Mecca Trails Winterfest

MECCA TRAILS is pleased to announce its second annual WINTERFEST, held in person on February 5, 2022 and virtually between December 18, 2021 and February 18, 2022.  WINTERFEST includes multiple skiing events that will be offered as a timed event on February 5th or virtual, self timed throughout the winter. The snowshoe tour will be an untimed virtual experience. All MECCA Trails will be open throughout the skiing season. 

The February 5th skiing events include:

The Flowage 15K Freestyle.  This race showcases most of the MECCA Trail system.  The course goes through upland hardwoods and pines, spruce and cedar wetlands, crosses the Little Turtle River Flowage and Waterfowl Wildlife Area to the west side of the trail system at Voss Lake.  The course is rated moderate to advanced with numerous hills.

The Claire d' Loon 5K.  This popular race is a favorite of younger skiers, families and first time racers.  The 5K course is a fun course through the woods and fields near the chalet.  The course is rated easy to moderate with a few hills.

After the February 5th event, there will be an awards ceremony and meal at the Mercer Community Center.

The virtual skiing events include:
The 4th annual Turtle River Pursuit.  The Pursuit is a combined time race with an 11K classic leg and an 11K skating leg.  Racers can ski the Pursuit course whenever they would like and turn in their times for the two legs. The course is rated moderate with hilly terrain. Individual or 2 person teams can compete. 

The Claire d' Loon 5K.  This popular race is a favorite of younger skiers, families and first time racers.  The 5K course is a fun course through the woods and fields near the chalet.  The course is rated easy to moderate with a few hills.

The Flowage 15K Freestyle.  This race showcases most of the MECCA Trail system.  The course goes through upland hardwoods and pines, spruce and cedar wetlands, crosses the Little Turtle River Flowage and Wildlife Area to the west side of the trail system at Voss Lake.  The course is rated moderate to advanced with numerous hills.

The Mercer Springs Snowshoe Tour highlights the beauty of the looped snowshoe trails at MECCA.  The Klondike Trail is just over 1 mile and starts and ends behind the chalet.  The new Mercer Springs Trail starts just across Fierick Road from chalet, winds through the forest of hardwoods and pines then enters the Mercer Springs wetlands.  There's even a beaver dam to walk across.  The Mercer Springs Trail meets the Klondike trail, so participants can choose 1,2 or 3 miles of beautiful trails.

Participants are offered a discount option to add a MECCA membership.

The MECCA TRAILS WINTERFEST is presented by MECCA TRAILS and the Gogebic Range Health Foundation.  It is a fundraising event for MECCA Trails a 501c3 nonprofit organization.  Profits are used to promote, expand and enhance MECCA as well as funding for the MECCA Experience community outreach program.

The Gogebic Range Health Foundation partners with MECCA Trails to assist with meeting their community support goals. In return the Gogebic Range Health Foundation matches the profits up to $8,000. Your additional donation to the Gogebic Range Health Foundation helps fund community grants and collaboration match dollars. To make a donation visit www.gogebicrangehf.org/donate