Trail 1 and 13 loop open?

[indy_500]

With the heavy traffic , especially on years when other areas don’t get a good snow cover , and the reduced trails in recent years one has to wonder if the western UP is the attractive destination it once was. My group only rides on weekdays now but even those get rough more often than not. Been riding sleds for close to 60 years , have had more awesome trips than I can remember and have seen my fair share of rough trails but making the journey to the western UP knowing there will likely be rough trails is not as appealing as it once was. Not whining just stating the obvious - grooming simply cannot keep up with more sleds concentrated on less trails.

I said this ~5 years ago when trails started disappearing, and got flamed big time for it on this site. If you aren’t into big big miles the western UP is no longer very attractive to trail riders, especially since large majority of the remaining trails are just railroad grades.

DNR having total control over the MI/UP trail system is a massive fail. NWI clubs would’ve had that trail rerouted or a bridge slapped together in a weekend. Worried about groomer weight on a homemade bridge? Run the groomer from each direction and turn around. There’s ways around these issues, but the DNR wants it their way. I fully understand there is less manpower and resources in a lot of the UP, but if they were allowed to make these things happen, they would find the manpower and resources to do so…

Eastern UP is just as crowded and much less scenic sites to see, but still some great riding to be had. Everyone from Lower MI rides over there.

 

[saber1]

My sons and I were just talking about this How we used to go to the western UP for 15yrs ,past 8 or so we have been hitting the Eastern just because of all the trail closings and fewer choices Sad

 

[dfattack]

I've ridden all of the U.P. for the most part and I personally prefer what I call the central U.P. Other's definition may vary but from Bruce crossing east to Gwinn has great riding and I usually don't see or hear huge amounts of sleds like you see when riding far western U.P.

 

[SHOOT2KILL]

We based out of Iron Mountain for several years in the early 2000's...Did several midweek loops when conditions were good...Usually 850ish miles during 2.5 days of riding...Always stayed between Marquette/Escanaba on the east to the west shore of Lake Gogebic...Always enjoyed the lunch runs to Gogebic Lodge to see my old pal from Illinois Don Berquist (godspeed)...Made several of those trips back then and rarely saw any other riders during the midweek...

 

[dfattack]

We based out of Iron Mountain for several years in the early 2000's...Did several midweek loops when conditions were good...Usually 850ish miles during 2.5 days of riding...Always stayed between Marquette/Escanaba on the east to the west shore of Lake Gogebic...Always enjoyed the lunch runs to Gogebic Lodge to see my old pal from Illinois Don Berquist (godspeed)...Made several of those trips back then and rarely saw any other riders during the midweek...

I wouldn't be surprised if we passed each other on the trails a few times. That's my normal territory although I usually don't get as far west as gogebic. Blink Bonnie's is generally my further west destination

 

[SHOOT2KILL]

I wouldn't be surprised if we passed each other on the trails a few times. That's my normal territory although I usually don't get as far west as gogebic. Blink Bonnie's is generally my further west destination

It's amazing the business that place generates...Was up there this past September and drove by the place just before they opened, and their were 25 people standing inline waiting to get in for drinks/dinner...We took our first bagger trip to the U.P. in Feb 1983...Phelps,Wi to Copper Harbor and back...We spent New Years @ Gogebic Lodge every year from after the fire around 1984 till 1990...

 

[indy_500]

I've ridden all of the U.P. for the most part and I personally prefer what I call the central U.P. Other's definition may vary but from Bruce crossing east to Gwinn has great riding and I usually don't see or hear huge amounts of sleds like you see when riding far western U.P.

There’s some great stuff there, but the reason for no sleds is simple. No lodging, and no bars/restaurants. Pure gods country in the middle of the yoop. Sled breakdowns could be brutal as it’s often 50+ miles to the next intersection and sometimes 100 miles between gas stations.

 

[indy_500]

It's amazing the business that place generates...Was up there this past September and drove by the place just before they opened, and their were 25 people standing inline waiting to get in for drinks/dinner...We took our first bagger trip to the U.P. in Feb 1983...Phelps,Wi to Copper Harbor and back...We spent New Years @ Gogebic Lodge every year from after the fire around 1984 till 1990...

Lots of supper club pages on Facebook have been popping up, drawing even more attention to there. It’s amazing how far people will drive to go there. I was staying at the whitetail once, and a guy in the hotel lobby drove up from Chicago just to eat there. Having ridden with Scott and Brian a few times, I don’t think anyone makes a steak better than the McGregor boys. The best is when they’d put leftover ribs in their muffpots!

 

[SHOOT2KILL]

There’s some great stuff there, but the reason for no sleds is simple. No lodging, and no bars/restaurants. Pure gods country in the middle of the yoop. Sled breakdowns could be brutal as it’s often 50+ miles to the next intersection and sometimes 100 miles between gas stations.

Yep...I always had that thought in the back of my mind when I was riding solo and traversing across the Huron Mountains between Baraga and Big Bay...Actually came across a brokedown sledder up in the Hurons near Mt Arvon...New Doo Rev with a snapped chain...His riding buds went back to their truck to get the spare chain and left him there to sit and wait for them to get back...

 

[euphoric1]

I've learned that have to go where the snow is, last 2 years where many didn't ride, I went and had nothing short of stellar conditions, 2 years ago my buddy and I were literally the only ones staying at Big Bay Motel and was like riding fresh laid pavement, last december in the 25 years I've been riding I have never ridden the BN trail as flat as it was and it held up all day too, then Grand Marais during bitter cold snap conditions were nothing again less than stellar, didnt have heavy traffic in GM, had almost no traffic in Big Bay when we went and Gogebic area all the way to the Bridge was absolutely perfect. Me I'm glad I didnt sit home hoping for good conditions where I want to ride... I rode and will go east, west or in the middle, during the week and ride. Cant always expect perfection but we've had it the last 2 years.

 

[euphoric1]

Lots of supper club pages on Facebook have been popping up, drawing even more attention to there. It’s amazing how far people will drive to go there. I was staying at the whitetail once, and a guy in the hotel lobby drove up from Chicago just to eat there. Having ridden with Scott and Brian a few times, I don’t think anyone makes a steak better than the McGregor boys. The best is when they’d put leftover ribs in their muffpots!

Couldnt agree more on McGregor boys!!! Venture north exposed me to it about 3 years ago, have made multiple treks there, Venturenorth and I are going this friday as matter of fact! and going to Clearview Supperclub saturday night

 

[rph130]

Couldnt agree more on McGregor boys!!! Venture north exposed me to it about 3 years ago, have made multiple treks there, Venturenorth and I are going this friday as matter of fact! and going to Clearview Supperclub saturday night

I get it that Blink Bonnie serves a good steak but for me, the place is too small and cramped and I refuse to stand in a line like I'm at Disney World to spend more than a hundred bucks on a steak dinner for my wife and me.

 

[renegade]

What gets me is most of us will defend an increase in trail passes every time they go up, but this is the best the MI-DNR can do? I'm sorry but "not worth it" is no excuse. How do you put a value on another trail that can spread out traffic, especially after last year? They need to find a better way with less government interference.

 

[Hoosier]

I've learned that have to go where the snow is, last 2 years where many didn't ride, I went and had nothing short of stellar conditions, 2 years ago my buddy and I were literally the only ones staying at Big Bay Motel and was like riding fresh laid pavement, last december in the 25 years I've been riding I have never ridden the BN trail as flat as it was and it held up all day too, then Grand Marais during bitter cold snap conditions were nothing again less than stellar, didnt have heavy traffic in GM, had almost no traffic in Big Bay when we went and Gogebic area all the way to the Bridge was absolutely perfect. Me I'm glad I didnt sit home hoping for good conditions where I want to ride... I rode and will go east, west or in the middle, during the week and ride. Cant always expect perfection but we've had it the last 2 years.

That's my favorite area in the UP, the trails heading up to Big Bay on each side. Seems like many don't bother due to the remoteness. Closest thing to riding in northern Ontario in michigan. Hopefully the secret doesn't get out. I think a lot of people just fly down 8 to get from one side of the UP to the other.

 

[Hoosier]

What gets me is most of us will defend an increase in trail passes every time they go up, but this is the best the MI-DNR can do? I'm sorry but "not worth it" is no excuse. How do you put a value on another trail that can spread out traffic, especially after last year? They need to find a better way with less government interference.

I don't know why all the northern states are governed by commies.

 

[euphoric1]

That's my favorite area in the UP, the trails heading up to Big Bay on each side. Seems like many don't bother due to the remoteness. Closest thing to riding in northern Ontario in michigan. Hopefully the secret doesn't get out. I think a lot of people just fly down 8 to get from one side of the UP to the other.

trail 5 and 14 one of my all time fav's, especially that rock cut cliff you can jog off the trail and park along side! have done loop to big bay and back down 8 from Gogebic a time or two as well, nice ride!