Field Excursions

Get out and explore the Keweenaw through a series of guided field tours highlighting the landscape, history, sustainability, and stewardship efforts. Some tours are built directly into the summit program, while others are optional experiences available to participants who want to explore further. These tours offer the opportunity to visit local sites, hear regional stories, and learn about the work supporting conservation, recreation, and sustainable travel across the Keweenaw.

Keweenaw Heartlands Brockway Mountain Tour

May 23 | 12:15 PM - 5:00 PM | COPPER HARBOR & BROCKWAY MOUNTAIN

In late 2022, The Nature Conservancy in Michigan (TNC) announced the purchase of over 32,500 acres of working forestland, known as the Keweenaw Heartlands (“the Heartlands”), near the tip of the Keweenaw Peninsula in Keweenaw County. These lands contain many sites of unique ecological, historical, cultural, and recreational significance.

Participants will meet with The Nature Conservancy's Julia Peterson to discuss the region's unique ecological, cultural and recreational significance and learn about efforts to establish a community governed working-forest to support local conservancy and economic goals. After a brief stop at the Copper Harbor Welcome Center to learn about the project's history, participants will visit the Brockway Mountain Summit located in Eagle Harbor Township. If time permits, the group will then travel to the Bete Gris Beach, a County Park in Lac La Belle, MI to visit one of the Keweenaw's most impressive sandy beaches before returning to Houghton.

Transportation: The Summit Motorcoach will depart from the McArdle Theatre Parking lot at 12:15 pm and return approximately at 4:30 pm. Individuals are welcome to self-transport. Those joining us on the Motorcoach will enjoy a local pasty boxed lunch!

Register Here

Adventure Mine Underground Group Bike Ride / Hike & Bat Talk

May 23, 2026 | 6:30PM | Greenland, MI

Join Copper Harbor Trails Club on a guided group ride through the Adventure Mine in Greenland, MI during their annual Ride the Keweenaw event! Bring your headlamp to ride through the mine! Not a biker? No worries! You can get the experience on foot via an underground hike too!

Bike Ride Details: A guided ride through and around Adventure Mine on the Black Diamond XC Course. Unique, rugged, hand-built singletrack featuring an impressive view from the top of Adventure Mountain and lots of mine rock ;) . This ride can split into multiple groups as needed. Don't forget to bring a light for the underground portion of the ride through the historic copper mine. This course is for advanced mountain bikers due to the technical nature of the trail. Helmets and headlamps are required.

Guided Bat Ride / Hike

During our guided bat ride or bat hike, you’ll learn about Michigan’s bat species, the natural history of hibernating bats, the pressures affecting bat populations, and the conservation actions the DNR is taking to help protect them. And with a little luck, we will see live bats.

Meet the Experts:

John DePue is the State Bat Specialist for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. He has worked with bats for more than 15 years and leads statewide bat conservation efforts in Michigan. His team conducts underground winter hibernacula surveys, coordinates bat research projects across the state, supports environmental regulatory work related to bats, and oversees implementation of the Michigan Bat Habitat Conservation Plan.

Breanna Gusick is the Bat Technician for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Bre organizes all aspects of field surveys, prepares and manages bat data, and analyzes acoustic recordings.

Transportation: A shuttle from the McArdle Theatre parking lot will take participants to Adventure Mine and return to Houghton. Shuttle will depart at 5:00 pm. Individuals are welcome to self-transport.