Hancock Trails Club

10/27/2026

Hancock’s Recreation Millage & Our Trails — November 3

Did you know that the City of Hancock’s recreation millage helps provide funding for local outdoor recreation, including trail-related improvements?

On Tuesday, November 3, Hancock voters will decide whether to renew the city’s existing recreation millage for another five years.

What does this mean for our trails?

The Hancock Trails Club works in partnership with the City of Hancock to maintain and improve our local trail systems.

The recreation millage provides a dedicated source of city funding for recreational improvements. Hancock’s recreation plan includes trail projects, equipment, and infrastructure among the potential uses of recreation funding.

Renewing the millage would maintain that funding source for 2027–2031. Without renewal, the existing dedicated millage funding would expire.

We encourage all eligible Hancock residents to learn about the proposal and make their voices heard on November 3.

Our trails are a community resource, and understanding how they’re supported matters!

Find the official ballot language here:
https://www.houghtoncounty.net/clerk-2026-elections.php

10/21/2026

Fall is here and we’re looking for volunteers to help keep our trails safe and clean. If you’re interested in helping please comment below or reach out through the website and we’ll coordinate with you.

10/17/2026

Big thanks to the volunteer crew and Tech students that came out for Make-a-Difference day. We replaced and extended the boardwalk on the Grillhouse trail and did some w**d whacking to get the ski trails in the Swedetown Creek Gorge ready for winter.

We’re also getting close to fall leaf blowing season and the forecast is looking pretty nice, so let us know if you can get out to blow some leaves (and acorns!). We can provide the tools.

08/05/2026

A few summer updates…
The wasps have been active this summer, so be careful out there (pic #1). We’ve sprayed a half dozen nests. Let us know if you encounter one.

Our summer maintenance worker, Zack, has been busy w**d whacking, removing old signage (pic #2), adding some new signage, and doing some selective trail smoothing. Hopefully you’ve noticed some of the improvements.

A couple teenage volunteers have been working on resurfacing the Aunt Flo trail this summer (pic 3 and 4).

The second round of summer ski trail mowing is underway, thanks to volunteers John and Kevin.

07/16/2026

07/11/2026

Make sure to come check out all the hard work Far North Trail Company has done on this awesome new addition to our trail system.

07/09/2026

Hancock Trails Club members — we need your help!

The Canal Run is coming up, and volunteers are needed to help make this great community event a success. They are especially looking for volunteers to assist with road crossings, which are critical for keeping runners safe and helping the race run smoothly.

This year, it is especially important that our members get involved because the Hancock Trails Club is the recipient of funds through the Canal Run Gives Back Program. By volunteering, you are not only supporting a great local event, but also directly supporting our trails and our club.

Sign up to volunteer here:
https://runsignup.com/Race/Volunteer/MI/Hancock/CanalRun

Learn more about the Canal Run Gives Back Program:
https://www.canal.run/Race/CanalRun/Page/giving-back

Please consider signing up, especially at a road crossing. Every volunteer makes a difference!

This incredible event doesn't happen without about 100 volunteers, and we'd love for YOU to join us as one of those volunteers! A full list of our volunteer needs can be found on our website, please check it out and sign up to help out! https://coppershores.cc/3Fmjnkt

07/02/2026

After more than a year in the making we couldn't be more excited to be wrapping up this project with Far North Trail Company !!

Stay tuned for details on a grand opening later this summer to celebrate this new community space!


Patronicity
Michigan Economic Development Corporation
City of Hancock
Visit Keweenaw
Keweenaw Community Foundation

06/23/2026

Come and test our your bike handling skills at the new Skinny Zone at the Creekside Trailhead and Bike Park! There’s a little something for everyone, with a purpose built progressive lineup of skinnies.

Thanks to our friends over at the Keweenaw Community Foundation for partnering with us on this exciting new feature at Creekside!

06/19/2026

Thanks to Patronicity for sharing the story behind the Creekside Trailhead and Bike Park project. What began as an overgrown trailhead has grown into a community space for riders of all ages and abilities, made possible through the support of many volunteers, donors, and local partners.

We're looking forward to project completion later this year and celebrating this new space with our trail community. 🚲🌲

City of Hancock
Patronicity
Visit Keweenaw
Keweenaw Community Foundation

At Patronicity, we believe that passionate individuals can spur change in their communities. We refer to those individuals as Patrons in the City.

This week, we have a special double-feature: Ian Helman and Nate Laakonen of the Hancock Trails Club! Ian and Nate have a passion for mountain biking, and felt their community was lacking a space for trail users to gather and share their hobby— so they built one. Today, with the support of their community and a matching grant from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, what was once a disused trailhead with an overgrown track is now a brilliant mountain bike park for riders of all ages and abilities to enjoy.

We spoke with Ian and Nate to learn more about how they used their hobby to create lasting change in their community.

Read the full interview on Patronicity Resources 🚲️ https://buff.ly/2dkvxYi

Keep your eyes on the Hancock Trails Club page for more information on the opening party this summer.