Snowmobile Trail Conditions

Well, it looks like today might have been our last ride of this season. The trails really fell apart today and temps got up around 45 degrees. We started off on trail 11 north to Marinesco, MI and then took trail 2 east in to town. 11 was in pretty decent shape mainly due to the shade. Trail 2 was in fair condition and trail 1 out of Marinesco was really starting to go down hill fast. Many parts of the trail were down to 1 lane and there was standing water everywhere. We got to the intersection of trail 1 and trail 100 and decided to turn around and head back.

From that point all the way back through Presque Isle, the trail got worse. We were lucky to make it back when we did!

Check out the trail videos:
Winchester, WI trail 11 North

Snowmobile Trail Video (37 MB)

Marinesco, MI

Snowmobile Trail Video (30 MB)

Trail Rating: 3 out of 10
Distance: 95
Previous: 3,128
Season Total: 3,223

Today we wanted to visit the snowmobile museum in Sayner WI (the birthplace of the snowmobile). So we headed east on trail 6 and then south in to Boulder Jct. WI. From there we continued south until we got to Sayner WI. We got a pizza at the Sayner pub (excellent if you are ever in the area). After lunch we went next door to the museum and checked out the original sleds. They were pretty amazing to see!

Then we made our way west to Manitowish Waters and then rolled back in to Winchester. In the morning the trails were still in great shape, but after lunch things really started to melt down. The trails are still ridable, but I’m not sure how much longer they will last if these temperatures keep up.

Check out the trail video:
Presque Isle, WI to Boulder Jct., WI
Snowmobile Trail Video (59 MB)

Trail Rating: 8.5 out of 10
Distance: 102
Previous: 3,026
Season Total: 3,128

We made 2 loops today. One in the morning and one in the afternoon. We started the day off by gasing up in Presque Isle, WI and then ate breakfast at The Outpost Cafe. If you ever eat there, be sure to get the french toast (we call it the french loaf) because it’s so HUGE! After leaving Presque Isle we headed east on trail 6 and then south towards Boulder Jct.

After arriving in Boulder we headed west towards Manitowish Waters and then north to Winchester. After a short break we hit the trail again and rode up into the U.P. and made our way to Rogers Bar. After a quick beverage we headed east to Watersmeet MI and then south to Land O Lakes. Then we headed west and ate dinner at Bents Camp on the Cisco Chain. Dinner was great and we headed west again until we reached Winchester. The trails were in excellent shape today, probably the best riding we’ve seen all season. The only downside is it is supposed to get warmer this week. Hopefully it will stay cold and the trails will hold up.

Check out the trail videos:
Boulder Jct., WI

Snowmobile Trail Video (16 MB)

Boulder Jct., WI

Snowmobile Trail Video (39 MB)

Presque Isle, WI Trail 1 North

Snowmobile Trail Video (28 MB)

Trail Rating: 9.5 out of 10
Distance: 168
Previous: 2,858
Season Total: 3,026

We got a late start today and rode over to Mercer, WI for dinner. We took 6 West to trail 10 in to Mercer. On the way back we took 10 and 19 to trail 6 East. The trails were great and there was only 1 rough spot!

Trail Rating: 9.5 out of 10
Distance: 62
Previous: 2,796
Season Total: 2,858

We got somewhat of a late start this morning so we decided to eat breakfast at SkyView Lodge in Presque Isle, WI. The food was great and the service was fast. We hit trail 6 east and got gas in Presque Isle. Then we hooked up with trail 1 north and made our way to Lake Gogebic. Just like yesterday, the trails were smooth and our ride across Lake Gogebic was great. We stopped in at the ski-doo dealer in Bergland, MI and swapped out one of our spare sleds for one that had just been tuned up. After a quick stop we made our way to trail 102 and headed north to Porcupine Mountain State Park.

This trail was in excellent shape with very few bumps along the way. We ran in to trail 11 east and it was like a freeway. Flat, wide and super fast! We arrived at Lake Superior in no time and made our way up the hill to Lake of the Clouds. My buddy Matt had never been in this area, so I decided to show him the sights.

After our short hike to the top of the overlook, we snapped a few pictures and headed back down the hill to our sleds. We made our way down the hill and back to Silver City, MI. At this point we had around 100 miles on for the day and we were both hungry so we stopped for lunch at foothills. After another quick meal we were back on the trail and headed towards trail 1 south. We made a gas stop at Mobil in White Pine, MI and the continued on our way to Bergland, MI. Once we arrived in Bergland, we got back on Lake Gogebic and headed south. The sun was starting to go down and the snow was starting to fly! We exited the lake at the south end and joined back up with trail 1 south. About 90% of trail 1 had just been groomed and only the last 2 miles of our ride was on a trail that had a single bump in it.

If you ever get a chance to do some mid week riding (Tues, Wed, Thur) up this way, I would HIGHLY suggest it! You don’t have to fight the crowds in the restaurants, the trails are smooth as glass and it’s easier to find a place to stay.

Today the trails were in even better shape than the day before, which is pretty unbelievable! The majority of the snow was in the same areas as yesterday. Anywhere north of Bergland, MI or up towards Rockland, MI.

Check out the trail video:
Silver City, MI Trail 11 North

Snowmobile Trail Video (56 MB)

Trail Rating: 10 out of 10
Distance: 176
Previous: 2,620
Season Total: 2,796

We started of our ride heading east on trail 6 out of Winchester, WI to Presque Isle, WI. After a quick stop for breakfast at the Outpost cafe we headed north on trail 1. The trip to Lake Gogebic was quick and painless and the ride on the lake was smooth as well. Once we reached the north end of the lake it started to snow! We got gas in Bergland, MI at Mobil and then got back on the lake and headed towards Hoop N Holler. We exited the lake and made our way west on trail 8. On our way out of town trail 8 had a few bumps, but the closer we got to Wakefield, MI the smoother the trail got! Eventually we ended up passing the groomer on trail 8 and also saw another groomer headed north on trail 2. We made our way to Bingos for a quick pop and a pizza. After leaving Bingos we headed east on trail 2 to Marinesco, MI.

The entire trail was freshly groomed and it made for some excellent riding! When we reached Marinesco, MI we hit trail 1 south and rode in to Presque Isle, WI.

Overall the trails were in the best shape I’ve seen them in the last 2 weeks. This is mainly due to lower traffic during the week days. The groomers are able to really work on the trails and keep the bumps ironed out, unlike on the weekends when the traffic increases by 100 times. As a general rule, the further south we went, the tinner the snow got. I would suggest staying no further south than Presque Isle, WI and ride as much as you can in the Bergland, White Pine and Rockland MI areas as possible. That seems to be where most of the snow is.

Check out the trail videos:
Bergland, MI Trail 8 West

Snowmobile Trail Video (53 MB)

Bergland, MI Trail 8 West – Part 2

Snowmobile Trail Video (46 MB)

Kenton, MI Trail 2 West

Snowmobile Trail Video (41 MB)

Trail Rating: 9 out of 10
Distance: 122
Previous: 2,498
Season Total: 2,620

We started today off in Winchester, WI and took trail 6 east in to Presque Isle, WI to gas up. Then we headed north on trail 1 to trail 2 west. We were both pretty hungry so we stopped for breakfast in Marinesco, MI at the Hungry Bear restaurant. After a great breakfast and a conversation with some other snowmobilers we decided to head back east on trail 2 towards the Cisco Chain. Luckily we did, because the trails west of Marinesco were pretty beat and once we passed the trail 1 and trail 2 intersection, it was smooth as glass! We cruised down trail 2 until we hit the turn for Rogers bar. We made a quick stop in there for a drink and then continued south across the Cisco Chain. Once we came off the lakes at Bents Camp we kept going south until we ran into trails 5 and 5a so we could hook back up with 6 west. 6 was pretty beat most of the way back until we hit the Presque Isle sno bunnies trail system. They got most of the big bumps knocked down, and that make for a much more comfortable ride.

Trail Rating: 7 out of 10
Distance: 111
Previous: 2,387
Season Total: 2,498

We left Gateway Lodge in Land O Lakes, WI around 11am and headed north on trail 3 to Watersmeet, MI. Then we took trail 2 east. About 5 stop signs down trail 2 we met up with the DNR. Word has it they were looking for people that weren’t coming to a full stop at the stop signs. They saw our trail stickers and registrations and waved us on. We hit the turn for trail 107 and headed north. This trail had been beaten up some, but was still in pretty decent shape. We arrived in Kenton, MI and took a break at U.P. Chucks. After leaving there, we headed west on trail 8 to Bruce Crossing, MI. Part of the trail was freshly groomed by our buddy “Mop” and the other part of the trail could use some T.L.C.

We gassed up in Bruce Crossing and then turned around and headed east on trail 8 until we hit trail 3 south. We rode that trail back to trail 2 west. Then we took trail 2 west back in to Watersmeet. What do you know, when we went down trail 2 west, our DNR friends were still there! They checked for our stickers again and waved us through. Then we joined back up with trail 3 south and made our way back to Gateway Lodge.

Check out the trail videos:
Watersmeet, MI Trail 107 North

Snowmobile Trail Video (26 MB)

Watersmeet, MI Trail 107 North – Part 2

Snowmobile Trail Video (31 MB)

Kenton, MI Trail 2 West
Snowmobile Trail Video (58 MB)

Trail Rating: 8 out of 10
Distance: 122
Previous: 2,265
Season Total: 2,387