Your Online Trail and Travel Guide for Snowmobiling the U.S. & Canada

Trail Report – : Western UP, Michigan – January 30, 2020

Reporter:Western U.P. Snowmobile Report
Trail Conditions: Good
Snow Cover: 36-24
Date of Report: January 30, 2020
Area Report:

Western U P Snowmobile Trail Report— 1/30/2020

Gogebic Range Trail Authority – Snowmobile & ORV Club Trail Report

  • Trail Condition: Excellent
  • Last Groomed: January 29th, 2020
  • Base Snowfall: 36″
  • Reported On: January 29th, 2020 @ 9:43am 

Overall Story:  VERY GOOD TO EXCELLENT

Wednesday 1/29 9:00 am CST:    With the tremendous snow depth our trail system is in the BEST CONDITION OF THE SEASON.  We’ve been down to one groomer for 2 weeks and you wouldn’t be able to tell.  Groomer Man Dan has had the Tucker staffed constantly and even this week we were down for 12 hours getting our front blade repaired.  Our stellar staff of all-volunteer operators has moved a ton of snow around on the trails filling in dips and softening elevation changes, which all reduce bumps on the trail increasing your riding experience.  All trails have been groomed within the last 24 hours and they shaped up beautifully, we are honestly pumped!  We have seen on/off freezing drizzle and snow for the last 8 days that has infused much needed moisture into the trail bed.  This has caused the groomer’s work to REALLY take hold with trails tightening up incredibly well.  Temps have been down in the low teens last night and through this morning helping get trails are stable.  Please remember the warmer it gets the easier the trails whoop up and push in corners.  We have a 15-30″ base on our trails and when it gets warm the big heavy 4-strokes really wreak havoc on our corners.  These machines are made for FUN so it’s a fine line to ride; we will always happily clean up after you like we have for 46 years!

WARNINGS AND NOTICES:   We are begging riders to ride off trail legally as there are 1-million acres of public land east of Wakefield to off trail ride on – please only ride legal areas!  The Ottawa National Forest is 990,000 acres and much of it open to cross-country riding (no trail/road) if there is 6″ or more of snow.  Several restricted areas, contact the forest for further information. Call 906-932-1330

Trail 2 from Hurley to Ramsay US-2 Crossing:

Overall rating:  EXCELLENT

Last groomed 1/29/2020.    Please do not ride on sidewalks near Holiday and try to keep noise down in town.

Trail 2 from Ramsay Crossing to Wakefield:

Overall rating:  EXCELLENT

Last groomed 1/29/2020.  This section is in the best shape of the season.  We have been working to widen corners and cover the hill climb faces to keep them from getting icy.  This trail is featuring a brand new section to enjoy this season, the club eliminated Prospect road route and moved the trail completely into the woods eliminating 1.5 miles of road route.  PLEASE STAY ON THE TRAIL AND RESPECT THESE LANDOWNERS!

Trail 2 from Wakefield to Marenisco:

Overall Rating:  EXCELLENT

Last groomed 1/29/2020.  Also in the best shape of the season.  The section from Wakefield east to Highway 2 needs additional passes to finish cutting the deep inside corner bumps and widen the trail.  We expect to get to that this week yet.

Trail 8 from Wakefield to Tula Crossing:

Overall Rating: EXCELLENT

Last Groomed 1/29.  In excellent condition, be aware of a new traffic pattern on the northern end due to a plowed section.  Please follow the new route for the remainder of this season.

Trail 160 from Walmart to Montreal River (WI):

Overall Rating:  EXCELLENT

Last Groomed 1/29.  There is logging about 1/2 way north on the trail, YIELD TO LOGGERS AND GIVE THEM RESPECT – IT’S THEIR LAND!   STAY ON THE TRAIL!!!!!!   This is our most scenic trail and is a treat to ride!  Stay on the trail in the farm fields.  Over 25 landowners are involved to make this trail a reality, please respect them and ride responsibly.  There are several scenic vistas on the trail:

Bald Mountain “NORTH” lookout viewing Madeline Island/ mouth of the Chequamegon Bay of Lake Superior

Bald Mountain “SOUTH” lookout viewing Gogebic Range (Powderhorn, Copper Peak)

Montreal River Gorge look out

Superior Falls Waterfall Complex.

 

11S (Wakefield, MI to Winchester, WI):

Overall Rating:  EXCELLENT

Last Groomed 1/28.  We’re asking riders to spend some time and nip brush hanging on trail to help us.  We were not expecting to have the trail open this season so we didn’t brush it.  Now that we have it open, we still need brushing support.    PLEASE YIELD TO ANY AND ALL LOGGING TRAFFIC.  There is a short section of dual use the landowner (Keweenaw Land) has graciously approved us to use along with them.  It is private land and we are guests, please act like it.  THANK YOU to all the people who have helped brush this trail!  You made our groomer operators day twice over by helping brush the trail for us.  This is what makes snowmobiling great!!

11N (Wakefield, MI to South boundary Rd/White Pine):  Closed due to off trail riding.  Seeking local community support with ideas on how to reopen it.  200 yards of private property closed this 25 mile trail

GOGEBIC AREA GROOMERS 1/28/2020

Gogebic Area Grooming, Inc. Trail Report

 

  • Trail Condition: Excellent
  • Last Groomed: January 22nd, 2020
  • Base Snowfall: 36+”
  • Reported On: January 28th, 2020 @ 3:17pm

Groomer Report

January 22, 2020

All trails in the Lake Gogebic Area are being groomed nightly and are in GOOD to EXCELLENT condition!  Cold and snow in the forecast.    Two ice heaves were reported last weekend.   North of Root Cellar and North of Fishtales.   Use caution.

  • Trail # 1N:  from Bergland to White Pine is being groomed nightly and it is reported to be in excellent condition.
  • Trail # 1 South:  towards Marenisco from Trail # 8 (Ethelwood Grade) is being groomed nightly and is reported to be in excellent condition.
  • Trail # 1 south from Marenisco to Wisconsin Border is being groomed daily and it is reported to be in excellent condition.
  • Trail # 8 East from Bergland to Ewen is being groomed daily and it is reported in excellent condition, but gets moguls towards the night!
  • Trail # 8W: from Bergland to Wakefield. Is being groomed nightly and it is reported to be in excellent condition.
  • Trail 102 from Bergland to Trail #11 is being groomed nightly and it is reported to be in excellent condition.
  • Trail # 13 North from Bergland to 101 is being groomed nightly and it is being reported to be in excellent condition.
  • Trail # 13 South from Bergland to Root Cellar ***Still being logged***.  This section of trail is 90% ridding on East Shore Rd.
  • Trail 13 South from Root Cellar to 100.  This trail will be hit every other day, or until the traffic picks back up when 13 from Bergland to Root Cellar opens back up.
  • Trail #13 South from 100 to Trail # 2 is reported to be groomed daily and is in excellent condition.
  • Trail # 100 South end of Lake Gogebic is reported be groomed daily and is in excellent condition.

U.P. Thunder Riders Trail Report 1/27/2020

 

  • Trail Condition: Good To Excellent
  • Last Groomed: January 27th, 2020
  • Base Snowfall: 24″
  • Reported On: January 27th, 2020 @ 9:59am

Groomer Report

Thunder Riders are grooming daily and the trails are in excellent shape!

Trail #3 from the Wisconsin border to Watersmeet excellent, Watersmeet to Paulding excellent.

We have 2 logging project on Trail #3 both are very passable. One area is north of Forest Rd 5250 (trail 150) and the other is north of Bond Falls Rd. Please use caution in these areas and respect the loggers.

Trail #2 west of Watersmeet to Trail #1 south, excellent

Trail #2 east of Watersmeet to Trail #107, excellent

Trail #13 south to Cisco Chain, excellent