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 >> 12/8/2025 WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Gaylord Michigan .. 🥶 Lingering lake effect snow showers diminish this evening with cold temperatures expected tonight. WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Marquette Michigan >> Lake effect lifts north into the eastern U.P. Monday afternoon. Monday night, a quick moving batch of snow will spread through the U.P. Not only will this bring the region quick widespread snow, but it will also result in an increased risk for 1 inch per hour rates, especially east of Manistique and Seney. #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #newberry #soo #straitsareaLake effect lifts north into the eastern U.P. Monday afternoon. Monday night, a quick moving batch of snow will spread through the U.P. Not only will this bring the region quick widespread snow, but it will also result in an increased risk for 1 inch per hour rates, especially east of Manistique and Seney. #906wx #miwx SAULT STE. MARIE AREA UPDATE via Sault Ste. Marie Snowmobile Association >> Thanks to Nick for sending these to us! They made the drive to hit some early season riding, on and off trail and they weren’t disappointed! WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Marquette Michigan >> Light lake effect snow persists today into tonight across the NW wind snow belts, with the heaviest amounts in the eastern UP. 1-3 inches of snow is expected across Alger, northern Schoolcraft, and Luce counties, with locally higher amounts possible. Dry weather for most of Monday will be followed by another round of snow Monday evening into early Tuesday. #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #newberry #soo #straitsareaLight lake effect snow persists today into tonight across the NW wind snow belts, with the heaviest amounts in the eastern UP. 1-3 inches of snow is expected across Alger, northern Schoolcraft, and Luce counties, with locally higher amounts possible. Dry weather for most of Monday will be followed by another round of snow Monday evening into early Tuesday. WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Gaylord Michigan >> Light snow will continue this morning for northern lower. More moderate snow will be seen over parts of eastern upper near Whitefish point today, leading to a couple inches of accumulation. #miweather #gaylord #cadillac #benzie #traversecity #petoskey #straitsarea #soo #newberryLight snow will continue this morning for northern lower. More moderate snow will be seen over parts of eastern upper near Whitefish point today, leading to a couple inches of accumulation. SAULT STE. MARIE AREA UPDATE via Sault Ste. Marie Snowmobile Association >> 12/6/25 WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Marquette Michigan >> Lake effect snow persists across the NW wind snow belts through the weekend. Totals today through Sunday night will be highest across the eastern UP, where as much as 3-6 inches will be possible. Elsewhere, snow totals peak at around 1-2 inches. Otherwise, expect chilly temperatures with highs in the teens and lower 20s. #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #newberry #soo #straitsareaLake effect snow persists across the NW wind snow belts through the weekend. Totals today through Sunday night will be highest across the eastern UP, where as much as 3-6 inches will be possible. Elsewhere, snow totals peak at around 1-2 inches. Otherwise, expect chilly temperatures with highs in the teens and lower 20s. <> 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 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!
‼️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.
❄️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.
In summary, the high ground areas are good to go, but wet areas still need a little time.
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.
Thanks all!
**join or donate today at www.sootrails.org** #soo #snowphotos 
❄️ Snow potential returns Monday afternoon, initially across parts of the eastern U.P. and across the remainder of northern Michigan Monday night - Tuesday.
More details at: www.weather.gov/apx/weatherstory #MIWeather #gaylord #Cadillac #benzie #traversecity #petoskey #straitsarea #Soo #Newberry
Thanks for sharing, guys! ❄️❄️❄️ #soo #snowphotos
Rider report on the city trails-
“I just wanted to let you know from Reno’s car wash to Holiday/Krist gas station, the typical trail is pretty clear. There was only 1 smaller water hole. The trail between Reno’s and Walmart has a lot of very small wet spots but none of them were holes. Where the two trails meet between 49 and 449 still has a flowing river by the road that sneaks up on you very easily if you don’t know it’s there. Photos taken right about in the middle between Reno’s Car Wash and Walmart.”
This is on 49 from the business spur, along Ashmun, back toward Seymour and Kewadin Casino, and the split from 49/449 toward Walmart.
We really appreciate the feedback guys! Ride safe! ❄️❄️❄️ #soo #snowphotos