Winter Fun

If you use the town of Manistique as your base camp, you may need help in deciding what to do first. For anyone into cross-country skiing, the Indian Lake Pathways Ski Trail would be an excellent place to start. Just out of town on the west side of Indian Lake, the Indian Lake Pathways Ski Trail offer trails ranging from just under a mile in length to twenty three miles.

Other popular winter pursuits would include snowshoeing and there is no better spot for that than the Rainey Memorial Wildlife Area. Located on the northeast end of Indian Lake, the Rainey Wildlife Area is a cooperative project between the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the Michigan Conservation Foundation. At the end of the trail is a large open marshy area that is home to several species of wildlife.

Even if the wildlife doesn’t cooperate, good friends and good food always adds up to a good time.

Another must-see winter scene in Schoolcraft county would have to be Kitchi-ti-kipi, or the Big Springs. Accessible in winter only by skis, snowshoes and snowmobile, the Big Springs are as lovely to see framed in white as it is in the other seasons and at this time of year you'll probably have it all to yourself.

Don't think for a minute that we've forgotten about the snowmobiling possibilities in Schoolcraft county. There's opportunity aplenty with hundreds of miles of groomed trails leading off in every direction regardless of where you start. One interesting place in particular is the "Thunder Bowl." An old abandoned ski hill, the Thunder Bowl is now the playground of snowmobiles and sledders alike.