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1985 Map of Big Bay

Name: 1985 Topographic Map of Big Bay
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1985
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1985

About this map

The coastal village of Big Bay sits at the junction of Lake Independence and the southwestern sweep of its namesake bay on Lake Superior. This 1985 provisional study captures a landscape defined by industrial history and Lake Superior's shoreline, where the Escanaba River State Forest blankets the southern terrain. A notable trace of former timber and freight operations is visible in the Old RR Grade winding through the woods south of the lake, linking the community toward Homeier and Antlers.

Along the coast, maritime landmarks like Lighthouse Point and Big Bay Point frame the harbor, while Burns Landing and Perkins County Park mark the recreational and logistical hubs of the shoreline. The transition from the rugged points like Salmon Trout Point to the wetlands surrounding the Iron River and Yellow Dog River illustrates the diverse ecology of the Upper Peninsula at the midpoint of the 1980s.