Residents of L’Anse, Michigan, and hikers across the Upper Peninsula are hearing a fresh debate about the state’s highest natural point. A recent peer‑reviewed study by Seattle University teaching professor Eric Gilbertson claims that Mount Curwood, located just a short drive from Mount Arvon, rises 4.7 inches higher when measured at the true natural summit.
Scientific findings challenge a 40‑year record
Gilbertson reported his measurements to Bridge Michigan, stating, “I can say with greater than 95% confidence that Curwood is taller than Arvon based on the statistics of my measurements.” The study, published in Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment, argues that the 1982 U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) measurements were skewed because the survey marker on Mount Arvon sits on a concrete pillar extending about six inches above the actual peak, while the marker on Mount Curwood rests roughly six inches below the surrounding bedrock.
When the USGS measured Mount Arvon in 1982, it recorded an elevation of 1,979.24 feet, a figure that placed the summit 11 inches above Mount Curwood. Gilbertson’s re‑examination of both sites suggests the opposite, with Curwood now edging out Arvon by a modest 4.7 inches.
No agency ready to certify the change
Despite the study’s rigor, no federal or state agency has moved to update the official record. Gilbertson says the USGS told him it has not revised mountain elevations since 2015, and the National Geodetic Survey—part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration—maintains responsibility for survey‑marker elevations, not for deciding a state’s highest natural point.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources also declined to track the state’s highest points, directing inquiries back to the USGS. As a result, the designation remains in limbo, with the Highpointers Club—an organization that records the highest points in each state—refusing to change its listings until the USGS issues an official update.
Local tourism and access concerns
Mount Arvon has become a well‑known destination for hikers and highpointers, supported by signage, a parking area, an overlook bench, a picnic table, and a logbook mailbox. The Baraga County Convention and Visitors Bureau, represented by former executive director Tracey Barrett, has promoted the summit for years, even offering certificates to visitors who submit summit photos.
Barrett expressed hesitation about replacing Arvon with Curwood, citing worries about public access and the infrastructure already in place at Arvon. “Mount Curwood, the landowners I don’t think would ever let it become what Mount Arvon is today,” she told Bridge Michigan.
Mount Curwood’s ownership adds another layer of complexity. Federal disclosures list the Rohatyn Group—an entity linked to Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund—as the registered owner. Attempts by Bridge Michigan to contact the Rohatyn Group for comments on public access have gone unanswered.
Enthusiasts respond by climbing both peaks
In the absence of an official decision, many hikers are simply tackling both summits. Former Highpointers Club board member Stony Burk noted that several people who had already summited Mount Arvon returned this summer to climb Mount Curwood “just to be sure.” Serge Massad, a Montreal resident who has reached the highest point in every U.S. state, said the new findings give him “an extra adventure” and plans to summit Curwood as well.
Gilbertson, who climbed Curwood in 2024 for his research, appreciates the existing Arvon overlook but finds the prospect of a newly recognized high point compelling.
What’s next?
Until the USGS or another authoritative body revises the elevation data, Mount Arvon will continue to appear in official lists as Michigan’s highest point. Hikers seeking certainty are likely to keep climbing both mountains, while local tourism officials watch closely to see how any future designation might affect visitor patterns and infrastructure needs.
Original reporting: WOWO News/Talk (Fort Wayne) — read the source article.
