Future SSM pitches 15 km cycling trail as tourism opportunity

Proponents of the Farmer Lake Mountain Bike Trail Network say that the proposed 15-kilometre network of bike trails could lure more cycling events - and subsequently, tourism dollars - into Sault Ste. Marie year round.  

The proposed multi-use trail network - which would, if approved, be situated on a parcel of the Hiawatha Highlands north of Connor Road - is the result of a partnership between Future SSM, Sault Cycling Club and Tourism Sault Ste. Marie.

“The entire basis of this trail development is around the premise that the trails are a great addition to the community, and are also are a major driver for attracting people here, both from a tourism perspective and also new citizens to the area,” said Future SSM Project Coordinator Travis Anderson during a pitch to the Sault Ste. Marie Region Conservation Authority (SSMRCA) during its board meeting Tuesday night.

If approved, work on the Farmer Lake Mountain Bike Trail Network could begin as early as this spring.

Soo Finnish Nordic Ski Club, Kinsmen Club of Sault Ste. Marie, Voyageur Trail Association and the Sault Ste. Marie Economic Development Corporation have all submitted letters of support for the project so far.  

Anderson told SSMRCA board members that cycling trips - not to mention fat bike excursions during the winter months - are drawing cycling tourists to existing trail networks in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

He says Marquette, Mich., with a population of roughly 22,000, is a prime example of that.

“They have year-round trails there, because they do a lot of grooming in the winter for fat biking, and they’re seeing close to 35,000 visitors annually for mountain biking,” Anderson said.

Future SSM, Sault Cycling Club and Tourism Sault Ste. Marie are hopeful that a new single-track trail network could sell visitors on staying in town for an extra night or two.

“We do have 31 kilometres of existing single-track mountain bike trails locally, over on the Red Pine, over on the Pinder and the Crystal network,” said Anderson. “But I would say [that an] intermediate to good rider will finish all those trails in about half a day.”

Proponents of the Farmer Lake Mountain Bike Trail Network would also like to partner with pre-existing events like Crank The Shield, a 90-kilometre cycling competition that was held this past August north of the city.

In fact, they would like to see the first phase of the proposed trail network completed in time for the 2019 edition of the Crank The Shield event.   

“We see a really good opportunity to really grow these events and try to attract new ones as part of this trail development,” Anderson said.

The SSMRCA board did not make a decision on the proposal during Tuesday’s board meeting.

Future SSM will be hosting an open house Thursday evening from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Russ Ramsay Room of the Sault Ste. Marie Civic Centre, where members of the public are encouraged to attend the meeting and provide feedback on the proposed multi-use trail system.