Iron River to Houghton Through Chassell????

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sledaddict73

New member
Could someone please let me know if we could get to Houghton from the south rather than up the Keweenaw Super-Highway (Bill Nichols trail from Twin Lakes)? We want to shoot up for the carnival tomorrow from Iron River.
I know in the past some of the trails down near Chassell and L'Anse were closed and getting north from there was challenging. Any input would be greatly appreciate-thanks everyone!! THINK SNOW :)
 
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packerlandrider

Active member
According to the MSA website, the Baraga-Chassell trail has been groomed and is in fair to goo condition. Once you get to Chassell you will either take the back roads to Painesdale and re-connect with trail 3, or take Portage Lake up to Houghton (if safe). Check with the Green Light in Chassell.
 
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sjb

Member
Talking with a local last week, he stated Portage Lake was NOT safe. I would use caution if you decide to go that route.
 
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Expy2015

New member
The trail from Chassell to Houghton is the rail bed. It runs between US41 and Portage Lake. It IS OPEN to snowmobiles but is not groomed. The residents have been warned not to plow snow onto the trail or block it in anyway. I ran the trail beginning of January and there were no blockages. I have seen sleds running from Chassell to Houghton so I assume all is still well. It won't be a high speed run as its not groomed and there are a dozen or two driveways to cross but it is do able. Need to get the DNR to get this trail on the groomers list!
 
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Kmrobb

New member
In Baraga tonight, thinking about trying it tomorrow, but I hear nothing good from the locals...
 
garyl62

garyl62

Active member
Expy2015 said:
The trail from Chassell to Houghton is the rail bed. It runs between US41 and Portage Lake. It IS OPEN to snowmobiles but is not groomed. The residents have been warned not to plow snow onto the trail or block it in anyway. I ran the trail beginning of January and there were no blockages. I have seen sleds running from Chassell to Houghton so I assume all is still well. It won't be a high speed run as its not groomed and there are a dozen or two driveways to cross but it is do able. Need to get the DNR to get this trail on the groomers list!
Click to expand...

I talked with a local resort owner who's place in down the "trail" last week while I was having dinner at the Pilgrim River Steak House and she said the DNR has been working on the grade for the past couple years. I don't recall if she said it was going to be, or was now, an official trail. She talked about the need to get it onto the system and start grooming it, but I don't know how they will get the groomer down past the library, ice rink and other things right along the lake between the bridge and the Super 8. It would be great for that to happen and connect all the way through, but from what I've heard that has been talked about for years without coming up with a way to make it happen.
 
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Dublinz1

New member
I would not try the ice... We just went through L'Anse the other day, and we were surprised to see that the bay was all open water. We have seen hundreds of ice huts on that bay in a normal winter, but to see all the open water, I would go nowhere near Portage Lake from Chassell to Houghton.
 
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