Copper Dog 150, how do the trail closings work?

vmaxal

Member
Going to be riding out of Mohawk Sat. and Sun..
How do the trail/intersection closures look to work out for sharing or letting the dog teams pass thru? Will we lose use for minutes, hours or days?
 

Admin

Administrator
Staff member
No trail closures occur for the race. They run snowmobiles out ahead of the teams and behind them to alert the snowmobilers of the race, but both happen at the same time and without issue. It is actually a pretty cool thing and something many have made an annual thing to experience.

The race only uses small sections of the entire trail system at any one given time, so it is also easy to avoid the race if you want.

You can check out more here: CopperDog 150
-John
 

nadekeys

New member
I always try and go up for the Copper Dog as one of my last rides of the year. I love seeing the dogs and mushers, it is a pretty cool experience if you have never seen it before.
 

catalac

Active member
no rooms left in Calumet. Must be the dog teams, or a lot of sledders going up.
Where would be a good place to watch some of this race? I think my boy would love to check this out.
Thanks
 

elf

Well-known member
We went out this year to watch the sled teams racing the John Beargrease race on the north shore. It was fun watching the racers come thru.
 

snowcross45

New member
I just booked one of the last rooms in Calumet's AmericInn. Bringing my 13 y.o. son up to try and get some riding in. Never seen the CopperDog thing, might be cool to check out. How are trail conditions and forecast to get some riding in there Saturday and Sunday?
 

catalac

Active member
I just booked one of the last rooms in Calumet's AmericInn. Bringing my 13 y.o. son up to try and get some riding in. Never seen the CopperDog thing, might be cool to check out. How are trail conditions and forecast to get some riding in there Saturday and Sunday?

Am bringing my 13 yr old son up also, and trying to find out the same thing.
 

skidoowi

Member
I have been taking the family up for the Copper Dog for years. AmericInn every year.

Best bets:
7pm Friday departure of teams from Calumet - every two minutes I think another team departs - a lot of people downtown and great time - fireworks at 8:45 about 15 minutes after last team departs
Saturday - go to Copper Harbor where the team finish on Saturday - great to watch them come in and see the vet checks and feeding of the dogs. They all arrive in Copper Harbor by early afternoon.
We take the sleds from Calumet to Copper Harbor via the same trails the sled dog teams take.
Sunday - We head up the road from Calumet (Mohawk) to one of the road crossings to watch them come in. Race is done early afternoon back in downtown Calumet.
 

catalac

Active member
Thanks skidoowi. Sounds like a plan.
So, they don't leave till 7pm.? Must have some lighting on their sleds or something, huh?
 

skidoowi

Member
Friday opening ceremony at 6:30 with first team leaving at 7pm correct. Saturday is morning and Sunday is morning as well. Friday night is a must see in my opinion.

Dogs have blinking red lights on them and the musher has a light on their head. Snowmobiles lead and follow (not each team but lead first team and follow last team) so you will know if you are approaching where they are on the trail. Trails are also marked with sled dog race in progress so you know if you are on a trail they use.
 
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