My wife and I spend plenty of time riding in NW Wisconsin and the western U.P., and this year we were thinking of heading further east in the U.P. Maybe something like the Ishpeming area? For those of you who ride in that area, do you love it? Why/Why not? Good places to stay/eat/drink etc? Would love some feedback from folks who have spent time riding in that area and know it well. Thanks!!
Ishpeming area vs houghton/hancock
- Thread starter Special K
- Start date
Less traffic, more trails, but some of them mean commitment like if you run from Big Bay to L'Anse and they are not RR grade-fast trails. Some decent motels and food right off the trail.
Would be a good area to try something different.
Agree with the comments above. The Huron mountain area is some of the best on trail and off trail riding in the Yoop but it has very little conveniences (gas/food/etc). You go there to ride and you better have gas stops planned out. That area is not for food/bar hopping short trippers.
In my experience that's an understatement. I've never ridden anything but snirt, gravel, & asphalt going through L'anse. It's a shame because once you get through Baraga and L'Anse the ridding is great.
Ishpeming area is awesome . We bought a camp there 20 years ago.I would stay at the country village resort. The jasper ridge brewery is right there. I know some of the fellas that groom there and they do a awesome job.Not much night life but I wasn't into that . Its central located so you can head in any direction . We were up for turkey day . They had 15 inchs on the ground. Yesterday morning we woke up to another 15 inchs and it was blizzard conditions when we left at 830 am. So lots of snow in Ishpeming.
catspaz8
Member
There can be lots of great riding in and around Ishpeming, as mentioned the trail Big bay is a blast, but be prepared to work, its not a railroad grade, its curvy and you work to go at speed, heading east to Marquette and south towards Gwinn is fun to, there is a lot east of Harvey, but that means traveling 8 and that can be a bear late in the day on your return with the trail whooped out. heading further east towards Munising is mostly high speed rail beds. I like to go south on 7 towards the Buckhorn and do the trails that head to Rapid river, low traffic and nice trails most of the time. Heading west and North have generally been rougher as the snow always seems to thin, but in a good snow year whoi knows? Have fun. My Friends have a Camp in Chattam we base out of called Bohemian Creek House, look it up as a rental. They have two houses on one property, one is a three bedroom house with full ammenities, and the second is a bunkhouse with one room with four bunks, and a large wraparound couch that has a queen pullout beds. both have 1 1/2 Bathrooms, full kitchens etc. all rehabbed two years ago.
ishpeming fan
Member
The area is awsome. lots of 100 mile loops or more to be had from the jasper inn. Ishpeming through republic to Amasa for gas and lunch. head toward sidnaw for gas and a drink. Head back and stop at stumps for a break,then dinner at the brewery. about 125 mile loop. No traffic,and tight twisty trails make for A fun loop.
rich_jelinek
New member
So for anyone in the know, how are the current snow / trail conditions in and around the areas covered in the above posts ?
As of Saturday the report was "early season" with logging-induced closures. Munising, a bit south and east of there, had lots of sleds out and lots of workers still busting butt clearing debris/trees off the trail from the last big storm.
ishpeming fan
Member
Give Myer Yamaha a call in Ishpeming. They will tell you the honest conditions in the area. Great Guys
Here's the latest, stayed at Jasper Monday night. Lanse to Big Bay excellent. Big Bay down 5 to Ishpeming still under construction due to heavy tree down issues. Don't know about the route through Marquette up to Big Bay. 8 west was fine to Michigamme, past that to Sidnaw is not ready yet, same issues.
snolover55
Member
According to the Big Bay club site. bigbay550snowmobileclub.com(formerly bigbaysnowmobileclub.org) All the Big Bay trails are groomed and in good to excellent condition. Cautioning to watch for falling debris.
bayfly
Active member
There must be a big issue with this trail. We rode about 10 miles up on 12/6 and it wasnt bad at all. We had to turn around due to mechanical issues but a group we were following kept going. I dont know if they actually made it to Big Bay. On our return back on 5 we met guys with saws that we headed up to clear trees. I was expecting it would be clear by now unless something was seriously wrong.
Ride there quite a bit. Usually great. A must stop is Sidnaw Station. Not much of a menu, but they really cater towards snowmobiler's. We have even called ahead when we needed to order quite a few pizzas, so they wouldn't be surprised. They were just about ready after we paid for fuel.