Visitor Information
Do you really have wireless on the trails?
Yes, and you can get guest access during your visit. Go to the Student Development Complex main office during regular business hours to obtain a password and ID. It takes about two minutes. Keep your laptop warm!
Where are the trails and race facilities?
The Tech Trails are on Sharon Avenue near Michigan Tech's athletic complex (the Student Development Complex) and football field (Sherman Field). Visitors should take US-41 to the stop light near the east end of the Michigan Tech campus. Turn south (or uphill) on MacInnes Drive. MacInnes will take you past the Student Development complex and swing to the west, becoming Sharon Avenue. Parking is at the Gates Tennis Center (on the north side of the road) and the trails are on the south side of the road. There is a locator map and a Michigan Tech campus map below.
What is the Student Development Complex and where is it?
The Student Development Complex is located on MacInnes Drive, just up the hill from the Michigan Tech main campus. The SDC includes an ice arena, varsity gym, a multipurpose room, swimming pool, lockers, saunas, and a vending area. See "trail and race facilities" above for driving directions.
About the Tech Trails
Michigan Tech trails include 19-kilometers of skating and classic lanes groomed daily with the Bombadier. The system has a variety of terrain, from the gradual ups and downs of the Isle Royale loop to the screaming downhills of Hairpin and Skidder, to the challenging hills of Maple and Cemetary.
The University renovated its trail system in 2002 and has 15-kilometers groomed for both skating and classic and another 4-kilometer recreational trail groomed for classic only. The trail system has already hosted the Masters Spring Series, an annual Central Collegiate Ski Association race, and the annual Christmas Classic.
For photos and other information, see the trails web site (www.aux.mtu.edu/rec/ccski)
How can I get photos of the event and/or volunteers?
Bill Fink is taking photos of the 2008 event and volunteers and has photos of volunteers from 2007. See his photo gallery.
Where is Houghton?
Houghton, Michigan, is on the Keweenaw Peninsula in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The area provides adventure and beauty, particularly in the winter. Prevailing northwest winds blow across Lake Superior in the winter, depositing more than 200 inches of snow each year.
Houghton is approximately 200 miles north of Green Bay, Wisconsin; 350 miles northeast of Minneapolis/St. Paul; and 550 northwest of Detroit. It is the home of Michigan Technological University, and the combined cities of Houghton and Hancock have a population of approximately 10,000.
Getting to Houghton
The Houghton County Memorial Airport has non-stop service to Minneapolis-St. Paul via Northwest Airlink (operated by Mesaba Airlines). There are three flights daily each way. Other nearby airports include Marquette, Michigan (100 miles); and Rhinelander, Wisconsin (120 miles). The Green Bay, Wisconsin, airport is approximately 200 miles (four hours) away and Duluth, Minnesota, is approximately 250 miles (five hours) away.
Hotels/Motels
Houghton and Hancock have a number of motels, including several national chains, within a 10 minute drive of the ski trails. You will find a listing at the Keweenaw Convention and Visitors Bureau web site (www.keweenaw.info).
Other Area Trails
The Keweenaw has a number of cross-country ski trails, with varying levels of difficulty and grooming. Read a complete summary (PDF file).
Swedetown, near Calumet, offers 24-kilometers of trails groomed daily with a Piston Bully. Swedetown grooms for both classic and skating and has a wide variety of terrain. It is just a 20-minute drive from Houghton.
Chassell, just 15 minutes south of Houghton, grooms 10-kilometers (also daily) for classic skiing only. The intimate trails wind through forested land in two 5-km loops.
There are other trails in Hancock, Eagle River, Eagle Harbor, and Copper Harbor. For more information, go to the "trails" page at the Keweenaw Trails web site (www.keweenawtrails.com).
Other Things to Do
The Keweenaw features many winter activities--everything from snowmobiling to snowshoeing. For information on events and activities, see the Keweenaw Convention and Visitors Bureau web site.
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