Ontonagon Area Trail Report – 12/05
ONTONAGON AREA UPDATE via North Country Snowmobile Club UP >> 12/05
❌No grooming has commenced yet. We remain in emergency mode opening and packing trails with just the Snow Cats or with a roller.
📌 SATURDAY 12/6 3pm EST @ GROOMER BARN: Groomer Operator Orientation. Interested in grooming? Please show up!
⚠️All trails are considered in early season condition with 5-30"+ down across the system. The Silver City area has the least amount and it needs more snow before any snowcat work can commence. Trails are very dangerous right now with buried logs down under the snow across trails, along with brush and tree tops down in the lanes of travel due to the recent blizzard.
✅ YES – COME RIDE! See the snowmobile-powered actions we need done on our trail list below. ❗️‼️ YOUR SAFETY IS #1 to us. Trails cannot currently be ridden "like normal", we are a long ways from that. If you are a technical rider and have experience with sprung or loaded timber falling, we really need you. Don’t have tree cutting experience? WE REALLY NEED YOU. Buy yourself a nice set of brush cutters or loppers and boogie on up to see us! So much hand brushing can be done to rapidly improve trail safety and groomability.
❄️ Trail 12 from 101 to Greenland: Seeking advanced riders to track pack this trail! We need to get riders in to brush it open and pack it down for groomers to come in. Trail 12 from 137 RR Grade east to Greenland is very wet and challenging. Please be careful!
❄️Trail 11 South Boundary Road: Was plowed by RC after the big snow which cleared most of the major obstructions. Was rolled last night 12/4. Low snow due to plowing.
❄️Trail 1 Silver City to Lake of the Clouds: Low snow. LOTC road was plowed after the big snow event.
❄️Trail 1 Silver City South to White Pine Trail 12 INT: Snow rapidly increases from the AmericInn to White Pine. Numerous wet areas, no brushing needs thanks to the pipeline company brushing it this summer!
❄️Trail 12 LP Walsh Road to Trail 101: Numerous (!!) wet areas as normal. Lots of snow on it. Was rolled 12/4. Thank you to riders for brushing this trail open yourselves!! Amazing!
❄️Trail 101: Most brush has been removed and is very rideable. Has been track packed only.
❄️ Trail 13 from 101 to 137 by Rockland: Track packed. Needs the most brushing help of all our open trails. We really need to brush this back, please help!
❄️Trail 137 to Ontonagon: Brushed open and track packed. Needs more brushing help!
-Steve da Secretary
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Postings From Regional Pages On Facebook
LAKE GOGEBIC AREA UPDATE via Gogebic Area Grooming >> Bergland Area Groomer's.. 12-13-25. Blizzard condition's the past 2 day's.
13n to Rockland getting it's first groom tonight. Gogebic Area Grooming ❄️❄️❄️ #lakegogebic #westernup #snowphotos
WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Marquette Michigan >> Bitterly cold temperatures will hang on through tonight as wind chill values remain below zero across the U.P., coldest in the west near the WI border. Lake effect snow will also continue to impact the northwest wind snowbelts, especially across the east where a Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect through Sunday morning for Alger, Luce, and northern Schoolcraft Counties. #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #newberry #soo #straitsareaBitterly cold temperatures will hang on through tonight as wind chill values remain below zero across the U.P., coldest in the west near the WI border. Lake effect snow will also continue to impact the northwest wind snowbelts, especially across the east where a Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect through Sunday morning for Alger, Luce, and northern Schoolcraft Counties.
WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Marquette Michigan >> Lake effect snow showers are expected downwind of Lake Superior through Sunday, impacting the northwest wind snowbelt areas. This snow will be very susceptible to blowing in the wind, resulting in localized visibility reductions below 1 mile at times. Make sure to drive with your headlights on, at appropriate speeds, and with extra room between yourself and other vehicles! #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #newberry #soo #straitsareaLake effect snow showers are expected downwind of Lake Superior through Sunday, impacting the northwest wind snowbelt areas. This snow will be very susceptible to blowing in the wind, resulting in localized visibility reductions below 1 mile at times. Make sure to drive with your headlights on, at appropriate speeds, and with extra room between yourself and other vehicles! #906wx #miwx
MASS CITY AREA UPDATE via Adventure Motel >> It’s a snowy morning in Mass City, roughly 8” of snow last night. Great to see people taking advantage of the trail conditions! #masscity #westernup #keweenaw #snowphotos
ONTONAGON AREA UPDATE via Erika’s Trail Reports - Western UP/Porkies/Ottawa Forest/Ontonagon County >> 😍 GROOMING INSIDE A SNOW GLOBE 😍
❄️ WEEK 2 - ERIKA’S TRAIL REPORTS ❄️
(long post but worth the read)
While you were sleeping… 🌙
Our 1st official grooming (Team Trent & Erika) of the 2025-2026 season was MAGICAL!
With real feel of -15F and blizzard-like conditions, we groomed for 10 hours overnight (12/12-12/13) during heavy lake effect snow! North Country Snowmobile Club trail conditions have significantly improved thanks to the dedicated volunteers that have been cleaning the trails day and night for your enjoyment! We rated trails 101, 13 and 137 and unplowed forest roads tonight - EXCELLENT CONDITION!!! WOW, we can’t believe that it is only the 2nd week of December!
🚨 IMPORTANT REMINDERS 🚨
⚠️ Heavy lake effect snow going on all weekend: snow quickly accumulating on trails and with low visibility at times
⚠️ Trail 12 to Greenland has not been actively groomed yet;
⚠️ Trail 12/Norwich Road has not been actively groomed yet;
⚠️ Trails 1 and 11 (Porkies/Lake of the Clouds) are being worked on this weekend;
⚠️ Snow is deep and plentiful in the forest but lower accumulation near the lakefront
👏🏻 Many thanks to all the group of riders that we saw tonight for being mindful of the groomer. Let’s continue to enjoy snowmobiling in a responsible way and go home safely. #ontonagon #westernup #snowphotos
WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Marquette Michigan >> A cold front will move across the U.P this evening. Light snow will accompany the front but generally less than an inch is expected. Behind the front temperatures will fall into the single digits above and below zero. This combined with gusty winds will bring wind chills down into the teens and twenties below zero. A Cold Weather Advisory is in effect for Gogebic and Iron counties tonight through Saturday morning. Lake effect snow will develop behind the front in the northwest wind snowbelts with several inches expected. Those headed outside tonight or traveling should be prepared for bitter cold and snow (in the northwest wind snowbelts). #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #newberry #soo #straitsarea
LAKE GOGEBIC AREA UPDATE via Gogebic Area Grooming >> Bergland Area Groomer's update for 12-12-25.
We've been using one machine to open up trail's and the other to pan or groom what gets the green light to cover.
Trail 13 from the Root Cellar south to camp 6 Rd. Has been opened up with a Bully today but still needs work. 13 North of the Root Cellar is still impassable.
Work on 102 has been on going for the past 2 day's and we'll probably be running a machine that direction in the next day or 2.
8w to Wakefield we opened up with hopes of the cold weather and traffic packing it in.
We currently have a machine grooming 8e and 1n.
We are under a winter weather advisory with bitter cold temps and accumulating snow! We'll continue to update as progress is made. Gogebic Area Grooming ❄️❄️❄️ #lakegogebic #westernup #snowphotos
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LAKE GOGEBIC AREA UPDATE via Gogebic Area Grooming >> Bergland Area Groomer's.. 12-13-25. Blizzard condition's the past 2 day's.
13n to Rockland getting it's first groom tonight. Gogebic Area Grooming ❄️❄️❄️ #lakegogebic #westernup #snowphotos
WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Marquette Michigan >> Bitterly cold temperatures will hang on through tonight as wind chill values remain below zero across the U.P., coldest in the west near the WI border. Lake effect snow will also continue to impact the northwest wind snowbelts, especially across the east where a Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect through Sunday morning for Alger, Luce, and northern Schoolcraft Counties. #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #newberry #soo #straitsareaBitterly cold temperatures will hang on through tonight as wind chill values remain below zero across the U.P., coldest in the west near the WI border. Lake effect snow will also continue to impact the northwest wind snowbelts, especially across the east where a Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect through Sunday morning for Alger, Luce, and northern Schoolcraft Counties.
WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Marquette Michigan >> Lake effect snow showers are expected downwind of Lake Superior through Sunday, impacting the northwest wind snowbelt areas. This snow will be very susceptible to blowing in the wind, resulting in localized visibility reductions below 1 mile at times. Make sure to drive with your headlights on, at appropriate speeds, and with extra room between yourself and other vehicles! #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #newberry #soo #straitsareaLake effect snow showers are expected downwind of Lake Superior through Sunday, impacting the northwest wind snowbelt areas. This snow will be very susceptible to blowing in the wind, resulting in localized visibility reductions below 1 mile at times. Make sure to drive with your headlights on, at appropriate speeds, and with extra room between yourself and other vehicles! #906wx #miwx
MASS CITY AREA UPDATE via Adventure Motel >> It’s a snowy morning in Mass City, roughly 8” of snow last night. Great to see people taking advantage of the trail conditions! #masscity #westernup #keweenaw #snowphotos
ONTONAGON AREA UPDATE via Erika’s Trail Reports - Western UP/Porkies/Ottawa Forest/Ontonagon County >> 😍 GROOMING INSIDE A SNOW GLOBE 😍
❄️ WEEK 2 - ERIKA’S TRAIL REPORTS ❄️
(long post but worth the read)
While you were sleeping… 🌙
Our 1st official grooming (Team Trent & Erika) of the 2025-2026 season was MAGICAL!
With real feel of -15F and blizzard-like conditions, we groomed for 10 hours overnight (12/12-12/13) during heavy lake effect snow! North Country Snowmobile Club trail conditions have significantly improved thanks to the dedicated volunteers that have been cleaning the trails day and night for your enjoyment! We rated trails 101, 13 and 137 and unplowed forest roads tonight - EXCELLENT CONDITION!!! WOW, we can’t believe that it is only the 2nd week of December!
🚨 IMPORTANT REMINDERS 🚨
⚠️ Heavy lake effect snow going on all weekend: snow quickly accumulating on trails and with low visibility at times
⚠️ Trail 12 to Greenland has not been actively groomed yet;
⚠️ Trail 12/Norwich Road has not been actively groomed yet;
⚠️ Trails 1 and 11 (Porkies/Lake of the Clouds) are being worked on this weekend;
⚠️ Snow is deep and plentiful in the forest but lower accumulation near the lakefront
👏🏻 Many thanks to all the group of riders that we saw tonight for being mindful of the groomer. Let’s continue to enjoy snowmobiling in a responsible way and go home safely. #ontonagon #westernup #snowphotos
WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Marquette Michigan >> A cold front will move across the U.P this evening. Light snow will accompany the front but generally less than an inch is expected. Behind the front temperatures will fall into the single digits above and below zero. This combined with gusty winds will bring wind chills down into the teens and twenties below zero. A Cold Weather Advisory is in effect for Gogebic and Iron counties tonight through Saturday morning. Lake effect snow will develop behind the front in the northwest wind snowbelts with several inches expected. Those headed outside tonight or traveling should be prepared for bitter cold and snow (in the northwest wind snowbelts). #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #newberry #soo #straitsarea
LAKE GOGEBIC AREA UPDATE via Gogebic Area Grooming >> Bergland Area Groomer's update for 12-12-25.
We've been using one machine to open up trail's and the other to pan or groom what gets the green light to cover.
Trail 13 from the Root Cellar south to camp 6 Rd. Has been opened up with a Bully today but still needs work. 13 North of the Root Cellar is still impassable.
Work on 102 has been on going for the past 2 day's and we'll probably be running a machine that direction in the next day or 2.
8w to Wakefield we opened up with hopes of the cold weather and traffic packing it in.
We currently have a machine grooming 8e and 1n.
We are under a winter weather advisory with bitter cold temps and accumulating snow! We'll continue to update as progress is made. Gogebic Area Grooming ❄️❄️❄️ #lakegogebic #westernup #snowphotos
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