Please use caution while riding you will encounter some icy spots along with some rocks. We have snow in this week’s forecast along with colder temps. Please stay on marked trails riding on unmarked trails can result in the clubs losing easement for the trails. Please be respectful.
It’s still early season riding..
Gogebic Range Trail Authority – Snowmobile & ORV Club Trail Report
• Trail Condition: good
• Last Groomed: January 16th, 2021
• Base Snowfall: 14″
WARNINGS AND NOTICES: We are begging riders to ride off-trail legally as there are 1-million acres of public land east of Wakefield to off-trail ride on – please only ride legal areas! The Ottawa National Forest is 990,000 acres and much of it open to cross-country riding (no trail/road) if there is 6″ or more of snow. Several restricted areas, contact the forest for further information.
Groomers are reporting the trails have been groomed and are in pretty good shape. Groomers were out on the 16th.
Trail 2 is in fair to good condition watch for icy corners and you will encounter some spots with rocks. It is still early season riding.
Trail 160 is in good to very good condition.
Trail 8 is in fair to good condition with icy corners.
Trail 11s is in good condition with a few fair spots. Please use caution logging is ongoing. Logging trucks have the right away. South of Chaney Lake there is a section where there is 2 ft. washout but the club is filling it in.
There are several scenic vistas on the trail:
Bald Mountain “NORTH” lookout viewing Madeline Island/ mouth of the Chequamegon Bay of Lake Superior
Groomers have been out and all trails have been groomed. They are reporting trails are in decent shape. There are still areas where rocks are showing up but groomers are attempting to cover them with snow.
Please use caution while riding conditions can change quickly. Be Safe.
U.P. Thunder Riders Trail Report 1/18/2021
Groomers will be heading out today to flatten the trails. We still need more snow. Please ride with caution.
WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Marquette Michigan - Gusty southwesterly winds up to 40 mph become westerly and weaken overnight, except for the Keweenaw where peak westerly gusts approach 50 mph. A snow squall is possible with a cold front Thursday morning. Temperatures are expected to fall behind the front with lake effect snow showers increasing for NW wind snow belts.... #MIWeather#westernup#keweenawGusty southwesterly winds up to 40 mph become westerly and weaken overnight, except for the Keweenaw where peak westerly gusts approach 50 mph. A snow squall is possible with a cold front Thursday morning. Temperatures are expected to fall behind the front with lake effect snow showers increasing for NW wind snow belts. #906wx ... See MoreSee Less
IRONWOOD / WESTERN U.P. UPDATE via Gogebic Range Trail Authority - ORV & Snowmobile Club - The ski hills were groomed over night in sub zero temps by our groomer operator Ryan Christian. This is always our trail that gets beat the most and for the first time since Christmas we are rating it in FAIR condition. There are thin and icy corners yet, but overall it's improved dramatically with the fresh snow. Color is not white yet for all of the trail and if that's a deal breaker for your riding, feel free to stay home and ride there 🧐. Our entire system will be groomed over the last 24 hours with 11S getting hit today. We saw our buddies North Country Snowmobile Club UP groomed their entire 109 mile system last night as well! We're confident Gogebic Area Grooming got out and cut bumps as well! If you're not riding the Western up, you have yet to snowmobile the up, the BEST is WEST! ... #ironwood#westernup#snowphotos#trailreports... See MoreSee Less
IRONWOOD / WESTERN U.P. UPDATE via Gogebic Range Trail Authority - ORV & Snowmobile Club - Trail 160, 2 & 8 were groomed today out and back completely, from end to end. Trails are rated fair to good with thin/poor sections. The ski hills are being groomed tonight and 11S tomorrow. The 3rd pic is trail 2 on Morgan Mine road just east of Wakefield. It is thin for 2 miles from late season logging when snow was plowed off. Trails remain icy with a thin base, but they are improving with daily fresh snow. More snow coming Thursday into Friday and again Sunday into Monday. The vast western up trail system has been groomed this week by the many clubs who make the system up. Good cold temps tonight and a good looking forecast has us happier than ever! Want to support our all volunteer effort? Join us today or sponsor us! We have reached over 500,000 social media impacts the last 28 days. All run by volunteers! gogebicrangeta.org/membership/ ... #ironwood#westernup#snowphotos#trailreports... See MoreSee Less
IRONWOOD / WESTERN U.P. UPDATE via Gogebic Range Trail Authority - ORV & Snowmobile Club - Jerry on Trail 8 sweet... #ironwood#westernup#snowphotosJerry on Trail 8 sweet 💝. ... See MoreSee Less
ONTONAGON AREA UPDATE via North Country Snowmobile Club UP - Grooming again in the north country, over half of our 109 miles were hit tonight, trail 13, 101, lake of the clouds and south boundary rd are in good shape, trail 12, 137 and trail 1 are poor but rideable with the fresh 3" of snow, hopefully we keep getting Lake effect snow, groomers will be out every night now!!:) ... #ontonagon#westernup#snowphotos#trailreportsGrooming again in the north country, over half of our 109 miles were hit tonight, trail 13, 101, lake of the clouds and south boundary rd are in good shape, trail 12, 137 and trail 1 are poor but rideable with the fresh 3" of snow, hopefully we keep getting Lake effect snow, groomers will be out every night now!!:) ... See MoreSee Less
IRONWOOD / WESTERN U.P. UPDATE via Gogebic Range Trail Authority - ORV & Snowmobile Club - We sent the groomer out to test a fix on an issue we were chasing. Finally, success! No more codes! We received a few inches today of lake effect and snow is forecast most the week. Trails are improving with every groom. One of our operators Ryan Christian just left Wakefield on his sled headed back to Boulder Junction, WI. He already has 200+ miles on for the day. Anyone who says trails aren't rideable sure aren't looking to ride. If you are, though, support our lodging partners throughout Ironwood with your business. They are a pillar of our success! Images from depot park area downtown Ironwood, MI tonight... #ironwood#westernup#snowphotos... See MoreSee Less
WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Marquette Michigan - Light to locally moderate lake effect snow is expected for northwest wind snow belts through Tuesday. Localized accumulations up to 9 inches are possible across the west. Temperatures cool to near seasonal averages for Tuesday with highs struggling to get into the low 20s.... #MIWeather#keweenaw#westernup#Marquette#munising#Seney#newberry#SooLight to locally moderate lake effect snow is expected for northwest wind snow belts through Tuesday. Localized accumulations up to 9 inches are possible across the west. Temperatures cool to near seasonal averages for Tuesday with highs struggling to get into the low 20s. #906wx ... See MoreSee Less
Please use caution while riding you will encounter so wet spots and icy spots along with some rocks. We need more snow. Please stay on marked trails riding on unmarked trails can result in the clubs losing easement for the trails. Please be respectful.
Early season riding..
Gogebic Range Trail Authority – Snowmobile & ORV Club Trail Report
Trail Condition: Poor Last Groomed: January 09th, 2021 Base Snowfall: 14″ Reported On: January 11th, 2021 @ 8:05am
WARNINGS AND NOTICES: We are begging riders to ride off-trail legally as there are 1-million acres of public land east of Wakefield to off-trail ride on – please only ride legal areas! The Ottawa National Forest is 990,000 acres and much of it open to cross-country riding (no trail/road) if there is 6″ or more of snow. Several restricted areas, contact the forest for further information.
Trail 2 from Hurley to Ramsay US-2 Crossing:
Overall rating: Poor to Fair Condition
Last groomed 1/9/2020. Please do not ride on sidewalks near Holiday and try to keep noise down in town.
Trail 2 from Ramsay Crossing to Wakefield:
Overall rating: Poor – Hills are very icy
Last groomed 1/9/2020.
Trail 2 from Wakefield to Marenisco:
Overall Rating: Poor to Fair
Last groomed 1/9/2020.
Trail 8 from Wakefield to Tula Crossing:
Overall Rating: Poor to Fair
Last Groomed 01/09/2020.
Trail 160 from Walmart to Montreal River (WI):
Overall Rating: Poor to Fair
Last Groomed 01/09/20.
There are several scenic vistas on the trail:
Bald Mountain “NORTH” lookout viewing Madeline Island/ mouth of the Chequamegon Bay of Lake Superior
Bald Mountain “SOUTH” lookout viewing Gogebic Range (Powderhorn, Copper Peak)
Montreal River Gorge look out
Superior Falls Waterfall Complex.
11S (Wakefield, MI to Winchester, WI):
Overall Rating: Fair to good
Last Groomed 1/9/2020.
PLEASE YIELD TO ANY AND ALL LOGGING TRAFFIC. There is a short section of dual use the landowner (Keweenaw Land) has graciously approved us to use along with them. It is private land and we are guests, please act like it.
11N (Wakefield, MI to South boundary Rd/White Pine): Closed due to off trail riding. Please contact Indianhead Valley Condo’s who have closed the trail.
Gogebic Area Groomers Report 1/11/2021
Trails are thin, conditions are poor right now. Forecast for snow and cold temps to move in by Thursdays. Will update on Friday.
U.P. Thunder Riders Trail Report 1/11/2021
Groomers are still in the barn waiting for more snow, Wed. Thurs. we will be evaluating snow conditions to decide if we can go out
WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Marquette Michigan - Gusty southwesterly winds up to 40 mph become westerly and weaken overnight, except for the Keweenaw where peak westerly gusts approach 50 mph. A snow squall is possible with a cold front Thursday morning. Temperatures are expected to fall behind the front with lake effect snow showers increasing for NW wind snow belts.... #MIWeather#westernup#keweenawGusty southwesterly winds up to 40 mph become westerly and weaken overnight, except for the Keweenaw where peak westerly gusts approach 50 mph. A snow squall is possible with a cold front Thursday morning. Temperatures are expected to fall behind the front with lake effect snow showers increasing for NW wind snow belts. #906wx ... See MoreSee Less
IRONWOOD / WESTERN U.P. UPDATE via Gogebic Range Trail Authority - ORV & Snowmobile Club - The ski hills were groomed over night in sub zero temps by our groomer operator Ryan Christian. This is always our trail that gets beat the most and for the first time since Christmas we are rating it in FAIR condition. There are thin and icy corners yet, but overall it's improved dramatically with the fresh snow. Color is not white yet for all of the trail and if that's a deal breaker for your riding, feel free to stay home and ride there 🧐. Our entire system will be groomed over the last 24 hours with 11S getting hit today. We saw our buddies North Country Snowmobile Club UP groomed their entire 109 mile system last night as well! We're confident Gogebic Area Grooming got out and cut bumps as well! If you're not riding the Western up, you have yet to snowmobile the up, the BEST is WEST! ... #ironwood#westernup#snowphotos#trailreports... See MoreSee Less
IRONWOOD / WESTERN U.P. UPDATE via Gogebic Range Trail Authority - ORV & Snowmobile Club - Trail 160, 2 & 8 were groomed today out and back completely, from end to end. Trails are rated fair to good with thin/poor sections. The ski hills are being groomed tonight and 11S tomorrow. The 3rd pic is trail 2 on Morgan Mine road just east of Wakefield. It is thin for 2 miles from late season logging when snow was plowed off. Trails remain icy with a thin base, but they are improving with daily fresh snow. More snow coming Thursday into Friday and again Sunday into Monday. The vast western up trail system has been groomed this week by the many clubs who make the system up. Good cold temps tonight and a good looking forecast has us happier than ever! Want to support our all volunteer effort? Join us today or sponsor us! We have reached over 500,000 social media impacts the last 28 days. All run by volunteers! gogebicrangeta.org/membership/ ... #ironwood#westernup#snowphotos#trailreports... See MoreSee Less
IRONWOOD / WESTERN U.P. UPDATE via Gogebic Range Trail Authority - ORV & Snowmobile Club - Jerry on Trail 8 sweet... #ironwood#westernup#snowphotosJerry on Trail 8 sweet 💝. ... See MoreSee Less
ONTONAGON AREA UPDATE via North Country Snowmobile Club UP - Grooming again in the north country, over half of our 109 miles were hit tonight, trail 13, 101, lake of the clouds and south boundary rd are in good shape, trail 12, 137 and trail 1 are poor but rideable with the fresh 3" of snow, hopefully we keep getting Lake effect snow, groomers will be out every night now!!:) ... #ontonagon#westernup#snowphotos#trailreportsGrooming again in the north country, over half of our 109 miles were hit tonight, trail 13, 101, lake of the clouds and south boundary rd are in good shape, trail 12, 137 and trail 1 are poor but rideable with the fresh 3" of snow, hopefully we keep getting Lake effect snow, groomers will be out every night now!!:) ... See MoreSee Less
IRONWOOD / WESTERN U.P. UPDATE via Gogebic Range Trail Authority - ORV & Snowmobile Club - We sent the groomer out to test a fix on an issue we were chasing. Finally, success! No more codes! We received a few inches today of lake effect and snow is forecast most the week. Trails are improving with every groom. One of our operators Ryan Christian just left Wakefield on his sled headed back to Boulder Junction, WI. He already has 200+ miles on for the day. Anyone who says trails aren't rideable sure aren't looking to ride. If you are, though, support our lodging partners throughout Ironwood with your business. They are a pillar of our success! Images from depot park area downtown Ironwood, MI tonight... #ironwood#westernup#snowphotos... See MoreSee Less
WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Marquette Michigan - Light to locally moderate lake effect snow is expected for northwest wind snow belts through Tuesday. Localized accumulations up to 9 inches are possible across the west. Temperatures cool to near seasonal averages for Tuesday with highs struggling to get into the low 20s.... #MIWeather#keweenaw#westernup#Marquette#munising#Seney#newberry#SooLight to locally moderate lake effect snow is expected for northwest wind snow belts through Tuesday. Localized accumulations up to 9 inches are possible across the west. Temperatures cool to near seasonal averages for Tuesday with highs struggling to get into the low 20s. #906wx ... See MoreSee Less