Pine Mountain 500 – Iron Mountain, Michigan - Atlas Obscura
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Pine Mountain 500

Iron Mountain, Michigan

Largest outdoor staircase in the United States. 

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Located at the base of the Giant Pine Mountain ski jump, host of the World Cup ski jumping competition, the Pine Mountain 500 outdoor staircase has been a staple in Dickinson County for decades

The many iterations of the stairs have played host to thousands of visitors and local athletes. Recently redone, the Pine Mountain 500 are a set of concrete stairs climbing nearly half of a mile straight up. 

The stairs are open year-round for public use, although during the winter snow and ice make traversing them more difficult. The local Rotary Club of Iron Mountain-Kingsford hosts an annual stair climbing race in August that draws participants from all over the United States.

ski stairs history & culture
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Published
May 31, 2021
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