Sault Ste. Marie Trail Report – 12/29
UPDATE via Sault Ste. Marie Snowmobile Association – 12/29
I know you are all anxious and want to know what the trail conditions are.
I am happy to report that we are starting groomer operations tomorrow!!! I will get updates out as I receive them.
We groom just over 100 miles of trails so conditions will vary across our trail system, based on snowfall, water spots, drifting etc. We got about 8” of snow here in town and it sounds like there is more to the west, closer to Raco. We are supposed to pick up another 3”-5” tomorrow. What I know for sure is that there will be lots of sled traffic since this is the best snow we’ve gotten season to date.
Please be safe, ride right and watch for our groomers. Corners may be icy and underneath the snow there is an ice base so trails might be slick in spots. If you’re out on our trail system, feel free to message us pictures and trail updates and I will share them.
See you all out on the trails!!!❄️❄️❄️
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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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Postings From Regional Pages On Facebook
WEATHER UPDATE via Michigan Storm Chasers >> This is our last call snowfall outlook for FRIDAY ONLY, January 16th, 2026. Snow has begun across parts of the UP, and will begin for the rest of the state over the course of the next 12 hours.... #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #newberry #soo #straitsarea #gaylord #cadillac #benzie #traversecity #petoskeyThis is our last call snowfall outlook for FRIDAY ONLY, January 16th, 2026. Snow has begun across parts of the UP, and will begin for the rest of the state over the course of the next 12 hours.
A clipper will bring a mixture of synoptic snow and lake effect snow for the entirety of Michigan. This is the first of multiple clippers between now and Monday. Lake effect areas may see totals into the 4-8" zone, with localized heavier totals possible along the Porcupine Mountains in the western UP. We DO have ample moisture on our atmospheric profiles for tomorrow, but the forcing is still suspect, so a solid blanket of 1-4" of snow, with isolated higher totals close to half a foot should occur by the end of our day Friday. The greatest chance at an area underachieving is in... guess what... southeast Michigan. Monroe and Lenawee counties specifically were in the T-1" zone at first call, but with a more-moist profile expected tomorrow, all locations (in an ideal world) should at least hit 1". We are also watching for the development of freezing drizzle mixing in, primarily in the Lower Peninsula as low-level temperatures favor this phenomena. Now, drizzle would hinder totals, but significantly increase travel issues as roads get coated with both the drizzle and the wet snow. We will have a freezing drizzle accumulation map out tomorrow morning.
Winds gusting 25-35 mph at times, primarily out of the west. Some snow squalls will mix in, which for those who don't remember, snow squalls exist to only cause headaches. These narrow bands of snow drop visibility from open skies to mere feet in the matter of seconds, which is never good, especially on fast-moving roadways. A snow squall can put down as much as a quick inch in 15-30 minutes at their peak intensity. Both morning and evening commutes will be impacted by snow or drizzle. Let's hope we don't light up the MDOT drive map with 25 accidents this time around, so please take your time. Give yourself that extra hour to travel, especially in instances of forced slow downs.
-- Trusted Partner of the Day --
Rainbow Restoration | 616-583-1234, call today for all your restoration needs in the Grand Rapids regional area!
WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Marquette Michigan >> A couple rounds of heavy lake effect snow will develop first across Luce County tonight through tomorrow, then across the western U.P./Keweenaw tomorrow into Saturday afternoon. Winter Weather Advisories and Warnings are in effect from tonight through Saturday afternoon. Greatest snowfall accumulations are expected across the higher terrain west of a line from Ironwood to White Plains, and from Mass City to Painesdale. #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #newberry #soo #straitsareaA couple rounds of heavy lake effect snow will develop first across Luce County tonight through tomorrow, then across the western U.P./Keweenaw tomorrow into Saturday afternoon. Winter Weather Advisories and Warnings are in effect from tonight through Saturday afternoon. Greatest snowfall accumulations are expected across the higher terrain west of a line from Ironwood to White Plains, and from Mass City to Painesdale.
SAULT STE. MARIE AREA UPDATE via Sault Ste. Marie Snowmobile Association >> 1/14/26
Good evening!
We saw a huge temperature swing today, after wet snow and rain later in the day yesterday. 35 last night, 1 tonight with negative windchills🥶
Lane and Randy went on a mission today to work on trail 49 where some water holes opened up during the warm up.
Here’s what Lane had to say, and photos to give you all a visual-
“I took 49 north out of Kinross to try to work on a water hole just south of 9 mile. I took Randy along with me and I was glad I did, he was a big help. That hole is a very deep hole. We filled it with as much ice and snow as we could. It is not pretty, but should freeze in good with these temps. We also worked on a few other water spots that filled in great. The bridge just south of 8 mile had a trench of water on the bridge. That filled in good and will freeze up good also. All the rest of the trail is great. The swamp south of 12 mile held up great and groomed really nice.”
Thank you, Lane and Randy! The timing for this work could not be better. Mid week traffic is light, temps are frigid, and there’s not any significant snow forecasted, so these spots should really lock up now.
The work that our operators put in to the spot south of 11 mile, and near Devils Hill are holding up awesome, even after the warm up the last few days.
This trail continues to improve with each run, and is still so far ahead of where we normally are this time in the season.
Ride safe and stay warm! ❄️❄️❄️ #soo #soo0114b #snowphotos
SAULT STE. MARIE AREA UPDATE via Sault Ste. Marie Snowmobile Association >> 1/14/26
Brimley Bill did the Brimley to Raco route tonight, which is 8 between Brimley and Ranger Rd, and 480 from the Spile Dam Turnaround to 8.
Here’s what he had to say-
“The base is real solid. There were sections of trail with a lot of drifts on the edges. I was able to cut into all the drifts with the Dubie wings, and pull the snow back into the trail. The result is trails that are smooth and flat across the width of the trail.“
Looks awesome, thank you Bill!! 🙌🏼 #soo #soo0114 #snowphotos
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WEATHER UPDATE via Michigan Storm Chasers >> This is our last call snowfall outlook for FRIDAY ONLY, January 16th, 2026. Snow has begun across parts of the UP, and will begin for the rest of the state over the course of the next 12 hours.... #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #newberry #soo #straitsarea #gaylord #cadillac #benzie #traversecity #petoskeyThis is our last call snowfall outlook for FRIDAY ONLY, January 16th, 2026. Snow has begun across parts of the UP, and will begin for the rest of the state over the course of the next 12 hours.
A clipper will bring a mixture of synoptic snow and lake effect snow for the entirety of Michigan. This is the first of multiple clippers between now and Monday. Lake effect areas may see totals into the 4-8" zone, with localized heavier totals possible along the Porcupine Mountains in the western UP. We DO have ample moisture on our atmospheric profiles for tomorrow, but the forcing is still suspect, so a solid blanket of 1-4" of snow, with isolated higher totals close to half a foot should occur by the end of our day Friday. The greatest chance at an area underachieving is in... guess what... southeast Michigan. Monroe and Lenawee counties specifically were in the T-1" zone at first call, but with a more-moist profile expected tomorrow, all locations (in an ideal world) should at least hit 1". We are also watching for the development of freezing drizzle mixing in, primarily in the Lower Peninsula as low-level temperatures favor this phenomena. Now, drizzle would hinder totals, but significantly increase travel issues as roads get coated with both the drizzle and the wet snow. We will have a freezing drizzle accumulation map out tomorrow morning.
Winds gusting 25-35 mph at times, primarily out of the west. Some snow squalls will mix in, which for those who don't remember, snow squalls exist to only cause headaches. These narrow bands of snow drop visibility from open skies to mere feet in the matter of seconds, which is never good, especially on fast-moving roadways. A snow squall can put down as much as a quick inch in 15-30 minutes at their peak intensity. Both morning and evening commutes will be impacted by snow or drizzle. Let's hope we don't light up the MDOT drive map with 25 accidents this time around, so please take your time. Give yourself that extra hour to travel, especially in instances of forced slow downs.
-- Trusted Partner of the Day --
Rainbow Restoration | 616-583-1234, call today for all your restoration needs in the Grand Rapids regional area!
WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Marquette Michigan >> A couple rounds of heavy lake effect snow will develop first across Luce County tonight through tomorrow, then across the western U.P./Keweenaw tomorrow into Saturday afternoon. Winter Weather Advisories and Warnings are in effect from tonight through Saturday afternoon. Greatest snowfall accumulations are expected across the higher terrain west of a line from Ironwood to White Plains, and from Mass City to Painesdale. #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #newberry #soo #straitsareaA couple rounds of heavy lake effect snow will develop first across Luce County tonight through tomorrow, then across the western U.P./Keweenaw tomorrow into Saturday afternoon. Winter Weather Advisories and Warnings are in effect from tonight through Saturday afternoon. Greatest snowfall accumulations are expected across the higher terrain west of a line from Ironwood to White Plains, and from Mass City to Painesdale.
SAULT STE. MARIE AREA UPDATE via Sault Ste. Marie Snowmobile Association >> 1/14/26
Good evening!
We saw a huge temperature swing today, after wet snow and rain later in the day yesterday. 35 last night, 1 tonight with negative windchills🥶
Lane and Randy went on a mission today to work on trail 49 where some water holes opened up during the warm up.
Here’s what Lane had to say, and photos to give you all a visual-
“I took 49 north out of Kinross to try to work on a water hole just south of 9 mile. I took Randy along with me and I was glad I did, he was a big help. That hole is a very deep hole. We filled it with as much ice and snow as we could. It is not pretty, but should freeze in good with these temps. We also worked on a few other water spots that filled in great. The bridge just south of 8 mile had a trench of water on the bridge. That filled in good and will freeze up good also. All the rest of the trail is great. The swamp south of 12 mile held up great and groomed really nice.”
Thank you, Lane and Randy! The timing for this work could not be better. Mid week traffic is light, temps are frigid, and there’s not any significant snow forecasted, so these spots should really lock up now.
The work that our operators put in to the spot south of 11 mile, and near Devils Hill are holding up awesome, even after the warm up the last few days.
This trail continues to improve with each run, and is still so far ahead of where we normally are this time in the season.
Ride safe and stay warm! ❄️❄️❄️ #soo #soo0114b #snowphotos
SAULT STE. MARIE AREA UPDATE via Sault Ste. Marie Snowmobile Association >> 1/14/26
Brimley Bill did the Brimley to Raco route tonight, which is 8 between Brimley and Ranger Rd, and 480 from the Spile Dam Turnaround to 8.
Here’s what he had to say-
“The base is real solid. There were sections of trail with a lot of drifts on the edges. I was able to cut into all the drifts with the Dubie wings, and pull the snow back into the trail. The result is trails that are smooth and flat across the width of the trail.“
Looks awesome, thank you Bill!! 🙌🏼 #soo #soo0114 #snowphotos
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