For many years, the small town of Alberta supplied the wood that was used in the production of the Ford Motor Co.’s early vehicles. After Ford abandoned its sawmill operation in the area, Michigan Technological University began using the 3,000-acre property for further student education in forestry.
From spring until the end of fall, students use the Ford Center in Alberta to further their education. At the same time, the Ford Center welcomes the community to the grounds to explore history by touring the sawmill, outbuildings and trails. The public has had a lot of interest in the small village over many years and will now have an opportunity to explore the grounds in a new way.
Recently, Alberta opened a new cross-country ski trail on the grounds, expanding recreation opportunities between Marquette and Houghton.
“We took advantage of existing trail networks for research purposes and getting around our forest. What we have groomed this first year is nearly 10K. It isn’t out and back, but it has three loops incorporated into it, so you can get just about exactly 10K if you do our short loop twice. It heads out toward the Sturgeon River Gorge. There’s some really nice long views on the trail,” said Jim Tolan, operations manager for the MTU Ford Center in Alberta.
Ford Center operations manager Jim Tolan says Alberta has fostered education at the remote field station for many years. Four major programs will use the space for class, and many students in the College of Forestry may become a part of a research team at the station.
“You know, of course that’s our primary mandate, is the university and our students, but we’re also part of the community. There’s no avoiding it. We’re right here. We’re in a historic village. We love the interaction with the public, and Baraga County really didn’t have much in the way of, especially, cross-country ski activity here. A little group got started in L’Anse, just recently brought back a trail that existed there,” Tolan said.
Those visiting the new cross-country ski trails at the Ford Center in Alberta will need to bring their own equipment, though Tolan hopes in the future the Alberta cross-country trail could work with the Tech Trails in Houghton to offer access to equipment. Bringing recreation opportunities to Alberta will open access to cross-country skiing in Baraga County.
“We’re not currently affiliated with Tech Trails as far as the pass system, so that’s stuff that we are all looking into, and we do have the potential to expand out here,” Tolan said. “This is kind of our beta year, just getting going, working out the bugs ourselves, learning how to groom trails and keep it going. And that is going well. So, you know, I can imagine a future that just might include all that type of stuff.”
To get to the Alberta cross-country trails, turn off U.S. 41 and take Liberator Lane to the dead end at the trailhead. Those visiting the trail will need to bring their own skis or snowshoes. Find more information on the cross-country trails at the Ford Center in Alberta online.
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