Cliff North: Copper & Calcite Rockhounding in Keweenaw County, Michigan

Updated August 2026

Cliff North is a mapped rockhounding spot in Keweenaw County, Michigan. Reported finds include copper, calcite, chlorite, epidote, laumontite, and more. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Check locally
County: Keweenaw County
State: Michigan
Coordinates: 47.37644, -88.31579

Geology at Cliff North

This spot sits on Portage Lake Volcanics, mapped as basalt that formed roughly 1200 to 1000 million years ago. Copper minerals such as malachite and chrysocolla typically show up where mineralized rock like this has weathered and oxidized near old workings.

Mapped unit: Portage Lake Volcanics
Age: 1200–1000 Ma (Mesoproterozoic)
Rock types: basalt
Elevation: 1,260 ft

Geologic mapping via Macrostrat and the underlying state geological survey maps (CC BY 4.0). Bedrock at the surface can vary within a mapped unit.

Best time to visit Cliff North

Best months: April to October. Typical highs run 75°F in midsummer and 21°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 9°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, HANCOCK HOUGHTON CO AP station (16 mi away), adjusted for elevation.

Land & collecting status

Confirm rules before collecting

Land status here is not confirmed. Verify with the managing agency before collecting — federal, state, and tribal rules differ.

Public-land rules vary by agency, season, and field office. The RockHoundR app pulls live BLM, USFS, NPS, and tribal overlays so you can see exactly which agency manages the ground at this spot.

Sources & verification

Spot details combine the public RockHoundR location dataset, normalized mineral labels, agency land-status checks in the app, and community submissions. Coordinates are approximate until verified in the field.

State guidance last verified: April 1, 2026

Michigan DNR — Rockhounding rules
Michigan Geological Survey
Isle Royale National Park — Rules
Community submissions reviewed against published agency rules

Found at Cliff North

Each chip opens all spots that produce that material; the encyclopedia link opens the full ID and field guide.

Nearby rockhounding spots

Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of Cliff North.

Across the state line from Cliff North

Cliff North is close enough to the Michigan border that the next-closest rockhounding spots are in a neighboring state. Worth knowing if you are already on the road.

Pigeon PointCook County, Minnesota · 70 mi awayChalcocite, Chalcopyrite, Pyrite

Cliff North FAQ

Where is Cliff North?+

Cliff North is in Keweenaw County, Michigan, at 47.37644, -88.31579.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Cliff North?+

Cliff North is reported to produce Copper, Calcite, Chlorite, Epidote, Laumontite, Prehnite, Isle Royale Greenstone, Azurite.

Is collecting allowed at Cliff North?+

Confirm rules before collecting. Land status here is not confirmed. Verify with the managing agency before collecting — federal, state, and tribal rules differ. Always confirm current rules with the managing agency before a trip.

What tools should I bring to Cliff North?+

A rock hammer, gloves, and safety glasses are enough for oxidized copper ground. Look for green and blue staining on weathered rock and in old dump piles.

When is the best time to visit Cliff North?+

The most comfortable months at Cliff North are April to October.

How do I get to Cliff North?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 47.37644, -88.31579 in Google Maps. Some spots are remote, so check road conditions before driving out.

More rockhounding in Michigan

See all 107 Michigan spots →

Open Cliff North on the map

Use the RockHoundR app for live land overlays, weather, geology, directions, and saved finds.