New Winter Biking and Snowshoeing Trails

Winter enthusiasts have even more ground to explore near the Munising area as new snowshoe and fat tire biking trails have recently been developed.

This month, the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore reported it has a fresh trail for snowshoe users, which the National Park Service has been working on for a year. According to a press release, the snowshoe trail is a 1.75-mile-long loop that travels through various habitats of beech, maple, and conifer forests.

The snowshoe trail is adjacent to the Munising cross-country ski trails in the PRNL. The loop also connects users to the G-Loop ski trail, which would add 1.5-miles to a snowshoer’s escapade. Since the G-Loop trail isn’t tracked, both skiers and snowshoers are allowed on the trail that offers gorgeous views of Lake Superior. However, the other ski trails are off-limits to snowshoeing and hiking to protect the groomed tracks.

 The new snowshoe trail is located east of Munising near the end of East City Limits Road off H-58. Snowshoers will need to walk down to the end of City Limits Road to start on the trail, the PRNL press release states.

 The Munising Bay Trail Network also announced a new 3.5-mile snow bike loop across from the Valley Spur Trailhead - a popular cross-country skiing and snowshoeing area - along M-94. This is the first time a trail has been developed specifically for fat tire biking in the area. According to the MBTN, there’s a possibility the trail could be expanded if it’s well received.

 The MBTN maintains biking and hiking trails in the city of Munising, as well. During the winter, snowshoers take to the trails that travel among the hills of the city with views often overlooking the big lake. According to the MBTN, these trails aren’t groomed for fat tire biking – however, they are free to use them at their discretion since the trails get pretty packed down from snowshoers and hikers. The trailhead is located on the west side of Munising, next to Hillside Party Store along M-28.

 More information about these trails can be found on the MBTN and PRNL’s websites and Facebook pages.

Author’s Note: Jaymie Depew writes a biweekly column for The Mining Journal.