Ontonagon Area Trail Report – 12/10
ONTONAGON AREA UPDATE via North Country Snowmobile Club UP >> 12/10 ❄️Trail Report December 10th 2025 🥵Good Day from the trenches…. 👀Trails remain hazardous and in early season conditions with wet areas, downed trees, and with some trails yet to be opened by grooming equipment. We seek snowmobiler’s help riding trail 12 from Ontonagon to Greenland. The swamps between the highway and the railroad grade need traffic to help freeze them in so we can go fill in the rest of the water holes. Most of our trail system is enjoying 18-36" of snow, but areas near the lakeshore have limited snow (5"). 4-6" of fresh snow fell yesterday with more lake effect on-going today. IT IS SNOWY!!!! 🤘GROOMED LAST NIGHT: Trail 12 railroad grade from Ontonagon to Rockland. Groomer then went down 13 to 101 and back to staging at Hamilton’s North Coast Adventures on trail 12. The ditch trails along Victoria Road and Potato Farm road have been cut in again after plowing. We had a hydraulic leak cut the night short, but we plan to work on trail 12 to white pine to put a few more wet areas to bed now that we have the Trail Setter drag on. Thank you TJ Toner of White Pine for giving his night up to train on the PistenBully with Steve. 🤞Once trail 13 from Bergland to our section of 13 is opened, you’ll once again be able to ride directly from Hurley, WI to Houghton, MI. A by-pass using the 400 road, accessed via 13, can get you up to where 13 is groomed. You can also bypass the unopened trail via trail 1 to White Pine then east on trail 12 to 101 to 13. Riding without road or trail is permissible in the Ottawa National Forest if there is more than 6" of snow and the area is not Wilderness or protected (be smart, please…). 😍Great Snow exists up here with tremendous trailside stops waiting for you this weekend! Bring some brushing equipment and come on up! Give the trails 1, 2 hours of your time. You’ll never believe how big of an impact 4 people with a purpose can make! <> <> Visit North Country Snowmobile Club – UP Website >>>> <> Visit North Country Snowmobile Club – UP on Facebook >>>> <> LAKE GOGEBIC AREA UPDATE via Lake Gogebic News >> ⚠️ Blizzard Warning ⚠️ WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Marquette Michigan >> Potentially historic, record-breaking snowfall between 1 and 3 feet expected across all of Upper Michigan. Highest storm total snow expected in the central and east. Greatest potential for 4 feet is the high terrain of north-central. Strong winds and heavy snowfall rates will result in a long duration of blizzard conditions. Widespread impacts: dangerous to impossible travel, power outages, prolonged recovery time. More information can be found at www.weather.gov/media/mqt/DssPacket.pdf #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #newberry #soo #straitsarea ONTONAGON AREA UPDATE via Scott's Superior Inn and Cabins >> ❄️ EPIC SNOW STORM ALERT! ❄️ WEATHER UPDATE via Michigan Storm Chasers >> One of the most absurd snow forecasts we’ve ever made here at MSC, we’ve had to add an impromptu orange color for higher totals. WATERSMEET - WESTERN U.P. UPDATE via U.P. Thunder Riders Snowmobile Club >> TRAIL UPDATED- 3/14/26- Shout out to Steve and Brian R for breaking trail and laying a down the ribbon last night. Also Brian R got to take the new JD out on its maiden voyage! #westernup #snowphotos WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Marquette Michigan >> Confidence is increasing in a significant winter storm Saturday night into Monday night. Snowfall amounts between 1 to 3 feet could be near 2-day records in some areas. Strong winds and heavy snowfall rates likely result in blizzard conditions. Widespread impacts: very difficult to impossible travel, power outages, significant recovery time. #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #newberry #soo <> Latest Trail Reports – Quick Links <>Postings From Regional Pages On Facebook
➡️ Up to 3 feet of snow is expected in this storm.
➡️ The Blizzard Warning lasts until 8 pm Eastern Monday.
➡️ Expect strong wind gusts up to 45 mph, snow falling at rates up to 1” per hour, plus significant drifting.
➡️ Many area school districts are already cancelling school for Monday. #lakegogebic #westernup #snowphotos
We’re looking at upwards of 3 feet of snow to fall in the higher elevations of Porcupine Mountains 🌨️ The snowmobile trails were already in incredible shape, but this storm is about to make them absolutely legendary.
Late-season shredders and riders, this might just be the best conditions we’ve seen in years. Trails are primed, slopes are deep, and the winter fun isn’t slowing down anytime soon!
Here’s a few pictures from just before the storm hit. #ontonagon #westernup #snowphotos
Key Notes:
•Snow begins to work into Michigan late tonight, but becomes more widespread during the early morning hours of Sunday. This snow continues through Tuesday morning for the UP, and becomes a snow/freezing rain/sleet mix for northern lower Michigan beginning Sunday afternoon/evening.
•Winds will gust between 40-60mph statewide both on Sunday and Monday.
•This will be a full on blizzard for much of the Upper Peninsula
•Expect scattered power outages across the state
•Travel will be near impossible for the UP and northern lower
Snow totals will be between one and four FEET when all is said and done on Tuesday in the UP. Further south, a mix is expected which will keep accumulations lower, and also will provide a sharp cutoff of accumulations. The difference between a foot of snow and 2” may be the width of one county.
Further south, this system will end as snow for lower Michigan on Monday & Tuesday, which is why we have a wide area within a trace to an inch, and western lower in a 1-3” zone with wording of higher totals possible. We may need to adjust totals here as new data comes clearer for Tuesday.
Stay tuned for the icing portion of this forecast. Northern lower Michigan will see significant icing which is not shown or communicated in this forecast graphic or write up. #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #newberry #soo #gaylord #cadillac #benzie #traversecity #petoskeyOne of the most absurd snow forecasts we’ve ever made here at MSC, we’ve had to add an impromptu orange color for higher totals.
Key Notes:
•Snow begins to work into Michigan late tonight, but becomes more widespread during the early morning hours of Sunday. This snow continues through Tuesday morning for the UP, and becomes a snow/freezing rain/sleet mix for northern lower Michigan beginning Sunday afternoon/evening.
•Winds will gust between 40-60mph statewide both on Sunday and Monday.
•This will be a full on blizzard for much of the Upper Peninsula
•Expect scattered power outages across the state
•Travel will be near impossible for the UP and northern lower
Snow totals will be between one and four FEET when all is said and done on Tuesday in the UP. Further south, a mix is expected which will keep accumulations lower, and also will provide a sharp cutoff of accumulations. The difference between a foot of snow and 2” may be the width of one county.
Further south, this system will end as snow for lower Michigan on Monday & Tuesday, which is why we have a wide area within a trace to an inch, and western lower in a 1-3” zone with wording of higher totals possible. We may need to adjust totals here as new data comes clearer for Tuesday.
Stay tuned for the icing portion of this forecast. Northern lower Michigan will see significant icing which is not shown or communicated in this forecast graphic or write up. 