Feb 23-Mar 1 Spread Eagle / Iron Mountain area

[Jbird]

New here. So we have a group coming up from the Twin City's to watch the ski jumps and hopefully do some riding the Sunday through Tuesday after. I know its a little way out ( crossing fingers and toes) I know the Florence Co. trail system well but I think we are going to have to go north. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated. We can trailer north if need be. Trail riding preferred. All our sleds are 90's - 00's.

Thanks in advance!

 

[dfattack]

New here. So we have a group coming up from the Twin City's to watch the ski jumps and hopefully do some riding the Sunday through Tuesday after. I know its a little way out ( crossing fingers and toes) I know the Florence Co. trail system well but I think we are going to have to go north. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated. We can trailer north if need be. Trail riding preferred. All our sleds are 90's - 00's.

Thanks in advance!

The options are almost limitless. Maybe more info is necessary. For example, do you want to stay in the IM area each night and trailer back and forth for the day? If so, how far are you willing to drive before you park and ride? So many options and instead of leaving you a huge reply let's narrow down some specifics and then I can surely help you. As you know...EVERYTHING hinges on the weather and this includes MOST of the UP as well. Mid 50's and sun is not good let alone for several days. The ski jump event will be a muddy mess by the way so be prepared for that.

 

[timo]

obviously a lot can happen in a week but it's a pretty good bet you're not getting any new snow before next weekend and with temps for almost in the 50's until Wednesday with rain included I don't think you'll have any snow to ride on. I was just a little south of spread eagle last weekend and it was thin by sunday. I think after this warm up any riding will need to be done in the WUP. You have possible hope of new snow according to JD's forecast for this time frame but who knows.
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The options are almost limitless. Maybe more info is necessary. For example, do you want to stay in the IM area each night and trailer back and forth for the day? If so, how far are you willing to drive before you park and ride? So many options and instead of leaving you a huge reply let's narrow down some specifics and then I can surely help you. As you know...EVERYTHING hinges on the weather and this includes MOST of the UP as well. Mid 50's and sun is not good let alone for several days. The ski jump event will be a muddy mess by the way so be prepared for that.

 

[Jbird]

The options are almost limitless. Maybe more info is necessary. For example, do you want to stay in the IM area each night and trailer back and forth for the day? If so, how far are you willing to drive before you park and ride? So many options and instead of leaving you a huge reply let's narrow down some specifics and then I can surely help you. As you know...EVERYTHING hinges on the weather and this includes MOST of the UP as well. Mid 50's and sun is not good let alone for several days. The ski jump event will be a muddy mess by the way so be prepared for that.

Yes, we want to stay in the IM area. The less travel the better but I think 1 - 1 1/2 hour drive would be doable... We had planned on going up next tuesday but because of the weather we were able to push a few days. I hope this helps.

 

[dfattack]

Yes, we want to stay in the IM area. The less travel the better but I think 1 - 1 1/2 hour drive would be doable... We had planned on going up next tuesday but because of the weather we were able to push a few days. I hope this helps.

I agree with what Timo said. If they weather happens as the forecast shows I doubt you will be riding. I HOPE I'M WRONG since I want to come up as well and ride from the same area.

If we do get the snow as John's forecast is showing as a possibility and it stays cold after the snow falls...so many if's...then you can trailer to the intersection of M95 and Hwy 41 (known as Koski corner) and ride north from there to Big Bay and/or over to L'Anse. Both Big Bay and L'Anse have restaurants that you can take a break and have some decent meals. Trail 5 to 14 in that area are awesome trails. Depending on conditions at the time you could also trailer to Iron River, MI. which is just west of Spread Eagle and ride from there up to L'Anse. That's a nice route (trail 2 west to 15 on up to L'Anse). Sometimes the grade (trail 2) between Spread Eagle and Iron River can be thin. With this warmup I'm sure it will be. For whatever reason it seems like the snow gets deeper in from Iron River and west and north from there. Sure it has something to do with lake effect as Spread Eagle and IM don't get any of that.

I hope that helps you and I'm am trying to stay positive for my sake too...but I'm not getting my hopes up as guys playing golf down in the southwest suburbs of Chicago now!

 

[Jbird]

Thanks dfattack,

Both of those locations sound like a good deal ( praying for snow). Worst case we will just visit every watering hole around there.

 

[J.Glenn]

Agree that both 5 and 14 to big bay are good. But depending on how bad of a toll the warm up takes on the trails I'd consider doubling up and back on 5. 14 has some logging stretches on it that could end up down to the dirt. You can pick up 5 right there at koski Korner as dfattack said. Just my .02.