Trail Report: Bayfield County, Wisconsin – January 3, 2017

Trail Conditions: Early Season

Snow Cover: 6-12″

Date of Report: January 3, 2017

Area Report:

All snowmobile trails in Bayfield County are officially open. However, most trails are in early season condition and very few trails are actively being groomed. All riders should exercise extra caution when recreating on the trails at this time. Note: The stick trail on Lake Namekagon is scheduled to go up later this week.

Riders may experience trail segments with little to no snow, icy or rocky conditions, wet and muddy areas or otherwise very rough riding. In addition, some of the areas that were impossible to reach after the major flooding and wind events this summer may still have downed trees. Report any downed trees or unsafe conditions to the Bayfield County Snowmobile Alliance at (715) 969-4150 or email baycotrails@icloud.com.

Please keep in mind that some of these trails are on private land. Private landowners give us permission to maintain portions of these trails on their property. If a segment is in poor condition or if riding could result in damage, please refrain from use. Any damage to the trail system, especially those that exist on private land, will jeopardize our future use privileges and potentially result in permanent trail closures.

For the most up to date trail conditions, including ice crossings over lakes and wetlands, please contact the local snowmobile club in the area you would like to ride. Regular grooming will begin when we get more snow.

Please stay on the designated trails and routes. Changes to the trail system are marked with signage on the trails so when in doubt, follow the signs. Also, some logging operations and other trail issues are updated here: http://bit.ly/2hNe9xx

News and Reports:

New snowmobile maps have arrived! Order yours online at www.travelbayfieldcounty.com or pick one up at area businesses. You can also download the Avenza app (for free) and get the updated Snowmobile Map on your device before you hit the trails – you can locate yourself on the trail map with GPS so you can see where you are, even with no cell reception!

Trail Report: Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan – December 31, 2017

Trail Conditions: Fair

Snow Cover: Base 2″ Past 24hr 4″

Date of Report: December 31, 2017

Area Report:

Report Courtesy of the Sault Snowmobile Association

Groomer Report

Made it through trail 480 for the first time .
Early season right now so ride cautiously watching for stumps, rocks, and other obstacles.
Our parts of trail 8 going west from Soo in fair to good shape.
Still working on opening those traditional wet trails of Soo to Kinross. Water prevents us from getting to it.
Watch for wet areas or water holes not yet frozen if you get in your sled
check Facebook page for pics.
Big reroute around Raco this year
There is a change in the Soo to Kinross trail also.

We have a new plowed parking area at the beginning of trail #8 under the International Bridge.

We now have a marked trail that will be groomed on occasion to get to parts and service at Chippewa Motors. it comes into the back of their lot from the east side of M-129 when you come out of the woods.

Remember trail base is the amount of snow between your track and the ground below not the amount of fluff piled up in the woods. 6 inches of snow compresses to less then a inch on the trail.

Sault Ste. Marie to Brimley, Trail #8 –

Base 2- 4 inches -Trail is in Fair to good Condition.

Brimley to Raco, Trail #8 –

Base 2 – 5 inches -Trail is in fair to good Condition. When going across the bridge in Brimley make sure you go with the flow of traffic! Blowing and drifting occurs when you first leave Brimley.

Raco to Naomikong Trail #8 [where Paradise meets us], Trail #8 –

Base 3 – 6 inches – Trail is in good Condition.

Sault Ste. Marie City Trail, Trails #497, #449, parts of #8 & #49 –

Base 1- 4 inches – Trail is in fair condition.

We now have a marked & groomed trail going to Chippewa Motors. It starts once you come out of the woods east of M-129 off #449. It comes into their parking lot from behind if you need parts or service.

City curfew is from 1 am – 6 am. Remember most City streets are open to traffic 20mph, stop at all intersections, and ride on the right hand side of street not on side walks. Watch for closed streets that are posted, mainly around the hospital, university, and state trunk lines.

Sault Ste. Marie to Kinross, Trail #49 –

Base 1 – 4 inches – Trail is in poor Condition. There are wet spots. Make sure you follow reroute once you cross bridge going south at 7 Mile road .

When the trail is running along roads make sure you go with the flow of traffic on the right side of the road.

Kinross loop & south to Pickford, Parts of Trail #49, #472, and #494 –

Base 1- 4 inches – Trail in fair to good condition. Watch for trucks driving on trails it seems to be the thing this year.

Kinross to Raco & Rudyard, Parts of trail #472 & #480 –

Base 1 – 5 inches – Trail in poor to fair Condition. Lots of water and trail to Rudyard is packed but not to Raco. Watch for reroute signs just west of Kinross

News and Reports:

International 500 Snowmobile Race Information & Button Purchase – Click Here!

Snowmobile Information:

Online Safety Course

Local Safety Course

Courtesy of the Sault Ste Marie Snowmobile Association

The Sledder’s Pledge

I will obey the rules and laws of the state or province I am visiting.
I will be careful when crossing roads, and always cross at a right angle to traffic.
I will keep my machine in top shape and follow a pre-op check before each ride.
I will wear appropriate clothing, including gloves, boots and a helmet with a visor.
I will let family or friends know my planned route, my destination and my expected arrival time.
I will treat the outdoors with respect. I will not litter or damage trees or other vegetation.
I will respect other peoples’ property and rights, and lend a hand when I see someone in need.
I will not snowmobile where prohibited.

Trail Report: Cable, Wisconsin – January 3, 2017

Trail Conditions: Early Season

Snow Cover: 4-6″

Date of Report: January 3, 2017

Area Report:

Bayfield County snowmobile trails are open and the stick trails are starting to go up. Lake Owen is staked and Lake Namakagon is scheduled to be done this Friday. Despite not having a lot of snow on the ground, riders reported fair early season riding conditions over the New Year’s weekend. Groomers have been out and cold temps over the next few days will only strengthen the ice on lakes and in swamps. Snow is forecasted to come in again next week. Do your snow dance!

Trail Report: Ashland County, Wisconsin – January 3, 2017

Trail Conditions: Poor

Snow Cover: 4-8 inches

Date of Report: January 3, 2017

Area Report:

Ashland County Snowmobile Report for January 3, 2017

The Ashland County snowmobile trails are now Partially Open!

Trails in the southern part of the county are open and in poor condition. From Mellen south, trails are open and from Bayfield County Trail 90 going south on Ashland County Trail 9 is open. Anything north of Mellen is closed.
Trails are very icy, ride at your own risk. There is Ice and standing water on the trail. Please be cautions!! Safety is #1.

If you would like a Snowmobile Map/Brochure for Ashland County, let us know and we will be happy to mail one out to you. Call us at 715/682-2500 or toll-free at 1-800-284-9484. Or you may view the snowmobile/ATV trail map in PDF form here.

Trail Report: Ashland County, Wisconsin – January 3, 2017

Trail Conditions: Poor

Snow Cover: 4-8 inches

Date of Report: January 3, 2017

Area Report:

Ashland County Snowmobile Report for January 3, 2017

The Ashland County snowmobile trails are now Partially Open!

Snowmobile Information:

Ashland County Snowmobile Report for January 3, 2017

The Ashland County snowmobile trails are now Partially Open!

Trail Report: Manitowish Waters, Wisconsin – January 3, 2017

Trail Conditions: Fair

Snow Cover: 6″ – 10″

Date of Report: January 3, 2017

Area Report:

Posted by Club President – Barry Hopkins
We rode through MW, Boulder and Arbor Vitae trails yesterday. I would call our trails fair to good. We groomed the entire trail#6 today (twice) so it is a lot better now. That’s the trail between MW and Winchester (see picture from today) Thank you for your patience. We got another 4″ of snow last night so things are shaping up nicely. We could still use more snow, but us snowmobilers are greedy that way: we want “all the snow” A big thank you to all the groomers and volunteers who have worked their butts off to get our trails in good shape! Also a big thank you to the MW Chamber for mailing out Snowmobile Maps for the Club!

Trail Report: Hayward / Sawyer County, Wisconsin – January 3, 2017

Trail Conditions: Good

Snow Cover: 6-9 inches

Date of Report: January 3, 2017

Area Report:

Hello 2017!!

We had a great weekend in Sawyer Co and wish all of you a happy, healthy and safe 2017!

A little update after the holidays, most Sawyer Co trails are OPEN with a great base and a little snow on top.

ALMOST ALL lakes are staked; Spider, Tiger Cat Flowage, Lost Land, Moose, Grindstone, LCO, Whitefish, Holly, Sand, Little Round, Ospry, Nelson, Callahan and the Chippewa Flowage. Barker Lake is marked to Bucktail Lodge.

Trail 63 north of Seeley from Bodecker Rd to Bayfield Co line is CLOSED

In the southern part of the county the Tuscobia trail and Flambeau State Forest trails are OPEN with the exception of trail 36 from Flambeau to Price Co line which is rerouted back to the old trail along Hwy W.

The Chequamegon Forest trails are OPEN in Sawyer County.

Trail 5/27 from Tuscobia south to Rusk Co line is CLOSED. Also trail 5 north of the Tuscobia to Wolfs Eagle Lodge is CLOSED as is trail 6 from Tuscobia by Ojibwa north to the Chippewa Flowage, also CLOSED.

If traveling out of the county to neighboring counties please reach out to the counties to check their trail updates.

Thank you again for a great 2016 and cheers to 2017!

Trail Report: Price County – Park Falls, Phillips & Prentice, Wisconsin – January 3, 2017

Trail Conditions: Unknown

Snow Cover: 6 inches

Date of Report: January 3, 2017

Area Report:

All trails are open and rideable. Watch for wet areas that still may need to freeze and for logging operations. To view detailed trail conditions or to order travel guides or your snowmobile trail map, visit our website at www.pricecountywi.net.

News and Reports:

Visit our online Calendar of Events for details – http://www.pricecountywi.net/calendar.aspx?CID=23
January 7, 2017 – Picnic in the Park, Northwoods Hi-Riders Snowmobile Club
January 15, 2017 – Club Breakfast, Prentice Bushbenders Snowmobile Club
January 20 -28, 2017 – 3rd Annual Winter Fest Tavern League Tour, Price County Tavern League
January 21, 2017 – Radar Fun Run, Vintage Show & Dance, Northwoods Hi-Riders Snowmobile Club
January 26-28, 2017 – Poker Run & Raffle, Fifield Sno-Drovers Snowmobile Club
January 28 & 29, 2017 – Winter Fest, Phillips Area Chamber of Commerce
January 28 & 29, 2017 – Cor Powersports Cross Country Snowmobile Races, Phillips Area Chamber of Commerce
January 28, 2017 – Club Breakfast, Fifield Sno-Drovers Snowmobile Club
January 29, 2017 – Chaparrals Breakfast, Phillips Chaparrals Snowmobile Club
February 5, 2017 – Breakfast Buffet, Elk River Pioneers Snowmobile Club
February 11, 2017 – Dance & Raffle, Northwoods Hi-Riders Snowmobile Club
February 17 & 18, 2017 – Poker Run & Winter Picnic, Elk River Pioneers Snowmobile Club
March 5, 2017 – Club Breakfast, Catawba Driftsplitters Snowmobile Club

Trail Report: Land O’ Lakes, Wisconsin – January 3, 2017

Trail Conditions: Poor

Snow Cover: Need Snow

Date of Report: January 3, 2017

Area Report:

I guess the trails have taken more of a beating than I thought. I am told they are in fair to poor condition.

News and Reports:

Lakes are marked–stay by the barrels

Snowmobile Information:

Pig Skin Poker Run coming up Super Bowl Weekend–contact Bent’s Camp for more info.

Trail Report: Crivitz, Wisconsin – January 3, 2017

Trail Conditions: Early Season

Snow Cover: 6 to 9 inches

Date of Report: January 3, 2017

Area Report:

We received about three inches of good, wet, packy snow last night. That does not sound like much, but all these little bits are definitely helping out. The base is flat and frozen. All three groomers are going out tomorrow morning to pack the trail. You will be updated after I hear back from them.

This has been a very busy summer and fall, working on permits to improve our trail system. The Twin Bridge Park area has some huge changes thanks to the Marinette County Parks Department and Wisconsin DNR. We have been able to take care of a culvert extension along Parkway Road north of County X. We also, just finished the largest problem area in the park. The swamp hole coming off the bridge has been rerouted slightly for a much safer trail. We put in a culvert there allowing our groomers to get through, even early in the season! Also, north of Twin Bridge Campground, were we had a wetland issue, thanks to the new landowner, we were able to reroute with few problems to improve that area. Landowners are such a big part of our trail system. When you see them, thank them, wave and give them thumbs up! Remember, use of their property is a privilege, not a right!

The Oconto county area of the trail has had our loyal excavator very busy. He has bulldozed from Holtz Ranch Road north and over to LaFave Road, then…from Chickadee Road west to Boat Landing 11 Road. He was even out there on a Sunday, trying to stay ahead of the cold weather. THANK YOU VERY MUCH…

In addition to the new John Deere tractor that we purchased last year, we have now purchased another New Holland tractor for even better trail grooming.

If you do venture out on the trails…please be careful. There is a swamp hole north of Bucks Ranch Road on the pipeline. Snowmobiles can make it through. There is caution tape there. Please be aware. OUR WATERWAYS ARE NOT SAFE. Stay on marked trails. We need snow and colder temps.

News and Reports:

Saturday, January 21 – High Fall Flowage Snowmobile Radar Run

Saturday, January 28 – 5th Annual Human Ice Bowling at Thortons Resort

Saturday, February 11 – High Falls Fish-o-Rama and Radar Run

Saturday, February 18 – Crooked Lake Fish-o-Rama

Saturday, February 27-Vintage Sled Ride at Thunder Lake Lodge

(any club members with events to be listed, please contact me…thank you)