Nelson Lake Waterfront Acreage with Mature Woods in Iron River, Michigan — $125,000
Property Overview
Discover a spacious Northwoods retreat on Nelson Lake near Iron River, Michigan. This 40-acre vacant land parcel combines lake frontage, mature woods, and rolling terrain in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, offering a setting for buyers seeking recreational land, a private outdoor getaway, or a potential future building site.
With approximately 1,320 feet of reported lake frontage and a wooded landscape, the property offers opportunities to explore outdoor recreation, fishing, kayaking, canoeing, and seasonal hunting. Its rural setting provides a natural backdrop for those who appreciate lake access, forested acreage, and the distinctive character of the western Upper Peninsula.
Whether your plans involve a secluded cabin, a private family retreat, or a long-term land purchase, this parcel presents a substantial stretch of land to investigate and make your own. Building potential, permitted uses, access, and development requirements should be confirmed before making plans.
Land and Outdoor Features
Lakefront Setting
The property is identified as lakefront land on Nelson Lake, with water and lake views listed among its features. The shoreline setting may appeal to buyers interested in fishing, paddling, and spending time outdoors. Prospective owners should independently confirm shoreline boundaries, lake access, applicable riparian rights, and any restrictions on docks or other waterfront improvements.
Wooded Acreage and Rolling Terrain
Mature woods and rolling or hilly terrain characterize the parcel. The combination of forest and varied topography creates opportunities to explore the land and assess possible locations for recreational use or a future cabin, subject to site conditions, access, zoning, and required approvals.
Outdoor Recreation
The Northwoods setting is suited to buyers interested in outdoor activities, including hiking, wildlife observation, and seasonal hunting where permitted. Nelson Lake provides a potential setting for fishing, kayaking, and canoeing. Fishing conditions, public access rules, hunting regulations, and permitted recreational activities should be checked before use.
Potential Future Use
The parcel may interest buyers considering a private retreat or future construction project. The property is described as vacant land, and water, sewer, and other utilities are listed as absent. No building suitability or development approval is implied. Buyers should verify zoning, legal access, soil conditions, septic feasibility, shoreline regulations, and construction requirements with the relevant local authorities.
Property Details
| Property Type | Vacant land |
|---|---|
| Street Address | Olson Loop Rd |
| City / Community | Iron River |
| State | Michigan |
| ZIP Code | 49935 |
| County | Iron County |
| Land Area | 40 acres |
| Reported Dimensions | 1,320 feet × 1,320 feet |
| Waterfront | Lakefront on Nelson Lake |
| Reported Lake Frontage | 1,320 feet |
| Terrain | Rolling or hilly, wooded, rural |
| Views | Water and lake views listed |
| Water | None listed |
| Sewer | None listed |
| Other Utilities | None listed |
| Zoning Description | Other; permitted uses require confirmation |
| HOA | No homeowners association listed |
| Parcel Number | 00417100500 |
| Annual Property Taxes | $54, as listed; current taxes should be verified |
| Listing Date | October 6, 2026 |
| Listing Terms | Cash or conventional financing, as listed |
| Ownership Type | LLC, as listed |
The parcel’s acreage, dimensions, shoreline frontage, legal description, boundaries, access rights, tax obligations, zoning, and permitted uses should be independently verified before purchase. Property taxes may change following a transfer of ownership.
Buyer Area Research: Iron River and Iron County
Iron River is a community in Michigan’s western Upper Peninsula, within Iron County near the Wisconsin border. The surrounding region is characterized by forested landscapes, lakes, rivers, and outdoor recreation opportunities. The area may appeal to buyers who value access to natural surroundings and a small-community setting.
Iron County had an estimated population of 11,757 in July 2025, compared with a 2020 census population of 11,631. The county’s relatively small population and extensive natural surroundings provide context for buyers considering rural land in this part of Michigan.
Iron River provides local services and community amenities, while regional trips may involve travel to other Upper Peninsula communities or neighboring northern Wisconsin. The actual travel distance from this parcel to any service or destination should be confirmed using its precise access point.
Safety and Crime
Crime statistics need to be assessed using the correct reporting jurisdiction, year, and offense categories. City-level figures, township-level figures, and countywide totals are not interchangeable and should not be treated as measurements of conditions at an individual rural parcel.
Comparable, current figures for violent crime, property crime, burglary, theft, robbery, motor vehicle theft, and aggravated assault could not be reliably established here for the precise jurisdiction and reporting period relevant to this property. Buyers seeking local crime trends should review the latest available reporting for the appropriate law enforcement jurisdiction and compare multiple years where consistent data is available.
General crime statistics cannot establish whether a specific parcel or neighborhood is safe or unsafe.
Schools and Education
West Iron County Public Schools serves a broad area of the western Upper Peninsula. Schools in the Iron River community include Stambaugh Elementary and West Iron County Middle and High School.
These are nearby community education options, not a verified school assignment for the property. School attendance boundaries, transportation availability, enrollment requirements, and current programs should be confirmed directly with the district before purchase if school access is an important consideration.
Healthcare and Hospitals
Healthcare services in Iron River include Aspirus Iron River Hospital and its associated emergency department, located on West Ice Lake Road. Aspirus Iron River Clinic provides outpatient medical services in the community, and additional specialty services are available through regional healthcare facilities.
These facilities provide healthcare options in the broader Iron River area. Emergency service availability, clinical hours, accepted insurance, specialty care, and travel times from the parcel should be confirmed directly when planning for healthcare needs.
Historical Housing Market
For a consistent historical perspective, the following table uses the annual all-transactions house price index for Iron County, Michigan. This index measures changes in residential property values using an index base of 2000 = 100. It is not a median sale price, a dollar valuation, or a land-specific valuation for this Nelson Lake parcel.
| Year | House Price Index | Annual Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 144.86 | — |
| 2022 | 170.69 | +17.8% |
| 2023 | 204.61 | +19.9% |
| 2024 | 202.46 | −1.1% |
| 2025 | 229.90 | +13.6% |
Between 2021 and 2025, the index increased by approximately 58.7%. These figures describe historical countywide residential housing trends, not vacant waterfront land values or expected future returns. Differences in location, shoreline characteristics, access, zoning, improvements, and property condition can produce substantial variation between individual properties.
Annual changes are calculated from consecutive published index values and rounded to one decimal place. Historical market performance does not predict future property values.
Transportation and Regional Access
Road travel is an important part of daily life in the Iron River area. U.S. Highway 2 and Michigan Highway 73 are among the regional routes serving the wider community, with connections to other western Upper Peninsula destinations and northern Wisconsin.
Iron County’s airport system includes Iron County Airport near Crystal Falls and Stambaugh Airport in Iron River. These facilities support general aviation rather than serving as substitutes for a major commercial passenger airport.
Exact road access to Olson Loop Road, the condition and maintenance responsibility of the approach, seasonal accessibility, winter travel conditions, and the distance to regional routes should be verified for the parcel. No specific driving times or distances to services are asserted here.
Shopping and Everyday Services
Iron River provides everyday shopping and services for residents and visitors. Grocery options in the community include Family Foods and Central Market. The wider community also has medical offices, pharmacies, fuel services, dining establishments, and other local businesses.
Service availability and operating hours can change. Buyers should confirm the current location, hours, and range of services offered by individual businesses, particularly when planning frequent trips from a rural property.
Parks and Recreation
The western Upper Peninsula offers outdoor recreation across its lakes, rivers, woodlands, and public forestlands. The Ottawa National Forest provides opportunities for hiking, camping, wildlife observation, fishing, paddling, and seasonal outdoor activities.
The Lake Ottawa Recreation Area, southwest of Iron River, includes a lake, campground, boat launch, day-use facilities, and access to the Ge-Che Trail. The wider region also contains additional lakes, streams, forest roads, and recreational trails.
These are regional recreational resources and are not located on the subject property unless separately verified. Access rules, seasonal restrictions, trail conditions, fishing regulations, and public facility availability should be checked before visiting.
Utilities and Connectivity
The parcel is listed without water service, sewer service, or other utilities. Buyers should therefore evaluate the cost and feasibility of any services needed for their intended use rather than assume that nearby infrastructure extends to the land.
Water and Wastewater
Public water or sewer service to the parcel has not been established. Before planning a cabin or other structure, verify whether a private well and an approved septic system would be permitted and technically feasible. Soil evaluations, setbacks, groundwater conditions, and applicable shoreline requirements may affect the available options.
Electricity and Communications
Electricity, broadband, and cellular connectivity at the parcel have not been verified. Availability can vary significantly in rural and wooded locations. Obtain property-specific service confirmation, installation estimates, and coverage information from relevant providers before committing to construction or occupancy plans.
Waste and Access
Trash collection, recycling, emergency access, road maintenance, and winter access arrangements should be confirmed for the exact parcel. No specific service provider or service connection is represented as confirmed for this property.
Development and Planning Considerations
The property’s zoning description is listed as “Other,” which does not by itself establish what uses are permitted. Buyers should contact the relevant zoning and land-use authorities to verify current classification, minimum lot requirements, building setbacks, shoreline rules, access requirements, and any restrictions affecting future construction.
Before pursuing a cabin, residence, dock, driveway, or other improvement, investigate whether the intended project would require permits or additional approvals. A survey, title review, legal-access verification, soil evaluation, and review of applicable wetland or shoreline regulations may be appropriate.
No specific proposed, pending, approved, or under-construction development project affecting this parcel could be reliably established for inclusion. Buyers should confirm current municipal and county planning matters before making decisions based on anticipated development.
Property Summary
| Property Type | Vacant land |
|---|---|
| Address | Olson Loop Rd, Iron River, MI 49935 |
| County | Iron County |
| Land Area | 40 acres |
| Reported Dimensions | 1,320 feet × 1,320 feet |
| Waterfront | Nelson Lake |
| Reported Frontage | 1,320 feet |
| Land Features | Mature woods, rolling terrain, rural setting |
| Views | Water and lake views listed |
| Water Service | None listed |
| Sewer Service | None listed |
| Other Utilities | None listed |
| Zoning | Other; confirm permitted uses |
| Homeowners Association | None listed |
| Parcel Number | 00417100500 |
| Annual Property Taxes | $54, as listed; verify current assessment and tax obligations |
| Listing Date | October 6, 2026 |
| Listing Terms | Cash or conventional financing, as listed |
Explore the Nelson Lake Property
Review the property listing and available details for this wooded lakefront acreage in Iron River, Michigan.
View on Zillow — $125,000