Cut River (Mackinac County, Michigan) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cut River |
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Cut River
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| Country | United States |
| State | Michigan |
| Region | Upper Peninsula |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Mackinac County 46°04′33″N 85°07′12″W / 46.0759°N 85.1201°W |
| River mouth | Lake Michigan 46°02′40″N 85°07′36″W / 46.0445°N 85.1267°W |
| Length | 4 mi (6.4 km) |
The Cut River is a small but interesting river in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, a state in the United States. This short river is only about 4 miles (6.5 km) long. It flows along the border between two areas called Hendricks Township and Moran Township. The river ends by flowing into Lake Michigan, near the towns of Epoufette and Brevort.
The Cut River helps drain water from a wet area known as Little Brevoort. It flows through a deep valley with steep sides made of limestone. Most of the river's area is within the Lake Superior State Forest. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources manages this land.
Contents
Discovering the Cut River's Special Features
The Cut River is famous for two main things that make it stand out. These features attract many visitors to the area.
The Amazing Cut River Bridge
One of the most notable features is the Cut River Bridge. This bridge carries U.S. Highway 2 right over the Cut River. It's located very close to where the river meets Lake Michigan.
A Long and High Structure
The Cut River Bridge is one of the longest truss arch bridges in the United States. It's also the eighth longest bridge in all of Michigan. The bridge was finished in 1947. It stretches 641 feet (195 meters) long. What's really impressive is that it rises 140 feet (43 meters) above the bottom of the gorge!
Exploring the Bridge
You can park your car at both ends of the bridge. There's a special walking path on the north side. This path gives you an amazing view of the deep gorge below. Local people sometimes call this impressive structure "the million dollar bridge over a two-bit creek." This nickname shows how grand the bridge is compared to the small river it crosses.
The Beautiful Cut River Gorge
The second special feature is the Cut River gorge itself. This deep valley is a perfect place for large sugar maple trees to grow.
Autumn Colors and Hiking Trails
The bridge and its walking path are just above the treetops. This offers fantastic views, especially during the autumn season. That's when the sugar maple leaves turn bright red, orange, and yellow. It's a truly spectacular sight!
There are also hiking trails that go down into the river valley. You can find these trails at both ends of the bridge. One path even leads all the way to the shoreline of Lake Michigan.
Don't Confuse It!
It's important not to mix up this Cut River with another one. There's another waterway also called "Cut River" in the lower part of Michigan. That one flows between Higgins Lake and Houghton Lake.
