Does March typically offer good riding in the UP

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Polarice

New member
I was going to schedule some more trips in March. Would this be a waste of time or are the temps and snowfall usually good?

If I recall last year it started to melt down around the third week of February and didn't stop.

I usually go to the Munising area.

Thanks
 
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thebreeze

Member
I think march offers the BEST riding in the U.P. Last year was an anomaly in terms of how soon the snow melted. Most seasons you can ride throughout march, and into april on a good year.
 
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scottd

New member
x2. Last year just stunk!!!! I'd say typically the first half of March should be NO problem in and around Munising but after that it can start to get iffy. Like thebreeze said, sometimes good into April, sometimes not but last year was definitely an exception.
 
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windingtrailgal

Active member
We've ridden in the UP the last week of March - Stayed in Mass City. Was just one of those things where we had to wait and see what the weather was like and what conditions were like - and we waited almost until the last minute to make the decision. We rode for a whole week - but did get drizzled on! Never had that happen before where I felt like I needed windshield wipers on my helmet!

Trails were nice and quiet. There were some spots that were just mud...but the trails that are the least traveled obviously still maintained their snow and was a great trip. But it isn't the type of trip I'd book now...there are plenty of deals out there in March so I wouldn't book it in advance b/c then via Murphy's law, the snow's gonna be all gone!!

wtg
 
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Dave_B

Active member
Last year was a fluke. We were up the 1st weekend of March and you could literally watch the snow melt.

We've been up in April riding on a ton of snow, 60 degrees, t shirts and no gloves.

You just never know and certainly can't plan for anything that far in the future.

Dave
 
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windingtrailgal

Active member
Polarice...that's a tricky one. We've been stuck in the northwoods of WI in February less than 10 years ago when there was nothing but dirt on the trails and it was raining when we left. Didn't even get the sleds outta the trailer. Didn't HAVE to go but had a free time share week... so we had to find other things to do - pool, touristy stuff in towns around there, shopping, etc! Odds are there's gonna be snow but even John himself can't predict that! All of us would LOVE for there to be snow...but look what even just happened over new years?

wtg
 
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Dave_B

Active member
Jason
I wouldn't worry to much about the conditions. Odds are you'll be able to ride. Stay at the Running Bear and, if conditions suck, you can hang with them and go ice fishing. :)

Dave
 
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windingtrailgal

Active member
Friend of mine does same thing as you in SW NY state - know how it is. If you go ahead and block the time off from work, go north if there's snow, go south to the beach if there's not.

wtg
 
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t_man

New member
Agree that last year was not typical. You should be able to ride somewhere in the UP well into March if not into April. Note the "somewhere".

My suggestion is book your time off but don't book accommodations or your location yet. You can get better deals later, plus you can see where the best snow conditions are and "chase the snow".

Like Dave B said, you can get some great late season conditions. Two years ago we were in the western UP in I'm pretty sure mid-March. The snow was great and the first two days the temps were in the low teens or single digits. The third day it was over 50 degrees and we were riding in T-shirts and light jackets without gloves. Sweet!

Unfortunately, my buddy also blew up his XLT a couple miles from Copper Harbor. (Never did like those heats exchangers under the running boards.) Drove the truck home with the sunroof open, and had to clean the squished bugs off the trailer once I got there. Late season = fun most years!
 
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Stack

New member
March has some of the best riding, and usually things are pretty quiet as people are thinking about the start of golf season and Sping Break in warmer climates. Last year was definitly a strange one, our last ride was at the end of February as the melt was crazy intense in March. The year before we were riding well into April.....every year is different!


Stack
 
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ezra

Well-known member
we usualy da a march last yr ended up trailering to copper the last day only good snow we could find.this yr not risking the march UP trip this yr.this march is to rabbit ears
 
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lenny

Guest
here is march a few yeras ago
 

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hoffmansledder

New member
March is like a box of chocolates.................ya never know what you're gonna get!!!! I guess that is almost true for most of winter.
 
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