Trail Map * Locator city map * Membership application/trail pass

Maasto Hiihto & Churning Rapids Trails

KNSC offers youth skiing scholarships!

Barnelopet (children's races) coming February 7. Download this PDF for information and registration.

Maasto Hiihto/Churning Rapids trail pass can either be purchased alone or as part of the multipass for area trails. 

See photos show of the trail by Jay Woodbeck (1/31/07)

 

The Maasto Hiihto, which means "cross country skiing" in Finnish, is a striding-only trail system that offers kilometer after kilometer of unsurpassed skiing on varied and scenic trails. The trail system connects with the Churning Rapids trails. The two systems contain about 25 kilometers of groomed trails (see the trail map for details)

Snowshoeing is encouraged, there are many single track trails to follow, or on the side of the ski trails, as long as snowshoes do not step on set ski tracks.

The scenery on these trails is exceptionally varied and often breathtaking. Highlights include vistas of Portage Lake, Ruby Marsh, Swedetown Creek, mature forests, and pleasant meadows.
  Two trailheads provide access to Maasto Hiihto: one at the Chalet on the Houghton County fairgrounds, and the other at Tomasi Road near the Hancock city garage, North of The Portage Health System. The Houghton County fairgrounds site is indicated on this city map.

   

 

The Chalet is open daylight hours and includes bathrooms, a community room and a waxing bench.

 

Churning Rapids provides a true backcountry experience, with striding-only trails accessed from Maasto Hiihto or from a trailhead at Christiansen Road at M-203, North of Hancock. Trails wind through the John Christiansen wildlife preserve. A 15-foot high observation tower provides wonderful views of Lake Superior; a scenic meadow trail leads to the beaver pond, and more trails wind thru the diverse woodlands.

GROOMING:

Maasto Hiihto and Churning Rapids trails are groomed three times a week or more as needed. Grooming comments or questions can be directed to our lead groomer, Arlyn Aronson, at arlyn@superiortandems.com or call weekdays at (906) 370-2911.

Trail maps are available at both trailheads and in the Chalet.

Trail Pass:

Everyone is welcome
to ski on the Maasto Hiihto trails. The club's main source of income is season and daily membership passes. Please take the time to either pay for a daily membership (at the red donation pipes at both trail heads) or a buy a season membership pass by going to the multipass website.  A pass for just Maasto Hiihto/Churning Rapids costs $50 for families and $35 for individuals.  Combining passes to multiple trails allows you to reduce the amount you pay for each.

 

The Keweenaw Nordic Ski Club: KNSC was founded in 1997. The club promotes the sport of cross-country skiing in the Keweenaw Peninsula of Michigan for both youth and adults. They adopted the Maasto Hiihto trails, and help provide expertly groomed ski trails and facilities. The Maasto Hiihto and Churning Rapids ski trails are operated and maintained through a joint agreement between the Club and the city of Hancock. The club generally meets the third Wednesday of each month (except June/July) at 6:30 in the Chalet at the Maasto Hiihto trailhead at the Houghton County Fairgrounds; with the annual meeting in April. Meeting notice is sent via the KNSC e-list.

KNSC Newsletter: December 2009

KNSC Tri-Fold, application: 2009-10

KNSC 2010 Events:
(for more info, see newsletter above)
Saturday, January 30th, Heikinpaiva, A Finnish Celebration! Parade starts at 11 am at the East end of Hancock Street and proceeds to the Finnish American Heritage Center. Please join the KNSC in walking in the parade! There will be free skiing at the Maasto Hiihto trails this weekend as part of the celebration.

Sunday, February 7th, reg 1 pm, ski at 2 pm: Barneløpet, a children's ski event! Refreshments will be served courtesy of Portage Health Systems and all participants will receive a medal courtesy of the Ulseth Lodge Sons Of Norway. Download this PDF for complete information and registration. Wayne Stordahl 482-0292  wr.emstordz@sbcglobal.net will be organizing this event if you can help out or donate items!  You can view last year pics: 2009 Barnelopet video!  and  2009 Barnelopet pictures

Sunday, March 7th, 1-3 pm: Glide N' Gorge, a family ski & eat event! A big thank you for the food that will again be donated by The Library Restaurant & Brew Pub, Keweenaw Coop, Downwind Sports, Cross Country Sports
 and others! Candi Silvola 482-4578 cjsilvola@chartermi.net will be organizing this event if you can help out or donate food items! You can view last year pics: 2009 Glide N' Gorge pics

We would like to thank the local Girl Scouts from Troops 5268 and 5197 led by Gail Neufeld with support from Terry Kinzel and Sue Ellen Kingsley for making and installing 86 oak signs and 12 map boxes this summer, 2009, to our trails! Click here to read about their project and view pictures of the Girl Scouts working on this wonderful project!

We would also like to thank Terry Kinsel for providing the funds in 2009 to purchase a 4000 lb winch for the Rhino UTV! And Arlyn installed it for them this Fall.

Keweenaw Nordic Ski Club
Board of Directors And Officers

President, Ruth Archer raarcher@yahoo.com  
Secretary, Glen Archer
gearcher@mtu.edu 
Treasurer, John Diebel
john.diebel@sbcglobal.net 
Brian Carlson
Jay Green 
Candi Silvola
Wayne Stordahl
Norma  Veurink
Lead Groomer:  Arlyn Aronson
arlyn@superiortandems.com
     comments on grooming (906-370-2911)
 
     along with groomers John Pekkila and Ryan Holt.

MEMBERS: Please support the KNSC by becoming a member or volunteering your Time and Skills with trail maintenance or fundraising or grant writing or materials or providing snacks for laborers, mapping, signing, posters, event planning and set up, mechanics, or any number of ways as outlined in our newsletter. Please contact Arlyn or another officer if you can help in any way!

DONATIONS NEEDED! This year, we would like to raise funds to winterize our Rhino 4 wheeler to help make it a Rescue Vehicle, total price approximately $11,000 so any ideas on how to raise these funds for such an important function would be greatly appreciated!  Other financial and project needs and opportunities are outlined in the newsletter.

The Keweenaw Nordic Ski Club is pleased to say that
we offer ski sponsorships to local youth.


Kai Sharp and Jay Woodbeck
receive funds from KNSC
for 2009 JO travel expenses.

Other Copper Country youth skiers have participated in the Junior Olympics over the years, click here to read their stories and pictures!

The Keweenaw Nordic Ski Club is incorporated as a non-profit 501 (c) 3 corporation in the State of Michigan.

KNSC ByLaws

Maasto Hiihto and Churning Rapid trail maintenance and grooming are largely funded by your multipass purchases, donations, and by the City of Hancock. You can buy a trail pass, or a multipass, supporting the club by going to the multipass page.  The Keweenaw Nordic Ski Club also receives partial funding from the Keweenaw Community Foundation's Keweenaw Cross Country Skiing Endowment.  You may also donate to KNSC via the KCF endowment.
We are grateful for all of yoursupport!


KNSC volunteer webmaster: Connie Julien  updated 12/18/2009
 

Keweenaw Trails is sponsored by a consortium of non-profit clubs and organizations promoting the silent sports.
Design/webmaster: Dean Woodbeck. Updated

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