KEWEENAW PENINSULA UPDATE via Keweenaw Trail Reports – 3/07
To TRY to answer all of the questions/messages in one spot as to whether we think you should still come up to ride….. here is what we can tell you. Each and every rider we talked to while out riding expressed the same review of trail conditions and will try to show as best we can in the photos included. I think most riders know conditions can change rapidly and it is not possible to predict the future days/weeks.
Yesterday was another great ride in the Keweenaw! It was supposed to be cloudy all day but we found more sun out while riding. The warmer days and sun definitely can take a visible toll on the trails while riding. We decided to do a few of the “loops” at the beginning of the day and then again towards the end of the day. Trail 130 loop & trail 132 loop did not change much throughout the day of warmer temps and sun but Brockway definitely was showing more thin spots and bare areas. All in all it was still a great day to ride and would say 90 percent of trails are still in good condition.
Groomers were out last night and groomed trail 3/17 from Toivola to the junction of trail 3 and trail 134 (clear lake junction) along with trail 130 and 132. (Please download Groomer Tracker app)
Our route: The Trailside Lodge➡️trail 17➡️trail 3➡️Cliff View Bar➡️trail 130➡️trail 151➡️Eagle River➡️Eagle River Falls➡️Deer yard➡️Shoreline by the Fitzgerald’s Restaurant➡️trail 151➡️trail130➡️Eagle Harbor➡️Eagle Harbor Lighthouse/observation deck of Lake Superior shoreline➡️130➡️132➡️Lac La Belle Lodge / Bear Belly Pit Stop for fuel➡️trail 3➡️ Brockway Mountain➡️Copper Harbor Fuel Stop for fuel and items from the store➡️The Mariner North for delicious Portside Sandwich and Mariner Sandwich➡️trail 134➡️135➡️134➡️Fish Cove➡️High Rock Bay➡️134➡️132 loop➡️130 loop➡️Eagle Harbor Inn for artichoke dip and a pesto burger- so amazing!➡️trail 3➡️The Drift Inn➡️Trail 17➡️Trailside!
Things to note:
-Decided to stage north of Houghton/Hancock as it is pretty rough/bare sidewalk/poolarking lots trail
-Trail 151 into Eagle River is good, however roads are completely bare
-Trail 130 into Eagle Harbor is good and there was still enough snow left on the side of the roads to get to Eagle Harbor Inn but the 1-2 block ride down to lighthouse was bare
-Trail to High Rock is brutal (not recommended until it gets groomed again)
-by very late at night trails were very hard and not really any lose snow, scratchers would be a must for some sleds – during the day no issues at all
-other riders that did ride trail 133 said it was a bit rougher than the others
-Brad Kolmonen just sent photos of an area to ride with caution ⚠️ as there is a downed tree heading out of the Lake Linden area by Gas Plant road (see photos)
Sadly, we have entered spring riding conditions, with no foreseeable snow in the forecast. However, we all know that could change. Mid March snow storms seem to happen a lot of years!🤞 Hopefully the photos give you the most accurate description possible right now!
WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Marquette Michigan >> Bitterly cold temperatures will hang on through tonight as wind chill values remain below zero across the U.P., coldest in the west near the WI border. Lake effect snow will also continue to impact the northwest wind snowbelts, especially across the east where a Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect through Sunday morning for Alger, Luce, and northern Schoolcraft Counties. #miweather #keweenaw#westernup#marquette#munising #seney #newberry #soo #straitsareaBitterly cold temperatures will hang on through tonight as wind chill values remain below zero across the U.P., coldest in the west near the WI border. Lake effect snow will also continue to impact the northwest wind snowbelts, especially across the east where a Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect through Sunday morning for Alger, Luce, and northern Schoolcraft Counties. ... See MoreSee Less
KEWEENAW PENINSULA UPDATE via Keweenaw Trail Reports >> Brrrrrr….. 🥶it was definitely a cold day to ride the Keweenaw, but Jason Kremer definitely wasn’t complaining! Jason and crew headed out today from the Ramada in Hancock and rode up to Copper Harbor for the Winter Wonderfest & Park Lighting Event! (Checkout the video Jason shared with us in the comments!) Jason is a frequent rider of the Keweenaw and today definitely didn’t disappoint! Jason shared these photos and said, “You definitely need to tode to Copper Harbor tomorrow! Trails are not freshly groomed but they are flat and fast! The only slightly bumpy part was the trail up Brockway, but not bad for a Saturday in the Kee! There is zero traffic today, only met one group of sledders all the way from Hancock to Copper Harbor. Having a blast, will send you pics when I get service. Maybe we will run into a groomer on the way back!” Well, as you can see from one of Jason’s photos, they did come across a groomer on the way back from Copper Harbor! We hope you all enjoyed your Saturday as much as Jason did! Please note as of right now the, The Portage Lake Lift Bridge is not yet open for snowmobile crossing. That means you can not cross from Houghton to Hancock…. yet. The Coast Guard needed to close the shipping lanes and then the Keweenaw Snowmobile Club and the city need to coordinate laying the snow mat for sled crossing…. Hopefully, very soon! Thanks as always for sharing, Jason! #keweenaw#snowphotos... See MoreSee Less
WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Marquette Michigan >> Lake effect snow showers are expected downwind of Lake Superior through Sunday, impacting the northwest wind snowbelt areas. This snow will be very susceptible to blowing in the wind, resulting in localized visibility reductions below 1 mile at times. Make sure to drive with your headlights on, at appropriate speeds, and with extra room between yourself and other vehicles! #miweather #keweenaw#westernup#marquette#munising #seney #newberry #soo #straitsareaLake effect snow showers are expected downwind of Lake Superior through Sunday, impacting the northwest wind snowbelt areas. This snow will be very susceptible to blowing in the wind, resulting in localized visibility reductions below 1 mile at times. Make sure to drive with your headlights on, at appropriate speeds, and with extra room between yourself and other vehicles! #906wx #miwx ... See MoreSee Less
WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Marquette Michigan >> A cold front will move across the U.P this evening. Light snow will accompany the front but generally less than an inch is expected. Behind the front temperatures will fall into the single digits above and below zero. This combined with gusty winds will bring wind chills down into the teens and twenties below zero. A Cold Weather Advisory is in effect for Gogebic and Iron counties tonight through Saturday morning. Lake effect snow will develop behind the front in the northwest wind snowbelts with several inches expected. Those headed outside tonight or traveling should be prepared for bitter cold and snow (in the northwest wind snowbelts). #miweather #keweenaw#westernup#marquette#munising #seney #newberry #soo #straitsarea... See MoreSee Less
KEWEENAW PENINSULA UPDATE via Fletchy’s Otter Belly Lodge >> Imagine this: it’s 9pm & 10 degrees out on a crystal clear night in the Keweenaw. You’re on a narrow trail in the middle of the woods. Hundreds of miles of untouched trails ahead of you. Throttle to the bars. Like a rocket ship you accelerate forward. Pines shimmer in your headlights. You and your sled become one. Every worry melts away. You let off and come to a stop. You shut it down. Absolute silence. Moon above. Stars dancing. NOTHING BEATS THIS! Had my first ride of the year tonight and it NEVER gets old ❄️ 12/12/26 Trail report in the comments! #keweenaw#snowphotosImagine this: it’s 9pm & 10 degrees out on a crystal clear night in the Keweenaw. You’re on a narrow trail in the middle of the woods. Hundreds of miles of untouched trails ahead of you.
Throttle to the bars. Like a rocket ship you accelerate forward. Pines shimmer in your headlights. You and your sled become one. Every worry melts away.
You let off and come to a stop. You shut it down. Absolute silence. Moon above. Stars dancing. NOTHING BEATS THIS!
Had my first ride of the year tonight and it NEVER gets old ❄️