Al Quaal Recreation Area
Al Quaal Recreation Area sits next to Teal Lake in Marquette County and flourishes every winter with a myriad of activities.
At 656 acres, it is truly a year-round park, where visitors can hike in the summer and return in the winter to cross-country ski and snowshoe on the same paths. One of the most popular winter activities at the recreation area is tubing, says Jon Kangas, Ishpeming Department of Public Works director and city engineer.
Kangas says tubing may be popular because it is an easy and fun winter activity for families.
The opening and closing dates of the hill vary from year to year because it depends on the amount of snowfall and whether or not the lake is frozen over.
"First and foremost, we need safe ice on Teal Lake since the run out from the tube slide ends on the lake. In addition, we need adequate snow to provide proper berming on the north side of the slope to keep riders from entering vehicle zones," Kangas says. "Finally, the season only runs as long as we have adequate base on the slope and ice on Teal Lake."
For $8 a person, children and adults alike can enjoy a day of flying down the hill in the park-provided tube. On an average winter day the hill can see around 100 tubing participants, says Kangas. Generally, the warmer the day, the more people come out.
For those wishing to take advantage of the cross-country ski trails, Al Quaal also offers both daily and seasonal trail passes.
"We attempt to accommodate all skiers, but natural terrain and topography limit our abilities to provide 'easy' trails," Kangas said. "Most skiers at Al Quaal are avid skiers and purchase
Noquemanon Trail Network season passes with an Al Quaal 'adder.' This allows them to purchase their Al Quaal pass at half price."
Al Quaal offers multiple trails for these skiers as well as for snowshoeing and hiking. Skiing trails range from easy to advanced and vary in length from 1.5 kilometers up to 7 kilometers.
At one point in time the park was known as the Winter Sports Complex and has always been a great place for year-round activities, Kangas says.
"The ski trails are quickly becoming known as some of the best in the area for competition," Kangas says.
Not only does the trail offer practice terrain for the Northern Michigan University ski team, it also is the starting point of the yearly
Noquemanon Ski Marathon.
"We are working toward meeting international standards on the Teal Lake trail system in hopes of someday hosting international events," Kangas says. "The sheer beauty of the topography in Al Quaal with natural rock outcrops and scenic vistas is worth the effort for any person that enjoys the outdoors."
During the summer many residents and visitors return to the park to hike, go mountain biking, walk their dogs and rent the lodges for various activities.
Hiawatha National Forest
The
Hiawatha National Forest is another U.P. place that residents and visitors alike turn to during the winter for some fun in the snow. The forest, which stretches over two separate areas, contains almost 90 miles of trails for cross country ski enthusiasts.
Various communities located within the region of the forest help provide services for winter enthusiasts who are looking to get out into the snow, saysJanel Crooks, public affairs officer for the forest.
In addition to skiing, snowmobilers are welcome to cruise through the forest's trails as they take in the sights and sounds of the woods. Other winter activities include snowshoeing on the pristine and often untouched snow, ice climbing and dog sledding.
"Winter is a beautiful season offering a different perspective of the landscape," Crooks says. "Why stay inside when you can get some fresh air and explore the forest?"
It is important for those who live nearby, as well as visitors, to visit the forest and take advantage of its resources and to protect it, because it belongs to everyone, Crooks says.
"The more connected each of us is to the landscape surrounding our home, the more likely we are to appreciate it and help take care of it," she says. "For instance, garbage dumping is a problem on the Hiawatha National Forest. The more local residents feel connected to the forest, the less likely they are to throw trash in the woods and the more likely they are to discourage others from doing so."
For those who may not own a camp or who are just looking to get away from it all, the forest also has a pair of log cabins, McKeever and Tom's Lake cabins, that can be
reserved during the colder months.
Catherine Bonifas Civic Center
For those looking to spend some time indoors this winter, Escanaba's civic center, the
Catherine Bonifas Civic Center, is the host of a variety of events from the very large to the very small. This public space, which first opened in 1967, can be used by pretty much anyone who wants to rent it. From a child's birthday party to a bridal shower, this center is used by a variety of people.
Throughout the average year, the center is used by about 90,000 visitors, says Tom Penegor, recreation director for the city of Escanaba.
The civic center hosts grade school basketball, the junior high Christmas dance and other youth events. Adults can also take part in activities here like basketball, aerobics, open gym, zumba and tennis. Visitors can even use the shooting range, located in the center's basement.
One of the most popular programs offered by the center is basketball for fifth and sixth graders, who normally wouldn't get the chance to play on a team until they reach seventh grade, Penegor says.
Having activities for youth in a safe environment is very important, especially with many kids heading home to an empty house after school, he says.
"It's even more important today...I think you have more of two parents working out in the employment field today," Penegor says. "There's a lot of single parents...that puts more pressure on the home too."
Students can easily walk to the center after school and, while there, can work on homework or play games such as foosball in a supervised setting.
"It's in a somewhat controlled environment as opposed to being out on the street," he says. "It's very beneficial to the community to have a place like this where their kids can go."
Not only does the center support children's activities, it also hosts a senior meal program five days a week where seniors can come and get a reasonably priced meal that is nutritional. Other senior activities include bingo, cards and line dancing which draws about 30 people twice a week, Penegor says.
The civic center is currently in the process of adding a free snowshoe rental program for families in cooperation with the health department, and recently added a computer lab for students who may not have a computer at their house or who can't get easy access to one.
Drill House
Calumet's
Drill House offers a location for another winter activity that is not found in most Upper Peninsula towns--curling.
The renovated building holds historical significance. Formerly the Calumet and Hecla Mining Company's drill shop, the two sheets of ice are now home to the Copper Country Curling Club.
The club, in cooperation with Calumet Township and the National Park Service's Keweenaw National Historic Park, worked to preserve the history of the building while making it once again a functional building in the community. The
Michigan Tech Curling Club and the Finlandia Curling Club also use the facilities while the Copper Country Curling Club hosts leagues. For those who are new to the sport, they offer Wednesday Night Instructional League.
Craig Lake State Park
Craig Lake State Park, located in Baraga County, offers year-round activities for its nearly 2,000 winter visitors and 19,000 total annual visitors.
During the winter some popular activities at this about 7,000-acre remote park include snowmobiling and cross country skiing, says Melanie Brand, accounting assistant for the park.
The Craig Lake Main Trail allows cross-country skiers to enjoy 8 miles of trail while the Craig Lake North Country Trail provides 7.5 miles.
Snowshoers are also welcome to utilize the park and those who wish to spend more than a few hours in the outdoors can rent the yurt at Keewaydin Lake, available year-round starting in 2014, or the
Teddy Lake yurt, available year round.
Remotely located on 56-acre Teddy Lake, the Teddy Lake yurt is for those who want to experience life at its simplest by using an outhouse, cooking outside, sleeping on bunk beds and relaxing on a rowboat. This accommodation is popular in the winter as it is often is booked every weekend during the first two months of the year, says Brand.
"All genres tend to be interested in the yurts at Craig Lake State Park, from the local family adventurers looking for a beautiful weekend filled with snowy fun, a girls weekend getaway, or lifelong snowmobile buddies looking for a weekend stay over on their annual snowmobile journey," she says.
Those who choose to stay at the yurt during the winter can only get to it via snowshoe, cross-country skiing or by snowmobile; it's not as easy as just driving a car up to the door. The park encourages visitors of all skill level who choose to stay in the yurt to know their way around the area and to know first-aid. According to their website, staying in the yurt is not recommended for beginners during winter.
"The trip is not for the faint of heart and we do not recommend venturing to the yurt at dusk; it is a 3.5 mile snowshoe, cross country ski, or snowmobile trip to the yurts," she says.
During the non-winter months
backcountry camping and hiking are common park activities.
"People should visit Craig Lake State Park in the winter to enjoy the amazing sites and sounds that nature has to offer...this park provides a remote day trip or for the more avid adventurer a winter camping experience they will never forget," Brand says. "When looking to vacation there is no need to drive hours away when you have such amazing opportunities out your back door."
Julia Woehrer is a freelance writer, photographer and social media coordinator. She attended the School of Art and Design at Northern Michigan University where she concentrated in photography and minored in journalism. She volunteers at a local no-kill cat shelter and enjoys spending time with her cats, Bella and Macy.