ATV's on Bill Nichols trail
- Thread starter 600hoic
- Start date
My apologies for the confusion.
Just got off the phone and here it is straight from the DNR field office in Baraga:
First the land needs to be owned by the state and secondly the trail needs to be designated by the DNR as a multi-use trail. So in the Keweenaw, that would mean the Bill Nichols and the Jack Stevens (Hancock to Calumet).
So pretty small area and still a really dumb idea. The snow up here is just too deep and trails are too busy to be on an ATV right now. Tell them to come up, bring a sled or rent a sled and they will see first hand why it is not a good idea. This is deep snow country. They would most likely get stuck. Then what do you do when you have the bike stuck in the snow 20 miles from a road? Leave it there till spring?
-John
Just got off the phone and here it is straight from the DNR field office in Baraga:
First the land needs to be owned by the state and secondly the trail needs to be designated by the DNR as a multi-use trail. So in the Keweenaw, that would mean the Bill Nichols and the Jack Stevens (Hancock to Calumet).
So pretty small area and still a really dumb idea. The snow up here is just too deep and trails are too busy to be on an ATV right now. Tell them to come up, bring a sled or rent a sled and they will see first hand why it is not a good idea. This is deep snow country. They would most likely get stuck. Then what do you do when you have the bike stuck in the snow 20 miles from a road? Leave it there till spring?
-John
I'm sure they don't tear the trails up too bad when the base is real hard, but what happens to them when they get a little soft? They start sinking and making a mess of the trails. Most of the older sleds (and I see a lot of them on the trails) will have a great time when their ski hits a rut the quad makes.
While some folks could get down the trail at a good clip, allowing atvs to access the trail means all riders on all types/abilites/speeds are allowed and that's just not a good mix with sledders. I would not have an issue I guess with a tracked Grizzly 660 like mine in terms of speed cause they could go/maintain 40-50 mph on the trail with no rutting. You get a sport quad on there continuosly spinning the rears and diggin ruts is a bad idea cause they go sideways as much as they go forward.
Quads can run anywhere 4 seasons a year, sleds get one is the way I see it. I ride both and have never considered riding an ATV on a sled trail...
Quads can run anywhere 4 seasons a year, sleds get one is the way I see it. I ride both and have never considered riding an ATV on a sled trail...
Not positive on the 48" rule. There are plenty of side by sides on the trials in the summer time though. If there were more than a couple of guys using the trails to get there tracked ATV's around maybe it would become a problem.
I have come up on ATVS during the week on Trail 3 between Mass City & BC. ATV rear lights looked strange so I knew something was ahead & my snowmobile was traveling at a much higher rate of speed. I don't like snowmobiles & ATVs on same trails at the same time lots of saftey problems but seems to happen. ATVs & snowmobiles on same trails in Jackson & Clark counties WI for many years & I won"t sled on those trails anymore just too many ATVs. I came over a blind twin hill whoop & there was an ATV stuck in middle of whoop. Rider herad me coming & was running away from stuck ATV. I stopped ok but could have been different & made my mind up ATVs & Sleds on same trail same time is not good & someone will get hurt or killed then law will change & get ATVs off trails in winter.
skipschulz
New member
Ranger X, I want to make sure you know that the idea of an ATV on the Mi DNR Designated ORV Trails, which as I said on many occasions IS LEGAL. I simply gave my own personal opinion, which is NOT the position of Mi-TRALE.
Since forming Mi-TRALE in July of 2001, our organization has never taken a position on this. We have worked too hard for many years on building a strong ALLIANCE of different trail user groups. Plus, Mi-TRALE has many members that are snowmobilers, members that are ATV riders, members from the Equestrian community, and Personal Watercraft Riders. We respect everyone's right to enjoy the outdoors.
How many organizations like Mi-TRALE do you know that actively works on behalf of this many users, other then the Blue Ribbon Coalition?
I write this to reassure johndee.com members that Mi-TRALE will continue to work to UNITE different trail users.
This issue is one that will only bring out comments from those that would rather fight fellow off road motorsport users, then bring them together.
If you don't like the long-standing Michigan law dealing with ATV's on the MiDNR Designated ORV Trails (which currently ONLY exist on State owned land), then GET INVOLVED and work politically to change the law. If you think ATV's have the right to ride on the MiDNR Designated ORV Trails, then GET INVOLVED with an ATV club.
But PLEASE, PLEASE let's not fight each other. Especially right now, when ALL Off Road Motorsport enthusiasts are losing more and more PUBLICLY owned land to ride.
Sorry for the long response.
BTW, the MiDNR Designated ORV Trails, such as the BN, SB, and IRM have a 72 inch width rule, and that law applies 12 months of the year.
Since forming Mi-TRALE in July of 2001, our organization has never taken a position on this. We have worked too hard for many years on building a strong ALLIANCE of different trail user groups. Plus, Mi-TRALE has many members that are snowmobilers, members that are ATV riders, members from the Equestrian community, and Personal Watercraft Riders. We respect everyone's right to enjoy the outdoors.
How many organizations like Mi-TRALE do you know that actively works on behalf of this many users, other then the Blue Ribbon Coalition?
I write this to reassure johndee.com members that Mi-TRALE will continue to work to UNITE different trail users.
This issue is one that will only bring out comments from those that would rather fight fellow off road motorsport users, then bring them together.
If you don't like the long-standing Michigan law dealing with ATV's on the MiDNR Designated ORV Trails (which currently ONLY exist on State owned land), then GET INVOLVED and work politically to change the law. If you think ATV's have the right to ride on the MiDNR Designated ORV Trails, then GET INVOLVED with an ATV club.
But PLEASE, PLEASE let's not fight each other. Especially right now, when ALL Off Road Motorsport enthusiasts are losing more and more PUBLICLY owned land to ride.
Sorry for the long response.
BTW, the MiDNR Designated ORV Trails, such as the BN, SB, and IRM have a 72 inch width rule, and that law applies 12 months of the year.
skipschulz
New member
Thanks rangerX for understanding. Hopefully we will see each other on the trails or at the WATVA annual meeting in Wausau.
Skip
Skip
rsvectordude
New member
It doesn't bother me one bit. I ride both and between the cross country skiers, snowshoes, deer, walkers and everything else on the trails I really don't think a few wheelers are going to hurt. I personally wouldn't want to freeze on a wheeler in the winter even with a windshield on it but to each their own some people can't afford both toys and it's their way of enjoying the outdoors in the winter. I hate the ruts as much as the next guy but as long as they are not trenching their way along down the trail no harm no foul...