Keweenaw Trails

[jd]

The Keweenaw Trails Services will begin limited grooming on trails that are suitable for it this weekend. As more snow falls and conditions improve, grooming will take place on all trails.

A HUGE Thank You to the Superior Snowmobile Club for offering to groom the section of the Bill Nichols trail from Toivola to South Range for us (and beyond if possible)! We are still awaiting delivery of the brand new machine that will be the groomer that we keep south of the bridge. It has been sitting ready to go (except for an aux fuel tank) at the dealership in MN since April! For the past 2 months we have been dealing with the: "It should be ready next week" and that has been immensely frustrating! If the new machine does not show up soon, then we will put a temporary groomer south of the Bridge to handle our section of Trail 3 (the Bill Nichols) from the bridge to Toivola. Until we can use the lower portion of the bridge, we would like to have to avoid all the troubles involved in getting the groomers over the bridge.

-John

 

[eagle1]

That's good news John!
Hoping to come up next week Friday. Just waiting for someone to cancel so I can snag a room somewhere!! Lol

- - - Updated - - -

.....ohhh and is bridge mat down?? Lol just kidding......doesn't matter to me.☺

 

[macker]

Tech graduation next Saturday, H/H are packed.

 

[eagle1]

Tech graduation next Saturday, H/H are packed.

Yeah I know, forgot to book room this spring. Hoping for cancellation somewhere!!

 

[rich_jelinek]

Thanks for the info John, any updates / new news as far as conditions go ?
We are planning to be in Calumet for our annual Xmas trip and hope the riding conditions will be decent

 

[jd]

Thanks for the info John, any updates / new news as far as conditions go ?
We are planning to be in Calumet for our annual Xmas trip and hope the riding conditions will be decent

Hi Rich

It will all depend on the weather. As long as there is not a lot of snow loss and then we can pick up 8-12", things will be in good shape. I am pretty optimistic for that to happen, with snows and cold seen for the later stages of next week and beyond.

-John

 

[transamgta57]

Coming up late Thursday night, called all over the place yesterday to try and find a room. Only place I could find is the Quality Inn & Suites in Houghton. Sounds like the have trail access, but parking with a snowmobile trailer could be challenging coming in late at night. I was told I could possible park my trailer under the bridge? I was hoping to stay at parkview lodge in twin lakes, but they were full. I've printed out current maps that show some of the trails that are closed, I've also made some additional notes in regards to other trails that are closed according to Krupp's posts on facebook. Would like to try and make it down to Mass City area and over to Baraga if trails and snow are decent (decent being used loosely knowing its early in the season). Would also like to make it to cooper harbor knowing that I will have to trailer across Houghton bridge.

 

[przes1]

I have parked down by bridge while staying there. Not a big deal. You can still ride your sled up to hotel and park it in their lot

 

[sweeperguy]

Coming up late Thursday night, called all over the place yesterday to try and find a room. Only place I could find is the Quality Inn & Suites in Houghton. Sounds like the have trail access, but parking with a snowmobile trailer could be challenging coming in late at night. I was told I could possible park my trailer under the bridge? I was hoping to stay at parkview lodge in twin lakes, but they were full. I've printed out current maps that show some of the trails that are closed, I've also made some additional notes in regards to other trails that are closed according to Krupp's posts on facebook. Would like to try and make it down to Mass City area and over to Baraga if trails and snow are decent (decent being used loosely knowing its early in the season). Would also like to make it to cooper harbor knowing that I will have to trailer across Houghton bridge.

Trail 109 off of Bill Nichols is 1 track virgin trail through woods for the majority of it south east towards Baraga. To trail 12. Avoid it unless you like that kind of riding, pretty rough. This is as of Sunday the 9th. Trail 8/ 15 between Baraga, and Bruce was good, with only 1 area in need of groomer work. Groomers out in area.
Trail 3? Between Bruce and Mass was freshly groomed Monday morning. Unfortunately we rode it the day before. But it was still OK ride even ungroomed.
Trail 13 between Tw. Lakes and Greenland had some bad spots with some water. Nothing terrible but if it warms up any I would avoid this cuz it could become a mud fest. Groomer had been out on north half of trail but not the south half (to wet yet would be my guess why not)

 

[slowsi00]

Trail 109 off of Bill Nichols is 1 track virgin trail through woods for the majority of it south east towards Baraga. To trail 12. Avoid it unless you like that kind of riding, pretty rough. This is as of Sunday the 9th. Trail 8/ 15 between Baraga, and Bruce was good, with only 1 area in need of groomer work. Groomers out in area.
Trail 3? Between Bruce and Mass was freshly groomed Monday morning. Unfortunately we rode it the day before. But it was still OK ride even ungroomed.
Trail 13 between Tw. Lakes and Greenland had some bad spots with some water. Nothing terrible but if it warms up any I would avoid this cuz it could become a mud fest. Groomer had been out on north half of trail but not the south half (to wet yet would be my guess why not)

109 is always a gamble. We never go down that route with noobs early in the season. One of my fav runs tho.

 

[transamgta57]

Trail 109 off of Bill Nichols is 1 track virgin trail through woods for the majority of it south east towards Baraga. To trail 12. Avoid it unless you like that kind of riding, pretty rough. This is as of Sunday the 9th. Trail 8/ 15 between Baraga, and Bruce was good, with only 1 area in need of groomer work. Groomers out in area.
Trail 3? Between Bruce and Mass was freshly groomed Monday morning. Unfortunately we rode it the day before. But it was still OK ride even ungroomed.
Trail 13 between Tw. Lakes and Greenland had some bad spots with some water. Nothing terrible but if it warms up any I would avoid this cuz it could become a mud fest. Groomer had been out on north half of trail but not the south half (to wet yet would be my guess why not)

Thanks for trail update.

 

[sweeperguy]

109 is always a gamble. We never go down that route with noobs early in the season. One of my fav runs tho.

I don't entirely hate 1 track virgin trails through woods. Brings back great memories of being a kid. A lot of trails we would ride were just our own trails we'd break and use to get from place to place.
Wouldn't want to run the rough stuff all day, but a couple hours never killed anyone .
109 is a fabulous trail when groomed and ready for the winter.

 

[rich_jelinek]

Thanks for the reply John, I will check back for an update early next week to see how much the lil warm up the next few days may have hurt things.
On another note, I have heard that the trail to Gay is closed cause the swamps aren't frozen, but also that some side trails up around LacLabelle are closed for logging operations?
Seems like alot of our favorite "scenic routes " will be closed due to something or another.
And while I'm asking, will the lift bridge be closed to sleds until after the new year ?
Thanks again for the info

 

[ICT Sledder]

109 is always a gamble. We never go down that route with noobs early in the season. One of my fav runs tho.

109 is a total blast of a trail from the turnoff on 3 (Twin Lakes area) until the 12 junction, but I've never been on it when the snow didn't get thin the farther you go S/E. You go from an area in the system that rarely suffers for snow depth, to sometimes barely ride-able conditions in what seems like a pretty short mileage. Every year. Gotta be some scientific reason why Baraga and a radius around that inlet/bay are always low snow, relative to the rest of the area. Like a snow shadow or something.

But that section of 109, with good snow, a fresh groom, and low traffic is one of my happy places in the area. Love the up, down, and around and all of the curves. Reminds me of good singletrack with a dirtbike.

 

[jd]

Thanks for the reply John, I will check back for an update early next week to see how much the lil warm up the next few days may have hurt things.
On another note, I have heard that the trail to Gay is closed cause the swamps aren't frozen, but also that some side trails up around LacLabelle are closed for logging operations?
Seems like alot of our favorite "scenic routes " will be closed due to something or another.
And while I'm asking, will the lift bridge be closed to sleds until after the new year ?
Thanks again for the info

Hi Rich.

The ONLY trails that will not open for the season are:
Freeda Loops 120/121
The section of trail 3 from the north end of Dollar Bay to Lake Linden."
Anything else that is not officially open right now will be when the conditions permit (ie, wet spots freeze, we get more snow) The logging is finishing up. I JUST got off the phone with the person who manages all the logging operations on the land company land and they have been done logging on 134 (the Mandan Trail) and just need to finish up hauling the logs, which will be in the next 2-3 days. The section of 3 that takes folks to and from Brockway Mountain is just finishing up cutting and they plan to be done hauling by the middle of next week. So it is sounding very good that by the time the snows start falling again later next week, all routes to Copper Harbor will be open for the season and the others like 133 and 124 will come on line when the wet spots freeze up and there is snow.

-John

 

[sweeperguy]

109 is a total blast of a trail from the turnoff on 3 (Twin Lakes area) until the 12 junction, but I've never been on it when the snow didn't get thin the farther you go S/E. You go from an area in the system that rarely suffers for snow depth, to sometimes barely ride-able conditions in what seems like a pretty short mileage. Every year. Gotta be some scientific reason why Baraga and a radius around that inlet/bay are always low snow, relative to the rest of the area. Like a snow shadow or something.

But that section of 109, with good snow, a fresh groom, and low traffic is one of my happy places in the area. Love the up, down, and around and all of the curves. Reminds me of good singletrack with a dirtbike.

There was actually as much or more snow towards 12 and past into Baraga. Snow depth on 8 / 15 was Good.
I totally agree 109 being a GREAT trail with maintenance.
What really gets my juices going, is having 13 Twin Lks to Greenland, right there. Another GREAT trail in season, being groomed regularly.
I've broken trail on it (13) after 6ish inches of snow. ABSOLUTELY some of the greatest (on trail) riding I've had in the Kee.

 

[ICT Sledder]

There was actually as much or more snow towards 12 and past into Baraga. Snow depth on 8 / 15 was Good.
I totally agree 109 being a GREAT trail with maintenance.
What really gets my juices going, is having 13 Twin Lks to Greenland, right there. Another GREAT trail in season, being groomed regularly.
I've broken trail on it (13) after 6ish inches of snow. ABSOLUTELY some of the greatest (on trail) riding I've had in the Kee.

Yep the 13 loop is one of the best too. Goes right through Pat's Yam/Pol as well, so makes for an easy reason to drop in and wander around a bit.

13 and 109/12 are kinda hidden gems (less so the 12 end of that loop). Don't seem to see that much traffic, as I'm guessing everyone is focused on getting somewhere to the north or south on 3/BN at warp speed, and so they just pass by.

 

[rich_jelinek]

Thanks again for the quick reply John

 

[catspaz8]

Why is the Freeda loop closed for the season, I love that loop, lots of curves and tight turns that make it fun.?

 

[harvest1121]

Flood damage