Marquette, Mi hotels that are snowmobile friendly?

MJL

Member
What’s a good hotel in Marquette, MI that has easy access to snowmobile trails and near food and drink for the evening? Thank You
 

ezra

Well-known member
we stayed at the holiday in few yrs back and all I can say is the check in girl was very friendly to one of the snowmobilers in our crew.
 

light200

New member
marquette is the most unfriendly snowmobile town in the UP! its kinda hilarious how much they hate snowmobilers around there, not even easy to get gas. go to ishpeming instead, much better for snowmobilers.
 
M

Mattarsc

Guest
All it takes is one person to make someones impression of Marquette unfavorable. I agree. I think Marquette is deemed not snowmobile friendly cause it is such a pain in the butt to get through the town or MORE SO get access to the trail from the motel hotel etc. Or I hope so anyway. Most businesses or people in Marquette or surrounding areas will go out of their way to make it easy and fun while people are in town sledding. There's alot of folks up here with broken tow straps or stories of the time they helped a sledder get their broken down sled off the trail and into a shop etc. Either that or I am the only idiot that stops and asks that fellow sledder "hey what happened?"
 

polarisrider1

New member
Let's just cut to the chase. When Marquette is mentioned..........what we are really saying is....Chocolay twps. which is to the southeast of Marquette with Harvey stuck in the middle. This has been going on for years, many years. Marquette isn't even "UP" anymore. they have every store/ restaurant you can think of. The place is simply to big to give a rats a** about snowmobilers, they have traffic issues to worry about. It all started with the "Natives and or locals" and the fight for a trail to run thru their back yards (train right of way). Like the trains where not bad enough when they ran thru. The trail had no trouble reaching the Casino parking lot from the east heading west, go figure. This amongst a few others items that snowmobilers with loud pipes and blantant treespassing (yes you know who you are) has turned the whole area sour. I avoid the area like the plague. You just know your not welcome. Except for the Harley Dealer, they are the only HD dealer in the UP..
 
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whitedust

Well-known member
Let's just cut to the chase. When Marquette is mentioned..........what we are really saying is....Chocolay twps. which is to the southeast of Marquette with Harvey stuck in the middle. This has been going on for years, many years. Marquette isn't even "UP" anymore. they have every store/ restaurant you can think of. The place is simply to big to give a rats a** about snowmobilers, they have traffic issues to worry about. It all started with the "Natives and or locals" and the fight for a trail to run thru their back yards (train right of way). Like the trains where not bad enough when they ran thru. The trail had no trouble reaching the Casino parking lot from the east heading west, go figure. This amongst a few others items that snowmobilers with loud pipes and blantant treespassing (yes you know who you are) has turned the whole area sour. I avoid the area like the plague. You just know your not welcome. Except for the Harley Dealer, they are the only HD dealer in the UP..

Exactly Yeppers me too!!
 

tilltheend

New member
I'd have to agree with everything being said here about Marquette. I dont sled over there much but the other 8 months of the year we spend alot of time in the area riding our dirtbikes and it seems like the town is a bit stuck on itself. Now that being said you head West/East/South and things get back to the UP as normal. Just to the south at Crossroads Bar off 525 they were clearing the area behind for some new cabins for next year. Keep them in mind, trail goes through there parking lot, they are extremely friendly to off road recreation of all types.
 

600_RMK_144

Well-known member
Alright, so this seems like a good place to ask this question. I've never been to the UP but plan to make it up there this year. From the comments on here, I fully intend to AVOID Marquette. Got that one loud and clear. LOL! But what can you tell me about the terrain, etc. Off trail opportunities? I've heard its very different from riding in the Black Hills which I totally loved, but want to branch out this year. Been told it's much less secluded, and you ride town to town a lot (or bar to bar). I don't drink and ride, but curious if this is a typical ride? Just trying to get an accurate picture of the area before hand. Thanks.
 

staple66

Member
I have stayed at the Holiday multiple times and always had good luck. Getting gas does suck but that is the only issue that we ever ran into staying there. I know there is some areas around Marquette that people dont like sleds but you will run in to that everywhere.
 

whitedust

Well-known member
Alright, so this seems like a good place to ask this question. I've never been to the UP but plan to make it up there this year. From the comments on here, I fully intend to AVOID Marquette. Got that one loud and clear. LOL! But what can you tell me about the terrain, etc. Off trail opportunities? I've heard its very different from riding in the Black Hills which I totally loved, but want to branch out this year. Been told it's much less secluded, and you ride town to town a lot (or bar to bar). I don't drink and ride, but curious if this is a typical ride? Just trying to get an accurate picture of the area before hand. Thanks.

Do some research or post your own topic regarding UP & you will learn a lot more to UPMI than Marquette. Riding bar to bar to me is more of a family norhern WI thing towns much further a part in UP & can ride many miles very quickly on grades if you want to. Many waterfalls & around 12-1500 foot views LOC or Brockway others if you know how to access. Lots of off trail opps if you know where & how or just unplowd FRs to ride. Many twistys in the interior but most people don't ride those trails stick to trail 3 north & south reason unknown to me caue I ride em all. One other thing UPMI gets lots of snow more than Black Hills which depends on elevation for snow. You will more than likley find more varations of sleddin in the UPMI than Black Hills which has a very limited trail system & more or less what I call meadow/foothill powder riding.UPMI can be very challenging & remote, snow can be very deep,abundant wolves & other wildlife so don't come here with a cavalier attitude as that will get you in trouble qiuckly of the beaten path.
 

600_RMK_144

Well-known member
Hmmmm, interesting comments here, whitedust. When you say cavalier attitude, do you refer to persons riding on private land and such getting into trouble & jeopardizing the sport for everyone (not my intention what so ever). Or simply getting in over their head and running out of riding talent? I will admit I'm not the most experienced rider (but I can hold my own), so I do appreciate the feedback. Would a mediocre rider staying (mostly) on trail & going off trail from time to time for some playing in deeper powder be in over their head? Also, would you say traffic on the majority of the trails is pretty steady, or are run in's with fellow rider rare? Again, appreciate the feedback.
 

whitedust

Well-known member
Ryan I didn't mean to sound harsh sorry if I did but by cavalier attitude I meant powder in UP is really deep in the LES belts & getting stuck with trees everywhere is a huge problem UP is not open field meadow riding unless you are on a 2 track road or a wide unplowed FR. From your other posts I agree your are not someone that would knowingly tresspass but tresspassing was a huge problem in the UP last year. There are also some remote groomed trails that I ride in the interior that are 50+ miles before you you cross a road or another trail, gas stops are not there & no other sleds weekday or weekend. If you ride on Trail 3 north & south you will see many riders very nice trail all the way out to Copper Harbor & seems to be the main artery folks ride so I ride on other lesser known trails. Sounds like you would enjoy basing from Iron River,MI plenty there hotel wise, food, gas whatever you need ride trails north & west from there but do your home work many miles between gas & food stops & not much traffic. As far as pure in the woods off trail you are on your own with that but plenty of unplowed FRS in Iron County MI to have fun riding. UP & northern WI very different northern WI all Twistys a lot of the bar to bar thing lots of small towns close together. UPMI trails can be much wider but again in the UP interior has some very very & tight remote stuff. Lots to see in the popular areas along Trail 3 so you either put up with sled traffic to see the sights or ride the interior & enjoy the solitude of never seeing another sled. Sled traffic always less on weekdays so if you can swing it weekdays best.
 
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