Sault Ste. Marie Trail Report – 01/27
SAULT STE. MARIE UPDATE via Sault Ste. Marie Snowmobile Association – 01/27
Trail 49 update 1/27
Good evening!
Big progress tonight but still not officially open. Our trouble spots are still from Alberta Lane to 5 1/2 mile, and south of Devils Hill where the beaver pond is. It’s solid enough for sleds but not the groomer just yet. Steve was out there tonight. Here’s his detailed report.
“As most know, Trail 49 from the Soo to Kinross has been closed for the last few weeks due to standing water, open mud holes, and overall unsafe conditions.
We as a club have been watching the weather and trying to put a plan in place to safely work towards reopening this section of trail.
First off, I want to thank one of our active club members, Randy Menard, who spent a couple days this week photographing all the problem areas that led to the closing of this trail. The pictures were shared with our groomer drivers where we all had a chance to see what we were up against.
I think I may have been the first one who was comfortable with what was shown in the pictures, which led to tonight’s grooming run. Lol.
We decided yesterday, we were going to go in with a groomer, and start preparing this trail to reopen.
I’m not going to lie, there are some anxious moments that lead up to a run like this. We are heading into a swamp, with a couple miles of standing water. Once you commit to going in, there is no place to turn around for a really long stretch.
I contacted my good friend Chris, who is a regular passenger with me on this section of trail. He is a former snowmobiler, and someone I can count on to hop in and ride along knowing exactly what we are driving into. I want to thank Chris too for stepping up and coming with me tonight. There is a lot going on in a groomer, and the passenger seat is nerve wracking too.
We left after work tonight, and headed out in heavy snow with increasing winds. You’ll see in our pics, visibility was poor. It stayed this way most of the night.
We hopped on the trail and headed south. It was slow going most of the night. I don’t think it could get any rougher than it currently is.
I am happy to report a large part of the trail is froze solid. We did sink the groomer once, but with the lockers engaged and careful driving we were able to get ourselves out.
We made it all the way to Devil’s Hill, which is just north of the beaver pond between 12 Mile Rd and Gaines Hwy.
The return trip went well and it was sure a relief when we could see the lights in the Soo.
We avoided the trail behind the county road commission. It is still wet and not quite ready for a groomer.
We knocked down some high spots but didn’t really improve the trail much. I wasn’t comfortable carrying much snow with me in the drag tonight. I was trying to keep the weight down to give us a better chance to stay on top of the ice.
We will be in contact with the DNR and will keep working towards getting this trail reopened.
Hopefully we have some good news to share soon.
Steve Lawson”
Thanks all! Getting closer every day! Appreciate your work and report Steve! ❄️❄️❄️
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Hi again!
While Steve was out on 49, Nick was over in Raco and Brimley on trail 8, the powerline, and part of 480.
From Nick tonight- “3 inches of lake effect snow really helped shape the trails up tonight. No complaints from ranger road to Brimley to Spile dam! 10/10”
Thanks Nick!
Ride safe and enjoy, all!❄️❄️❄️
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Sault Ste. Marie Snowmobile Association Facebook Page
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Sault Ste. Marie Snowmobile Association Trail Report on MSA
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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
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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
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