3 events in Iron County, Wisconsin
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Iron County
3 events in Iron County-
Sat, Dec 20, 2025 at 7:00 AMSee full details
MECCA Trails is pleased to announce the 2026 Winterfest, to be held live on January 17, 2026 and virtually between December 20, 2025, and February 14, 2026.
Winterfest includes multiple skiing events that will be offered as a timed event on January 17th or virtual, self-timed throughout the winter. The snowshoe tour will be a virtual experience, and racers can choose to submit their snowshoe time to be eligible for prizes. All MECCA Trails will be open throughout the skiing season.
All students ages 19 and under can register for any event for just $20, thanks to generous support from our sponsors. Please note: Your age bracket (including for determining student pricing) will be based on your age as of January 17, 2026. RunSignUp will automatically charge you the correct registration fee based on your age during checkout.
For more detailed race day information, please see the 2026 Skier Handbook.
January 17, 2026, skiing events include:
MECCA 30K: The MECCA 30K is designed to challenge serious skiers. The race is a two lap race course, starting and finishing at the MECCA Chalet. Choose to register for the classic or skate division. The course is rated moderate to advanced with numerous hills. This race is designed for skiers who intend to finish the event in 4 hours 30 minutes or less. (Actual course length is 30.6 kilometers.)
Flowage 15K: This race showcases most of the MECCA Trail system. The course goes through upland hardwoods and pines, spruce and cedar wetlands, crosses the Little Turtle River Flowage and Waterfowl Wildlife Area to the west side of the trail system at Voss Lake. The course is rated moderate to advanced with numerous hills. Skiers choose to compete in either classic or skate divisions. (Actual course length is 15.3 kilometers.)
Claire d' Loon 5K: This popular race is a favorite of younger skiers, families and first time racers. The 5K course is a fun course through the woods and fields near the chalet. The course is rated easy to moderate with a few hills.
New for 2026, the Skiathlon 20K: Competitors will ski 10k classic, switch skis while the clock is running, then ski another 10k skate style.
At MECCA Winterfest Live on January 17, hot and cold beverages will be available at the chalet. A pasty lunch will be served at the finish line, and lunch is complimentary for all registered racers. Food and beverages will be served by volunteers. Register by January 1, 2026, for a discount race price of $50. After January 2, registration is $60.
2025/2026 Virtual Events include:
MECCA virtual 30K: The MECCA 30K is designed to challenge serious skiers. Choose to register for the classic or skate division. The course is a two lap race course starting and finishing behind the MECCA Chalet. The course is rated moderate to advanced with numerous hills. (Note: Actual course length is 30.6 kilometers.)
Flowage virtual 15K: This race showcases most of the MECCA Trail system. The course goes through upland hardwoods and pines, spruce and cedar wetlands, crosses the Little Turtle River Flowage and Wildlife Area to the west side of the trail system at Voss Lake. The course is rated moderate to advanced with numerous hills. Skiers choose to compete in either classic or skate divisions. (Note: actual course length is 15.3 kilometers.)
Claire d' Loon virtual 5K: This popular race is a favorite of younger skiers, families and first time racers. The 5K course is a fun course through the woods and fields near the chalet. The course is rated easy to moderate with a few hills.
New for 2026, the Skiathlon 20K: Competitors will ski 10k classic, switch skis while the clock is running, then ski another 10k skate style. The Skiathlon Virtual can also be completed as a team, with each team member completing either the classic or skate leg.
Mercer Springs Snowshoe Tour: This event highlights the beauty of the looped snowshoe trails at MECCA. The Klondike Trail is just over 1 mile and starts and ends behind the chalet. The Mercer Springs Trail starts just across Fierick Road from the chalet, winds through the forest of hardwoods and pines then enters the Mercer Springs wetlands. There's even a beaver dam to walk across. The Mercer Springs Trail meets the Klondike trail, so participants can choose 1,2 or 3 miles of beautiful trails. Registered snowshoers can choose to self-report their time for the 2.1 mile Mercer Springs Trail to be eligible for prizes.
Registration all virtual events is $30.
The MECCA TRAILS Winterfest is presented by MECCA Trails and the Gogebic Range Health Foundation. It is a fundraising event for MECCA Trails, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Profits are used to promote, expand, and enhance the MECCA Trail system as well as provide funding for the MECCA Experience community outreach program. The Gogebic Range Health Foundation partners with MECCA Trails to assist with meeting their community support goals.
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Sat, Aug 01, 2026 at 9:00 AMSee full details
August 1st, 2026 - Join us for the second annual Loon Ride at the Mercer Bike Fest.
ICORE (Iron County Outdoor Recreation Enthusiasts) announces the inaugural Mercer Bike Fest and Loon Ride. The event supports our fund raising efforts to expand the current Mercer bike trail from Carow Park along Hwy J to WinMan Trails ultimately completing a 26 mile loop of Mercer and Manitowish Waters as part of the Heart of Vilas County trail system. In previous years this ride was known as Lupine Junefest. The volunteers who created and supported that ride did a wonderful job of building the foundation for the trail expansion project. We are proud to take up the cause. Please note: moving forward if you choose to ride and E-bike only class 1, those without throttles, are allowed for safety reasons.
Join us in our efforts by riding a 7, 24, or 50 mile route starting and ending at Carow Park on the shores of beautiful Grand Portage Lake. When you return to Carow Park stay with us for music, food and raffles. Cool off with a swim in the lake! Registration fee includes shirt, swag bag, beverage and lunch. Kids 10 and under ride FREE* when accompanied by a paid adult and do not need to register online. Kid friendly activities at the park after the ride.
For more about the Mercer bike trails and how you can play a part in completing the loop click here. This event also kicks off the week of Loon Days with the annual Loon Day Art and Craft fair on Saturday August 5th with over 250 vendors. Loon Day has been a Mercer tradition for over 45 years!
*Free riders are not eligible for T-shirt, lunch or swag bag.
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Fri, Aug 07, 2026 at 5:30 PMSee full details
The Paavo Nurmi Marathon is a point-to-point marathon run in Northern Iron County, Wisconsin - always the 2nd Saturday in August. The Paavo runs on a verified course but is no longer a BQ this year*. We're debuting and even safer and special course for you that takes you along roads you can't access outside the race, past the only standing mine headframe in Wisconsin, and down shady groves of pines. With A half marathon, marathon RELAY, and Twilight 5K Run/Walk are also part of the festivities.
The Paavo Nurmi Marathon is the longest running marathon in Wisconsin, with 2025 being our 55th year. We have custom wooden finisher medals made from local wood by local artisans here in town for all marathon, half marathon, and RELAY finishers. Food music and fun... are you ready?
Locals and visitors alike will find a weekend of history and heart, once again be run on the course that made us famous, "finishing" in downtown Hurley, Wisconsin.
The Twilight 5K Run/Walk, a family friendly run/walk to take place on Friday evening, August 8th, during The Paavo Nurmi Marathon EXPO.
Register TODAY!
*In the interest in safety and enjoyment, the course has been changed due to increased traffic on 77 from State Highway 2 reroute, and a road closure for a bridge outage on route 122.