KULWELLING
New member
Booked a house January 25-29 in Republic Township near Lake Michigamme. Home Owner states that the trail is very close to the home. Looking for advice on good day trips out of there? Any suggestions?
Trails Near Ishpeming/Republic Township
- Thread starter KULWELLING
- Start date
wiharley02
Active member
I'll be staying in Michigamme the following week/weekend.
The biggest thing to keep an eye on right now is there is a section of Trail 8 closed due to a broken bridge beam. MI DNR and the local club has estimated a mid-January re-opening. Not sure if they are still on track or if this cold weather is hindering or helping their cause. I have not seen any updates since the news first hit. If that trail is still closed for your trip, it puts a pretty big damper in the loops that can be made when basing at Michigamme. The closed section of Trail 8 is located between Van Riper State Park (NE corner of Lake Michigamme) and the Trail 8 junction with Trail 5 (M28/M95 highway junction area). Fingers crossed the trail will be reopened for you and us.
That being said, loops that I have done from Michigamme:
East to Marquette, north to Big Bay, back down Trail 5 to Trail 8, back to Michigamme (half day).
East to Trail 5, North on 5 to Trail 14, Trail 14 west to Lanse. Stop at Mt. Arvon lookout point on Trail 14. Lanse work your way back to Michigamme (3/4 day).
I did these runs last year in mid-February on a Wed. and Thurs., during one of our big thaw out periods. Lows at night mid to upper 20's if we were lucky, got into the upper 30's to lower 40's during the day, so we got out earlier and cut our days a bit short, but the trails were still very very good for us, they held up well, and Moose Country, Baraga, Big Bay, and Hiawatha clubs did a really good job at getting out at night once it was cold enough and groomed, so the trails were good the next morning. We headed south too on Friday, down 5 to Amasa, back towards Nestoria, back to Michigamme. That day it probably got into the upper 40's and sunny, so we got back early afternoon but still had a good ride with decent trails. By Saturday it was getting so warm, we only went to Ishpeming to demo ride some turbo yama-cats, then headed back west on the Iron Heritage trail (nice grade option) to Republic for lunch, then back to Michigamme very early afternoon, i think it got into the 50's that day, at least it felt like it in the sun.
Keep your fingers crossed for more snow in that area (Nestoria, Michigamme, Ishpeming/Big Bay). The lake effect sometimes doesn't reach inland that far. Also typically the Michigamme club has a bit of trouble grooming Trail 8 in the Michigamme area until there is more snow, the terrain is fairly rugged along the high-lines for a mile or two. But this year I understand they got through already (earlier than I remember in previous years), so things should be looking up!
The biggest thing to keep an eye on right now is there is a section of Trail 8 closed due to a broken bridge beam. MI DNR and the local club has estimated a mid-January re-opening. Not sure if they are still on track or if this cold weather is hindering or helping their cause. I have not seen any updates since the news first hit. If that trail is still closed for your trip, it puts a pretty big damper in the loops that can be made when basing at Michigamme. The closed section of Trail 8 is located between Van Riper State Park (NE corner of Lake Michigamme) and the Trail 8 junction with Trail 5 (M28/M95 highway junction area). Fingers crossed the trail will be reopened for you and us.
That being said, loops that I have done from Michigamme:
East to Marquette, north to Big Bay, back down Trail 5 to Trail 8, back to Michigamme (half day).
East to Trail 5, North on 5 to Trail 14, Trail 14 west to Lanse. Stop at Mt. Arvon lookout point on Trail 14. Lanse work your way back to Michigamme (3/4 day).
I did these runs last year in mid-February on a Wed. and Thurs., during one of our big thaw out periods. Lows at night mid to upper 20's if we were lucky, got into the upper 30's to lower 40's during the day, so we got out earlier and cut our days a bit short, but the trails were still very very good for us, they held up well, and Moose Country, Baraga, Big Bay, and Hiawatha clubs did a really good job at getting out at night once it was cold enough and groomed, so the trails were good the next morning. We headed south too on Friday, down 5 to Amasa, back towards Nestoria, back to Michigamme. That day it probably got into the upper 40's and sunny, so we got back early afternoon but still had a good ride with decent trails. By Saturday it was getting so warm, we only went to Ishpeming to demo ride some turbo yama-cats, then headed back west on the Iron Heritage trail (nice grade option) to Republic for lunch, then back to Michigamme very early afternoon, i think it got into the 50's that day, at least it felt like it in the sun.
Keep your fingers crossed for more snow in that area (Nestoria, Michigamme, Ishpeming/Big Bay). The lake effect sometimes doesn't reach inland that far. Also typically the Michigamme club has a bit of trouble grooming Trail 8 in the Michigamme area until there is more snow, the terrain is fairly rugged along the high-lines for a mile or two. But this year I understand they got through already (earlier than I remember in previous years), so things should be looking up!
KULWELLING
New member
Thanks for the great information. Hope they get the broken bridge fixed up before the 25th! Safe Trails
EXCESSIVE FORCE
New member
Any gas available in Republic this year?
WorkHardPlayHrd
Active member
If the bridge was fixed you could run around Marquette head for Christmas to Munising. Depending on how far you ride in a day you could round through Grand Marais come back through munising through on 8 and come back to Michigamme. A few of the trails you would have to repeat on, but the overlooks up by Lake Superior are worth it. You would have Miner's Castle by Munising and walk to the falls, about a mile, it is very pretty all froze over. The Buckhorn on trail 7 is about 4 miles south of trail 8 and a great place to eat there is fuel at Wetmore and Shingleton. The Cherry wood if it is still open serves great burgers. The Buckhorn has a larger menu. Just a possibility depending on how long you would be in the area. Enjoy your trip!
Mtkaboater
New member
Trail 5 is super fun. We run it both ways every time we can.
Winter Warlock
Member
Still no word on that bridge repair on 8.....does anyone have any info? Have they groomed through the "Cozy" Mountains yet? We're leaving tomorrow morning and going towards Paradise and this is a major concern.
wiharley02
Active member
Moose country club updated msa website yesterday stating all trails were groomed and fair to good condition. If your referring to the rugged part of the trail 8 around Nestoria corners that should be included. No new reports on status of the trail 8 closure due to bridge out between van riper and junction with trail 5, so I assume still closed.
You could trailer up wolf lake road or up the peshekee road in michagamme . Go as far up peshekee there will be a clearing . Unload takeroad north boondock up by hermon /mt arvon , I have a camp in Ishpeming that's what we do when snow is low in our area . Awesome country up there .Make sure gas is full
We boondock up there but the trail crosses many areas up there .Once your up in that area stay on the high trail lance to big bay . We always bring a great lunch and barbbq our own lunch , Gas iffy in republic better off in south republic at the little true value store that's iffy too
KULWELLING
New member
Update? Did they get the bridge in on Trail 8? How did the warm up this last couple of days affect things? Not seeing many good things on here...
wiharley02
Active member
I'm following the status on the bridge as well, will be in that area in 3 weeks. I have not heard of any updates from anyone. Maybe you could try calling the Moose Country Snowmobile Club for an update? Or try the Champion Convenience Store/Oasis Fuel Station? They are just south of trail 8 that is closed. Or maybe another business owner in Michigamme/Three Lakes area would know - maybe someone has ties to the local club. If you find anything out, please let us know.
As of last Monday the trail was still closed.
Winter Warlock
Member
Will it be open in 2 weeks? It will take a while to get it groomed up around it!
KULWELLING
New member
Guess I don't understand your last post. To your knowledge, the bridge on Trail 8 is still not repaired and you don't foresee it opening by 01/25/18? We are staying on Hollu Blue Rd on Lake Michigamme and want to know if there is a rideable way out of there onto the trail. Thanks for all your help in advance!
We rode through there on Saturday January 13th. The bridge was still out however you could cross the stream/swamp/whatever it is as it was frozen solid. Trail 8 from the state park west was very nice and was one of the best trails we encountered between Copper Harbor and Munising. There was a trail closed sign on the east side of the bridge but we took the lake for awhile and jumped on the trail at an odd spot so we may have just not seen the trail closed sign from the west.
KULWELLING
New member
Heading out Thursday morning for Ishpeming. Any updates? Heard they got the steel in for the bridge repair on trail 8, did they git it fixed? Looking for an accurate trail report. Thanks
wiharley02
Active member
See this thread for bridge closed info.
http://forum.johndee.com/vbulletin/...ail-8-Bridge-Out-Trail-Closed-(Champion-Area)
http://forum.johndee.com/vbulletin/...ail-8-Bridge-Out-Trail-Closed-(Champion-Area)
snobuilder
Well-known member
I believe 14 and 5 head north out of there. Ride to Big Bay eat at Henry Fords retreat.....very nice.