IRON MOUNTAIN — Dickinson Trail Network is proposing 4 to 5 miles of new trails in the Fumee Lake Natural Area, mainly to appeal to mountain bike enthusiasts.

The concept drew a positive response after DTN President Chad Susott briefed the county board Monday.

“We have to catch up with the rest of the country on trails,” Commissioner Joe Stevens said, noting the county should be “a destination place” for tourism and not merely a gateway.

The Fumee Lake Commission must first approve the non-motorized trail loops on former Keweenaw Land Association property north of Fumee Lake, Susott told the board. A professional trail builder will be consulted and DTN expects to approach the county about authorizing American Rescue Plan Act funding for the work, he said.

In December, DTN learned its proposed Pewabic Hill mountain bike trail system in Iron Mountain had been recommended for a $183,200 grant through the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund. The grant to the city will be buffeted by a $64,000 match from the non-profit DTN.

The Pewabic system will feature about 6 miles of public trails on city property east of Park Avenue, linking to DTN’s Millie Hill Trailhead, a 5-mile system just west of Park Avenue. In addition to its Millie Hill trails, DTN has constructed multi-use single-track trails in the Norway area.

DTN was established in 2019, expanding on a foundation laid by Dickinson County Bike Path. Its main focus is building, maintaining and promoting off-road multi-use trails throughout the county.

The group partners with the Fumee Lake Commission to maintain existing trails in the natural area. In winter, DTN grooms the trails for cross country skiing, snowshoeing and fat tire bikes.

The Fumee Lake Loop is a 7.2-mile trail that traverses the lake’s perimeter, consisting of the Big Fumee Pathway, South Ridge Pathway and Little Fumee Pathway.

Jim Anderson can be reached at 906-774-3500, ext. 226, or janderson@ironmountaindailynews.com.