Be a part of Project Connect Day in the greater Ironwood area!
January 12, 2025 is this year’s Project Connect Day where skiers can ski a multitude of local Nordic ski trails.
This event can start on Saturday where…
Skiers registered for Sisu Ski Fest can pick up their race hat and pin, and ski free at ABR on Saturday, January 11 from 9-12. The ABR Trails Foundation will have family friendly hot cocoa and s’mores at the trailhead as well. On Sunday, the Iron Belle Trail, Miners Memorial Heritage Park, and Wolverine Nordic Ski Trails have committed to regrooming their ski trails to offer additional destinations for skiers! These trails are part of the Project Connect (see map), a collaborative effort to build, maintain and enhance walking, biking, and cross-country skiing trails throughout the Gogebic Range
The Iron Belle Trail offers 20 kilometers (12 miles) of out-and-back trail located between Ramsey, Michigan and Country Club Road in Ironwood. The trail to the east of the Bessemer trailhead offers rolling terrain, and the trail to the west is flatter rail trail crossing several historic bridges. While you ski through Bessemer, enjoy great views of the Bessemer Bluffs and Copper Peak, the world’s largest artificial ski jump! Trailhead located at:
• Southwest corner of South Moore Street and West Colby Street, Bessemer, MI
Miners Memorial Heritage Park offers about 5 kilometers (3 miles) of rolling skate and classic trails in the historic mining district near downtown Ironwood. Check out Ironwood’s history including what was considered the greatest iron mine in the world in the early 1900s, and ski downtown for a coffee, beer, or snack. Trail map available at fmmhp.com. Trailheads are located at:
• Miners Trail Miners Memorial Park. 771 East Ayer Street Ironwood, MI
• Miners Park Mountain Bike Trailhead. Bonnie Street (just south of Ayer Street) Ironwood, MI
Wolverine Nordic Ski Trails offers 24 kilometers (12 miles) of hilly classic striding and skate skiing among beautiful bluffs and forest. Skiers get views Copper Peak and the Big Powderhorn Mountain Resort Area from the Powderhorn Loop, and the historic wooden ski jump structure from the chalet, which offers cookies and hot chocolate for purchase. Trailheads are located at:
• Chalet Trailhead. 5851 Sunset Road, Ironwood Township, MI
• Ottawa Loop Trailhead. Parking off Highway 2 on Grandview Lane behind Aspirus Hospital.
• Wolverine Mountain Bike Trails Trailhead. Snow Summit Road just south of Big Powderhorn Mountain Resort.
