Trail 14 Marquette to Big Bay Closed

snocrazy

Active member
This was discussed in the December S.A.W. meeting along with about 13 other trail closures in the state of Michigan.

The issue with this closure is the land owner who is developing the stores. Lowes and Meyer and other small places. A lot of construction going on and they don't want the snowmobile traffic going thru there. There is a plan to build a tunnel and get the trail opened in the next year or two in a different spot. I can not remember all of the details due to being filled with rage.

Attend one of these meetings some time. See who the people are who run this stuff. I had to walk out before it ended before going off. I even went off on our club president for not speaking up several times. He let me know its pointless. Meeting after meeting it has been questioned in the past. It was my first meeting and was a real eye opener.

Example of waste..... DNR marketing.... made a big deal about sending mass emails to those who give an email address when they purchased trail permit last year. They market to them to get them to buy stickers again this year. Mind Blowing! Soem one is not going to buy because you emailed them. If they need it they will buy it.
Also facebook boosting posts. Spending money and no real understanding internet marketing and measuring conversion or (ROI).
GPS units in Groomers - (our club has had them for 2 years now) They are settign up so they get emails when groomers are started. LOL We set it up for maintenance intervals, when the groomer comes to base and is parked. I stated if you want to do soem thing that helps..... set it up so you can colelct the GPS data for reimbursing the grant holders so they dont have to fill out all of hte paperwork. HEck even use that data to compare to what is turned in on paper by the grant sponsors to keep them honest in the beginning until the system proves it self to be accurate.

MAybe I am expecting to much out of these organizations. Expect lots more closures in the future. Get involved. Attend these meetings.
 
T

Tracker

Guest
you guys do know theres 2 trail 14's....theres the nice one that goes west outta bigbay and west to L'Anse....that's nice...best one ever....then theres trail 14 south outta bigbay running by 310 loop....that's the part that will wear you out....swampy...rocky...and 10,000 turns....parkinsons truck trail.....LOL...see how it crosses 510 2 to tree times...see second 14 on map below 310....that's where ya hookup with GGA and GGT aka RED ROAD and boogity over to 5 and then down...way better

Snomo-14-15.jpg
 

440_chazz

Member
Well I ride Ski Doo (sorry couldn't resist :biggrin:) so this technical route of twists and turns doesn't bother me. However by the end coming into Big Bay after topping off at Cram's I'm ready to park my butt at the Lumberjack and swig some KBC Red Jacket.
 

old abe

Well-known member
Well I ride Ski Doo (sorry couldn't resist :biggrin:) so this technical route of twists and turns doesn't bother me. However by the end coming into Big Bay after topping off at Cram's I'm ready to park my butt at the Lumberjack and swig some KBC Red Jacket.
I'll go with the "Pick Ax Blond"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 

utinans

New member
Thats what i thought more big box store developement,my biggest fear to gloom and doom,beyond pollution and global warming.How can you save earth if it's just all stores,same thing that killed it down here in illinois,ain't it funny with those town meetings,they have already made up their minds,don't care what you say.All of this a shame to see in the up,but it is happening quick,x3 on the lumberjack ,i love the homemade fries and pizza
 
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bee1971

Member
Personally , i have had zero issues with Marquette County over the last 15 years of riding there

Chocolay Township got a bad rap years ago with the 25 mph speed limit on the RR Grade leaving Marquette area

However my favorite trail for many years was coming out of Ishpeming on Trail #8 to Trail #5 and up to Big Bay

The one way toboggan runs on Trail #5 before it was converted to the #310 Loop was beyond the most AWESOME Trail in the U.P.

All those twisties was a blast , then you ran into a one way only speed fest was just so much fun heading to Big Bay - We used to turn around and run that trail over and over again during the day on our Firekitties

Now there about to ruin Trail #14 coming back into Marquette - Wonderfull just wonderfull

Sad !!!!!
 

dfattack

Well-known member
However my favorite trail for many years was coming out of Ishpeming on Trail #8 to Trail #5 and up to Big Bay

The one way toboggan runs on Trail #5 before it was converted to the #310 Loop was beyond the most AWESOME Trail in the U.P.

All those twisties was a blast , then you ran into a one way only speed fest was just so much fun heading to Big Bay - We used to turn around and run that trail over and over again during the day on our Firekitties

Sad !!!!!

I remember those "toboggan run trails" and miss them too. Agree completely about 5 & 14 being awesome trails. Ride them every year.
 

JeffB

Member
Good News..


Snowmobile Trail #14 in Marquette Township to reopen
In order to maintain land permission, snowmobilers must avoid off-trail riding
Thanks to the efforts of several local trail partners and cooperation of a key landowner, a segment of Snowmobile Trail #14 in Marquette Township (Marquette County) soon will reopen to public use. The trail segment had been closed in recent months due to loss of land permissions.
The reopening would not have been possible without collaboration from the Big Bay 550 Snowmobile Club, Hiawatha Trails Inc., snowmobile advocate and business owner Bob Taylor, the landowner, and Pete Glover, snowmobile contact for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Gwinn Management Unit.
“Snowmobile Trail #14 connects Marquette and Big Bay,” said Glover. “With the reopening of this segment, riders now will be able to get to Big Bay from Snowmobile Trail #8 – a huge benefit for riders and local businesses.”
Off-trail riding will lead to trail closure
In order to maintain the permission for trail access, Glover said it is absolutely critical for all riders to stay on the marked trail. If off-trail riding occurs in this area, the trail will be closed. Law enforcement officials will be patrolling the area.
Big Bay 550 Snowmobile Club members are set to install “private property” and “stay on trail” signs and snow fencing Thursday, Dec. 22. Once signing and fencing installation are completed – hopefully by this weekend – the trail will reopen.
For more information, contact Pete Glover, 906-346-9201, ext. 102 or gloverp@michigan.gov or Rob Katona, 906-228-6561 or katonar@michigan.gov.
Learn more about snowmobiling trails and other recreational trail opportunities on the DNR website www.michigan.gov/dnrtrails.
 

snobuilder

Well-known member
Great news,.... thank you all!

I might print and carry a copy of the post to show any off trail riders my concerns.
 

firefighter1

Active member
That is great news! That trail is always a beautiful ride, a big thank you to all involved in getting it reopened. Pass the word to stay on the marked trail.
 

old abe

Well-known member
Thank you X10 to all involved in getting this trail back!!!!!! I just hope people will abide by the rules, and stay "ON" the designated/marked trail. It seems as though staying on the designated/marked trails is becoming a very large problem.
 

Stack

New member
Glad to hear they were able to work this out, I am sure a lot of behind the scenes effort went into making this happen. Thanks to all that kept the traction to move this forward! Stay on the trail!

-John
 
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