Keweenaw Peninsula Trail Report – 01/21
KEWEENAW PENINSULA UPDATE via Western & Southern UP Trail Reports – 01/21
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KEWEENAW PENINSULA UPDATE via Keweenaw Trail Reports – 01/21
Groomer Operators are pretty much back in full swing grooming trails for riders each day and night. There was a pause to grooming operations due to limited snowfall there for awhile.
The recent snowfall this week has enabled them to resume their schedules and trails are shaping up nicely, as you can see from these photos! Groomer Operator Joshua Rowe Sr. was one operator out all night and these are a few photos of those ribbon 🎀 trails he was laying.
Previously we had mentioned that trail 135 was in pretty poor condition, Josh has said he has been able to groom it the past two nights and it is getting better. He also said that Brockway Mountain
still had some thin areas and of course drifting with the winds we have had. Riders have all been commenting that the mountain was in good shape and the views are amazing!
✅ Trail 124 (previously closed for logging) is now OPEN. There was a water hole on this trail also but It has been filled in and appears to be holding strong 🤞 huge thanks to the Groomer Operators working so hard on this one
⛔ Trail 133 is closed for the entire season due to logging
⛔ Trail 3 from Dollar Bay to Lake Linden is closed due to the Father’s Day flood of 2018. You can still access Lake Linden from Calumet
⛔The Freda Loop – Trails 120 & 121 are also still closed due to the Father’s Day Flood of 2018
⚠ if you are planning to try to ride out to High Rock Bay, please use extreme caution as the water hole is still an issue. Groomer Operators have worked on filling this in several times and will continue to do so. Hopefully with a good freeze and more snowfall they will be able to get the hole locked up.
All other trails are open and will lead you to so many breathtakingly, beautiful areas to view all that the Keweenaw has to offer!
Scroll down the page to read other rider reviews of trails and see their photos! Please feel free to share your photos and riding experiences with us and as always, let us know if we can help with anything when planning a trip to the area.
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Keweenaw Convention & Visitors Bureau Website >>>>
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Western & Southern UP Trail Reports on Facebook >>>>
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Postings From Regional Pages On Facebook
KEWEENAW PENINSULA UPDATE via Keweenaw Snowmobile Club >> Sorry about our little break there, things are humming along here in the Keweenaw! Our trails held up well through the warm up (what the heck Mother Nature) and with the fresh snow the past couple days - we have great conditions! Come ride the Keweenaw! #keweenaw #k0115 #snowphotos
WEATHER UPDATE via Michigan Storm Chasers >> Here is your final look at snowfall totals over a 36-hour period from tonight, through midday Thursday, January 14th through 15th, 2026. NOTE, snow will start overnight for the UP, but later tomorrow morning into the afternoon for the LP.
Discussion
Lake effect snow is the rave with this one. Winds almost directly out of the north coupled with low-level DGZ and strong forcing will allow for many of the areas in dark blue, and especially pink pick up well over half a foot of fresh snow with this event. Hyper-localized banding is expected, which is when the span of 20 miles sees a difference in snow accumulation of 1", to perhaps 12-18". A 1° change in wind direction will help, or hurt your chances at significant snowfall if you're right along the lakeshore areas, especially SW Michigan.
Inland areas will only see under an inch within an initial snow squall and light lake effect afterward. We are not confident that the stretch from Lansing to Port Huron will get more than 1.5", but we put 1-3" just in case. Lake Huron will also show off lake effect snow, with parts of Huron county seeing 4-8". To the north, northwest lower Michigan will see 2-5" and 4-8", with a localized swath of 6"+ near Manistee and points surrounding. Lastly, the UP will see its highest totals along the higher elevation areas of the central portion of the peninsula.
Wind gusts up to 30 mph, even 40-45 mph are likely with this snow, and as a result, near-zero visibilities and drifted roads may occur near each lakeshore. Allow extra travel time when driving on Wednesday in the 4-8", or 6-12"/6-18" zones. We will have radar, weather camera, and traffic updates coming tomorrow as the snow comes down, so drop a follow here at Michigan Storm Chasers for coverage. #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #newberry #soo #straitsarea #gaylord #cadillac #benzie #traversecity #petoskeyHere is your final look at snowfall totals over a 36-hour period from tonight, through midday Thursday, January 14th through 15th, 2026. NOTE, snow will start overnight for the UP, but later tomorrow morning into the afternoon for the LP.
Discussion
Lake effect snow is the rave with this one. Winds almost directly out of the north coupled with low-level DGZ and strong forcing will allow for many of the areas in dark blue, and especially pink pick up well over half a foot of fresh snow with this event. Hyper-localized banding is expected, which is when the span of 20 miles sees a difference in snow accumulation of 1", to perhaps 12-18". A 1° change in wind direction will help, or hurt your chances at significant snowfall if you're right along the lakeshore areas, especially SW Michigan.
Inland areas will only see under an inch within an initial snow squall and light lake effect afterward. We are not confident that the stretch from Lansing to Port Huron will get more than 1.5", but we put 1-3" just in case. Lake Huron will also show off lake effect snow, with parts of Huron county seeing 4-8". To the north, northwest lower Michigan will see 2-5" and 4-8", with a localized swath of 6"+ near Manistee and points surrounding. Lastly, the UP will see its highest totals along the higher elevation areas of the central portion of the peninsula.
Wind gusts up to 30 mph, even 40-45 mph are likely with this snow, and as a result, near-zero visibilities and drifted roads may occur near each lakeshore. Allow extra travel time when driving on Wednesday in the 4-8", or 6-12"/6-18" zones. We will have radar, weather camera, and traffic updates coming tomorrow as the snow comes down, so drop a follow here at Michigan Storm Chasers for coverage.
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WEATHER UPDATE via Meteorologist Brad Sugden >> SNOW TIME!! Lake effect areas, you're about to be buried in some locations! This is purely lake effect that kicks in Wednesday morning and lasts through Thursday afternoon. Thursday afternoon the lake effect subsides as another clipper system moves in.
Temperatures are warmest Wednesday morning then drop significantly into the late afternoon and evening. Many will have wind chills below zero.
Snow will be fluffy and BLOWING. Gusts near 40mph can be expected. #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #munising #newberry #soo #gaylord #cadillac #benzie #traversecity #petoskey
KEWEENAW PENINSULA UPDATE via Western UP Trail Reports >> 13 January 2026
I don't know about you guys but I'm getting excited for the big event here at Backcountry Village on January 31st. If you haven't got a ticket for the after party at the lounge you better get one soon. Tickets are selling quick.
☠️ Stretch
Western UP Trail Reports Web Cam
video.nest.com/live/4BKmS6XRiT #keweenaw #snowphotos
KEWEENAW PENINSULA UPDATE via The Lakeshack >> Well it’s in the 40’s here today but cold air and snows are to move back in
Sounds like some daily 1-3” snows will happen
Let’s hope it’s more but ya just never know
Fingers are crossed
Ya wanna keep an eye on Shackie and the snow stick you can visit the link below to keep an eye on the snows
The snow stick is showing only a foot and a half due to the winds off the lake but don’t let that fool ya
The live stream is right here👇
video.nest.com/live/gbiim7CnxN #keweenaw #snowphotosWell it’s in the 40’s here today but cold air and snows are to move back in
Sounds like some daily 1-3” snows will happen
Let’s hope it’s more but ya just never know
Fingers are crossed
Ya wanna keep an eye on Shackie and the snow stick you can visit the link below to keep an eye on the snows
The snow stick is showing only a foot and a half due to the winds off the lake but don’t let that fool ya
The live stream is right here👇
video.nest.com/live/gbiim7CnxN
WEATHER UPDATE via Michigan Storm Chasers >> Two forecasts for today, January 13th, 2026, and Wednesday, January 14th, 2026, regarding system snow, then lake effect snow.
Graphic #1
A clipper moves through today, bringing rain/freezing drizzle to portions of northern Michigan and the UP, especially north of M-55, with some light rain as far south as I-94. This will change over to a rain/snow mix later this afternoon and evening. Brief accumulation amounts will generally be in the T-1" range, although a couple spots could exceed 1", which are areas highlighted by the 1-3" zone. Air temperatures today will generally be at or above freezing in the UP, but evaporative cooling will still keep the ground cooler than the air.
Graphic #2
Lake effect snow ramps up beyond midnight tonight, heading into tomorrow, the 14th. Early indications are that the central UP will see the most with flow directly out of the north. Areas of 2-5" and 4-8" have been displayed as a result for much of the Lake Superior shoreline region to account for this flow. The LP is still a little on the uncertain side for overachievers tomorrow. We are watching the usual Gaylord region, but also immediate shoreline areas of Lake Michigan from Traverse City down to New Buffalo, and the thumb, as continued flow out of the north seems like on Thursday. For now, totals will remain as shown, and our last call for tomorrow will be out early in the morning. Inland areas in the T-1" zone may also see slight improvements if balloon launch data today continues to trend in the right direction.
Timing for both days is for the entirety of both days, as precipitation will be on-and-off throughout the next 48 hours. Travel concerns will generally be on the mild side of things, but don't let that fool you. Drive with care no matter what's falling out there. Follow us here at Michigan Storm Chasers for updates throughout the next couple days as the snow falls. #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #munising #newberry #soo #gaylord
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Latest Trail Reports – Quick Links
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