Sault Ste. Marie Area Trail Report – 12/08
SAULT STE. MARIE AREA UPDATE via Sault Ste. Marie Snowmobile Association >> 12/08 12/8/2025 Good morning all! We picked up another few inches overnight here in the Soo. Cold temps remain! I am awaiting word from our groomer bosses in the Kinross and Soo areas, and I’ll keep you posted as we have some first runs today in those areas. For now, here’s what I know- ❄️Trail 8 from the Soo to Raco- Ashmun Bay to south street should be groomed today, and I’ll update when the rest to Brimley Is done. Ken panned it Thursday and it should have a great base from the new snow and sleds packing it all weekend. Brimley to Raco is on the normal grooming schedule and has been done a couple of times already. ‼️The City Trails (part of 49, 449, and 497)- still lots of wet spots in the usual places. It’ll still be a bit before we can get through all of them. Lane will be heading through the tunnel, hills, and airport stretch, as well as 49 behind Walmart as he makes his way down 49 to Kinross. Fingers crossed all goes well! ❄️472 in the Kinross area out toward the 480 split- Lane said there are some water holes between Johnson and Tilson Roads, high ground areas are ok. ❄️Trail 494 around the airport in Kinross- Lane reports this to be ok, no water holes reported. ‼️Trail 480- good from Raco to the turnaround, ungroomed from there to the gate. Deep snow in there! There is construction (yes, construction) in there from 472 to the Spile Dam. Use extreme caution as there is equipment and all sorts of stuff in there. It’s going to be AWESOME when it’s done as the Forest Service is making it a hard packed road and rebuilding a bridge, but it may not be done until late January. Gates are CLOSED on the Spile Dam due to water, so you can’t get through to or from Raco yet anyway. We’ll keep you posted on that. ❄️ Trail 480, 889, and the Raco Powerline (😎 in the Raco and Bay Mills areas- the high ground areas are great and have been groomed. The 889 loop and the Bay Mills Casino trail have been groomed a couple of times and are in really good shape. We always welcome rider reports and pics! Please be safe and don’t ride alone, especially in the early season. We encourage you to download the What3Words app so that first responders can find you quickly in the event of an emergency. **join or donate today at www.sootrails.org** <> <> Sault Ste. Marie Snowmobile Association Facebook Page <> SAULT STE. MARIE AREA UPDATE via Sault Ste. Marie Snowmobile Association >> 1/27/26 www.sootrails.org SAULT STE. MARIE AREA UPDATE via Sault Ste. Marie Snowmobile Association >> 1/27/26 WEATHER UPDATE via Meteorologist Brad Sugden >> Additional snowfall Tuesday, Jan 27th! SAULT STE. MARIE AREA UPDATE via Sault Ste. Marie Snowmobile Association >> 1/27/26 This content isn't available right now WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Marquette Michigan >> Another quickly-moving Clipper will bring a round of widespread, light snow beginning this evening, followed by lingering lake effect snow across the NW wind snow belts for Tuesday. Totals of an inch or less are expected for most of the UP, but where lake effect snow occurs, up to 2-5in of snow is possible tonight through Tuesday evening. As winds pick up early Tuesday, patchy blowing snow may contribute to reduced visibility in the NW wind snow belts. Take care during your morning commute! #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #newberry #soo #straitsareaAnother quickly-moving Clipper will bring a round of widespread, light snow beginning this evening, followed by lingering lake effect snow across the NW wind snow belts for Tuesday. Totals of an inch or less are expected for most of the UP, but where lake effect snow occurs, up to 2-5in of snow is possible tonight through Tuesday evening. As winds pick up early Tuesday, patchy blowing snow may contribute to reduced visibility in the NW wind snow belts. Take care during your morning commute! WEATHER UPDATE via Michigan Storm Chasers >> Lake effect snow continues today, stops, then resumes in intensity overnight into Tuesday, January 26th and 27th, 2026. WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Marquette Michigan >> While it will remain cold through midweek we will get a reprieve from the bitter cold experienced over the last several days. Lake effect snow showers will be possible in the northwest wind snowbelts along with a period of widespread light snow tonight across the U.P. #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #newberry #soo #straitsareaWhile it will remain cold through midweek we will get a reprieve from the bitter cold experienced over the last several days. Lake effect snow showers will be possible in the northwest wind snowbelts along with a period of widespread light snow tonight across the U.P. WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Marquette Michigan >> Cold weather continues through Tuesday with highs only in the single digits and teens. Dangerously cold wind chills this morning and again tonight into Monday morning are expected, Cold Weather Advisories are in effect. Lake effect snow showers are possible in the northwest wind snowbelts this afternoon through Tuesday with a period of widespread light snow Monday night into early Tuesday morning. #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #newberry #soo #straitsarea <> Latest Trail Reports – Quick Links <>
‼️Trail 49- Soo to Kinross- There are wet areas, particularly from Alberta Lane to 5 mile. Lane went via sled last week from 12 mile south to 472 and said there are some deep water holes between 12 mile and Devil’s Hill, as usual. Gates are open from 12 mile south to Kinross. Lane may be making a pass in the Tucker today if the water holes tightened up.
In summary, the high ground areas are good to go, but wet areas still need a little time.
Thanks all! Postings From Regional Pages On Facebook
Good evening everyone! Holding steady at 30” of snow in the Soo currently with lake effect snow showers ongoing.
We do still have one machine down, and our schedule has been adjusted to make sure we can still cover all areas.
Here’s what I know-
❄️ Trail 8- Soo to Raco- excellent
❄️ City Trails - part of 49, 449, 497, and the I500 trail- excellent (being groomed as I type this)
❄️ Trail 49- Soo to Kinross- good. All water holes are packed and panned. May have some drifts in open areas.
❄️ Trail 49 south of M80 and the 494 loop- excellent
❄️ Trail 472 to 480 to the Raco gate- good - Go slow by the new bridge on 480 as there is stone there, that will be snow covered in time.
❄️ Trail 480 from the Spile Dam turnaround to the Raco Powerline ( trail 8 ) - excellent
❄️ Raco Powerline- excellent
❄️ Trail 889 The Mission Hill Loop- excellent
Remember, we are on Groomer Tracker!
Ride safe everyone!
***to join or donate, please visit www.sootrails.org*** #soo 
Things are so good around here that I actually have no significant updates to share LOL. A little snow here and there on top of an absolutely incredible base is making for the best riding in our area in years, honestly. Even with one machine still down, our operators have things in excellent shape!
We hope you’ll be able to be here next week for race week, and for the big race on Saturday, Feb 7th! We will have a booth in the brand new vendor pavilion, and we hope to see you there at the International 500 Snowmobile Race!! 🏁 ❄️🥶 #soo #soo0127 #snowphotos
Winds will gust 30-40mph at times blowing around new slow and fluffy snow already on the ground. Expect ground blizzards at times (wind driven, brief, white outs). #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #newberry #soo #straitsare #gaylord #cadillac #benzie #traversecity #petoskeyAdditional snowfall Tuesday, Jan 27th!
Winds will gust 30-40mph at times blowing around new slow and fluffy snow already on the ground. Expect ground blizzards at times (wind driven, brief, white outs).
Update!! 10:30 AM - The car is near the pavilion in the campground, close to the parking lot, and will be out shortly. Thank you to Merle’s Towing for your communication and helping her out!
🚨 Caution!! There is a car stuck on the trail behind Kewadin Casino. We are unsure of the exact location on the trail as of right now.
Merle’s Towing, who has always been so awesome to work with, is on the way, but please use caution.
Please be kind, it’s an elderly person who made a mistake. Just sharing for awareness. Thank you! #soo
Discussion
Our west winds kick up to the 30-40 mph range later tonight. Prior to that happening, a northwest wind will batter some lake effect areas with an additional 1-3" this afternoon, with pockets of 4"+ possible. As we move into Tuesday, a widespread blanket of 2-5", with pockets of 4-8" will overtake the Lake Michigan shoreline, eastern UP, and Keweenaw Peninsula. Temperature difference between water and air, plus adequate lift will fuel lake effect all the way through Wednesday morning. Additionally, we have a clipper moving through on Tuesday that will bring isolated pockets of 1-3" to the east side. Most locations should still be beneath an inch, however, too many variables are in play to not mention it.
Travel will be impacted along and west of US-131, with minor travel impacts all the way over to the US-127 corridor (I-75 north of Grayling). The clipper will be swinging through with the initial push of gusty winds after midnight tonight through 10 am Tuesday morning. Again, this will be for totals starting at noon today, and lasting through 8 am EST Wednesday, with most of the snow falling throughout the entire day Tuesday. #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #newberry #soo #straitsarea #gaylord #cadillac #benzie #traversecity #petoskeyLake effect snow continues today, stops, then resumes in intensity overnight into Tuesday, January 26th and 27th, 2026.
Discussion
Our west winds kick up to the 30-40 mph range later tonight. Prior to that happening, a northwest wind will batter some lake effect areas with an additional 1-3" this afternoon, with pockets of 4"+ possible. As we move into Tuesday, a widespread blanket of 2-5", with pockets of 4-8" will overtake the Lake Michigan shoreline, eastern UP, and Keweenaw Peninsula. Temperature difference between water and air, plus adequate lift will fuel lake effect all the way through Wednesday morning. Additionally, we have a clipper moving through on Tuesday that will bring isolated pockets of 1-3" to the east side. Most locations should still be beneath an inch, however, too many variables are in play to not mention it.
Travel will be impacted along and west of US-131, with minor travel impacts all the way over to the US-127 corridor (I-75 north of Grayling). The clipper will be swinging through with the initial push of gusty winds after midnight tonight through 10 am Tuesday morning. Again, this will be for totals starting at noon today, and lasting through 8 am EST Wednesday, with most of the snow falling throughout the entire day Tuesday.
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