Cross-country skiing the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail
From staff reports
The Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes is grooming the existing four miles of the Sleeping Bear Heritage from Glen Arbor to the Dune Climb for classic and skate-skiing this winter. This volunteer effort allows the trail to be enjoyed year-round for outdoor recreation.
A crew of 10 volunteers typically grooms on Thursday afternoons, weather permitting, in preparation for the weekend visitors. The trail is groomed 10 feet wide with a skate skiing lane down the middle and one set of classic cross-country ski tracks on the side. The recent cooler weather and fresh snow have allowed for wonderful ski conditions. “Skiers we meet on the trail say the snow is perfect,” said Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes communications director Kerry Kelly. “We encourage everyone to come out and ski the newest groomed trail in northern Michigan!”
The plan is to groom additional segments of the trail as they are completed. For updates on Heritage Trail grooming please visit the Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes Facebook page. Fundraising for the Heritage Trail continues for the connection from Glen Arbor to Port Oneida. Donations may be made online at SleepingBearTrail.org or by contacting Pam Darling, Development Director of TART Trails, at (231) 941-4300.
