Photo by Chris Schmidt, via Visit Keweenaw.
COPPER HARBOR — The 30th Annual Copper Harbor Trails Fest, an exciting annual event hosted by the Copper Harbor Trails Club, takes place Sept. 1-3 in Copper Harbor. Outdoor enthusiasts of all ages will find a variety of races, music, beer and good times. Spend Labor Day weekend living your best life while burning some calories and meeting new people in the Keweenaw.
Two races that will push your limits during Trails Fest are the XC bike race and the 10K Trail Run. Both races have limited capacity and are filling up quickly.
The XC race offers mountain bikers three lengths: Super Short (seven miles), Short (~14 miles) and Long (~30 miles). The course changes each year to take riders down new trails, ensuring a fresh and challenging experience on intermediate to advanced-level singletrack. The Super Short XC is brand new this year. Racers seeking a challenging race over a short distance will enjoy this new addition to Trails Fest. Both the short and long distances will showcase stunning scenery, significant climbs and diverse trail types.
Trail runners will lace up their sneakers for a similar course to the Super Short XC bike race. Runners can expect a tough course with rugged terrain, plenty of roots, and steep scrambles.
The course maps for the 10k Trail Run and XC races will be released a couple of weeks prior to the event, pending the completion of brand-new trails.
Cross-country lovers, downhill speedsters, and young riders will all find something to enjoy this Labor Day weekend. The first check-in and registration period is Friday in Copper Harbor from 7-9 p.m. at the Donny Kilpela Memorial Park. Racers may also check in or register on Saturday and Sunday mornings.
Photo by Chris Schmidt, via Visit Keweenaw.
The XC race starts in downtown Copper Harbor at 10 a.m. with a memorable mass rollout of over 200 racers. Races continue through the afternoon, including our signature Downhill race on Overflow and Junior XC event. On Sunday, the 10K Trail Run starts at 8:30 a.m. and Enduro races begin at 9:30 a.m. Spectators are welcome and encouraged to cheer at each race! A Spectator Guide will be released once the race courses have been announced. Awards begin at 6 p.m. in the park each evening with exciting musical acts to follow.
Both the Sport and Expert Enduro and Downhill race at Trails Fest count toward the Lake Superior Gravity Series, which also includes races at Ride the Keweenaw (Memorial Day Weekend) and Miner’s Revenge (mid-July).
If you’re not racing, consider volunteering to help the event run smoothly. You’ll get a free entry to the music, a swag item and free food/drink tickets for your efforts. See the 2023 Participant Guide for more information on every aspect of Trails Fest 2023. Visit Keweenaw invites riders from near and far to adventure north this September and enjoy Copper Harbor’s top-tier trail system.
