On a quiet winter day...

There is truly something special being on a cross country ski trail during a quiet, still, winter day. You can hear the creaks and groans of the trees laden with the fresh snow. These sounds make apparent the great weight that this stuff put on their beautiful branches. Bits of green pop through the forest with the evergreens stubbornly invading the calm whiteness with beautiful shades of green, and the size of the trees tells you the story of how many decades people have enjoyed their mighty splendor.

Hiawatha Highlands is nestled in an untouched, beautiful conservation area on the outskirts of the bustling city of Sault Ste. Marie. This park setting is home to four seasons of activities, but the miles of beautifully groomed cross-country ski trails is by far its claim to fame. Graced with swelling hills, frozen waterfalls, and beautiful forests, Hiawatha truly epitomizes why Nordic skiing is such a popular sport.

There are over 45 km of groomed trails and 2 km are lit until 9 p.m. There is 134 km of double track snowshoeing and even a pilot trail for the ever-growing snow bike enthusiast.

- Carol Caputo

Read the full article about cross country skiing this winter.