Record

About Clifton

Clifton was a community in Allouez Township, Michigan, that was founded in support of the Cliff mine—a mine opened in 1845 by the Pittsburgh and Boston Mining Company after copper was discovered there. The remnants of the community are located between Calumet and Eagle Harbor, off of Cliff Drive, alongside U.S. Route 41 in the Keweenaw Peninsula.
From Wikipedia, "Clifton, Michigan", CC BY-SA 4.0.

This is a site record: what public sources say about Clifton, gathered in one place. We haven't written a full guide yet, so history, current access and photos are still to come. Treat the status as unknown until a guide confirms it.

Map

Where Clifton is

USGS topographic map around Clifton — USGS topographic map, The National Map (public domain). The pin marks the coordinates in the record; old townsites are often a little off.

Historic maps

11 historic USGS maps cover Clifton

Topographic sheets from the USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection (public domain), oldest first. Older sheets often show the camp, mines and roads while the place was alive. The downloads are large map scans; USGS topoView shows them in the browser.

1941 Mohawk sheet, 1:31,680 · GeoTIFF download
1946 Mohawk sheet, 1:24,000 · GeoTIFF download
1946 Phoenix sheet, 1:24,000 · GeoTIFF download
1947 Phoenix sheet, 1:24,000 · GeoTIFF download
1948 Mohawk sheet, 1:24,000 · GeoTIFF download
1958 Hancock sheet, 1:250,000 · GeoTIFF download
1960 Hancock sheet, 1:250,000 · GeoTIFF download
1961 Hancock sheet, 1:250,000 · GeoTIFF download
1966 Hancock sheet, 1:250,000 · GeoTIFF download
1978 Mohawk sheet, 1:24,000 · GeoTIFF download
1985 Hancock sheet, 1:100,000 · GeoTIFF download

Directions

Getting there

Google Maps directions Apple Maps OpenStreetMap

Before you go

Many ghost town sites are on private land, active mining claims or tribal land. Check land status and ask permission.
Roads to old townsites are often unmaintained dirt. Map apps may route over closed or impassable tracks.
Removing artifacts from public land is illegal under federal and most state laws.

Nearby

Other sites near Clifton

Straight-line distance to other mapped sites in our Michigan index.

Phoenix1.5 mi NE · Keweenaw
Seneca5.1 mi SW · Keweenaw
Central5.3 mi NE · Keweenaw
Delaware10.2 mi E · Keweenaw
Wyoming10.7 mi E · Keweenaw
Gay12.1 mi SE · Keweenaw
Gregoryville13.7 mi S · Houghton
Mandan13.9 mi E · Keweenaw

Sources

ghosttowns.com, "Clifton": county, roads, climate, best time to visit, remains.
Wikipedia, "Clifton, Michigan": coordinates and summary.
Wikidata Q5133133.
USGS 3D Elevation Program, elevation at the coordinates.
USGS The National Map and Historical Topographic Map Collection (public domain).