West End update – Bob Hendrickson – GINCC
Time to enjoy winter
ISHPEMING — With the increase in popularity of outdoor recreation this year, the West End of Marquette County offers an abundance of opportunities. The following are a few of the activities to try as a family or individually to lift your spirits and improve your health.
Snowshoeing allows you to trek through the woods just about anywhere in any depth of snow. For beginners, popular trail systems include Al Quaal Recreation Area, Suicide Hill Ski Bowl and the meandering trails of the RAMBA trail system in-between and around Ishpeming and Negaunee.
For the more adventurous and experienced, check out the Michigamme area for challenging treks into the McCormick Tract. Just make sure you bring the proper gear for orientation and survival if needed.
Cross country skiing takes a little more skill and practice, but still can be an easy way to get out and enjoy the outdoors, with a variety of trails systems maintained by the surrounding townships, cites and non-profit groups. Groomed trails for both skating and classic style of cross-country skiing are located at Al Quaal, Norman Juhola Trail System and the Negaunee Township Trails which offer a variety of levels of challenge and fun.
Both snowshoes and cross-country skis can be rented from Wilderness Sports in Ishpeming.
Snow biking is a relatively new winter activity where people ride fat bikes with over-sized tires up to 5″ wide. With the popularity of the fat bike sales, winter trail systems are being groomed to ride these bicycles on.
The RAMBA trail group maintains over 20-miles of groomed singletrack for winter cycling. If you don’t have access to a snow bike, West End Ski & Trail offers fat bike rentals. They also have nice selection of performance cross-country skis and snowshoes for sale.
Ice fishing is for those who aren’t cardio-junkies and prefer the concentration and patience needed to pull fish out through a hole in the ice. Locations such as Teal Lake and Lake Angeline basically offer an urban fishing opportunity without having to go far. Places like the Greenwood Reservoir, Lake Michigamme and numerous other lakes in Western Marquette County offer a variety of experiences for several different species of fish.
Snowmobiling has long been a tourism staple in the Upper Peninsula and the trail hub for Marquette County is Ishpeming. With over 170 miles of going out in every direction, the Country Village just off Hwy 41 is a great place to start out from. This business complex offers lodging, food options and gas stations. The local trails are maintained by the Moose Country Snowmobile Club. For snowmobile rentals contact Meyers Yamaha located just off the highway in West Ishpeming.
To learn more about the area, visit www.visitthewestend.com or give us a call 906-486-1111. Our hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday through Friday and the office is located at 910 U.S. 41 West in front Jubilee Foods & Fuel.