Gaylord Area Trail Report – 01/03
Gaylord Bureau – January 2, 2026 Gaylord has received an abundance of snow this week! All trails are currently rated in good condition throughout our county, with the exception of Lakes of the North being in excellent shape. Grooming is underway, but be sure to watch for drifts in some areas. We had a few days of freezing rain last weekend that packed down a solid base, so there could be icy patches under the fresh snowfall. Be safe out there and have fun! Please note, due to last April’s ice storm, there is a logging operation near Turtle Lake Road – the logging trucks are using the trail as a road. The trails are passable, but they’re in poor shape. Proceed with caution in this area. If this winter is anything like last year, it’s going to be another epic one! Want to be ready? Get a free trail map delivered right to your mailbox and plan your adventure! Check out a live view of trail # 7 here. A few things to remember about our groomers and trails: – Groomers are out there to help you have a better riding experience and always have the right of way. Want to be ready? Get a free trail map delivered right to your mailbox and plan your adventure! As always, check back with us for updates and weather reports. <> http://www.gaylordmichigan.net/snowmobile-trail-report-114/ <> I never made it on here yesterday but there were a steady stream of sleds and its now a cloudy and calm saturday morning at 24 degrees. Havent seen any sleds yet but have had a few calls. I have had several people that I have met thru the years that I havent seen in a long time. Its great to catch up with people. Steve who has a place in traverse city stopped and I rode with him up around lake leelanau years ago. Several people from pennsylvania and I want to send a shout out to Jim Wilkerson in Pennsylvania. He is another great memory from the past. A group of Indiana riders and one of them said I had inspired him to get his knees fixed after I had mine done. Another family Brian and Diedre who bought a home thru me about 20 years ago and brought their daughters in. One of them was only 2 back then and is now in college. I have seen alot of kids grow up over the years and now those little kids are bringing their own in. Thats the circle of life…….Here are some pics from yesterday and a east and west shot of the trail 7 north of the high school on old 27.Snow is holding good…..Thanks for checking in. Pete http://frederic-mi.com/category/trail-conditions/ WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Gaylord Michigan >> Snow and gusty winds return through the day today, with hazardous travel conditions likely this afternoon into the evening. Heaviest snowfall is expected across eastern upper Michigan, with travel impacts likely along US 2 west of St. Ignace due to gusty southerly winds. For northern lower, the heaviest snowfall generally favors spots along and north of M-32. Activity will transition to lake effect snow tonight. #miweather #gaylord #cadillac #benzie #traversecity #petoskey #soo #newberrySnow and gusty winds return through the day today, with hazardous travel conditions likely this afternoon into the evening. Heaviest snowfall is expected across eastern upper Michigan, with travel impacts likely along US 2 west of St. Ignace due to gusty southerly winds. For northern lower, the heaviest snowfall generally favors spots along and north of M-32. Activity will transition to lake effect snow tonight. #MIwx WEATHER UPDATE via Michigan Storm Chasers >> Here's our last call snowfall outlook regarding the system starting today, February 24th, and finishing up Wednesday, February 25th, 2026... #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #newberry #soo #gaylord #cadillac #benzie #traversecity #petoskeyHere's our last call snowfall outlook regarding the system starting today, February 24th, and finishing up Wednesday, February 25th, 2026. WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Gaylord Michigan >> Snowfall is expected to overspread northern Michigan later Tuesday morning…with the heaviest snowfall expected Tuesday afternoon and early evening before tapering off. Heaviest snowfall is expected from the Tip of the Mitt northward into eastern Upper where snowfall amounts may exceed 8 inches. Brisk southerly winds will also contribute to blowing and drifting snow; this may adversely impact road conditions and travel along US-2 in western Mackinac county. #miweather #gaylord #cadillac #benzie #traversecity #petoskeySnowfall is expected to overspread northern Michigan later Tuesday morning…with the heaviest snowfall expected Tuesday afternoon and early evening before tapering off. Heaviest snowfall is expected from the Tip of the Mitt northward into eastern Upper where snowfall amounts may exceed 8 inches. Brisk southerly winds will also contribute to blowing and drifting snow; this may adversely impact road conditions and travel along US-2 in western Mackinac county. GAYLORD AREA UPDATE via Swamp II Bar & Restaurant in Frederic MI >> We did get a nice amount of snow and more to come! Sitting in the back parking lot at the Swamp II Bar & Restaurant in Frederic MI and just seeing this go by! Thank you Mr. Groomer! #gaylord #snowphotos FREDERIC - GAYLORD AREA UPDATE via Sledheads of Frederic , Michigan Snowmobiling >> Monday morning in downtown Frederic, light snow in the air and about 18 degrees out there. Predictions for this upcoming week are not anything to get to excited about. Looks like we may get a little snow but it is still all white out there. It was very slow around town on sunday. Who knows we may get a nice storm for a surprise. Lets see what the next few days bring. thanks for checking in. Pete #gaylord frederic-mi.com WEATHER UPDATE via Michigan Storm Chasers >> Not much change since yesterday's first call snowfall outlook for snow primarily across northern and central Michigan incoming for February 24th & 25th. Much of the snow during this time frame will fall starting after 9 am Tuesday, and finish up by 9 am Wednesday, with light lake effect snow or freezing drizzle mixing in. Totals south of US-10 will generally be lower due to warmer temperatures at the surface. We did shift around the Upper Peninsula 4-8" snowfall forecasts to account for some lake enhancement within the system, coupled with lift from the hilly terrain. Same story for around Gaylord where totals may exceed 4". Winds within this system may gust up to 30 mph, so some reduced visibility chances are expected if you go into the Upper Peninsula primarily. Scattered travel impacts are also possible across the northern Lower Peninsula. We will likely have a last call map out right before the snow begins tomorrow morning. Stick around here at MSC! #miweather #gaylord #cadillac #benzie #traversecity #petoskeyNot much change since yesterday's first call snowfall outlook for snow primarily across northern and central Michigan incoming for February 24th & 25th. Much of the snow during this time frame will fall starting after 9 am Tuesday, and finish up by 9 am Wednesday, with light lake effect snow or freezing drizzle mixing in. Totals south of US-10 will generally be lower due to warmer temperatures at the surface. We did shift around the Upper Peninsula 4-8" snowfall forecasts to account for some lake enhancement within the system, coupled with lift from the hilly terrain. Same story for around Gaylord where totals may exceed 4". Winds within this system may gust up to 30 mph, so some reduced visibility chances are expected if you go into the Upper Peninsula primarily. Scattered travel impacts are also possible across the northern Lower Peninsula. We will likely have a last call map out right before the snow begins tomorrow morning. Stick around here at MSC! WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Gaylord Michigan >> Transitioning to lake effect snow today. Heavier snowfall this evening across far northeast lower Michigan. Occasionally heavier snow showers near / south of Grand Traverse Bay. FREDERIC - GAYLORD AREA UPDATE via Sledheads of Frederic , Michigan Snowmobiling >> A pleasant surprise overnight with another inch or so of snow. Still alot of slush underneath but a fair amount of riders out and about on saturday and the same this sunday morning. I pushed alot of slush around with my plow this morning as its supposed to get back down below zero. I would give riding a fair conditions right now as I have seen way worse that what we have now.. I never thought we would get back to where we are at right now after how it looked on friday. We just have to take what we get. First pic of the Wood crew in here yesterday. The other pics I just took out front of here at about 10:30 a.m. on sunday. Forcast for this coming up week gives some hope for a decent time next weekend. Thanks for checking in. Pete Its been 45 minutes since I tried to upolad this update and pics wont come thru. Will try and post them later on again, dont know what the deal is. Pete #gaylord frederic-mi.com <> <>
11:00 a.m
– Please move off the trail when groomers are approaching and allow them to safely pass.
– If you approach a groomer from behind, kindly wait for the operator to signal you to pass.
– Grooming can take place at any time during the day or night, so stay alert.
– Always ride on the right side of the trail.
– Ride safe and ride sober.Postings From Regional Pages On Facebook
Discussion
The only significant changes to the map shown since yesterday are the addition of a 6-12" zone to focus on the back-side lake effect snow through the end of the day on Wednesday that will bump up totals across the eastern Upper Peninsula, and a slight shift south of the 1-3" zone towards Kalamazoo and Ann Arbor. Besides a few wobbles, the 2-5" and 4-8" zones remain largely the same. The entire Upper Peninsula now has winter alerts issued for this incoming snow. Notice, we've added a dashed green line to denote that areas south of it will deal with greater uncertainty in higher snowfall totals due to daytime temperatures above 32°F, plus the presence of low-level dry air filtering into the state. There should still be enough time to give everyone a solid half inch across the state, but for those primarily south of I-94, that may be all.
For timing, truthfully, not everyone will see the peak of precipitation by the end of the day. The front will be taking its time as it crosses the state this morning and afternoon. Upper Peninsula west of Newberry, you'll see your snow beginning by noon. After the noon timeframe, it'll be everyone else across the state. Last to see the precipitation start today will be southeastern Michigan, where flurries/light rain may not start until after 10 pm EST. Remember, gusty winds are possible within this passing winter storm, and as such, travel will become difficult at times as visibility drops to under a half a mile within the highest snowfall rates. Travel with care, and make sure to turn on headlights AND taillights when driving in any snow squall. Snow will finish by noon Wednesday, but continue as lake effect for the Upper Peninsula through the end of Wednesday, as denoted by the circled yellow area.
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Looking ahead- blustery and cold Mon. before the next chance of snow builds Tue. - Tue. night. #miweather #gaylord #cadillac #benzie #traversecity #petoskeyTransitioning to lake effect snow today. Heavier snowfall this evening across far northeast lower Michigan. Occasionally heavier snow showers near / south of Grand Traverse Bay.
Looking ahead- blustery and cold Mon. before the next chance of snow builds Tue. - Tue. night. #MIwx
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