Copper Peak Ski Jump: Everything to Know Before Your Visit
If you’re looking for fun and adventure in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, you definitely need to check out Copper Peak Ski Jump. Copper Peak is located just outside Ironwood, MI, known by many as one of the best towns in the Upper Peninsula. This 469-foot ski-jumping hill sits at the top of Chippewa Hill, a volcanic outcrop that rises 360 feet above the surrounding area. From spring to late fall, visitors have the opportunity to ride up to the top of Copper Peak and experience the unique thrill professional ski jumpers feel as they look down at the jump in preparation for their run.
The History of Copper Peak
Copper Peak gets its name from the exploratory copper mining operation founded at the site by the Chippewa Copper Mining Company in 1845. The company dug a tunnel into the granite rock on the hill and also had four exploratory mining pits on the southern and eastern hillsides. Some of these pits are still visible to this day and are marked out for visitors to explore.
Chippewa Copper Mining Company did find copper at the site, but never in sufficient enough quantities to open a working mine. In the early 1900s, the Old Peak Company also explored mining opportunities at the site. However, they were also unsuccessful, and no copper has ever been commercially mined at the site.
Regardless of this fact, the area’s unique history led to Chippewa Hill and Copper Peak being designated as a Michigan State Historic Site in 1971. The site was added to the United States National Register of Historic Places two years later, in 1973.
After the Old Peak Company vacated the site, the hill remained undeveloped until Copper Peak Ski Jump was constructed in 1969. Upon its completion, Copper Peak was the tallest man-made ski jump hill in the world—a title it still holds today. It also holds the designation as the only ski-flying hill in the entire Western Hemisphere.
The idea for the ski jump came from the Gogebic Range Ski Club members. In 1968, they contacted engineer Lauren Larsen with their idea, who then designed plans for the jump. From there, things moved extremely quickly, and the construction was completed in less than a year.
Although the previous mining operations proved unsuccessful, the construction of the ski jump showed that there is copper in Chippewa Hill. While constructing the hill, workers dug up a huge chunk of copper weighing over 100 pounds.
Copper Peak hosted its first ski flying competition in 1970 and continued to operate until finally closing in 1994. During these years, the hill hosted ten competitions officially sanctioned by the International Ski Federation (FIS) and two other international events. The biggest event ever held at Copper Peak was in February 1981, when it hosted the 28th K.O.P. International Ski Flying Week as part of the 1980-1981 FIS Ski Jumping World Cup.
The official record for the longest-ever ski jump at Copper Peak was set in 1994 during the last competition ever held at the site. During this competition, two Austrian ski jumpers—Matthias Wallner and Werner Schuster—flew for a distance of 518 feet or 158 meters.
Werner Schuster also holds the unofficial record for the longest flight ever at Copper Peak. In 1989, he flew an incredible 522 feet, and the only reason this wasn’t the official hill record was that he was unable to stick the landing.
In addition to international ski jumping competitions, Copper Peak has also hosted a number of other unique competitions and events over the years. This includes the exciting Copper Peak Snowmobile Hill Climb and the Copper Peak Trails Festival. In 2019, the hill also hosted the Red Bull 400, famous for being the steepest 400-meter race on the planet. During this event, competitors started at the bottom and competed to see who could race up the 40 stories to the top of the ski jump in the fastest time.
The Copper Peak Adventure Ride
Open every year from the end of May to the end of October, the Copper Peak Adventure Ride allows you to enjoy spectacular views from the top of the ski jump. This experience is open seven days a week, weather permitting, and is a blast for people of all ages.
The adventure starts with a leisurely chairlift ride that takes you 800 feet up to the top of Chippewa Hill. You will then hop aboard the elevator and ride up 18 stories to the observation platform located near the top of the jump. For those feeling extra adventurous, you can climb an additional eight stories up to the starting gate at the very top.
The observation platform provides incredible panoramic views of Ironwood and the surrounding areas. The platform provides a view looking over an area covering approximately 2,500 square miles. On clear days, you can easily see more than 40 miles in every direction, allowing you to see three different states, Lake Superior, and across Canada.
There is no bad time to visit Copper Peak, as the views are stunning any time of the year. That being said, autumn is one of the best times to enjoy this experience as you will have the chance to see the beautiful yellows, oranges, and reds as all of the trees begin to change colors. Seeing the stunning fall colors in the Upper Peninsula is something you will remember for years, and few, if any, places can compete with seeing them at Copper Peak.
Once your visit is over, stop by the Copper Peak Gift Shop to grab a few souvenirs to remember your visit and learn a bit more about the ski jump competitions held here. As an added bonus, anyone brave enough to climb the scaffolding to the starting gate at the top of the jump gets a free bumper sticker to commemorate the experience.
The Copper Peak Mountain Bike Trails
Copper Peak is also home to a 5.5-mile mountain bike trail that offers a unique challenge for cyclists. The ride starts at the ski jump landing area near the base of the hill and then makes its way down to the scenic Black River. From there, it is a 600-foot ascent back up to the top of the jump, followed by an exciting descent back down to the bottom.
Future Plans for Copper Peak Ski Jump
In 2015, the Copper Peak Organizing Committee began making plans to renovate and update the site. The ultimate goal is to allow Copper Peak to again start hosting ski jumping competitions not only during the winter but throughout the entire year. As part of these plans, the committee has been working closely with the International Ski Federation. The federation has already announced that Copper Peak will soon be known again as the largest FIS ski-jumping hill on the planet.
To help the ski jump regain its fame, the State of Michigan announced in early 2022 that it was providing $20 million to help with the renovations. Thanks to this contribution, it shouldn’t be long before people again begin flocking to Copper Peak Ski Jump to watch some of the world’s best ski jumpers flying over Chippewa Hill. Even if it will likely still be a few years before the project is completed, Ironwood and Copper Peak still offer visitors plenty of fun and excitement in the meantime.