Sault Ste. Marie Trail Report – 02/16
SAULT STE. MARIE UPDATE via Sault Ste. Marie Snowmobile Association – 02/16 2/16 7pm update- <> This literally never happens! 2 of our groomers met at an intersection a bit ago. I promise I will have reports from both. They are on some LONG runs, pulling double duty before it gets busy. For sure better conditions west and north than south of Kinross and in the Soo. That much I can tell you with certainty. We are just on the edge of the lake effect today, so not much of anything is falling in the Soo yet, but I can see the bands just west. We’ll have our 3rd machine out tonight too. Reports will come as I get them. Please watch for our groomers if you’re in our area! Lane is heading back to Kinross from south of the Spile Dam on 472, and Turbo is heading back to Raco on 480, from north of the Spile Dam. Ride safe! Some hazards are around, and they are working on them. <> 2/16- update. Quick look at how things are coming out with panning. Much more detail later on. Let’s give them a chance to set up, please. <> 2/16 Good morning all! I show a solid 8” on the ground here in the Soo after what we got yesterday has settled. Light snow is falling now. A few more inches are expected today. I am still waiting to hear back from our groomer bosses, so I do not know if we will have groomers out panning yet or not. You often hear us and other clubs say that we need a foot or more to groom. This is because 10” of snow compresses to about an inch on the trail. In areas where this is zero base, you can see why we would want more snow. Our Raco/Bay Mills area had a base left in many spots, so I can see this being the first area to be panned. Please give us the chance to assess and get out there. If you do ride, some throttle control goes a long way to helping preserve the surface. As always, ride safe and be prepared for what we would consider early season conditions. 🚨 As a reminder, trail 49 from Alberta Lane all the way to Gaines Hwy remains closed due to excessive water. Also, gates on trail 480 are also closed from the Spile Dam to Tilson Rd, but we’ll try to get those open once it’s panned to smooth the truck ruts🚨 I’ll keep you posted, as always! <> <> Sault Ste. Marie Snowmobile Association Facebook Page <> Sault Ste. Marie Snowmobile Association Trail Report on MSA <> WEATHER UPDATE via Michigan Storm Chasers >> Ice and snow forecasts for tomorrow, April 2nd, 2026... #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #newberry #soo #gaylord #cadillac #benzie #traversecity #petoskey WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Marquette Michigan >> Winter Storm Watches remain in effect across the entire U.P. for tonight into Thursday. There is the potential for significant snow, sleet and freezing rain (ice) accumulations. The combination of ice on trees/powerlines and wind could result in power outages. At this time, there has been a significant decrease in snow amounts and a trend toward higher ice accumulations. For more details please see our latest weather briefing, www.weather.gov/media/mqt/DssPacket.pdf. #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #newberry #sooWinter Storm Watches remain in effect across the entire U.P. for tonight into Thursday. There is the potential for significant snow, sleet and freezing rain (ice) accumulations. The combination of ice on trees/powerlines and wind could result in power outages. At this time, there has been a significant decrease in snow amounts and a trend toward higher ice accumulations. For more details please see our latest weather briefing, www.weather.gov/media/mqt/DssPacket.pdf. WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Marquette Michigan >> Winter Storm Watches have been issued across the entire U.P. for Wednesday night into Thursday. There is the potential for significant snow, sleet and freezing rain (ice) accumulations. The combination of ice on trees/powerlines and wind could result in power outages. At this time the best chance for accumulating snow is over the northern and western U.P. For more details please see our latest weather briefing, www.weather.gov/media/mqt/DssPacket.pdf. #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #newberry #soo WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Marquette Michigan >> Tonight, isolated to scattered rain showers are expected across the south and east, with maybe a few thunderstorms across the south. Across the north-central, drizzle and freezing drizzle may occur. Tuesday, conditions evolve mainly to a mix of rain and snow before we see a mostly dry Wednesday. #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #newberry #sooTonight, isolated to scattered rain showers are expected across the south and east, with maybe a few thunderstorms across the south. Across the north-central, drizzle and freezing drizzle may occur. Tuesday, conditions evolve mainly to a mix of rain and snow before we see a mostly dry Wednesday. WEATHER UPDATE via MLive.com >> Here's a look at this winter's snowfall totals so far at some of the bigger cities across Michigan. #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #newberry #soo #gaylord #cadillac #benzie #traversecity #petoskey Season snowfall totals in Michigan might really surprise you, high and low www.mlive.com SAULT STE. MARIE AREA UPDATE via Sault Ste. Marie Snowmobile Association >> 3/30/26 Thank you to all whom helped . It is greatly appreciated!!!!! WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Marquette Michigan >> Cloud cover increases today ahead of the next batch of wintry precipitation that moves in this evening into the night. By tomorrow, the wintry precipitation will become more confined to the north, while showers and thunderstorms sneak into the southern counties. A few of these storms could even become strong at times with large hail. Further out, snow is expected to return from Wednesday night through Thursday morning, eventually transitioning to a wintry mix again by Thursday afternoon. #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #newberry #sooCloud cover increases today ahead of the next batch of wintry precipitation that moves in this evening into the night. By tomorrow, the wintry precipitation will become more confined to the north, while showers and thunderstorms sneak into the southern counties. A few of these storms could even become strong at times with large hail. Further out, snow is expected to return from Wednesday night through Thursday morning, eventually transitioning to a wintry mix again by Thursday afternoon. SAULT STE. MARIE AREA UPDATE via Sault Ste. Marie Snowmobile Association >> 3/28/26 I'm sure your efforts were greatly appreciated 👍 WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Marquette Michigan >> After light snow wraps up this evening, expect partially clearing skies overnight while temperatures fall back mainly into the 20s. Clouds increase Sunday, with a milder day ahead as temperatures climb into the 40s and 50s. #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #newberry #sooAfter light snow wraps up this evening, expect partially clearing skies overnight while temperatures fall back mainly into the 20s. Clouds increase Sunday, with a milder day ahead as temperatures climb into the 40s and 50s. WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Marquette Michigan >> AM lake effect snow showers will diminish across the east, but additional snow showers will be possible this afternoon across the northern U.P. After warm and dry days Sunday and Monday, incoming rainfall is expected by late Monday afternoon. High temperatures will top off in the 40s and 50s by Sunday and Monday. The exception will be the northernmost portions of the Keweenaw where upper 30s will linger. #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #newberry #sooAM lake effect snow showers will diminish across the east, but additional snow showers will be possible this afternoon across the northern U.P. After warm and dry days Sunday and Monday, incoming rainfall is expected by late Monday afternoon. High temperatures will top off in the 40s and 50s by Sunday and Monday. The exception will be the northernmost portions of the Keweenaw where upper 30s will linger. SAULT STE. MARIE AREA UPDATE via Sault Ste. Marie Snowmobile Association >> 3/28/26 <> Latest Trail Reports – Quick Links <>
Lane just got back after pulling a double route on what we call Kinross east and Kinross west. Trail 49 South of Kinross, 494, and 472 west to the Rudyard turn around. Not a lot of pics as he was solo and had a long day as it was.
Here’s what he had to say-
“There are 2 water hazards south of airport on 494, should freeze over tonight. Looks like a truck broke through them. There are some thin snow spots but the lake effect on top is nice. Definitely not ideal, but gets better west and north”
Thanks Lane!!
Turbo should be done soon and I’ll have another update.Postings From Regional Pages On Facebook
Hello everyone!
It’s 41 degrees here in the Soo today with warm sunshine. The melt is definitely on.
It’s heard to believe that we were still grooming as of yesterday! What a season!
The Tucker that sits in Kinross was brought back to the Soo barn yesterday, and the Pisten Bully just came in to the Soo barn this morning from Raco.
It’s so bittersweet as we have SO MUCH snow still on the trails, but our operators deserve some well earned rest, and all good things must come to an end.
Tonight, we’re holding our groomer appreciation dinner and I’ll get some pics and maybe some Q & A with some of our operators for you about this season.
Once I have all of the March paperwork completed, I’ll also share some stats from the season.
We’ll be getting gates closed after the 31st, and some are still really buried in snow, so please know where you are riding after 3/31 and stay off of private property. Trails on state and federal lands do not close but will not be groomed. Be safe if you still choose to ride and be alert to rapidly changing conditions such as water holes opening up. It’s going to be one heck of a mud season this year!
As of today, we still have 30” of snow on the ground, with a trail base of over 2’ in many areas🤯
Thank you to all who visited our area, rode our trail system, supported our local businesses, donated to or joined our club, who follow us on Groomer Tracker and here on Facebook, the DNR for finding additional grooming dollars to get us through March, our incredible volunteers and members, and most importantly, the AMAZING landowners who allow us to have the wonderful trail system that we have!
Best season ever!!! ❄️❄️❄️
PS- there’s rumor of a big snowstorm late this week😅😂 #soo #soo0330 #snowphotos
Good evening!!
It was Turbo and Diane’s last run for the season on 889. And they made it a double due to someone thinking they could drive a truck on the trail😔
Here’s what they had to say-
“This morning was a little bittersweet, as it was our last groom of the season on trails 480, 8 and 889. I really appreciate what Groomer Mark left for me this morning. The trails were nice and flat and smooth. They need very little to touch them up. Honestly, I believe these trails today are better than they were mid-season. It's really a shame that the season ends April 1st. It snowed the whole time. We got about 4" of new snow. This was our first groom this whole season, where I left a perfect ribbon from start to finish. Not one sled track the whole way.
So about 6pm tonight we were driving down Plantation road because Mrs. Turbo saw an eagles nest along the courtesy trail to Bay Mills this morning, and we saw a rescue vehicle sitting on the road just past the beginning of trail 889. So we stopped and waited for the rubber tracked skid loader pulling out a pick up truck. I asked him what they were doing driving on the trail and he said they were going to the Mission Hill overlook. I asked him how bad he tore up the trail getting stuck, and he said it was pretty bad. He tried to turn around and ended up getting stuck. I believe he could have driven the whole trail and been fine. The trails are so hard packed, we couldn't hardly see any tire tracks. So Mrs. Turbo and I went home and got our grooming clothes on and went back out to go fix it. Thankfully, it wasn't as bad as he told us it was. As beautiful as the trails were this morning, we must have had a lot of traffic today, because it was pretty tore up. So, it was actually a good thing we went out. We saw many sleds. All in all, it was a pretty good day. We hope everyone had a great day of riding. Enjoy, these last few days of the season. Remember, ride right, ride safe and ride sober.
Turbo”
Thank you so much for your extra efforts today, and all season!! Beautiful job!!❄️❄️❄️ #soo #soo0328b #snowphotos
Turbo and Diane hit the 889 loop very early this morning as fresh snow was falling.
Looking awesome guys! More to come from their run a little later❄️❄️❄️ #soo #soo0328 #snowphotos