Grand Marais Trail Report – 12/11
GRAND MARAIS UPDATE via Grand Marais Tavern – 12/11 GMSTA trail boss grooming update: I have had a lot of questions and inquiries on if we are grooming, when we will be grooming, and why we are not grooming, etc. Before I get into the scheduling I just want to give you all some insight to how we determine when and how much we groom. Of course one of the biggest factors is weather. How much snow, temps, conditions, what snow quality etc. Just because it’s below 32 degrees doesn’t mean you groom. If the snow quality is poor, sugary not packy, then grooming that type of snow when the base is not set up does very little for the overall "condition" of the trail. You cannot get all the woops/moguls out and the sugary snow just blows back out of the trail as the snowmobiles go over it. If this is the scenario, and it is early in the week with very low traffic, this would be the time to take a day off. The other big factor is the budget we have to groom for the entire season, Dec. 1st – Mar. 31st. One never knows how much snow we will get over the course of the snowmobile season, as proven last year. The season lasts 121 days, and we want to make sure there is enough budget to get us through the entire season. Budgeting is critical and plays a huge part in the decision of when not to groom. If the budget allowed, we would groom every day weather permitted. The next consideration is traffic volume. Usually Tuesday -Thursday is the slowest part of the week for traffic. Those are the first days we consider to not groom, as there is the least amount of traffic. This coupled with weather, snow conditions, and budget all help to make the call to groom or not. High travel times, we strive to groom every day to give you the best trails possible. We will be grooming this afternoon, starting with our East trail, trail 8, and our South trail, 443 & 88 from the park and ride on M77 east to 443. Then once they get back, we will head out on the West trail, 8, 89, 43/88 across Sunrise Landing to the south end of 888 and our North trail 8, from the split at 89, 888, and 88 all the way down to the park and ride on M77. The town route is usually done in coordination with the North run and or run as needed, as it is the single groomed trail route into the town of Grand Marais for food, gas, etc. Our scheduled grooming times are the same every day with the North and West trails being done early mornings, departing the groomer barn approximately 2am, returning approximately 9am. The East and South trails departing the barn approximately 5pm returning approximately 1am. Hopefully the snow that is in the forecast will come, and we will have the trails good and ready for a great sledding weekend. We want to thank everyone for your support, patience, and understanding. Thank you also for your comments and info from out on the trails. Your feedback is greatly appreciated. Last but not least, I also highly recommend downloading the Groomer Tracker app and for $10.00 download the GMSTA trails so you can follow the groomers in "real time". For $10.00 each, you can download the Curtis Area Trails, Seney Snowmobile Association, Tahquamenon Area Snowmobile Association, Chippewa Snow Chasers, and the Sault Ste. Marie Snowmobile Association and see all the trails that are being groomed in the EUP! Other club trail systems are also available for purchase as well as other States. A percentage of the $10.00 goes directly to each club who’s trail system you download. This helps and we greatly appreciate it. Take a minute and check it out. <> <> Grand Marais Sno-Trails Assoc. on Facebook >>>> <> CURTIS AREA UPDATE via Curtis Area Trail Association >> #curtis #newberry #snowphotos This content isn't available right now Brent Shettler NEWBERRY AREA UPDATE via Pine Stump >> Wednesday 3-18 GRAND MARAIS AREA UPDATE via Grand Marais Sno-Trails Assoc. >> Trail report: Well groomer Alex and I set out yesterday to start breaking open trails. We made it 81 miles.... in 17 hours!!! Even the drifts had drifts!!! I was breaking the trail and Alex was grooming behind. When we got done, I had 14 more miles than him!!! 95 miles and burned 101.3 gallons of fuel!!! Have never ridden the trails around Marquette, Munising,Grandmarais and looking to do so the 26th-29th.... where is a great place to stay close to trail access.... normally ride Ontanagon thru western UP but worried about being lots of water running on trails Jeff Renney yup we missed it Is the powder riding done because snow is compacted now NEWBERRY AREA UPDATE via Trails End Lodging >> Good Wednesday morning from Windy Corners! ❄️🌬️ NEWBERRY AREA UPDATE via TASA Tahquamenon Area Snowmobile Association >> So all of TASA trails were groomed last night except the spur back towards the Motel on 28 that’ll get done today but all the trails were done thanks enjoy and stay safe.. #newberry GRAND MARAIS AREA UPDATE via Grand Marais, MI >> Took a snowshoe down Braziel St and out to the point. The amount of snow is really just unfathomable. #grandmarais #newberry #snowphotos GRAND MARAIS AREA UPDATE via Grand Marais Sno-Trails Assoc. >> The storm has passed and what a storm it was. Groomers left at noon today. They are running tandem due to drifting and downed trees. We hope to have everything in shape by Friday. Please ride with caution due to the conditions. #grandmarais #newberry WEATHER UPDATE via Michigan Storm Chasers >> Final snowfall totals have been released from our blizzard of March 15th-17th, 2026 here in Michigan. Do note, some locations are approximated due to data gaps in the Upper Peninsula..... #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #newberry #soo #gaylord #cadillac #benzie #traversecity #petoskeyFinal snowfall totals have been released from our blizzard of March 15th-17th, 2026 here in Michigan. Do note, some locations are approximated due to data gaps in the Upper Peninsula. NEWBERRY AREA UPDATE via Pine Stump >> After a couple days of plowing I’m making progress!!! WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Marquette Michigan >> Today, lake effect snow and winds slowly decrease, with snow totals exceeding 2 inches confined to Alger County. Highs will be around 20. Tonight and Wednesday, a weak system brings a widespread 1 to 2 inches of snow, with lows in the single digits in the interior to 10s around the lakeshores. Highs Wednesday will be in the 30s. For the rest of the week into the weekend, mostly weaker systems with highs above freezing and lows mainly in the 20s. #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #newberry #sooToday, lake effect snow and winds slowly decrease, with snow totals exceeding 2 inches confined to Alger County. Highs will be around 20. Tonight and Wednesday, a weak system brings a widespread 1 to 2 inches of snow, with lows in the single digits in the interior to 10s around the lakeshores. Highs Wednesday will be in the 30s. For the rest of the week into the weekend, mostly weaker systems with highs above freezing and lows mainly in the 20s. NEWBERRY AREA UPDATE via Trails End Lodging >> Good Tuesday morning from Windy Corners! ❄️🌬️ Couple inches here is all SENEY AREA UPDATE via Mater's Stop -N- Go Gas Station >> Well look at that. He’s already back the winds musta felt bad for the little guy. #seney #newberry #snowphotosWell look at that. He’s already back the winds musta felt bad for the little guy. CURTIS AREA UPDATE via Curtis Area Trail Association >> #curtis #newberry #snowphotos This content isn't available right now What trail? Thank you for getting out there so we can ride this week!!! <> Latest Trail Reports – Quick Links <>Postings From Regional Pages On Facebook
We are getting ready for the vintage show this weekend
I figured snow was done and just needed do some final cleanup. Nope it’s snowing good again and have a few inches of fluff so far
We are open, have gas, and the trails should be really good.
Everyone wonders if the snow will last until April 1. There’s no doubt of that
Come get some miles in before you start your summer activities!! Record winter you beater take advantage of it!! #newberry #snowphotos
We hit our west trail (8/89/88), then continued on 88 past the park and ride at M77 to 443. We ran 443 down to the bra tree, then headed back to our barn.
We will try and get our East trail(😎 and the north trail(8/888/88) today and tomorrow. There are a lot of branches and trees down throughout the area, so please be alert. As always, ride right and ride safe!
Trail boss Al. #grandmarais #newberry #snowphotos
We’re waking up to a cold, snowy start today—winter’s not quite done with us yet! 🥶
Did you have to dig out from the Blizzard? 🚜🧤
We’re almost caught up here… but it looks like another round of snow pushing is on the schedule for today! #newberry #snowphotos 
No doubt the forecast lived up to its insanity, with many locations getting over 40" of snow across the central Upper Peninsula, and 8-10 foot snow drifts to make things even more extreme. In terms of forecast verification, our forecast did hit the 80%+ accuracy threshold we strive for after each event. Our final verification was 83%, and most of the the misses were where the system shifted slightly south to give parts of the northern Lower Peninsula greater than 24", and parts of the western Upper Peninsula much less. Anything over 18" of snow is just "a lot" at this point anyways, so we aren't stressing too badly about the miss in the Lower Peninsula near the Mackinac Bridge. Lake effect zones in SW Michigan did verify, as text was featured under the forecast that a couple spots would see locally higher amounts.
Overall, this will be a storm we won't soon forget, which adds to the list of wild weather we've experienced in Michigan over the last two weeks. If you have any additional snowfall reports to add to the list that are not affected by drifting, drop them in the comments below here on X or Facebook. A new two-day record was also broken at the NWS office in Marquette of 36"+ with this blizzard, which is just one record smashed by this blizzard.
Lots almost done still some big drifts to dig out!!!
I’m guessing we got between 30and 36 inches out of the storm
A lot of 4-6 foot drifts. I spotted a 8ft drift hiding
Everyone be careful and have fun. This was going to be a busy week getting ready for the vintage show without a blizzard!!! #newberry #snowphotos
The snow and winds have finally settled down, and now the real work begins—time to dig out!
What a wild 36 hours it’s been with all that snow and blowing wind. Mother Nature definitely kept things interesting!
How much snow did you end up with at your place?
Drop your pictures or videos below ⬇️📸🎥 let’s see what everyone got! #newberry #snowphotos