Gaylord Area Trail Report – 01/29
Gaylord Bureau – January 27, 2026 10:50 a.m. Last week’s snowfall created a great base and we’re seeing more snow today. The trails continue to be in excellent condition. Stay safe and warm out there and have fun! Please note, due to last April’s ice storm, there are logging operations in several locations. The newest locations are around Van Tyle and North Townline Road (Gaylord) and the intersection of trails 7 & 4 (Waters) toward Dodge Lake. Logging is also taking place near Turtle Lake Road (East of Gaylord). The logging trucks may use the trail as a road at times. Proceed with caution in these areas. Trails are still passable and the groomers are doing tiheir best to smooth the trails out in these areas. 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/ <> It was a great start to the day in Frederic on tuesday morning. Wertz Warriors were in town at the Swamp for their annual stop and fund raiser for Special Olympics. Julie put out a great breakfast srpead for all of them as they were all getting to spend another day on the trail heading towards the Winter Special Olympics. They have as many people in support vehicles as they do riders. Always a great site to see. After they left at 9:30 I came back over to Sledheads to get ready to go ride to Lewiston and then 3 guys Scott, Jeff and Pat came in and said they were going to ride to the bridge. So much for Lewiston, Ten minutes later I had my closed sign up and we were on our way to the bridge. Stopped at Breakers in Topinabee for hot chocolate and then up thru Cheboygan to Maknaw City for lunch at the Keyhole and then off to Pellston and Alanson with a pit stop at Josh’s at Spankys. It was getting close to dark so we made our way thru back to Indian River. The guys had rented a motel in INdian River and I left them and back to Frederic. Another nice 170 mile day. Trails are the best they have been in years and they were flat like a table all day. It doesnt happen like that very often and this seems to be the year with no snirt sor far. I like that part too. All pics below are from yesterdays events and ride. It was a good ride with those 3 guys and I am glad they stopped in. They should be back here in Frederic later today as they parked their truck out back. It supposed to be minus 15 degrees tonight so button up. Thanks for checking in. Pete http://frederic-mi.com/category/trail-conditions/ WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Gaylord Michigan >> 1/29/2026, 5am - One last round of dangerous cold again tonight... but hope is on the horizon for those looking for a reprieve from the ice box this weekend (but not so warm the winter fans can't still enjoy it)! #miweather #gaylord #cadillac #benzie #traversecity #petoskey FREDERIC - GAYLORD AREA UPDATE via Sledheads of Frederic , Michigan Snowmobiling >> It was a great start to the day in Frederic on tuesday morning. Wertz Warriors were in town at the Swamp for their annual stop and fund raiser for Special Olympics. Julie put out a great breakfast srpead for all of them as they were all getting to spend another day on the trail heading towards the Winter Special Olympics. They have as many people in support vehicles as they do riders. Always a great site to see. After they left at 9:30 I came back over to Sledheads to get ready to go ride to Lewiston and then 3 guys Scott, Jeff and Pat came in and said they were going to ride to the bridge. So much for Lewiston, Ten minutes later I had my closed sign up and we were on our way to the bridge. Stopped at Breakers in Topinabee for hot chocolate and then up thru Cheboygan to Maknaw City for lunch at the Keyhole and then off to Pellston and Alanson with a pit stop at Josh’s at Spankys. It was getting close to dark so we made our way thru back to Indian River. The guys had rented a motel in INdian River and I left them and back to Frederic. Another nice 170 mile day. Trails are the best they have been in years and they were flat like a table all day. It doesnt happen like that very often and this seems to be the year with no snirt sor far. I like that part too. All pics below are from yesterdays events and ride. It was a good ride with those 3 guys and I am glad they stopped in. They should be back here in Frederic later today as they parked their truck out back. It supposed to be minus 15 degrees tonight so button up. Thanks for checking in. Pete #gaylord #snowphotos Sunny 17 degree thursday in Frederic frederic-mi.com WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Gaylord Michigan >> Bitterly cold temps return tonight, particularly for the eastern UP and interior northern Lower Michigan, with wind chills dropping between -15 to -25 across parts of interior northern lower and eastern upper. Temps could be be even colder Thursday night compared to tonight, with cold temperatures and wind chills becoming more widespread. #miweather #gaylord #cadillac #benzie #traversecity #petoskeyBitterly cold temps return tonight, particularly for the eastern UP and interior northern Lower Michigan, with wind chills dropping between -15 to -25 across parts of interior northern lower and eastern upper. Temps could be be even colder Thursday night compared to tonight, with cold temperatures and wind chills becoming more widespread. GAYLORD TO MACKINAC BRIDGE UPDATE via Sledheads of Frederic , Michigan Snowmobiling >> #gaylord #snowphotos Brian Herbert let’s go! FREDERIC - GAYLORD AREA UPDATE via Sledheads of Frederic , Michigan Snowmobiling >> Wertz warriors... #gaylord #snowphotos WEATHER UPDATE via Meteorologist Brad Sugden >> Additional snowfall Tuesday, Jan 27th! WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Gaylord Michigan >> Accumulating snow is expected tonight, primarily across northwest Lower where 1” to 5” are expected. Cold temperatures will continue through the remainder of the week with wind chills sitting below zero and temperatures in the single digits to teens. #miweather #gaylord #cadillac #benzie #traversecity #petoskeyAccumulating snow is expected tonight, primarily across northwest Lower where 1” to 5” are expected. Cold temperatures will continue through the remainder of the week with wind chills sitting below zero and temperatures in the single digits to teens. #MIwx FREDERIC - GAYLORD AREA UPDATE via Sledheads of Frederic , Michigan Snowmobiling >> 21 degrees monday at 2 - That's kind of warm compared to what it has been. Sled traffic was slow on sunday but most riders I talked to said trails were decent. Hoping to go for a ride tommorow and make it to Lewiston for lunch at Talleys. Not many people around today but thats a usual monday. Yesterday Mohawk John stopped in for his first ride this season. have been orderiing up things for later this week. If you are out and about around any of the national guard ranges you can expect to see or feel some big booms as this is the annual trailing for the guard known at Northern Strike. Be sure to stay back if they have gates closed on any of the trails mostly towards Lovells or the air to ground range. Thanks for checking in and Please ride safely. Pete #gaylord #snowphotos frederic-mi.com 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 Gaylord Michigan >> 1/26/26 - The song remains the same this week, as winter will leave us this pattern to lead us into more snow, thanks to the clipper parade. A few inches of snow or so are possible with each round, starting with a burst of snow tonight that will transition to NW to WNW flow lake effect. Highs in the teens will carry on, with cold signals holding on into early February. #miweather #gaylord #cadillac #benzie #traversecity #petoskey1/26/26 - The song remains the same this week, as winter will leave us this pattern to lead us into more snow, thanks to the clipper parade. A few inches of snow or so are possible with each round, starting with a burst of snow tonight that will transition to NW to WNW flow lake effect. Highs in the teens will carry on, with cold signals holding on into early February. <> <>
– 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
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).
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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