What ever happened to the Iron Horse trail west out of Hurley

[xsledder]

I was looking over some old ('80's) trail maps and I remember the Iron Horse trail went from Superior to Hurley. Now it is a fragment of itself. I never heard way, but what caused so much of the old Iron Horse trail in Iron County to close down? That use to be such a nice trail to ride.

 

[euphoric1]

Haven't ridden down there for years but if I recall you are referring to the trail west of hurley that went through that rock cut gorge that always has the rapid moving water through it? someone can correct me if I am wrong but I believe this was privately owned land and the land owner closed the trail down, never sure why but yes it was a very nice, scenic ride through there.

 

[fish633]

Euphoric is correct land owner issues.We owned the school building in Saxon for several years and would ride to and from our house in hurley regularly.Trail #6 or maybe #8 out of Montreal was also really fun before it suffered the same fate.

 

[G]

There also used to be a trail that went south about 5 miles west of Hurley. I think it came out in Marengo??????? Can't do that one any more either. The Tri County Corridor ends at Ashland now. The story I always heard was that The Bad River Indian Reservation shut down the part from Ashland to Hurley. If you want to ride from Ashland to Hurley these days you have to go way south and then east and then north again. It sucks.

 

[fish633]

I think that was trail 77,went down towards iron belt if I remember correctly.No question the new era of snowmobiling is much more user friendly but I still miss the old trails

 

[1fujifilm]

I think that was trail 77,went down towards iron belt if I remember correctly.No question the new era of snowmobiling is much more user friendly but I still miss the old trails

Is that trail that went past Squeaks bar and grill? I heard that they went out of business..sad for sure.

Bear

 

[fish633]

Thats the one

 

[RHFD547]

As far as I know, as of 2 years ago, you could take trail 77 west out of Hurley and then 2 north to The Frontier Bar. Pick up trail 3 at the bar and head north to Saxon Harbor if the trail has been repaired from the flooding a couple of years ago.

 

[old abe]

NW Wis. used to be one of are favorite areas for many years. We always enjoyed the trails there as the scenery is so enjoyable, and the trails were always well cared for. But as insufficient snow conditions became the norm, we moved on once again. This time to the U.P., as the LES became our dependable snow for riding.

 

[1fujifilm]

NW Wis. used to be one of are favorite areas for many years. We always enjoyed the trails there as the scenery is so enjoyable, and the trails were always well cared for. But as insufficient snow conditions became the norm, we moved on once again. This time to the U.P., as the LES became our dependable snow for riding.

Totally true Abe.


From 1998-2008 Hurley overnight stays. About half of this the Red light rally actually occurred and was our first ride, we moved after they had no snow.
From 2009-2013 Munising overnights. Seemed like Munising was getting the first snow and just kept going until it seemed to be too busy and trails suffered.
From 2014-2018 Houghton overnights. Likely to keep going until something else changes in snow patterning or trail grooming care.

I only ride weekdays, come in Sunday night and leave Wed or Th. I never plan a trip without considerable trail/weather condition research (thanks John Dee).

Bear

 

[euphoric1]

That is also how I ended up going to U.P. used to stay in mercer at great northern starting in early 90's , trips were having to be booked out further due to lack of early snows and one time in early 2000's we called ahead said trails were open, people were riding, when we got there there was only a few cars parked in lot, to say the least the trails were poor to bad, next day traveled north to mass city, dropped at BP station and have been going to U.P. ever since.

 

[ddhanna]

I was looking over some old ('80's) trail maps and I remember the Iron Horse trail went from Superior to Hurley. Now it is a fragment of itself. I never heard way, but what caused so much of the old Iron Horse trail in Iron County to close down? That use to be such a nice trail to ride.

I wish an Iron Cty old timer would chime in but... Wasn't the first closure on this trail due to a guy who believed that the trail interfered with his watching for flying saucer activity in the area? That was a short reroute I believe. Then more closures followed as landowner push back to local pressure on keeping the trail open. I'm guessing early/mid 90's?

 

[fish633]

been a property owner in Oma since "74,heard some pretty crazy stuff but not that one.I seem to remember that the right of way belonged to the railroad and once they backed out of the agreement the parcel went back to the owners.I could be totally wrong so don't quote that as gospel.Either way that was a really cool spot would always stop and look over the edge at the river.

 

[old abe]

Hayward, Superior, Bayfield, Ashland, Clam Lake, Mellen, were all good, scenic riding areas. But then the snows just didn't fall as we were used to having up there. Used to ride out of those areas, and on up through Bergland, Houghton, the Keewee to Copper Harbor, Big Bay, Bruce Crossing, Watersmeet, and so on. Wandering around upper NW Wis, and the U.P. made for a nice week of back packing. No set route, or plans, but many good memories!!!

 

[renegade]

If i remember right Paul the old owner of The Bear Trap in Saxon said it was a guy from Illinois retired to property he bought with the Iron Horse going through it. He fought til he sucessfully closed it. This lead to a quick reroute to some town roads in Kimbal which the township quickly grew to hate. Once the trail was established to where it is today, Kimbal closed road riding and that resulted in a section of trail 6 to be shut down over a small section of road needed to get north out of Montreal. That trail is still there as it is a forest road with orange gates. Trail 77 is still there but ends South of Upson, where at one time used to continue towards south of Mellen. Yes, squeaks is no longer open. Last I heard TC, the owner of the Bear Trap whose sister was murdered and bar set on fire to cover up the crime, bought it, but I have no idea on her plans with Squeaks. I haven't heard anything about it for over a year. I have no idea how much of this is true, but it is what I have put together from talking to the locals.
One thing I know is true, the reservation owners did indeed close down trail 2 from Ashland to the casino. They also removed the bridges so opening down the road will be virtually impossible cause of the cost. Please find another casino for your gambling.

 

[DamageInc]

Hayward, Superior, Bayfield, Ashland, Clam Lake, Mellen, were all good, scenic riding areas. But then the snows just didn't fall as we were used to having up there. Used to ride out of those areas, and on up through Bergland, Houghton, the Keewee to Copper Harbor, Big Bay, Bruce Crossing, Watersmeet, and so on. Wandering around upper NW Wis, and the U.P. made for a nice week of back packing. No set route, or plans, but many good memories!!!

Let me guess, 1990s? The mid-90s were amazing. It was record snows almost every year. The snow in Vilas and Iron County was so deep, it was like the Keweenaw. And we were riding until the end of March every year. We got spoiled, and everyone thought it was the new norm. Nope, just a long stretch of favorable conditions. But it sure was fun while it lasted.

- - - Updated - - -

If i remember right Paul the old owner of The Bear Trap in Saxon said it was a guy from Illinois retired to property he bought with the Iron Horse going through it. He fought til he sucessfully closed it. This lead to a quick reroute to some town roads in Kimbal which the township quickly grew to hate. Once the trail was established to where it is today, Kimbal closed road riding and that resulted in a section of trail 6 to be shut down over a small section of road needed to get north out of Montreal. That trail is still there as it is a forest road with orange gates. Trail 77 is still there but ends South of Upson, where at one time used to continue towards south of Mellen. Yes, squeaks is no longer open. Last I heard TC, the owner of the Bear Trap whose sister was murdered and bar set on fire to cover up the crime, bought it, but I have no idea on her plans with Squeaks. I haven't heard anything about it for over a year. I have no idea how much of this is true, but it is what I have put together from talking to the locals.
One thing I know is true, the reservation owners did indeed close down trail 2 from Ashland to the casino. They also removed the bridges so opening down the road will be virtually impossible cause of the cost. Please find another casino for your gambling.

Yep, I'll never set foot in that casino.

 

[wirev]

My son said that they have had bad gas in the past. Cars couldn't even get out of the lot!

 

[xsledder]

... One thing I know is true, the reservation owners did indeed close down trail 2 from Ashland to the casino. They also removed the bridges so opening down the road will be virtually impossible cause of the cost. Please find another casino for your gambling.

Didn't the Lac Du Flambeau IR do the same thing to Trail 17 out of Woodruff? Close a short section of Trail 17 so everyone had to ride pass the casino. It has been a few years since I have been down Trail 17, because of this closure, but the last time I saw it, people still rode down the grade skipping the reroute.

 

[warner]

Squeaks is open again..I went past this summer and was surprised it was,can't remember the name the bar is called now

 

[euphoric1]

if I am correct squeaks was in pence Wisconsin right? sign had the mouse lounging in the martini glass? and wasn't the trail just past that windy through the woods with 2 scenic overlooks? is this trail and overlooks still open?