Review Date
June 2, 2009

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 5 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 5 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a week

Reviewed by: artsymaiden426 ,  Downhiller

Summary:
For the Fat Tire Festival route, you travel up a slow, intense ascent called East Vein that has become a weekly challenge for many local riders for race preparation. You then get to rock it out a few shorter, slightly rugged and truly fun trails called Black Bear, Rock n' Roll, and Bear Chase (recommend skipping French Annie if you are an inexperienced rider). You then face the Dancing Bear, a trail perfectly named for its intense but short uphills followed by quirky bridges and excellent downs. When you finally reach the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge, you get to experience some awesome downhill terrain on Here We Go, which leads into a crazy little Cliffs and Bridges (so named There We Went) section with wild rocks, bridges, and loops. The final ascent up Ma Maki can feel tough after all the miles you already put on, but is actually a fairly slow, easy climb comparatively, and is so worth it for what's in store: The Red Trail. This, again, is one to be careful on if you're inexperienced. Some of the more rugged and creative terrain of our trails is here on one of the oldest Copper Harbor bike trails. Then, at the bottom, you face Paul's Plunge, the most well known area trail, which features two awesome downhill sections that are for advanced bikers only! All in all, the racecourse is fantastic-- very creative, challenging, and a worthy experience!

I also HIGHLY recommend the Garden Brook Trail, which is 3 miles long and excellent both up and down.

Recommended Route:
Lake Manganese Road Up East Vein to Black Bear, Rock and Roll, Burma Road, Bear Chase, Up Dancing Bear, Down Here We Go, Up Ma Maki, Down Garden Brook.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Michigan Tech Trails in Houghton, Swedetown Trails in Calumet

Review Date
October 11, 2008

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Reviewed by: helium89 ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
After getting my first real mountain bike, I decided to head up to the Copper Harbor trails to test it out. It was a blast. My mountain biking experience is limited, but I managed to do most of the trails without walking, although I had to go slowly at times. I really liked the Red Trail, Der We Went, Here we Go, and Paul's Plunge. It was a nice change from the Tech trails in Houghton, which are nice, but sort of flat compared to Copper Harbor. The view's were amazing. The leaves were changing, and the whole area was beautiful.

Recommended Route:
Garden Brook trail makes for a nice warm up. Then the Blue Trail to the Keeweenaw mountain trails to the Red Trail, which get progressively more challenging. From there, climb the Stairway to Heaven and do laps on Here we Go and Say Hello. It makes for a great day on the trails.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Tech trails in Houghton

Review Date
November 9, 2007

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a week

Reviewed by: amanda Wais ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
I learned to mountain bike in Copper Harbor, and it even prepared me for riding out west! These trails are exciting and challenging. Finishing a ride is a great accomplishment. The single track whips you past trees and great views. Lots of trails in a compact radius means lots of great loops to take. The downhill is always worth the uphill! The air is so fresh here that it feels good to take those hard deep breaths. Would recommend these trails for intermedeate to advanced riders, but even beginners can make it the whole way!

Review Date
September 21, 2007

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 0 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a week

Reviewed by: bikersam ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:

Volunteers from the Copper Harbor Trails Club (CHTC) have been hard at work this summer. As a result, over 3 miles of sweet, benchcut singletrack have been developed which now contribute to nearly 30 miles of designated human-powered trails on the hillsides surrounding the village. The nucleus of these trails have been built at the county-owned Keweenaw Mountain Lodge. Some of the new highlights include a 22 switchback, 450'+ vertical, 2-mile climb/decent between the Mt Lodge & Copper Harbor and a technically challenging, yet sweet trail along the edge of a 50' cliff/gorge. The CHTC invested in a gas powered jackhammer this season that allows them to benchcut singletrack into the area's abundent bedrock deposits. In total, over 14 miles of new singletrack has been built to IMBA standards since the summer of 2005.

In addition, 16 new bridges and boardwalks have been built in 2007, inlcuding a 350' boardwalk on the Garden Brook Trail, a 165' bridge spanning accross a drainage of the Ma Maki Trail and an 800'+ boardwalk currently in progress in "Clyde's Crack".

The CHTC has been diligently working with 4 neighboring land owners to establish "official" trails for the past few years. Support has been well received and an effort place more permanent signage on these trails is a high priority heading into the Fall & Winter months.

Of all of the trails that Copper Harbor has, quite honestly, Kamikaze does suck, unless you're a glutant for punishment and a bone-jarring ride and is the least recommended of them all...this is an original "old school" trail and the trail building skills and knowledge have greatly evolved since this time.

Recommended Route:

Garden Brook Trail (intermediate) *3 mile climb/decent
Keweenaw Mountain Trails (~ 4 miles of looped trails connecting to the greater trail system) (easy/intermediate)
Copper Harbor Ridge Trail (aka "Here We Go") (intermidiate) *2 mile climb/decent
Ma Maki Trail (intermediate, with advanced option) *1 mile clmib/decent
Ma Maki Connector (aka "Say Hello") intermediate *1 mile climb/decent
Dancing Bear Trail (intermediate) *2 mile climb/descent
Red Trail (advanced) *2 mile descent: recommended as a one-way trail
Paul's Plunge...the infamous (advanced) *1 mile descent: recommended as a one-way trail

Review Date
May 14, 2007

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 5 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 5 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a year

Reviewed by: Di_bear ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
I first rode this trail last year for the Copper Harbor Fat Tire Festival. I walked most of it. We rode it again yesterday, and it was one heck of an experience (more fun *on* the bike)! There are plenty of climbing opportunities, steep descents, rocks, roots, ridges, and the scenery!

The red trail and Paul's Plunge were humbling in spots, technical in most, and quite fulfilling for the rider who wants a challenge. Dancing Bear is a merciless climb with bridges and twists and a fun technical section towards the end, after the long climb. Garden Brook was a nice start for the ride. It was a somewhat difficult climb, and I hear it's quite a fun descent.

Lots of work has been done on these trails, and lots more is to come. Sounds like more trails are going in.

Your full suspension *will* get one heck of a workout in Copper Harbor!

Recommended Route:
Pick your poison. http://www.keweenawadventure.com/ch_trail_map_1meg_05.jpg

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Calumet: Swedetown
Hancock: Maasto Hiihto/Churning Rapids
Houghton: Michigan Tech Trails