Sault Ste. Marie Trail Report – 03/04
SAULT STE. MARIE UPDATE via Sault Ste. Marie Snowmobile Association – 03/04
Hi all!
A few reminders as we get into spring riding conditions.
The sun is up earlier and down later. This warms the snow and turns it to a mashed potato type consistency. This makes the trails “loose” and slippery and your sled will move around more than on a hard packed trail. Your carbides can’t hook up as well and you can’t control it as easily.
It also means that the corners especially will get thin and icy and it’s a lot harder to keep to the right if you’re coming in to a corner too fast. This is where most accidents occur, so please just slow it down, especially in the corners.
Once things freeze up overnight, that means more icy spots. Again, especially in corners where snow gets blown out by sleds easily. Icy corners will “push” you into the center or oncoming lane so please be mindful of that.
This is the time of year where we also start to see wet spots opening up. Many of them have not been frozen for very long as it is, so always watch for changing conditions and be prepared for water holes that can easily cause you to lose control.
We’ve said it before, but there’s no such thing as safe ice. We know that many folks ride the bay in Brimley. Please use caution if you do this and again, watch for changing conditions. It won’t take many days in the upper 30s for it to start getting slushy.
Wildlife is moving around a lot more in March usually. The spots where we see a lot of deer activity are on 8 near 6 mile and also near Deland, and 472 from the old deer blind all the way to 480. They are everywhere but they must have a good food source close to those spots. Same as in a vehicle, don’t veer for deer!
Slowing it down can really make a big difference in these conditions.
Please ride right (the best snow is there anyway!), please ride sober, and ride like your own family is out there too.
Sadly, there have been 2 collisions with groomers in as many days, both resulting in fatalities. Always ride as if anyone or anything might be around every corner.
Let’s have a safe and awesome last few weeks so we can all do it again next season!
Have a great weekend!❄️❄️❄️
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WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Marquette Michigan >> Clear skies this evening will give way to increasing cloud cover overnight as a weak disturbance moves through the region. This will bring a slight chance (15-25%) for some light freezing drizzle Tuesday morning, but expect most locations to stay dry with no widespread impacts. Temperatures will be well above freezing Tuesday afternoon, rising into the 40s in the west. #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #newberry #soo #straitsareaClear skies this evening will give way to increasing cloud cover overnight as a weak disturbance moves through the region. This will bring a slight chance (15-25%) for some light freezing drizzle Tuesday morning, but expect most locations to stay dry with no widespread impacts. Temperatures will be well above freezing Tuesday afternoon, rising into the 40s in the west.
WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Marquette Michigan >> Clouds will push from west to east across the U.P. this morning followed by sunshine this afternoon. After a cold start it will be much warmer with highs in the 30s. Temperatures will continue to warm through the middle of the week with some locations approaching 50 degrees on Wednesday. The chance for rain will come into the forecast on Thursday and especially Friday. #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #newberry #soo #straitsareaClouds will push from west to east across the U.P. this morning followed by sunshine this afternoon. After a cold start it will be much warmer with highs in the 30s. Temperatures will continue to warm through the middle of the week with some locations approaching 50 degrees on Wednesday. The chance for rain will come into the forecast on Thursday and especially Friday.
WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Marquette Michigan >> Temperatures will dip near or below zero again tonight, but a warm up is on the way as highs climb into the 30s Monday afternoon. Daytime temperatures are then forecast to remain above freezing through the rest of the coming week, climbing above 40 across most of the U.P. by Wednesday. #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #newberry #soo #straitsareaTemperatures will dip near or below zero again tonight, but a warm up is on the way as highs climb into the 30s Monday afternoon. Daytime temperatures are then forecast to remain above freezing through the rest of the coming week, climbing above 40 across most of the U.P. by Wednesday.
SAULT STE. MARIE AREA UPDATE Sault Ste. Marie Snowmobile Association >> 3/1/2026
Good evening! Turbo and Diane did an earlier run for a change today on trail 8 from Raco all the way to the Soo. While we typically do not like to groom during the day on a weekend, sometimes that’s what we need to do due to scheduling purposes. With cold temps and light sled traffic, it should help keep the snow a little looser for cooling.
It was a beautiful sunny day, and they saw a few groups out enjoying it, and some wildlife too.
As a reminder, this is a shared trail with ORVs less than 65” wide between the Soo and the Raco turn off. This is only shared trail in our area, and it isn’t wide enough for a SxS and groomer to pass on the trail. They encountered one SxS today that turned around so that they could continue on their way. We appreciate the driver moving so that they could pass.
Thank you to the Turbos! Looking awesome! ❄️❄️❄️ #soo #soo0301b #snowphotos
I did not know that you could ride side-by-side on a snowmobile trail .
SAULT STE. MARIE AREA UPDATE via Sault Ste. Marie Snowmobile Association >> 3/1/26
Happy March everyone! Hard to believe it’s the last (official) month of the season. And what a season it has been!
We had another record traffic Saturday, and our operators have been working so hard to keep things as smooth as we can for you.
After a long, cold, and windy day on the St Mary’s River at the radar run yesterday, Brimley Bill got a few hours of sleep and then headed out to hit the Mission Hill route. We call this route M40 for our reporting purpsoes. It’s 480 from M28, to 8, to Ranger Rd, and the 889 grade and 889 loop in the Raco and Bay Mills areas.
Here’s his report-
“I groomed M40 early this morning. Pretty much all of 889 was really beat up. I did my best to cut out all of the bumps. Some of the curves were so bad that I was not able to completely remove all of the bumps, (probably 90% gone.). The trail 8 Powerline and 480 RR Grade were still in pretty good shape. I smoothed out whatever bumps were there.”
Thank you, Bill! You’d never know now that hundreds of sleds ran those trails yesterday! ❄️❄️❄️ #soo #soo0301 #snowphotos
WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Marquette Michigan >> Expect morning flurries to give way to sunny skies this afternoon over the central and western U.P. Light lake effect snow showers will linger over the eastern U.P., mainly close to Lake Superior. Expect a warm up this week with the warmest temperatures over the west and near the MI/WI state line. #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #newberry #soo #straitsareaExpect morning flurries to give way to sunny skies this afternoon over the central and western U.P. Light lake effect snow showers will linger over the eastern U.P., mainly close to Lake Superior. Expect a warm up this week with the warmest temperatures over the west and near the MI/WI state line.
WEATHER UPDATE via Michigan Storm Chasers >> Lake effect flurries and snow showers are possible today, March 1st, 2026 across some of northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula. With dry air mixing in, totals will be relatively kept in check, but a swath of 1-3", perhaps 4" is possible along M-28 south of Grand Marais. Changing wind fields will also allow for light/brief accumulations along some of our lakeshore regions in the Lower Peninsula, but it's not guaranteed for everyone. Timing is through the remainder of the day. Mild temperatures coming later this week, which should help begin the melting process for many. #miweather #keweenaw #munising #newberry #sooLake effect flurries and snow showers are possible today, March 1st, 2026 across some of northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula. With dry air mixing in, totals will be relatively kept in check, but a swath of 1-3", perhaps 4" is possible along M-28 south of Grand Marais. Changing wind fields will also allow for light/brief accumulations along some of our lakeshore regions in the Lower Peninsula, but it's not guaranteed for everyone. Timing is through the remainder of the day. Mild temperatures coming later this week, which should help begin the melting process for many.
-- Trusted Partner of the Day --
Mike Hayes Roofing & Siding | Call 810-984-4564 for all your exterior home needs across Sanilac and St. Clair counties!
WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Marquette Michigan >> Northwest winds will subside through the the day with partly to mostly cloudy skies. Lake effect snow showers are expected in the northwest wind snowbelts, especially over the eastern U.P. where 1 to 3 inches of snowfall is expected. High temperatures will be 10 to 20 degrees below average, coldest in the Keweenaw. #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #newberry #soo #straitsareaNorthwest winds will subside through the the day with partly to mostly cloudy skies. Lake effect snow showers are expected in the northwest wind snowbelts, especially over the eastern U.P. where 1 to 3 inches of snowfall is expected. High temperatures will be 10 to 20 degrees below average, coldest in the Keweenaw.
SAULT STE. MARIE AREA UPDATE via Sault Ste. Marie Snowmobile Association >> 2/28/26
Good morning everyone!
While we certainly didn’t need the warm and sun yesterday, our hard working volunteers were itching to go as soon as temps dropped.
Our first report comes from Warren-
“We went out at 1 AM. Club member Steve & myself at 27 degrees did 480 from the Spile Dam turnaround, and 8 all the way to Brimley and back as well as the electric lines. I think everybody’s gonna be real happy with that, it cleaned up really well. I finished up at about 19° and then left the Groomer for turbo. Turbo is gonna hit the 889 loop and Brimley grade so I think everybody will be ready to go by about 7:30 - 8 o’clock for all of our trails out this way.”
Thank you, Warren & Steve!!❄️❄️❄️
Trail 8 from the Soo to Brimley will be done tonight, the city trails were done yesterday, and will be done again tomorrow night. I’ll update when I hear from the Kinross crew as well, but I know that everything was done on Thursday ahead of the warm up.
Be safe all and enjoy!
Hope to see some of you at the Radar Run at The Cozy Corners Barbeau MI today! The fun starts at noon! See their page for more info! #soo #soo0228 #snowphotos
WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Marquette Michigan >> Strong westerly winds develop this afternoon and evening, with winds gusting up to 60 mph in the Keweenaw and 45 mph for the remainder of the northern UP near the Superior shoreline. Damaging winds could blow down trees and power lines. Power outages are possible. Travel could be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles.
Temperatures will plummet tonight, setting up a seasonably cold weekend with some light lake effect snow for the northwest wind belts. #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #newberry #soo #straitsarea
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WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Marquette Michigan >> Clear skies this evening will give way to increasing cloud cover overnight as a weak disturbance moves through the region. This will bring a slight chance (15-25%) for some light freezing drizzle Tuesday morning, but expect most locations to stay dry with no widespread impacts. Temperatures will be well above freezing Tuesday afternoon, rising into the 40s in the west. #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #newberry #soo #straitsareaClear skies this evening will give way to increasing cloud cover overnight as a weak disturbance moves through the region. This will bring a slight chance (15-25%) for some light freezing drizzle Tuesday morning, but expect most locations to stay dry with no widespread impacts. Temperatures will be well above freezing Tuesday afternoon, rising into the 40s in the west.
WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Marquette Michigan >> Clouds will push from west to east across the U.P. this morning followed by sunshine this afternoon. After a cold start it will be much warmer with highs in the 30s. Temperatures will continue to warm through the middle of the week with some locations approaching 50 degrees on Wednesday. The chance for rain will come into the forecast on Thursday and especially Friday. #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #newberry #soo #straitsareaClouds will push from west to east across the U.P. this morning followed by sunshine this afternoon. After a cold start it will be much warmer with highs in the 30s. Temperatures will continue to warm through the middle of the week with some locations approaching 50 degrees on Wednesday. The chance for rain will come into the forecast on Thursday and especially Friday.
WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Marquette Michigan >> Temperatures will dip near or below zero again tonight, but a warm up is on the way as highs climb into the 30s Monday afternoon. Daytime temperatures are then forecast to remain above freezing through the rest of the coming week, climbing above 40 across most of the U.P. by Wednesday. #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #newberry #soo #straitsareaTemperatures will dip near or below zero again tonight, but a warm up is on the way as highs climb into the 30s Monday afternoon. Daytime temperatures are then forecast to remain above freezing through the rest of the coming week, climbing above 40 across most of the U.P. by Wednesday.
SAULT STE. MARIE AREA UPDATE Sault Ste. Marie Snowmobile Association >> 3/1/2026
Good evening! Turbo and Diane did an earlier run for a change today on trail 8 from Raco all the way to the Soo. While we typically do not like to groom during the day on a weekend, sometimes that’s what we need to do due to scheduling purposes. With cold temps and light sled traffic, it should help keep the snow a little looser for cooling.
It was a beautiful sunny day, and they saw a few groups out enjoying it, and some wildlife too.
As a reminder, this is a shared trail with ORVs less than 65” wide between the Soo and the Raco turn off. This is only shared trail in our area, and it isn’t wide enough for a SxS and groomer to pass on the trail. They encountered one SxS today that turned around so that they could continue on their way. We appreciate the driver moving so that they could pass.
Thank you to the Turbos! Looking awesome! ❄️❄️❄️ #soo #soo0301b #snowphotos
I did not know that you could ride side-by-side on a snowmobile trail .
SAULT STE. MARIE AREA UPDATE via Sault Ste. Marie Snowmobile Association >> 3/1/26
Happy March everyone! Hard to believe it’s the last (official) month of the season. And what a season it has been!
We had another record traffic Saturday, and our operators have been working so hard to keep things as smooth as we can for you.
After a long, cold, and windy day on the St Mary’s River at the radar run yesterday, Brimley Bill got a few hours of sleep and then headed out to hit the Mission Hill route. We call this route M40 for our reporting purpsoes. It’s 480 from M28, to 8, to Ranger Rd, and the 889 grade and 889 loop in the Raco and Bay Mills areas.
Here’s his report-
“I groomed M40 early this morning. Pretty much all of 889 was really beat up. I did my best to cut out all of the bumps. Some of the curves were so bad that I was not able to completely remove all of the bumps, (probably 90% gone.). The trail 8 Powerline and 480 RR Grade were still in pretty good shape. I smoothed out whatever bumps were there.”
Thank you, Bill! You’d never know now that hundreds of sleds ran those trails yesterday! ❄️❄️❄️ #soo #soo0301 #snowphotos
WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Marquette Michigan >> Expect morning flurries to give way to sunny skies this afternoon over the central and western U.P. Light lake effect snow showers will linger over the eastern U.P., mainly close to Lake Superior. Expect a warm up this week with the warmest temperatures over the west and near the MI/WI state line. #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #newberry #soo #straitsareaExpect morning flurries to give way to sunny skies this afternoon over the central and western U.P. Light lake effect snow showers will linger over the eastern U.P., mainly close to Lake Superior. Expect a warm up this week with the warmest temperatures over the west and near the MI/WI state line.
WEATHER UPDATE via Michigan Storm Chasers >> Lake effect flurries and snow showers are possible today, March 1st, 2026 across some of northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula. With dry air mixing in, totals will be relatively kept in check, but a swath of 1-3", perhaps 4" is possible along M-28 south of Grand Marais. Changing wind fields will also allow for light/brief accumulations along some of our lakeshore regions in the Lower Peninsula, but it's not guaranteed for everyone. Timing is through the remainder of the day. Mild temperatures coming later this week, which should help begin the melting process for many. #miweather #keweenaw #munising #newberry #sooLake effect flurries and snow showers are possible today, March 1st, 2026 across some of northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula. With dry air mixing in, totals will be relatively kept in check, but a swath of 1-3", perhaps 4" is possible along M-28 south of Grand Marais. Changing wind fields will also allow for light/brief accumulations along some of our lakeshore regions in the Lower Peninsula, but it's not guaranteed for everyone. Timing is through the remainder of the day. Mild temperatures coming later this week, which should help begin the melting process for many.
-- Trusted Partner of the Day --
Mike Hayes Roofing & Siding | Call 810-984-4564 for all your exterior home needs across Sanilac and St. Clair counties!
WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Marquette Michigan >> Northwest winds will subside through the the day with partly to mostly cloudy skies. Lake effect snow showers are expected in the northwest wind snowbelts, especially over the eastern U.P. where 1 to 3 inches of snowfall is expected. High temperatures will be 10 to 20 degrees below average, coldest in the Keweenaw. #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #newberry #soo #straitsareaNorthwest winds will subside through the the day with partly to mostly cloudy skies. Lake effect snow showers are expected in the northwest wind snowbelts, especially over the eastern U.P. where 1 to 3 inches of snowfall is expected. High temperatures will be 10 to 20 degrees below average, coldest in the Keweenaw.
SAULT STE. MARIE AREA UPDATE via Sault Ste. Marie Snowmobile Association >> 2/28/26
Good morning everyone!
While we certainly didn’t need the warm and sun yesterday, our hard working volunteers were itching to go as soon as temps dropped.
Our first report comes from Warren-
“We went out at 1 AM. Club member Steve & myself at 27 degrees did 480 from the Spile Dam turnaround, and 8 all the way to Brimley and back as well as the electric lines. I think everybody’s gonna be real happy with that, it cleaned up really well. I finished up at about 19° and then left the Groomer for turbo. Turbo is gonna hit the 889 loop and Brimley grade so I think everybody will be ready to go by about 7:30 - 8 o’clock for all of our trails out this way.”
Thank you, Warren & Steve!!❄️❄️❄️
Trail 8 from the Soo to Brimley will be done tonight, the city trails were done yesterday, and will be done again tomorrow night. I’ll update when I hear from the Kinross crew as well, but I know that everything was done on Thursday ahead of the warm up.
Be safe all and enjoy!
Hope to see some of you at the Radar Run at The Cozy Corners Barbeau MI today! The fun starts at noon! See their page for more info! #soo #soo0228 #snowphotos
WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Marquette Michigan >> Strong westerly winds develop this afternoon and evening, with winds gusting up to 60 mph in the Keweenaw and 45 mph for the remainder of the northern UP near the Superior shoreline. Damaging winds could blow down trees and power lines. Power outages are possible. Travel could be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles.
Temperatures will plummet tonight, setting up a seasonably cold weekend with some light lake effect snow for the northwest wind belts. #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #newberry #soo #straitsarea
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