2023 Map of Kelso Junction

About this map

Kelso Junction serves as the focal point of this northern Michigan survey, situated at the confluence of the Kelso River and the Paint River. The landscape is defined by the expansive Michigamme Reservoir, which dominates the central and eastern portions of the sheet. The presence of numerous named water bodies, including Upper Holmes Lake, Lower Holmes Lake, and Liver Lake, suggests a region historically shaped by timber and watershed management. Transport routes like WPA Rd and the Enstrom Cutoff indicate a legacy of infrastructure development in this corner of Iron County. The drainage network is dense, featuring smaller tributaries such as Saint Paul Creek, McCutcheon Creek, and Shaky Creek, which feed the larger river systems and reservoir. This area retains its character as a hub for water-based activity and remote forest access, anchored by the namesake junction and the surrounding wetlands.