Keweenaw Peninsula Trail Report – 12/26
KEWEENAW PENINSULA UPDATE via Western & Southern UP Trail Reports – 12/26
Thought I’d give everyone some added trail info from todays grooming. From Mohawk to Dollar Bay is in pretty good condition with some thin spots closer to Mohawk. Trail 3 from the bridge to Dollar Bay is thin but rideable. Going north our guys said they pretty much ran out of snow in Copper Harbor but for the most part the trail was fair. Keep in mind this is early season and we need more snow. Good thing most all of the water holes have frooze up but still be careful when runing in those low spots. As of right now our plan is to get my machine across the bridge on Monday so Charlie and I can start running Toivola to Houghton.
☠Stretch
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Keweenaw Convention & Visitors Bureau
December 24
Snowfall & Weather
Houghton County has received a total of 51.5″ of snow for the season and Keweenaw County has received 41.3″ of snow for the season.* We received 4-6″ of snow last night with another 4-8″ on the way!
Today’s forecast: Snow showers. Accumulations 4-8”. High 12F. Low 10F.
Christmas Day: Snow showers in the evening. Accumulation less than an inch. High 21F. Low 19F.
Saturday: Cloudy. High 22F. Low 17F.
Sunday: Snow showers. Accumulation 1”. High 24F. Low 9F.
Monday: Snow showers. High 12F. Low 10F.
Snowmobile Trail Conditions
Snowmobile trails are in early season condition throughout the Keweenaw. Up to 12 inches of snow on the ground. Watch out for rocks, wet spots, and other impediments as snow levels are low.
MDNR Trail 133 is closed but has signed reroutes and MDNR Trail 134 to Copper Harbor is OPEN.
Trail Closures: The trail section from Dollar Bay to Lake Linden (a portion of Trail 3) and the Freda Trail (Trails 121 & 120) will be closed the entire season for repair.
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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
WEATHER UPDATE via Pictured Rocks Marine Weather Conditions >> Here's the updated 3-day snowfall forecast through 7am Friday morning. This includes some system snow today, then lake-effect snow starting tonight and lasting into Thursday morning, followed by more system snow late Thursday into Friday. Temperatures will be relatively warm today, but will plummet overnight tonight. Back to winter! #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #newberry #soo #straitsarea
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When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it or it's been deleted.WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Marquette Michigan >> #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #newberry #soo #straitsarea
WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Marquette Michigan >> Mixed precipitation, mainly of rain and snow, will spread west to east across the UP tonight into tomorrow morning. Pockets of freezing rain could also mix in at onset and lead to a light glaze of ice on roadways for the Tuesday morning commute. Heavy lake effect snow will then be reinvigorated with a secondary cold front Tuesday night into Wednesday morning across the N and NW wind snow belts. This will combine with northerly winds of 40 to 50 mph, resulting in blowing snow and near zero visibilities for the Wednesday morning commute. #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #newberry #soo #straitsareaMixed precipitation, mainly of rain and snow, will spread west to east across the UP tonight into tomorrow morning. Pockets of freezing rain could also mix in at onset and lead to a light glaze of ice on roadways for the Tuesday morning commute. Heavy lake effect snow will then be reinvigorated with a secondary cold front Tuesday night into Wednesday morning across the N and NW wind snow belts. This will combine with northerly winds of 40 to 50 mph, resulting in blowing snow and near zero visibilities for the Wednesday morning commute.
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