Long before California had its gold rush, Michigan's Upper Peninsula had copper. The Keweenaw Peninsula produced some 12 billion pounds of the metal over roughly 150 years of mining, earning the region its "Copper Country" nickname — and leaving behind a string of historic mines, company towns, and museums that make for one of the Midwest's most underrated road trips.

The Copper Country Trail National Scenic Byway runs 47 miles from the Portage Lake Lift Bridge up to the small lakeside village of Copper Harbor at Michigan's northernmost tip. Lake Superior wraps around three sides of the peninsula, so water views, sandy beaches, and rocky volcanic shoreline are never more than a short detour away.

History fans have plenty to work with. Just minutes from the start of the route, the Quincy Mine in Hancock ran for 99 years — locals called it "Old Reliable" — and its No. 2 shaft once plunged 9,000 feet, the deepest in the world. Guided tours start at the Hoist House, ride a tram down to a horizontal tunnel, and head into the mine itself, which sits at a chilly 43 degrees Fahrenheit, so pack layers. Ten miles north, the town of Calumet offers a free two-floor mining museum at its Visitor Center, plus a brick-lined 5th Street with cafes and the 1890s-era Shute's Saloon nearby. For a self-guided option, the Delaware Mine, about 30 minutes from Calumet, lets visitors wander ruins and equipment above ground before descending 100 feet into a shaft.

Then there's the outdoors. Houghton, at the southern end, has a walkable downtown, breweries, a waterfront path, and paddleboard rentals on the Portage Canal. Copper Harbor, at the top, has quietly become a mountain biking destination, with more than 60 miles of built trails rolling through forested hills above the lake, plus hiking paths and kayak rentals for exploring the shoreline.

The byway also has spur routes worth adding. To the east, a loop through Lake Linden leads to the beaches at Brunette Park and Bete Grise. On the west side, Highway M-26 links up near the historic Phoenix Church and passes roadside parks on rocky bluffs and the long sweep of Great Sand Bay before rejoining the main route at Copper Harbor.

Be warned: this is a genuine escape. Green Bay is the nearest decent-sized city at four hours' drive, and Chicago is six and a half away. That remoteness is the point — the reward is quiet towns, dark skies, and a stretch of Great Lakes coastline most travellers never see.

First reported by Islands.