Heading up on Friday morning and need to make it to Houghton by nightfall. I am hoping to drop in Florence and ride towards Watersmeet, but have not been riding yet this year. Is there enough snow to on the grade from Florence to watersmeet? I believe they are talking about getting another 2-4" this week as well. But then, more importantly, will there be enough snow with our warmer forecast to make it back on Sunday? For those who know the area better than myself, on the ride up, looking for the best ride - scenery, smooth trails, good stops, and on the way back will need the fastest route. I appreciate all the help in advance!
Florence, WI to Watersmeet, MI to Houghton, MI
- Thread starter sjb
- Start date
For now you have to follow the snow & grooming. 3 straight up works most direct could divert to 107N then rejoin 3n. Grooming issues with 109 and so would not mess with that. 15n out of IR wonderful trail but short on snow. 12 works but boring road trail. So as said best bet is 3n for snow & pretty trail then the grade is the grade to Houghton.
dfattack
Well-known member
To answer your question, NO. Trail 2 west to Watersmeet is not good. Once you cross the bridge into Michigan west of Florence the trail is thin and mixed with gravel. Ironically trail 2 IN Florence is fine. West of town is not fine. It's approximately 30 mins from Florence to Iron River. If you are willing to ride in those conditions then give it a shot. From Iron River west to Watersmeet the trail is fair to good. No gravel.
I was up last week and scouted it out myself and decided not to ride from Florence to Watersmeet. I trailered further west and went north from there.
I would suggest dropping in Iron River (since trail is good from there west) or head further west to Watersmeet and drop at the gas station (Nordines). These two options would save you from riding thin trails especially being a grade trail. Not fun.
Hope this helps you.
I was up last week and scouted it out myself and decided not to ride from Florence to Watersmeet. I trailered further west and went north from there.
I would suggest dropping in Iron River (since trail is good from there west) or head further west to Watersmeet and drop at the gas station (Nordines). These two options would save you from riding thin trails especially being a grade trail. Not fun.
Hope this helps you.
SJB - We stayed in Iron River, MI this past weekend (1/22) starting on Thursday night. On Friday morning we left Iron River heading west on trail 2 to Watersmeet. The first 7 miles or so leaving Iron River there were a lot of rocks to dodge - then coming back that evening there were twice as many rocks to dodge - enough for us to forget leaving Iron Iron River on Saturday morning and trailer to Kenton instead. They may have picked up some new snow last night and maybe more by Friday but as of last weekend we personally would not leave Iron River on the sleds due to rocks. Also, west of Iron River about 7 miles where it gets good is trail 15 north to Sidnaw - we were also advised to avoid that trailer by riders that actually took it due to rocks, ruts, water holes, low snow etc. The best and only bet was to stay on trail 2 to Watersmeet.
Thanks for the updates - exactly what I am looking for. I wonder if I am just better off trailering to Houghton and eliminate the risk. Or does anyone know with this last storm if enough snow fell in these areas to make it better than what was reported this past week?
Thanks in advance!
Thanks in advance!
dfattack
Well-known member
we rode trail 2 from west of the 2/107 junction, 107 north to 8, then over to Sidnaw and on up to L'Anse on 15. this route was IMO good and some trails were excellent. Trail 8 from Kenton to Sidnaw, then on up trail 15 to L'Anse was excellent. I think you will be fine from Watersmeet and north from there. the main trails like 3 (which I rarely ride) I'm sure could get beat up on the weekends mid-day. Your call entirely. I can only relay my experiences as of last week.
There was plenty of snow on the loop from Sidnaw north through the gorge to Rosseau back to mass city and around to Bruce Crossing. The trails past mass city were rough, but it was because of grooming/traffic more so than lack of snow. If you are concerned about snow stay Sidnaw and north. When you went south on 15N and towards Amasa it was thin in places. It actually looked better in Florence than Crystal Falls again this last weekend down through Dunbar. Going to be riding out of the Iron River area on Friday through to Hurley, and most likely we will either go south or north than chance the grade. Guessing the recent snow helped, but they got far less than NE WI did to be honest.
We made it from gas station in Phelps to Pat's Greenland up 107 instead of 3 with gas at BC & 2 10 minute trail side pit stops exactly in 3 hours. We were going at a good clip but nothing crazy... Figure another hour to Houghton on the grade so 4.5 hours would be my guess 5 hours for sure from Florence give some necessary pee breaks. Now this was a weekday not a weekend so no slow pokes blocking us.