Originally constructed in the 1940s (with construction interrupted by World War II), the bridge itself is 147 feet above the Cut River, and a generous stairway with 230-plus steps provides access to several trails along the river and to the Lake Michigan shoreline.

The real beauty of this site, however, lies hidden among the rolling, forested dunes of the Lake Superior State Forest and within the forested river valley below. Hike the Cut River trails in May to view spring wildflowers such as trout lily, trilliums, and Dutchman’s breeches. Spring, especially in the month of May, is also a good time to view migrating warblers and other songbirds that follow the Lake Michigan shore and concentrate at the mouth and along the gorge due to the rich insect life emerging from the river.

Hawks and owls also follow the coastline as they head to their northern breeding grounds in late April and early May. A diversity of forest songbirds use the forested gorge in the spring and summer as breeding habitat and offer good viewing opportunities along the trails. Interpretive markers help visitors identify plants and trees along the way.