Is Trail#12(So.Laird Rd.) Rideable?

[classicchick]

Has anyone been out on trail #12 to Forest Highway 16? I know it is being groomed to 16 but what happens then?
I heard there is logging and to stay away....do we have to detour up #3 to #109 to get to Sidnaw? Hope to be
heading down to Hoppy's to see Jane tomorrow and have one of her awesome sloppy hoppy burgers. We wanted to
take in the Silver Mt. area and loop to Bruce Crossing and back to Mass.

 

[packerlandrider]

I was on Trail 12 from Mass City to 109 on February 1st and everything was fine. There were a few mile sections that were plowed with a few bumps, but were still all hard pack snow/ice covered. Far from anything I would avoid, but maybe things have changed in the past 12 days?

 

[garyl62]

I've never taken this trail but thinking of running 12 to 109 to 3 from Mass City to Twin Lakes this weekend. What's it like and about how far is it? Assume we gas up at Pat's we're good to go the whole way. Any suggestions? Also wondering if there are any stopping spots along the way we need to be sure to hit.

 

[whitedust]

took 109 to Sidnaw today & was great so much better trail than 12.IMO

 

[packerlandrider]

Gary, if my math is correct, Mass City to Twin Lakes via 12-109 is approximately 55 miles. West side of 12 is a good portion of hay fields, east to 109 is quite a bit of (some plowed) forest/logging roads. 109 to a few miles north of Alston is quite twisty, then rest of the way to Twin Lakes is more wide, sweeping forest roads.

Pete, I agree, 109 is certainly the nicer trail, however there was nothing explicitly wrong with trail 12 when I was on it. Heck, there were worse sections on trail 13 north of Greenland due to logging.

 

[garyl62]

Thanks Shane. We're staying at D's this weekend with a group and I'm thinking one day down 3, 13, 12, 109 and home with a little jumping off to some FR along 13 and 109 would be a nice loop. Sounds like it will work so maybe we'll try it out. We usually hit the Pit Stop but that may be to early in the day for lunch. Anyplace else along that route that would be a good option?

 

[packerlandrider]

Thanks Shane. We're staying at D's this weekend with a group and I'm thinking one day down 3, 13, 12, 109 and home with a little jumping off to some FR along 13 and 109 would be a nice loop. Sounds like it will work so maybe we'll try it out. We usually hit the Pit Stop but that may be to early in the day for lunch. Anyplace else along that route that would be a good option?

Very similar to what my parents and I did on the 1st - Houghton to Twin Lakes, trail 13 around to Rockland (lunch at Henry's), up trail 3 to Mass City for gas, then 12 to 109 to Twin Lakes and back to Houghton. Ended up being a little over 160 miles on the day.

Other possible options for stops are Tige's in Mass City or The Rousseau Bar in Rousseau (~10 miles east of Mass City on trail 12).

 

[whitedust]

Yep disappointed with logging on 13 but still was nice ride today not so sure what conditions will be like with warm up on logging sections but goodish now. Nothing wrong with 12 that I know of just blah trail to me.

 

[Deleted member 10829]

Thanks Shane. We're staying at D's this weekend with a group and I'm thinking one day down 3, 13, 12, 109 and home with a little jumping off to some FR along 13 and 109 would be a nice loop. Sounds like it will work so maybe we'll try it out. We usually hit the Pit Stop but that may be to early in the day for lunch. Anyplace else along that route that would be a good option?

garyl62,

When you get to the intersection of 12 and 109, head south on 109 to Sidnaw and turn around and head back north, it's my favorite trail as of this year. You may know that trail already, but I had rarely been on it due to low snow years but have been on it twice this year and it just doesn't get any better IMO.

 

[indy_500]

Whatever you do stay off the 1100 you'll thank me later (still recovering...)

 

[snowbound83]

Have fun this weekend Gary. Wish I could go with you guys. I know Jason and Jordan are excited to get out and do some UP riding. With the baby coming any day now I have to stay close to home.

 

[garyl62]

Have fun this weekend Gary. Wish I could go with you guys. I know Jason and Jordan are excited to get out and do some UP riding. With the baby coming any day now I have to stay close to home.

don't worry, we'll keep a spot open for you next year. Take care and enjoy this time.

 

[Woodtic]

Gary, if you take 109 down to Sidnaw,then back up to the Baraga split,over to Baraga,then back to 109 north. That could be a fun scenic trip. The trail over to Baraga is like a roller coaster. Give me a call,alot of photo opportunities through there. There are also some roads that you can take,that would shorten up that trip. If the snow is good,I can get from Sidnaw to Twin Lakes in 45 min.

 

[garyl62]

Gary, if you take 109 down to Sidnaw,then back up to the Baraga split,over to Baraga,then back to 109 north. That could be a fun scenic trip. The trail over to Baraga is like a roller coaster. Give me a call,alot of photo opportunities through there. There are also some roads that you can take,that would shorten up that trip. If the snow is good,I can get from Sidnaw to Twin Lakes in 45 min.

Thanks for the suggestion Paul. Not sure we'll have the time for that. It will be the first day of riding and a guy needs to get a rental in the morning so it will be a little later start. I'll be staying at Lenny's in March with just my son so that will be a ride we take for sure then as we plan to spend a lot more time running around the southern end of things then.

 

[classicchick]

Whatever you do stay off the 1100 you'll thank me later (still recovering...)

Didn't see your post before we left and when we saw a grader on the Pori Rd (part of #12) we headed down 1100.
It wasn't bad riding.....at 30mph Saw Jane at Hoppy's and had conversation with some other jders over lunch
It was an awesome wintery day on Thurs., great trails all the way back to Mass City. Bruce Crossing north was
the best ever!!!!
Thanks to everyone for whatever helpful info you added to my post. Looking forward to getting out on #109. After
all the raves tho it might have higher than normal trail traffic especially weekends.