Reporter:Ryan Strand
Trail Conditions: Early Season
Snow Cover: 8”
Date of Report: December 30, 2020
Area Report:
Trails open tomorrow 12/31/20 at 6am. Please ride with caution and enjoy! Happy New Year!
Reporter:Phelps Snowmobile Club
Trail Conditions: Closed
Snow Cover: 6″- 8″
Date of Report: December 30, 2020
Area Report:
We had a nice snow fall last which will allow us to pan the trails tonight and tommorrow. The Vilas county trail system is scheduled to opn at 8:00 a.m. on Friday January 1, 2021. Please remember that the trails are in very early condition with not enough snow on the ground for normal grooming operations. More snow is needed to fill in ruts and dips on the trail base. Please keep your speed down and ride carefully if you decide to venture out. Hopefully more snow will be on the way. Perferably some wet snow to pack into a good base.Please check back offen for updates on conditions.
Reporter:Phil
Trail Conditions: Early Season
Snow Cover: looking better
Date of Report: December 30, 2020
Area Report:
Vilas County trails and Frosty Club trails open Friday at 8 AM. MI trails have been open and reports re: the grade from Land O to Watersmeet and then west have been favorable. The Cisco chain from Cisco Bar to Bent’s Camp is marked. Lac Vieux Desert from the west shore boat landing and Sunrise Lodge to Thunder Bay Resort (bar opening 11 am on Friday) is marked. North Twin Lake from both boat landings to Dublin’s is marked.
Trail Boss Rob Spiotto from the Alley has been busting his ass getting the trails ready. The swamp just west of the airport has not frozen and he has dumped a ton of snow in it to try to make a snow bridge. Use Extreme Caution there as it is going to be low on snow, rough, and possible open water. As you get west of there the trail improves greatly.
News and Reports:
Congrats to the snowmobile safety class graduates and many thanks to Melissa, Rob, and Anthony Spiotto for their excellent instruction and thanks to Sunrise Lodge for providing lunch.
Snowmobile Information:
THINK SNOW!
Reporter:Dear Lodge
Trail Conditions: Fair
Snow Cover: 9
Date of Report: December 30, 2020
Area Report:
We got snow ,north has more and they are opening trails up south of Mercer NO BASE YET BUT IT’S A START. flowage is safe and in great shape STAY NEAR THE MARKERS. [stumps] Warmer weather coming in 5 days, [ mid 30s for a week ] maybe that will help with a base. Will let you know how the trails hold up next year, HAVE A SAFE NEW YEAR
DEAR LODGE / BEST PIZZA IN THE NORTHWOODS
STAY@FLAMBEAULODGING.COM 715 476 2084
Reporter:haywardlakes
Trail Conditions: Poor
Snow Cover: 6-8 inches
Date of Report: December 30, 2020
Area Report:
Reporter:Washburn County
Trail Conditions: Closed
Snow Cover: 3 – 5″
Date of Report: December 30, 2020
Area Report:
Official Trail Report: Many Washburn County Snowmobile Trails will open for the season on Friday, January 1st. All trails south of Hwy 70 and East of Hwy 53 will remain closed at this time. All other Washburn County snowmobile trails will open at 8:00 a.m. on January 1st. Trail conditions are fair with a 3 to 5 inch snow base. We do have early season type of conditions, some trails may not be groomed and lake ice conditions are not completely safe at this time. Clubs are out grooming, so please exercise caution and watch for active trail grooming and trail maintenance.
Reporter:boulderwi
Trail Conditions: Closed
Snow Cover: 5-7 inches
Date of Report: December 30, 2020
Area Report:
The Vilas County Snowmobile Trail System will officially open this Friday, January 1st at 8am. Plan your trip to Boulder Junction today!
Join us for these upcoming events:
January 9. Boulder Junction Snowmobile Club Brat Fry Fundraiser at the Granary Family Restaurant. 11am-2pm
January 17. Boulder Junction Snowmobile Club Breakfast Fundraiser at Gooch’s 2. 8:30am-11am
February 6. 13th Annual Frozen Tozen Ice Fishing Tournament. Boulder Lake. 8am-4pm
February 14. Boulder Junction Snowmobile Club Breakfast Fundraiser. Boulder Beer Bar. 8:30am-11am
Reporter:minocqua
Trail Conditions: Closed
Snow Cover: 8
Date of Report: December 30, 2020
Area Report:
Just in , Vilas County will open Jan 1st at 8:00 am , Oneida still closed at this time, will let you know when they open, trail conditions will be thin in areas and expect early season riding conditions till we get more snow
Reporter:minocqua
Trail Conditions: Closed
Snow Cover: 8 inches
Date of Report: December 30, 2020
Area Report:
We did get some more snow last night to help our base some more, 3-4 inches fell here but it is not the heavy wet stuff that we really need so we still have to wait for more before they open here, we are in need of about 5-6 more so we can get rolling here for 2021
Reporter:Ely Chamber of Commerce/Explore MN Visitor Center
Trail Conditions: Fair
Snow Cover: Snow Depth – 4-16” inches
Date of Report: December 30, 2020
Area Report:
GENERAL INFORMATION: A large part of the trail system will get an initial groom over the next couple days, there is quite a bit more snow in the woods, and the swamps have built quite a bit of ice. After the initial groom, grooming will likely not take place again until we get more snow. Currently, the snow is only thick enough in places to pan the trail and not cut it with the drag.
Portions of trail remain ungroomed where ice in swamps is still too thin for grooming equipment. Crews continue to pack swamps/wetlands to help the ice freeze thick enough to support grooming equipment. Please use caution on the trails and travel at your own risk.
There is active logging happening on a number of spots throughout the Grant-in-Aid and State Trail system. Please slow down and give trucks and logging equipment space. No Motorized Vehicles other than snowmobiles are allowed on State Trails or Grant-in-Aid snowmobile trails.
Area Trails:
No trails around Ely are groomed. Crews will be packing some of the swamps and checking for good freeze-up on Thursday, 12/31. There is about 8″ to 10″ of ice on area lakes and some more of the lakes will be staked by the weekend. Fall Lake is staked and Shagawa will be staked on Wednesday, 12/30. There is slush in some spots. Watch for pressure ridges as they are starting to form. Grooming will likely begin next week if we get more snow.
Arrowhead State Trail
The Arrowhead State trail is the backbone to an extensive Grant-in-Aid trail system that travels through remote areas.
TRAIL CONDITIONS:
Snowmobiling: Condition-Poor to Fair Trail – Partially Groomed; Base – 0-1”
The Arrowhead trail portions will be groomed by New Year’s weekend. Entire portion from 3K trails (Kabetogama) south to Elephant Lake trail shelter (just south of Elephant Lake and Melgeorges), Orr South GIA trail south to Vermilion Houseboats trail (Lost Lake swamp). The remaining trail portions are ungroomed due to thin ice or open water in swamps.
Bearhead Lake State Park
Snowmobiling: Condition – Good; Trails – Groomed; Base 2”
TRAIL CONDITIONS: The Taconite Trail in Bear Head Lake State Park was groomed on December 24, and is in good condition with some areas of debris under the large pines. Ski trails have not been set yet.
Bearhead State Park trails provide rolling topography through birch and pine stands. You may see a variety of wildlife ranging from deer, wolves, ruffed grouse, and pine martens. You can snowshoe anywhere in Minnesota’s state parks and recreation areas, except on trails that are specifically groomed for another activity, such as snowmobiling or skiing.
Lake Vermilion – Soudan Underground Mine State Park
Snowmobiling: Condition – Poor Trails – Not Groomed; Base – 0”
TRAIL CONDITIONS: The park trails are open, but snowmobile travel is no recommended. Very little snow is on the trails or in the woods, and ice in swamps is inconsistent with 5-8” in some spots and only 1-2” in others. The trail crew is making a final pass clearing deadfall from trails, and we are also packing swamps/wetlands where possible to knock down grass and cattails, to help the ice freeze thick enough to support grooming equipment. Trail use is not recommended; please use extreme caution and travel at your own risk. Soudan Underground Mine and Lake Vermilion State Park Trails will get a first groom before New Year’s weekend.
The park has 5 miles of snowmobile trails that connects from the Taconite State Trail to the Lake Vermilion ice trail. The ride takes you through old growth pines and young aspen forests with large wetland complexes to view along the way. You can snowshoe anywhere in Minnesota’s state parks and recreation areas, except on trails that are specifically groomed for another activity, such as snowmobiling or skiing.
Putnam/Fishing Lakes – Bear Island State Forest
Snowmobiling: Condition – Poor to Fair; Trails –Partially Groomed; Base 0-1”
The Putnam and Fishing Lakes Trails traverse forested, rolling topography through birch, ash, and pine stands. Several small lakes dot the landscape along these scenic trails.
TRAIL CONDITIONS: Trails are open but ungroomed due to impassable swamps (thin ice) and insufficient snow (this trail needs more snow to initially due to rocks and topography). Snowmobile travel is not recommended. Please use extreme caution and travel at your own risk.
Taconite State Trail
Snowmobiling: Condition – Poor to Fair Trails –Partially Groomed; Base 0-1”
Taconite State Trail stretches one hundred sixty-five miles from Grand Rapids to Ely through many scenic vistas of rolling hillsides, lakes, rivers and forest.
TRAIL CONDITIONS: Taconite trail portions between Ely and Side Lake will be groomed by New Year’s weekend: Ely to the Pike River trail bridge (10 miles west of Tower, just before Arrowhead jct), Entire trail portion of Wolftrack Grant-in-Aid (GIA) trail west to Side Lake. The remaining trail portions are ungroomed due to thin ice or open water in swamps.
Taconite Spur West – Not groomed
Taconite Spur North – Not groomed
Stony Spur East – Not groomed