Need Some Help. MI Sled Trails

X

xc500mod

Member
I recently moved to West Michigan for a job and have some questions about the snowmobile trails. I moved from Wisconsin where it seems like every trail in any part of the state is connected to every other part of the state. It is just a big interconnected trail system. My buddy once road from Madison, WI to Minocqua.

Some of the guys I ride with are coming over here to do some riding. We plan on racing a group of our other buddies to the Mackinac bridge. They are leaving from Island Lake, WI and we were leaving from Big Rapids, MI area... the group who gets to the bridge first eats and drinks like kings for the weekend.

There seems to be a problem. After researching the Michigan Snowmobile Trails provided online, it doesn't look like you can ride from the Big Rapids/Cadilac trails North to Gaylord in order to get to the bridge. It looks like the trails don't really cross Hwy 115. Is this right?

We'll be leaving from the Grand Rapids area; we were hoping to trailer our sleds to the Cadilac area and then ride to the Bridge and into the U.P. Is this really not possible? I can't reason with the fact that MI doesn't make their trails connect.

Attached is the MI snowmobile trail I am referencing.

Also, doe

http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-10365_14824-31074--,00.html

http://www.midnr.com/Publications/p...SnowmobileTrailMaps/western_lp_snowmobile.pdf
 
H

Hoosier

Well-known member
Someone else will give you a better answer, but I have looked at this before. I think you have to go fairly far north in lower Michigan before you reach the part of the trail system that connects to the system in the UP. I have found I enjoyed the trail system in Wisconsin and the UP much better than in lower Michigan. Development has taken its toll on lower Michigan's trail system. That's just my opinion, and I haven't ridden down there for at least 5 years.
 
P

polarisrider1

New member
I @an get you from Rockford MI to the bridge and beyond with a little ditch. Banging just north of Caddilac. Done it. Takes 2 days. 3/4 of the way on first day. I currentl have no trail sled. Hook me up and away we go.
 
P

polarisrider1

New member
polarisrider1 said:
I @an get you from Rockford MI to the bridge and beyond with a little ditch banging just north of Caddilac. Done it. Takes 2 days. 3/4 of the way on first day. I currentl have no trail sled. Hook me up and away we go.
Click to expand...
If you want to. Continue to Canada via Drummond Island, I can get you all the way to Moosinee (Moose Factory) Ontario.
 
S

StreetnSnow

New member
Otherwise, you can trailer to Harrison instead of Cadillac.

Are they coming from the Island Lake that is near Ladysmith, or the lake called Island Lake, near Hurley? Either way, they have a much longer ride than you do...
 
X

xc500mod

Member
I just checked it out, and it looks that we can start just south of Houghton Lake and ride north from there. Have you ridden the trails in this area?

Also, when we get up there to actually ride, do the clubs make paper maps with labeled trails, dealers, motels, gas stations, restaurants, bars, etc.

Back in wisconsin you can pick up a club map just about anywhere for that area and be able to find the trails and stops you need.

polarisrider1, i wish we had a reliable extra trail sled for a guided tour!
 
W

whitedust

Well-known member
You are not on my side of the pond so can't help never rode there. Just wondering can you ride over the Mac or do they have a shuttle?
 
W

whitedust

Well-known member
Thanks did not think they would allow sleds to ride over the Mac. xc500mod better check it out could be limited time service?
 
D

dnrtheil

New member
Here some rough info. Once you get into Cadillac by sled, cross Lake Cadillac, come out the north side by a small park, make your way around the west side of the airport cross the road Boon Road I think, then use roads and two tracks to make it up to Manton. Pick up the trail to Kalkaska, north of Kalkaska it's back to roads and two-tracks into Mancelona. From Mancelona it's all trail to the bridge. I think it's 225 miles from Wolf Lake, just north of Baldwin to the bridge. Made this trip once, have ridden to Gaylord from the Baldwin area a number of times. I usually don't lead through Cadillac, so I don't have details directions. You can also take the trail north of Boon (Cadillac area), when your past the turn to the Boon Gas Station, the trail will eventually make a left turn onto a road. At this point turn right, follow the road till it ends into another road, might be M-115. At that point go across M-55 onto a two track and make your way to Manton. Sure wish I had my maps with me at work. We want to try and make the bridge for lunch one day leaving from Wolf Lake.
 
X

xc500mod

Member
whitedust said:
Thanks did not think they would allow sleds to ride over the Mac. xc500mod better check it out could be limited time service?
Click to expand...


I looked into it. It sounds like you just have to call ahead and schedule a time for transport. The problem is getting there.

thanks to dnrtheil for directions. I don't know if I will attempt that route, sounds like an easy way to get lost in an area I don't know. Plus, this will be a race. I may have to run up there a weekend or two early to scout it out... that maybe the key to victory.
 
C

catalac

Active member
xc500mod said:
I looked into it. It sounds like you just have to call ahead and schedule a time for transport. The problem is getting there.

thanks to dnrtheil for directions. I don't know if I will attempt that route, sounds like an easy way to get lost in an area I don't know. Plus, this will be a race. I may have to run up there a weekend or two early to scout it out... that maybe the key to victory.
Click to expand...

Eating and drinking like kings for the weekend could get very costly. I would scout it out for sure. Don't want to lose that one!
 
M

mxzbearcat

New member
Ride the Cadillac area to Betsy River, then take the two tracks and unplowed roads to the Traverse City Area trails. Once in the Traverse City area you can get to Grayling that connects up to Mackinaw.
 
H

homan

Member
As far as the Mackinaw Bridge goes you need to call the Mackinaw Bridge Authority once you arrive in Mackinaw City or St Ignace. Their phone number is 906 643 7600. In Mackinaw City they pick you up at the Welcome Center on the East side of I-75. In St Ignace at the Shell Station on US-2. Transport hours are from 8am -8pm. Last I knew it was $10/sled but may have gone up.
 
V

vmaxal

Member
Route to the Big Mac

I would first advise that you check out the Michigan Snowmobile Association website for maps and trail conditions, it will also have links to all the local clubs that will likely send you the paper maps with the details of their sponsors/advertisers that you are looking for.

http://www.msasnow.org/

Once you are there, become a member!

Another option that is a nice ride one way in a day (can get a little rough round trip but is doable) is to leave from Lake City.

Take Trail #651 out of Lake City North to where it T's into Trail #6 (http://missaukeetrailblazers.org/) Great trail that stays in pretty good condition due to Lake City being an end to the trail so lots pass by it going to/from Manton/Fife Lake to Houghton/Higgins Lake areas.

Go East on #6 to intersection with Trail #76 (Cranberry Lake Trail) which will go North to M-72, go East from here to Dingman's for a good burger and fuel and then continue north to Gaylord.

Option #2 continue East on #6 to intersection with Trail #7, go North to Grayling, many services here but also have to go through town and higher traffic area.
So once to highway M-72 either more to the west on #6 or more to the east on #7 you continue North.

Now it depends if you want the straighest shot to the Bridge or not, up to you but check the maps and determine how many miles and hours you want to ride.
#6 is typically more snow but not as direct. #7 runs through larger towns with more amenities.
They come together southeast of Alanson and then #7 runs north to the Bridge.

A final option is to ride the Cadillac trails north to Kalkaska and then ride the right of way/ditches of M-72 to Trail #76, about 12 miles east of Kalkaska and then north via the route above.

Good luck and enjoy the ride, either route should get you there before guys riding from WI so take your time and check out a few places along the way, leave the racing to the track and away from the leisure riders.
I hope we get the snow cover in the LP and UP to support this type of challenge! Finding a snow covered route might be your biggest issue.
 
M

mxzbearcat

New member
Betsy River Area is near the town of Interlochen. Check out www.fishweb.com for trail map of the entire west lower, also check out vvmapping.com this will show the two tracks. As vmaxal said snow cover will probably be your biggest challange.
 
A

anonomoose

New member
xc500mod said:
...... Plus, this will be a race. I may have to run up there a weekend or two early to scout it out... that maybe the key to victory.
Click to expand...


The key to your long weekend of drinking and eating for FREE...is to leave 24 hours earlier; take your time and actually enjoy the ride and the scenery and spend the night at the bridge where you confirm that you are "about to take off" with the Wisconsin contingent....then sit back and wait for them to arrive!

Just one thing to watch out for here.....and that is that those guys didn't leave 12 hours before YOU do, and are already up there taking in the sights...waiting for YOU to show up! :p

BTW: so you don't become a news headline...take a good GPS. Also take a good set of boggy wheels to strap on the skis so that when you hit a "low snow" area, you can keep going. Couple of miles of NO snow can wear out those plastic runners!

Of course you could just designate a driver, load the whole fleet on a big flat bed truck and ride I-75....if you do, get a good helmet cam for the rest of us to enjoy! Bet the fuel savings alone would pay for the diesel at 2 bucks a loaded mile, and 250 miles less on your sled! Remember to clean your helmet cam frequently of salt spray makes for a very foggy picture....but I recommend a full face shield because chunk salt at 75 mpg can hurt....
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top