COPPER HARBOR – The summer tourism seasons unofficially begins this weekend as volunteers across the Copper Country relaunch Experience the Keweenaw. The event will feature free group mountain bike rides across the Keweenaw’s 90 miles of singletrack trail, enduro races, and other festivities. The event runs from Friday, May 28 to Sunday, May 30.

According to the Copper Harbor Trails Club website, “Experience the Keweenaw is all about exploring the amazing natural and recreational resources the Keweenaw region has to offer. Best of all, you get to ride all of the Copper Country’s amazing trails, from Söké (Southern Keweenaw) all the way to Copper Harbor and everywhere in between.”

Group rides will take place at MTB trails systems in Copper Harbor, Calumet, Hancock, Houghton and Greenland. Rides at the Michigan Tech (Houghton) and Swedetown (Calumet) trail systems will have family friendly options. For more details on biking events this weekend and a full schedule, visit CopperHarborTrails.org.

In addition to mountain biking events, the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge will also be hosting its first-ever Back 9 Endurance Run. According to the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge’s website, “[The Back 9 Endurance Run is] the first of its kind in the U.P.! The Back 9 Endurance Run is a 12/24 hour endurance run (beginning May 29) that takes place on an approximately 3.5 mile loop at the historic Keweenaw Mountain Lodge in Copper Harbor, MI.” For more details visit the Lodge’s website: https://keweenawmountainlodge.com/.

According to Brad Barnett, director of the Keweenaw Convention & Visitors Bureau, businesses and travelers are eagerly anticipating the return of events like Experience the Keweenaw. “I think we’re all excited to see great events like this coming back online. Enjoying the outdoors with friends and family…I think we’ve all missed that a lot.” he explained. “We’re really thankful to the volunteers and businesses helping to make this happen. It means a lot to the community.”

For more information on visiting the Keweenaw Peninsula, visit Keweenaw.info.