How's traveling to the Western UP in winter

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Polarice

New member
I'm going to look at a couple of parcels of land over by the Keenewaw next weekend. That's about 11 or so hours from where I currently live in Ohio. I live by Toledo on the Western Basin of Lake Erie so I'd basically have to go through the entire lower and take the bridge and go west.

How would traveling be across the UP in the winter time trailering a couple of sleds? Do they plow the main roads pretty regularly?
 
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Skylar

Super Moderator
Staff member
As far as the roads from Watersmeet to Bruce Crossing, to Mass City, to Twin Lakes and then the Keweenaw, they are always in good shape. I've never been able to use the " the roads are crap, and I can get back yet" excuse since I have been going up there. :(
 
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Polarice

New member
That's good to know. I figure if I pull off 4 day weekends and leave on say a Thursday morning, arrive Thursday night after 12 or so hours. Then ride all day Friday and Saturday and leave Sunday morning to arrive back home on Sunday night.

I was just a little concerned about roads not being plowed.
 
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eao

Active member
Mackinaw, Houghton and Baraga counties are MDOT maintained. The worst stretch of road to travel is between Munising and Marquette along the Lake Superior shore. Check the weather and avoid M28 in that area if stormy, they will close it when it gets bad. Go west along 2 to 41 then north along 41 to Copper Harbor. Longer but often better than fighting a white out. Alger county is not known for good winter roads. I know I worked all over da up for MDOT and hated to work or drive in that area in winter. I have driven 25 mile south of Munising to find clear weather when I could not see the yellow line in Munising or 100 ft.

Keewenaw county takes good care of the winter roads.

I once drove from Shingleton to M-28/US-41 junction at Marquette in 4x4 lock on my k2500 work surburban and was cutting trail in some areas.
 
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scottd

New member
To help make you feel better as someone that goes up there 12 months a year I often complain to my wife that the winter is the best time to drive up. Why you ask? Less traffic, and NO ROAD CONSTRUCTION. Now a days they salt so much that basically any US or state highway is bare or close pretty much anytime unless it's actually snowing. At least that is my observation driving from Chicago area to near Marquette in the central Yoop. As eao said, though I rarely ever drive on that road, M28 between Munising and Marquette can get really bad in areas with the wind coming right off the lake.
 
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g_eich

New member
It makes for a long trip home back to Ohio. We did it a couple years ago at Christmas time. We have two more hours to travel home than you. It was almost 700 miles for us to Bergland.
 
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frnash

Active member
Driving the UP in da winter — not a problem. Except perhaps on very rare occasions.

UP winters are characterized more by slow, gentle, steady snow, for days at a time, rather than monster single storm events.

When I was a young 'un, we yoosta regularly head up to 'Ruces 'Rossing from Detroit for deer season, wayback in da 1950s [FONT=Verdana,Arial,Helvetica] in dad's ol' dark green 1950 Mercury 4 door <strike>fat salami</strike> er… sedan (Ahhh, what a luxurious old land yacht that was!); [/FONT]and earlier, well before da Big Mac bridge. The worst part was spending long hours parked on the docks at Mackinaw City waitin' for the car ferry, and ditto at St. Ignace on the return trip. Never a serious problem crossing the Yoop.

Today's cars/vehicles and tires are far better, and the roads are far better, and better maintained as well.
 
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Polarice

New member
eao said:
Mackinaw, Houghton and Baraga counties are MDOT maintained. The worst stretch of road to travel is between Munising and Marquette along the Lake Superior shore. Check the weather and avoid M28 in that area if stormy, they will close it when it gets bad. Go west along 2 to 41 then north along 41 to Copper Harbor. Longer but often better than fighting a white out. Alger county is not known for good winter roads. I know I worked all over da up for MDOT and hated to work or drive in that area in winter. I have driven 25 mile south of Munising to find clear weather when I could not see the yellow line in Munising or 100 ft.

Keewenaw county takes good care of the winter roads.

I once drove from Shingleton to M-28/US-41 junction at Marquette in 4x4 lock on my k2500 work surburban and was cutting trail in some areas.
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Okay, I think I understand what you're saying, but I'm not entirely sure.

When I get over the bridge I would take 2 to Escanaba and then take 41 to 69 to 141 to 41 to L'Anse? I don't have to go quite to the Keenewaw. I'm going near Skanee.

Does that seem like a good alternate route or would you recommend something different?

Thanks
 
F

frnash

Active member
eao said:
eao said:
… The worst stretch of road to travel is between Munising and Marquette along the Lake Superior shore. Check the weather and avoid M28 in that area if stormy, they will close it when it gets bad. …
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Yes that can be the nastiest stretch for a real white out in the rare serious storm off the lake.

If that's the case, you can always take a more inland route on M-94 From Wetmore through Chatham, Eben Junction and Rumley to join US-41 about 15 miles south of Marquette.

You can also bypass the Marquette traffic by taking CR-480 to the west from US-41 to Negaunee, to join US-41 there.
<hr size="2" width="75%">Another option, take US-2 west to Manistique, then pick up M-94 north to Shingelton, thus avoiding that long tedious straight-line sleep-inducing "Seney stretch" on M-28.
 
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Bradzoo

Active member
Every once in awhile the weather gets bad enough that they close the bridge, (usually for wind) but it alway's seems I'm in the lower trying to get to the UP instead of the other way, but I'm still waiting to use that excuse.
 
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booondocker

New member
The thing to keep in mind with traveling across the upper is ... lake effect snow (seems to me someone else s favorite word....can't remember who tho:confused:)

can getcha...at ANY TIME....if one of those cloud bursts drops on the hood of your truck, I don't care where you are up there or how good the road commission is, you are going to go slower and the driving can be treacherous. It won't be you that you need to worry about rather it is the yo-yo coming the other way who decides to do the 360 dance in front of you whilst you decide what kind of coffin you SHOULD have told your relatives to buy should you take the last ride of your life. I have seen many and come upon many more of them just after they happen and it isn't pretty.

The other thing is that those snows can happen while the rest of the upper is sunny....so watch for those big gray clouds and plan accordingly.

I have traveled the high side of the peninsula more times than I can say (else wise I would be given my age away like that old guy who lives out there in Airyzona) and M-28 is by far the more scenic route with views that are worth the drive, so don't steer clear of it because you think it isn't worth it...cause it is. And even though that stretch between Munising and Marquette can be a tough one under the right conditions, it is also my favorite one....it is that pretty.

While I am sure my hair color has gotten much whiter traveling across M-28 on some of those memorable trips, I sort of enjoy traveling those roads when it is snowing and wintery....it tends to remind you of why you are up there to begin with. Remember the trip back is ALWAYS MUCH LONGER THAN THE ONE GOING UP!

One more thing....and be sure to make note of this one....when the snows are a coming down and plows are out and doing their thing....they can be a major obstacle to traveling along. Blinking lights get caked with snow, and a slight blurry dust storm ahead can be a hunk of iron that will stop you forever. Watch out for these trucks, as they are hard to see, and even harder to get around.

A trip across a snowy peninsula is only beautiful if you stay alive to talk about it when you get home to post pictures on John Dee for all of us hopelessly stuck in suburbia And......and that's no joke.
 
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mjkaliszak

New member
I think th UP roads are some of the best maintained in the state for winter travel. The worst stretch for me was 28 between Marquette & Bergland. Due to LES..... but that is a good thing. We live in SW Mich and we will drive around Chi town and up thru Wisconsin to Bergland. It saves us 2-3 hrs believe it or not VS going up and over the bridge.
 
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whitedust

Well-known member
Ya only have to worry about the big Mac being closed due to VERY high winds & take care in LES whiteouts but use common sense & AOK. I put her in 4 wheel drive in Nov & take her out of 4D in April. Also need to be good with heights looking 500 feet down thru bridge grate. Some bury their heads can't take the height but they do offer service to drive you accross if too high for ya.
 
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wilson

New member
it seems to me, the best and easiest solution would be to just move up there...no more long drives... i wish it was just that simple!!!
 
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mrsjac95

New member
Skylar said:
As far as the roads from Watersmeet to Bruce Crossing, to Mass City, to Twin Lakes and then the Keweenaw, they are always in good shape. I've never been able to use the " the roads are crap, and I can get back yet" excuse since I have been going up there. :(
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Skylar, they don't REALLY have to be crap - like the boss would even know! Go ahead, use it! IT WORKS!!!

I can't wait to see those little snow swirls on the road as we drive UP!

REV IT UPx3!

Jul
 
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eao

Active member
When I get over the bridge I would take 2 to Escanaba and then take 41 to 69 to 141 to 41 to L'Anse? I don't have to go quite to the Keenewaw. I'm going near Skanee.
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No, 69 and 141 are way out of the way.

US-2 to Rapid River (East of Escanaba) and Junction US41. Then US-41 North to Marquette, stay on US 41 to L'Anse.

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