Swedetown Trails Club

Swedetown Trails Club (STC), a nonprofit organization, partners with Calumet Township to maintain and improve the trail system and facilities.  

Swedetown Trails Club (STC) is committed to community recreation and health. It  was chartered in 1965 to support cross country skiing but has broadened its mission to support non-motorized trail activities in all seasons. Currently there are 740 adult members. Youth under age 18 are given free membership to encourage interest and participation in outdoor recreation. STC is directed by a volunteer board committed to Club goals. Many STC members volunteer their time to keep these trails nice for biking, hiking and skiing. 

To achieve our mission of encouraging lifelong participation and enjoyment of non-motorized outdoor activities, the Club provides daily winter grooming for 35 km of trails with the goal of reliable, high quality grooming. Our goal is for continuous and cost-effective improvements. Volunteer Chalet hosts from our Club are welcoming and helpful to visitors. The Club holds a yearly free Winter Trails Day, including free equipment rentals arranged with local shop Cross Country Sports, to introduce new people to winter trail sports and promote outdoor recreation. In partnership with UP Health-Portage, STC cosponsors the Great Bear Chase Ski Marathon every year in March, in a format encouraging participation from serious racers and citizen racers alike. 

Three scenic trails are marked and mapped for snowshoeing. Five kilometers of ski trails are lighted for evening skiing, extending our short winter days. Swedetown has ungroomed back-country trails for skiers who prefer to explore, making their own tracks. Also provided are groomed multi-use trails where dogs are allowed to accompany people skiing, walking and snowshoeing. STC grooms a sledding hill for families, a popular setting for parties and winter fun. The sledding hill and snowboarding area is lighted evenings until 9 p.m.. 

For summer and fall, STC develops and maintains mountain bike trails. These are also used for hiking, dog walking, trail running, and other outdoor activities. There are guided group rides and events such as the early-season Ride the Keweenaw group ride/cookout and the August Great Deer Chase mountain bike race.  The Club also promotes and publicizes Swedetown in coordination with local tourism bureaus, Calumet Main Street and local recreation groups in support of non-motorized recreational activities for our community. This contributes to the quality of life in our area. 

Health Benefits - Swedetown Trails Club’s goal of providing beautiful trails allows people to get out and enjoy four seasons, which benefits community health. It is increasingly recognized that staying active in the outdoors provides mental well being for all ages and encourages formation of healthy lifestyles. Few activities contribute to health as much as cross country skiing because it raises the heart rate while being a low-impact, total body workout improving balance and coordination.  

For more information about the trails and events please visit swedetowntrails.org.

DONATE

By supporting the Swedetown Trails Club fund you help sustain the youth programs that create a lifelong love for Nordic skiing.

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