Keweenaw Peninsula Trail Report – 02/18
KEWEENAW PENINSULA UPDATE via Keweenaw Trail Reports – 02/18 It seems as if winter came and went all within two weeks, back in January, and then the “2nd winter” decided to show up for this weekend! How long will it last? 🤷♀️ 🤷🏻♂️ We aren’t sure, but we know for some, it was just what they had been waiting for! Earlier today we shared reports and photos from Brent Mason, Adam Garvey, Tegan Noltner, Jeff Schmuhl and Mandi Schmuhl! Jake Groteboer just shared his photos and comments with us and he agrees with what the other riders have all expressed…. Trails were surprisingly very good! Jake said, “Fantastic riding in the Keweenaw this weekend! We rode from Houghton to Lac La Belle today and had freshly groomed trails the entire way. I even snapped this photo of the Keweenaw Snowmobile Club groomer with his dog! Thanks to all the clubs and volunteers for their hard work this weekend! The Ladies at the Lac La Belle Lodge / Bear Belly Pit Stop were fantastic and even kept the store open late for us to get food and gas last night 🙏 while we were out riding! This is by far the worst winter I can recall. Such a rare occurrence that the Keweenaw doesn’t have a boat load of snow in February. Unfortunately, the weather isn’t looking to be in our favor. This may have been my last ride of the year 😕 I’m totally hoping for a huge snow dumping yet! Glad we had the opportunity to ride this weekend!” Thank you so much for sharing Jake and we are equally as glad that you were able to ride this weekend! We still have faith in the usual St.PattysDay storm that the Keweenaw should receive! ❄️🕺💃 We included a map in the photos that TV6 shared of the snow coverage across the U.P. ….. With the way this winter has been, riders need to keep an eye on the forecast and be ready to chase the snow as it’s falling! <> <> <> <> Keweenaw Trail Reports on Facebook >>>> <> KEWEENAW - WESTERN U.P. UPDATE via Erika’s Trail Reports - Western UP/Porkies/Ottawa Forest/Ontonagon County >> ❄️ FRESH SNOW ALERT ❄️ KEWEENAW PENINSULA UPDATE via Keweenaw Trail Reports and Fletchy’s Otter Belly Lodge >> That little, mild warmup we had really didn’t hurt us, it actually helped create a better base. Fresh snow fell last night and plenty more in the forecast! WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Marquette Michigan >> Lake effect snow ends over the north-northwest wind snow belts today. A couple more fluffy inches and some blowing snow is still expected over the north central and eastern U.P. this morning. A quick hitting system looks to bring 1 to 4 fluffy inches of snowfall tonight through Saturday morning. West to northwest winds as high as 45 mph are expected to make a return over the Keweenaw on Saturday. #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #newberry #soo #straitsareaLake effect snow ends over the north-northwest wind snow belts today. A couple more fluffy inches and some blowing snow is still expected over the north central and eastern U.P. this morning. A quick hitting system looks to bring 1 to 4 fluffy inches of snowfall tonight through Saturday morning. West to northwest winds as high as 45 mph are expected to make a return over the Keweenaw on Saturday. KEWEENAW PENINSULA UPDATE via Western UP Trail Reports >> 19 December 2025 WEATHER UPDATE via Michigan Storm Chasers >> Lake effect totals through Friday afternoon, December 19th, 2025 have been updated slightly to account for latest shifts in atmospheric conditions. KEWEENAW PENINSULA UPDATE via Western UP Trail Reports >> 17 December 2025 WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Marquette Michigan >> Active weather is expected for the remainder of the work week. Winds pick up tonight, gusting to 25-45mph (highest in the western and north-central UP), falling back into Thursday morning. Light rain and patchy mixed precipitation return Thursday morning, transitioning over to widespread snow late Thursday into Thursday night before tapering off to light lake effect snow Friday. The heaviest snow accumulations will be across the far western UP. #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #newberry #soo #straitsarea KEWEENAW PENINSULA UPDATE via The Lakeshack >> It’s a beautiful day in the Yoop KEWEENAW PENINSULA UPDATE via Keweenaw Snowmobile Club >> We continue to work our way through two remaining trails, Trail 133 from Gay to Lac La Belle and Trail 151 into Eagle River. We’ve had the assistance of many volunteers, shout out to everyone that’s come up and helped! The DNR has been assisting as well, huge thanks to them! The Portage Lake Lift Bridge is not open for crossing, but things are looking favorable. Stay tuned for more updates soon! #keweenaw #snowphotos <> Latest Trail Reports – Quick Links <>
We’ve heard from so many groups out riding today and they have all been very positive reports. All of the riders have agreed that they were very glad they decided to chase the snow, as with the way winter has been, they knew they couldn’t sit around and wait for “perfect” conditions or they may not get a single ride in! Postings From Keweenaw Trail Reports On Facebook
Postings From Western UP Trail Reports On Facebook
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Keweenaw Convention & Visitors Bureau Website >>>>
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Western & Southern UP Trail Reports on Facebook >>>>Postings From Regional Pages On Facebook
The Western UP is getting fresh accumulating snow from yesterday until this weekend! The cold temperatures have also returned for the weekend. You should only trust reliable sources of information! Do not cancel your trips, businesses need your support! Follow snowmobile club pages for updates (listed below) and download the Groomer Tracker app. Grooming has been limited but you can still ride! The woods are your best option! #keweenaw #westernup❄️ FRESH SNOW ALERT ❄️
The Western UP is getting fresh accumulating snow from yesterday until this weekend! The cold temperatures have also returned for the weekend. You should only trust reliable sources of information! Do not cancel your trips, businesses need your support! Follow snowmobile club pages for updates (listed below) and download the Groomer Tracker app. Grooming has been limited but you can still ride! The woods are your best option!
North Country Snowmobile Club UP
Gogebic Area Grooming
Gogebic Range Trail Authority - ORV & Snowmobile Club
Baraga County Convention & Visitors Bureau
The U.P. Superior Snowmobile Club
U.P. Thunder Riders Snowmobile Club
Keweenaw Snowmobile Club
Sno Valley Riders Snowmobile Club
Safe Rides,
❄️ #ErikaTrailReports ❄️ 
Checkout what Eddie from Fletchy’s Otter Belly Lodge had to say here ⬇️
Remember Fletchy’s is a great choice for lodging and snowmobile rentals. Be sure to head over to their page and give them a “follow” for tons of good updates!
Note the former Copper Harbor Fuel Stop is now Fletchy’s Otter Belly Fuel! Be sure to “follow” their page also!
Thanks Eddie! See you on the trails! ❄️🩵 #keweenaw #snowphotos
Today's video is brought to you by SNOW. It's that white that makes us happy.
I've got 8" @ 12:00 noon and still snowing.
☠️ Stretch
Western UP Trail Reports Web Cam #keweenaw #snowphotos
Discussion
As temperatures fall early Friday, moisture pools back in, mixed with colder air over the warmer lakes, turning on the lake effect machine for both of the Great Lakes that influence our normal lake effect zones. A respectable 1-3" to 2-5" is possible in the fairly typical areas shown on the map. The narrow lane of higher elevation across the Keweenaw Peninsula and Porcupine Mountains are most-likely to experience totals exceeding 6". You may have noticed our one main change was the expansion of T-1" over to the east side of the state just as a general precaution to any snow squalls that make it across the state. Not everyone will get a rogue snow squall, but it is in the odds for nearly everyone. A snow squall is a thin, but intense band of quick snow that can produce at least half an inch of snow in minutes time, while knocking visibility down from 10 miles, to a quarter mile in moments time. Additionally, a quick coating of snow may hide any ice that was able to form from the freeze later tonight. Lake effect snow and snow squalls are poised to start later this evening around 8 pm EST (earlier for the western UP), and run primarily through 1 pm EST Friday. A couple lake effect bands may last through 6 pm across northern Michigan near Gaylord, and the central UP near Munising.
Each area is never guaranteed the totals shown on the screen. This is why we call it a prediction. The totals that are shown however do have the greatest odds of occurring. Yes, we are still trying to find that crystal ball, but no luck to this point. Follow us here at Michigan Storm Chasers for forecast updates, and a little humor on the side, throughout the next few days, and as always, 365 days a year! #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #newberry #soo #straitsarea #gaylord #cadillac #benzie #traversecity #petoskeyLake effect totals through Friday afternoon, December 19th, 2025 have been updated slightly to account for latest shifts in atmospheric conditions.
Discussion
As temperatures fall early Friday, moisture pools back in, mixed with colder air over the warmer lakes, turning on the lake effect machine for both of the Great Lakes that influence our normal lake effect zones. A respectable 1-3" to 2-5" is possible in the fairly typical areas shown on the map. The narrow lane of higher elevation across the Keweenaw Peninsula and Porcupine Mountains are most-likely to experience totals exceeding 6". You may have noticed our one main change was the expansion of T-1" over to the east side of the state just as a general precaution to any snow squalls that make it across the state. Not everyone will get a rogue snow squall, but it is in the odds for nearly everyone. A snow squall is a thin, but intense band of quick snow that can produce at least half an inch of snow in minutes time, while knocking visibility down from 10 miles, to a quarter mile in moments time. Additionally, a quick coating of snow may hide any ice that was able to form from the freeze later tonight. Lake effect snow and snow squalls are poised to start later this evening around 8 pm EST (earlier for the western UP), and run primarily through 1 pm EST Friday. A couple lake effect bands may last through 6 pm across northern Michigan near Gaylord, and the central UP near Munising.
Each area is never guaranteed the totals shown on the screen. This is why we call it a prediction. The totals that are shown however do have the greatest odds of occurring. Yes, we are still trying to find that crystal ball, but no luck to this point. Follow us here at Michigan Storm Chasers for forecast updates, and a little humor on the side, throughout the next few days, and as always, 365 days a year!
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It felt great tonight to be back in the saddle again. I just did a short run to get used to it but I'm ready to Rock & roll. I must say the trails are in the best shape I've seen in years. Hopefully it'll stay cold so we can keep the base we have right now.
☠️ Stretch
Western UP Trail Reports Web Cam
video.nest.com/live/4BKmS6XRiT #keweenaw #snowphotos
FYI the Portage Lift bridge matt is down in Houghton/Handcock crossing
I snagged this pic about 12:15 today
Yesterday it got in the low 40’s but looks to of not hurt the snow much
I did a quick 80 miles yesterday and it was glorious out
Check out the Shackiecam 24/7
Live on beautiful Lake Roland in Twin Lakes
video.nest.com/live/gbiim7CnxN #keweenaw #snowphotos