St. Germain’s Awassa Trails event promises fun

By Laurie Lenten

If you’re looking for a fun, family and pet friendly, mid-winter pick-me-up then head on out to the Awassa Trail System in St. Germain for the Awassa Candlelight Ski/Snowshoe/Fat Tire event 6-8 p.m., Saturday, Feb.15.

According to Shelby Szott, First Impressions Specialist at the St. Germain Chamber of Commerce, the Awassa Trail System is a well-known and well used trail system in the area.

“People are excited about this upcoming event. We have had a lot of tourists coming into the chamber who have heard about this event and are planning to attend,” she said.

Snowshoeing as a winter silent sport, she noted, has been steadily growing in popularity.

“Snowshoeing has really picked up. It’s a great sport for anyone – kids, adults, seniors – anyone can do it and we have some beautiful trails in St. Germain to explore,” said Szott.

Owned by the Town of St. Germain, the Awassa Trail System includes 230 acres of scenic woodlands and several miles of level trails that meander through a forest of mature oaks, pines, and maples and are ideal for hiking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and fat tire biking. The trails are open year-round and are some of the few that are wheelchair accessible.

For a taste of what the Awassa Trail System has to offer in winter, come on out and snowshoe, ski or fat bike the 1.4 mile groomed loop by candlelight and then gather round the bonfire to enjoy hot chocolate and s’mores.

Fat bike enthusiasts are also welcome to try their hand at biking the new single track 1.7 mile loop by headlamp. While the loop will not be illuminated it will provide more of a challenge than the ski/snowshoe loops.

And for those who enjoy snowshoeing and skiing along with their best four-legged friends, the Awassa Trail System welcomes well-behaved and leashed pets.

The event is being hosted by the St. Germain Non-Motorized Trails Committee. The event is free, but donations are welcome.
The Awassa Trail System is located a half-mile from the Intersection of Hwy 155 and Hwy 70, on Hwy 70 – just past the St. Germain Elementary School. Parking can be found behind the St. Germain Elementary School.

For more information on the Awassa Candlelight Ski/Snowshoe/Fat Tire event, visit www.stgermainwi.chambermaster.com, or follow Awassa Trails on Facebook.

Laurie Lenten is a freelance writer who lives in Rhinelander. Her articles also appear in Northwoods Commerce, Northwoods ‘boomers and Beyond and Living on the Lake magazines.