Houghton Area First Timer - Advice & trail conditions for next week (12/26-28)

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JillianMarie

New member
Finally getting my sleds to the UP this year for my first trip to this part of sled heaven! I would love advice on what trails/routes we should do with 2 days of full day riding Tuesday & Wednesday. Staying in DT Houghton (Quality Inn) and we (adults) usually like to put on around 100-150 miles a day with a few stops here and there. Prefer the winding trails and hills to miles of flat straight-away. Like to work up an appetite for a cold beer at the end of the day - ensuring a good night sleep!!

I'm sure this will be the first of many trips to the UP and would love to hear what's the best way to experience snowmobiling in this area for the first time! THANK YOU!

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whitedust

Well-known member
100 miles not much in the UP for a day and can do a lot more miles than that with easy riding. What kind of riding do you want to do? Twisty trails, Grades, or wide sweepers?
 
mezz

mezz

Well-known member
First off, Welcome to the Board! The timing of your visit could result in a variety of conditions, possibly mild, possibly wet, possibly snowy. Nonetheless, you should find "most of the trails in good shape, as long as the night time temps can keep things firm. 2 day's, plenty of time to explore North to Copper Harbor &/or Lac LaBelle as well as explore South to Twin Lakes, Freda etc..... Enjoy your first visit & don't make it your last & ride safe.-Mezz
 
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JillianMarie

New member
Thanks for the quick reply! We have a 2010 Ski Doo GSX 600 Etec and a 2015 Ski Doo Renegade 600 Etec - so we can keep up but flying down the trails at break-neck speed isn't my ideal day on the trails. But ... I can definitely ride as I've had sleds since 2003 (and grew up with them as well). I'll check out the link! Thank you!!!

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Good point on 100 miles not being much in the UP! My ideal day of riding has a good variety - prefer the twisty trails to long flat straight aways. I'm happiest when I'm riding and I just can't believe the natural beauty that I'm navigating! I do like a little challenge in my ride in terms of terrain so I can call it a work-out when I'm drinking beer later!

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Thanks Mezz! Can't wait!!
 
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whitedust

Well-known member
JillianMarie said:
Thanks for the quick reply! We have a 2010 Ski Doo GSX 600 Etec and a 2015 Ski Doo Renegade 600 Etec - so we can keep up but flying down the trails at break-neck speed isn't my ideal day on the trails. But ... I can definitely ride as I've had sleds since 2003 (and grew up with them as well). I'll check out the link! Thank you!!!

- - - Updated - - -

Good point on 100 miles not being much in the UP! My ideal day of riding has a good variety - prefer the twisty trails to long flat straight aways. I'm happiest when I'm riding and I just can't believe the natural beauty that I'm navigating! I do like a little challenge in my ride in terms of terrain so I can call it a work-out when I'm drinking beer later!

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Thanks Mezz! Can't wait!!
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Yeah the grades are boring but use them for connectors your sleds will be fine on those. You are close to the Freda loop and you will enjoy that but it won't take too long to complete. 3 south of the bridge to Mass City is grade not too bad close in to Houghton but will straighten out 15 miles or so south but just punch it & get it over & take the 109 down to Sidnaw food, drink, bathrooms at the Sidnaw Station and very snowmobiler friendly. 15 to Lanse is a wonderful trail and is called the pipeline full of whoopees & pretty pine trees usually lots of snow too. I would not ride towards Chassel lots of land issues and speed limits residents will block trails just not snowmobiler friendly at Xmas when the wealthy peeps are around. Gas food everything you need in Lanse well marked in town. The Kewee is there if you want to cross the bridge and all good riding if you stick to 3 as 17 can get ruff with traffic. Might be good to ride 3 towards CH stop at Brockway Mountain overlook...very impressive. If your group has had enough just U turn always fun to back track. Have fun and I hope you don't get rained on don't lose faith if it does rain conditions can change very quickly in that entire area.
 
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frnash

Active member
JillianMarie said:
… Staying in DT Houghton (Quality Inn) …
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I'm glad you're staying there after the big renovation, it was getting to be quite a dump before that! It should be fairly nice now.

JillianMarie said:
… would love to hear what's the best way to experience snowmobiling in this area for the first time! …
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Since it's your first trip to Houghton, I hope you know (click →) "How to Turn Left in the UP" (YouTube video, 27 sec.), while driving the streets of Houghton/Hancock. Your snowmobile skills should help with that! :eagerness:

(Yoopers driving in their natural habitat in Houghton, MI, Nov 12, 2012, but it's a time honored method dating from long before that.)
This is northbound Bridge Street in the video, from approximately Douglass Street to Houghton Avenue (roughly two blocks/600 ft.).

Back in the old days Bridge Street yoosta go all the way down da hill to Shelden Avenue (originally connecting directly across Shelden to the old bridge).
The current lift bridge was built in 1964, just west of the old bridge, after which of course the street didn't line up with the new bridge. Then some years later, southbound Bridge Street was terminated at Montezuma Avenue, one block south of Shelden.

At the same time, Quincy Street was routed as a one-way northbound from Shelden through a little west/south zig-zag to terminate at Montezuma, so if someone sliding down Bridge Street as shown in the video was to slide across the intersection at Montezuma, they'd be heading the wrong way through the Quincy Street zig zag! Life in da UP!
 
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packerlandrider

Active member
Two loops, one north and one south, to consider (assuming trail conditions are good for all):

South: Trail 3 down to Twin Lakes, trail 13 around to Greenland/Rockland (recommend Henry's Inn in Rockland for lunch), then take trail 12 over to Trail 109 to loop back to Twin Lakes, and back towards Houghton via 3. Do the Freda Loop either on the way out or on the way back. Total distance (including Freda loop) ~160 miles. In addition to the Freda loop, Trail 13 and 109 are very nice and curvy.

North: Starting in Houghton, you can hit nearly all of the trails north of the bridge in a day (~150 miles). Trail 122 between Lake Linden and Gay is currently closed due to logging. However, I still highly recommend hitting Trails 130 (the Eagles loop), Trail 124, and the Brockway Mountain portion or Trail 3.

Stay up to date on trail conditions provided by clubs at this webpage: http://www.msasnow.org/trail-reports/

Electronic, regional map: http://www.fishweb.com/recreation/snowmobile/trails/wup.html

A couple other personal recommendations:
Food: Michigan House, Calumet and Eagle Harbor Inn, Eagle Harbor
Bars: Shute's, Calumet and Keweenaw Brewing Company, Houghton
 
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kernsy

New member
Chick, what chick? I was admiring the Ski-doo, good things happen when you're doo'in it!

Carmelitas in Calumet, we cannot not stop there, great beverages and a neat atmosphere. My wife even named her previous sled Carmelita. I'd second the motion on the Eagle Harbor Inn, it has fantastic food, and friendly staff. Farther south but some great forestry roads to get there is Hoppy's in Kenton, might not be able to get there on good snow yet. Flatbreads at the Mosquito for a great snack and to support our veterans and some patriotic libation we love the VFW in South Range.

First trip up, I'd stop everywhere you can and judge for yourself. Some of our best memories are less than stellar places we have found and we still stop back for a laugh.
 
garyl62

garyl62

Active member
Packerlandrider has a great plan. I normally stay in Houghton and we do almost exactly what he said. Heading south there are times we hit Frieda on the way down, then 13 to Mass and lunch at the Pit Stop after a gas and BS stop to see Kip at Pat's, then depending on how we feel we may head straight back up to the hotel, or we may go east so we can loop back up 109. On day two we go straight up 3 to Copper Harbor with a stop on top of Brockway on the way up, then loop over to Lac La Belle for lunch and then we pick every trail off 3 on the way back south. One thing to remember, 3 will get a lot of traffic so we use it as a connector as Mezz said and we try to get out earlier than most so we can shoot to a spot then stay off it as we come back. Easier to do at the north end than the south, but no matter what, you'll have a good time. Also, we typically run the east leg up to Lake Linden on the way north as it's a little more scenic than the grade through Calumet. Since you're staying in town I'd throw out the Ambassador for pizza or the Downtowner for drinks late. Both are just across the street.
 
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sweeperguy

Active member
POLARISDAN said:
always for the nubes...
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Not always, last year or year before. There was a gal (i think) that came on and really got a pretty bad reception from a few of the board regulars. The following backlash by some maybe opened some eyes to their harshness.
Maybe thats why "nubes" are getting treated pretty nice this year?
 
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jedoyle

Active member
kernsy said:
Chick, what chick? I was admiring the Ski-doo, good things happen when you're doo'in it!

Carmelitas in Calumet, we cannot not stop there, great beverages and a neat atmosphere. My wife even named her previous sled Carmelita. I'd second the motion on the Eagle Harbor Inn, it has fantastic food, and friendly staff. Farther south but some great forestry roads to get there is Hoppy's in Kenton, might not be able to get there on good snow yet. Flatbreads at the Mosquito for a great snack and to support our veterans and some patriotic libation we love the VFW in South Range.

First trip up, I'd stop everywhere you can and judge for yourself. Some of our best memories are less than stellar places we have found and we still stop back for a laugh.
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Hey kernsy, we are going to be staying in Greenland next week & would like to ride south to a few places including Hoppy's. How did you know which forestry roads to take to get down there? You are thinking trail #3 heading south was no good?
Thanks!
 
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kernsy

New member
jedoyle said:
Hey kernsy, we are going to be staying in Greenland next week & would like to ride south to a few places including Hoppy's. How did you know which forestry roads to take to get down there? You are thinking trail #3 heading south was no good?
Thanks!
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Hey dude, its been a few years, hope you have a good ride, we're holding out for more snow later this year. Try 1100, there is one heckuva washout and creek crossing that can be a real buggaboo this time of year. Give Jane a hug and squeeze her cheek for me if you dare...
 
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Deleted member 10829

Guest
All posters should be treated like this! :)

packerlander does have nice routes. The only change I would make is on the south loop is when you get to 12 and 109, run 109 south to Kenton as that stretch is one of my favorites. It's not far down to Kenton and that would be a good stop at the new bar/gas station there. Then head back up 109 to Twin Lakes.

On the north loop, be sure to go all the way to the end of Brockway Mountain where you have a great overlook of Copper Harbor! If you are hungry, head to town and eat at The Mariner.

I'm looking forward to how the trip goes for you, so let us know when you get back.
 
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