, but never hiked down” or “I’ve walk past this trailhead every day and never set foot on the trail.” Am I the only one who finds this just a little bit heartbreaking? Let me convince you that this little roadside park, the trail, and beach access at the end are worth stopping for.

“This nature trail, as it winds through the forest and the Cut River Gorge down to the lake, provides several fine views of LAKE MICHIGAN and the CUT RIVER GORGE. If you would like to learn about plants, look at the identification plates mounted on many of the trees along the way. Some parts of the trail are steep and the walk strenuous. Allow enough time to set a safe pace. “
Trail Sign

Wait a minute – according to some stats I found online this trail is rated as easy!

Did I misunderstand? I’m way up here. . . . . looking way down there.

Hiking experts who write for The Mountaineer said it best, writing about hiking in Western North Carolina: “Trail ratings can be tricky, and are oftentimes highly subjective.”

I’m telling you, objectively speaking, that’s “a lot” of stairs.

“Each year, thousands of visitors and locals hike the trail systems, but for the uninitiated, hiking, by its very nature, can be quite physically and mentally intimidating – but it doesn’t have to be. Planning ahead and making an informed decision about what trail to hike based on one’s personal fitness level and hiking experience level is important – hiking outside of one’s reasonable comfort zone can make for a less than enjoyable day while out on the trail.”

Here are the Cut River Gorge stats:

Stats courtesy of the DWHIKE website: https://www.dwhike.com/Hikes-in-the-Midwest/Michigan-Hikes/Upper-Peninsula-Hikes/Cut-River-Pathway-MI

I survive, making my way down the stairs. My thoughts keep returning to the fact that this will be more challenging on the return trip up the stairs.

Arriving at the bottom I’m greeted by the Lake Michigan shore, waves crashing on the beach rhythmically, There is sand coarse under my feet. The sun moved in and out of the clouds, its reflection shimmering on the surface of the water and rocks jutting up from the lake.

Someone took the time to create meticulous art in the sand, with a repeating pattern – it’s a spiral created from bits of shell. This art is temporary, a fleeting expression of someone’s creativity that has a special appeal. It could be destroyed in an instant by a careless or uncaring walker, a rambunctious dog, seagulls who wonder if there’s edible treasure under there or the elements. A windy storm and pelting rain would scatter the pattern or wash it away. So it’s a more beautiful, more intriguing, in its temporary nature.

On this visit we had the place to ourselves for a bit, so we watched the waves moving in and out from the beach, pushing the smallest rocks and sand here and there. That moment of pause in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula was needed and will be remembered, when I look back on that trip.