Austin Lowes, chair of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, knows a thing or two about hiking.
His experiences include picturesque hikes in the Grand Tetons and Yosemite, among other spots. Lowes uses hiking to stay in shape, understanding the health risks that run deep throughout his tribe.
Locally, he recommends Big Bear Trail, a 1.3-mile loop trail that takes about 25 minutes to complete. The trailhead is located at the corner of the Big Bear Arena’s parking lot, near the playground.
“The Big Bear Trail is on property that the Sault tribe owns,” he said. “It’s 226 acres and, as far as trails go, there are 2 miles of trails within that area.”
“Having our own trail system is definitely a blessing. We’re impacted by diabetes and obesity. This allows us to have another outlet for engaging in physical activity.”
Dubbed an easy, low-impact hike, the trail is regularly maintained, according to Lowes. It’s perfect for cross-country skiing, hiking, running and snowshoeing — especially between July and November. Big Bear’s community center rents snowshoes to the public ($7 daily, $10 weekend, $25 week-long rental) and Sault Tribe and fitness members ($5 daily, $8 weekend, $20 week-long rental). Weekend rental is considered any three consecutive days. For snowshoe reservations, email [email protected].
Lowes said he’s proud of the two 20-foot bridges that were reconstructed on the property within the last few years. In January 2019, the trail was closed as the pedestrian bridges on the trail collapsed.
“The transportation department is always looking for grants to improve it back there,” Lowes said.
“It’s beautiful, though. It’s a wide trail. You will encounter beautiful forests. If you want to walk on it, you can use it for that purpose. We encourage members to use our land in the ways our ancestors used it — hunting, fishing and gathering. The trail system is beautiful and we’re constantly improving it.”
