Orchard Trail: Pedal Copper Harbor’s newest easy trail and skills park
Yes, Orchard Trail goes past an orchard! Photo by Nathan Miller.
COPPER HARBOR — The Copper Harbor Trails Club (CHTC) and Visit Keweenaw are pleased to announce the completion of an important addition to the Copper Harbor Trails: the Orchard Trail! The newly improved crushed gravel mountain bike route completes a six-mile loop from the Trails End Campground to Fort Wilkins State Park. Orchard Trail is nearly entirely level, which is great for beginner mountain bikers or anyone looking for a fun, approachable ride or hike. The addition comes late in the season but will be waiting for more riders to try it out next year. Visit Keweenaw contributed $5,000 toward the project through its Destination Development Awards program.
Orchard Trail brings some skill-building features to Copper Harbor. A couple of “skinnies” were built to test riders’ balance and heads-up awareness. The low-rise features are built out of wood and rock and are like miniature balance beams for mountain bikers to ride on top of. CHTC Executive Director Nathan Miller says it’s a great way to practice bike handling. He says other features will be added in 2024 to give riders an easy, approachable spot to test their skills before hitting the other trails in Copper Harbor.
“We’re excited to add the Orchard Trail to our growing trail network,” said Miller. “Building easy trails in Copper Harbor is typically a challenge because of our rugged, hilly terrain. Partnering with Visit Keweenaw and the Trails End Campground has allowed us to knock out nearly a mile of trail that’s perfect for families and novice riders. We can’t wait to add more soon!”
Miller says the CHTC has been working with partners to find suitable areas for easy trail development for many years. The Orchard Trail is the latest chapter in the growth of the crushed gravel network in Copper Harbor.
The Orchard Trail’s meandering gravel path will give bikers and hikers a fun, discovery-like experience as they travel through the Trails End Campground. Around every corner, you’ll find a beautiful view of a nature-filled pond, a glimpse at Brockway Mountain, or any of the many greenhouses and gardens that dot the area. As the name implies, it passes through an orchard as well. An adjacent pump track gives riders an opportunity to burn off some energy while practicing their cornering and rolling skills.
Copper Harbor’s crushed gravel trail network now includes not only the Orchard Trail but several other easily accessible scenic sites. The Hunters Point Trail leads to a beautiful cobble beach popular with sightseers and rock hounds alike. On the eastern side of Copper Harbor a wide, gentle path leads right to Fort Wilkins Historic State Park. Here visitors can find lovingly restored mid-19th-century buildings built during the region’s early copper mining era, views of the Copper Harbor Lighthouse, and many other historical treasures.
