Snowmobile Trail Conditions

We had a short day today because of our club dinner. We hit the trail around 10am and had to be back by 5pm. We took trail 3 north to Watersmeet, MI and then trail 2 east to trail 3 north. The snow started to thin out today, but there is still enough to ride. The further north we went, the deeper the snow got. We arrived in Rockland, MI around noon and went to Henry’s Never Inn for lunch. We ordered 4 bowls of soup and 1 chicken sandwich. The place was a little busy, but it took them 2 hours to get our food. That put us behind schedule so we had to hurry the rest of the day. We took trail 3 north to Twin Lakes and gassed up. After leaving Twin Lakes we took trail 109 south to Sidnaw and gassed up again.

We left Sidnaw at 4:30pm and pulled in to Gateway Lodge at 5:30pm. Needless to say, we made some pretty good time.
Each day the trails have deteriorated due to traffic, but there is still plenty to ride. The corners are starting to ice up, so make sure you watch those!

Distance: 190
Previous: 2,075
Season Total: 2,265

We started off the morning by heading north to Watersmeet, MI and then east on trail 2 to trail 15 north. Both trails were great, smooth as glass and plenty of snow! Once we hit trail 8 we went west and arrived in the huge city of Sidnaw, MI.

We gassed up and then went through Kenton, MI and took trail 107 south. Then we took trail 2 west through Watersmeet, MI on our way to Rogers Bar. We got a few pizzas and then went south through the Cisco chain to trail 6 east. On the way back we stopped at The Black Oak for dinner. After a great dinner we made our way back to Gateway Lodge in Land O Lakes, WI.

Check out the trail video:
Kenton, MI West on trail 2

Snowmobile Trail Video (16 MB)

Distance: 164
Previous: 1,911
Season Total: 2,075

We started off the morning in Land O Lakes, WI at Gateway Lodge. We headed north on trail 3 to Watersmeet, MI and the trail was in great shape. After a couple of quick stops at Nordines and the Polaris dealer to get some thicker balaclavas, we went East on trail 2 and then turned north on trail 3. It was a pretty quick ride in to Bruce Crossing. We gassed up and then continued on trail 3 north to Rockland, MI. We arrived at Henry’s Never Inn and met up with the rest of the PrairieRiders. After a long lunch (very slow service) we made our way down trail 13 to Bergland, MI and then headed north on trail 1 to Silver City, MI. We got gas along the way in White Pine, MI. For the first time this season Silver City had decent snow, so we stopped in to Foothills. After a 30 minute stop there, they were closing down so we hit the trail again. We pointed the sleds West and headed out of town on trail 11.

The trail was in excellent shape and we continued on towards Wakefield. Along the way, the sun went down and the temperature really dropped. We got gas in Wakefield and took trail 2 east to Marinesco. The snow dust was pretty bad and a few of us started to freeze up our shields. We made a quick stop at Rogers bar to thaw out our shields and then headed to Watersmeet on our way to Land O Lakes.

Overall the trails were in awesome shape until we hit Wakefield. They had plenty of snow, the trails were just beat due to traffic volume. It was a bit chilly today. When we left Land O Lakes the temp was around -20F (with no wind chill).

Check out the trail video:
Rockland, MI North on trail 3
Snowmobile Trail Video (10 MB)

Distance: 238
Previous: 1,673
Season Total: 1,911

We rolled out of Gateway lodge in Land O Lakes around 11am and headed north on Trail 3 towards Watersmeet, MI. The trail was flat as a pancake with very little traffic. We made a quick stop at Nordines in Watersmeet, MI and then continued north to Trail 2 East. Trail 2 was also in awesome shape. When we reached trail 107 we turned north and made our way to Kenton, MI.

There were a few pot holes along trail 107, but other than that the trails were in great shape! After a quick lunch we made our way back to Land O Lakes the same way we came, and made it just in time for kickoff.
The snow depth was anywhere from 12-18″ and I would rate the trails an 8-9. Due to the frigid temperatures (-17 F with NO wind chill) most of the riders stayed in today and the trails held up all day long. If you don’t mind riding in the cold, this is a great time to rack up some miles! Every place we stopped everyone kept asking how the trails were, of course our answer was GREAT!

Check out the trail videos:
Land O Lakes, WI North on trail 3
Snowmobile Trail Video (57 MB)

Watersmeet, MI East on trail 2
Snowmobile Trail Video (44 MB)

Distance: 87
Previous: 1,586
Season Total: 1,673

We started off at Gateway Lodge in Land O Lakes WI and headed north on trail 3. We arrived in Watersmeet, MI and went west on trail 2. With some good luck we got on the same trail the groomer was on and it was flat! After about 10 miles of riding we caught up with the groomer and passed it up. We stopped at Rogers Bar on the way and met up with the other riders in our club. After a short break at Rogers we headed south through the Cisco Chain and made our way to 6 east. We ran 6 east all the way back to the Gateway Lodge and then called it a night.

Check out the trail video:
Watersmeet, MI West on trail 2
Snowmobile Trail Video (17 MB)

Distance: 49
Previous: 1,537
Season Total: 1,586

We took a pretty quick ride up to Rockland, MI today. The day started off around 11am with a ride up trail 1 to 100 then on to Lake Gogebic. We stopped in Bergland to gas up and then headed up trail 13 to Rockland. 13 was rough as usual, but had an occasional flat spot. We made it to Henrys Never Inn and had half a heifer. On the way back it was pretty much the same story. Trail 1 from Marinesco to Presque Isle was freshly groomed and that made for a sweet ride.

Distance: 157
Previous: 1,380
Season Total: 1,537

Our buddy Tom had to stay home on this trip, so all week we’ve been taking pictures with his hat and our sign of every place he could have gone this weekend. It’s been a lot of fun and the bar tenders love it.

We started off the morning heading north on trail 1 and then west on trail 2. Trail 1 was in excellent shape compared to the weekend! It was freshly groomed and there was very little ice in the corners. Trail 2 was good until we got closer to Wakefield and then it got pretty choppy. We stopped in to Bingos and grabbed a pizza and some drinks. While there, they told us their groomer was down for maintenance. That would explain the choppy ride on trail 2! After leaving Bingos we headed towards Bergland on trail 8 East. We made a quick stop at the Polaris dealer and then got gas in town. Then we headed north on trail 1 to Konteka in White Pine. Trail 1 was as smooth as glass! We grabbed some cheese curds and drinks and then headed back to lake Gogebic. Once we got on the lake we headed south to The Root Cellar for dinner and then crossed over to The Gogebic Lodge before jumping on traill 1 south. After we got on trail 1 south we crossed paths with the groomer and it was a perfectly smooth ride all the way back to Presque Isle.

Check out the trail videos:

Leaving Bergland, MI Trail 8 West to Trail 1 North
Snowmobile Trail Video (31 MB)
Snowmobile Trail Video (130 MB)

Bergland, MI Trail 1 North to White Pine, MI
Snowmobile Trail Video (45 MB)
Snowmobile Trail Video (203 MB)

Distance: 145
Previous: 1,235
Season Total: 1,380

We started off the day by going to Skyview lodge and eating breakfast with the Presque Isle Sno Bunnies snowmobile club. After a great breakfast we headed out of town on trail 1 and then jumped on Lake Gogebic and rode north.

Check out the trail videos:

Trail 102 North from Bergland to Trail 11
Snowmobile Trail Video (91 MB)
Snowmobile Trail Video (433 MB)

Lake Gogebic Lodge to Hoop N Holler
Snowmobile Trail Video (31 MB)
Snowmobile Trail Video (161 MB)

We got off the lake at the Hoop N Holler and joined back up with trail 1 north. After turning on trail 102 the riding really improved. It looked like it had been freshly groomed and it was smooth sailing all the way to trail 11. We got on trail 11 and ran that in to Silver City. If at all possible DO NOT ride to Silver City. The trail through town were ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE at best! We barely made it through town and then headed south on trail 1. There wasn’t good snow until we got south of White Pine. Once we hit the snow again, the trails were awesome and we were on cruise control.

My sled had a “first” today. The factory belt finally let go. It “only” lasted 5,368 miles. Too bad they can’t make belts that last that long every time!

After we reached Bergland we got back on the lake and rode south to Lake Gogebic Lodge and then jumped back on trail 1. We rode trail 1 in to Marinesco and ate dinner at Bam Bam’s. After dinner we headed south on trail 1 back in to Presque Isle. Throughout the day we passed at least 4 groomers and the trails were incredibly improved over yesterday!

Distance: 152
Previous: 1,083
Season Total: 1,235

We took it easy today and only put on a few miles. My friends were pretty beat up after yesterday, so we took trail 6 West down to the Pea Patch and watched the Wisconsin, Illinois game. After the game was over we headed back East and took trail 11 North for a bit. It was absolutely HORRIBLE! We turned around and headed back to Winchester.

Distance: 67
Previous: 1,016
Season Total: 1,083

We started off the day by heading up trail 1 north through Marinesco and then up to Lake Gogebic. After getting to Gogebic Lodge we jumped on the lake and headed north to the Fisherman. Then we crossed the lake and ate lunch at The Root Cellar. After lunch we rode in to town and got gas. Then we headed East on trail 8 to Bruce Crossing. We hit trail 3 south and got a great ride. We stopped at Da Flowage Pub N Grub and had their fish fry. After dinner we headed south on trail 3 and hooked up with trail 2 West. After arriving in Watersmeet we gassed up and then joined back up with trail 2 West. We made a stop at Rogers bar to warm up and then headed West again. After a few miles on 2 West we crossed paths with the groomer and it was a sweet ride! We turned south on trail 1 and ran in to another groomer. 2 groomers in 30 minutes, awesome luck!

We just got a helmet cam this week, check out the videos!

Trail 6 East from Birch Lake Resort to Presque Isle, WI
Snowmobile Trail Video (194 MB)
Snowmobile Trail Video (42 MB)

Trail 1 North from Presque Isle, WI to trail 2 (part 1)
Snowmobile Trail Video (173 MB)
Snowmobile Trail Video (42 MB)

Trail 1 North from Presque Isle, WI to trail 2 (part 2)
Snowmobile Trail Video (133 MB)
Snowmobile Trail Video (30 MB)

Trail 2 West to Trail 1 North through Marinesco MI
Snowmobile Trail Video (324 MB)
Snowmobile Trail Video (74 MB)

Lake Gogebic from Root Cellar to Bergland, MI
Snowmobile Trail Video (146 MB)
Snowmobile Trail Video (27 MB)

Trail 8 East from Bergland, MI to Bruce Crossing, MI
Snowmobile Trail Video (134 MB)
Snowmobile Trail Video (30 MB)

Trail 3 South from Trail 8 towards Watersmeet, MI
Snowmobile Trail Video (208 MB)
Snowmobile Trail Video (46 MB)

Distance: 167
Previous: 849
Season Total: 1,016