Keweenaw Peninsula Trail Report – 03/29
KEWEENAW PENINSULA UPDATE via Western Up Trail Reports…. 3/29 As of April 1st the trails will be open to all traffic. That includes all SxS, Orv’s, Trucks, jeeps, and anything else with a motor. So if your planning on riding this weekend they are much slower and will be tearing up the snow. We ask that everyone stay off the trails when the snow has melted until the trails harden up. <> KEWEENAW PENINSULA UPDATE via Keweenaw Snowmobile Club – 3/28 WOW! Another beautiful spring riding day!! KEWEENAW PENINSULA UPDATE via Keweenaw Snowmobile Club – 3/28 The Keweenaw Snowmobile Club would like to thank everyone for an awesome season! Grooming operations for the remainder of the season have ended. Trails are open through March 31st when gates on trails crossing private property will be locked. Riding after March 31st is only allowed on the trails running on state owned land. Within the KSC trail system that includes Trail 17 from Calumet to Hancock and Trail 3 from Houghton to Toivola. Ride at your own risk as trails will not be maintained. <> Checkout official snowfall amounts here https://www.keweenawcountyonline.org/snowfall2.php <> <> <> <> Keweenaw Trail Reports on Facebook >>>> <> 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 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 KEWEENAW PENINSULA UPDATE via Fletchy’s Otter Belly Lodge >> Imagine this: it’s 9pm & 10 degrees out on a crystal clear night in the Keweenaw. You’re on a narrow trail in the middle of the woods. Hundreds of miles of untouched trails ahead of you. It’s time to ride! WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Marquette Michigan >> Impactful winter weather returns this weekend in the form of moderate to heavy lake effect snow and dangerous wind chills. A cold front brings light snow to the U.P. before lake effect snow ramps up across the northwest wind snowbelts this afternoon, persisting into Sunday. Frigid temperatures and gusty winds will result in wind chills falling far below zero for much of the interior west and central. WEATHER UPDATE via Michigan Storm Chasers >> The switch is being flipped into the "on" position for lake effect snow this weekend. Much of what you see won't fall today, but as our extremely cold air mass pushes in late tonight, flurries will begin to fly. Much of the higher totals begin beyond 8 pm EST tonight. Lakeshore areas should prepare for travel delays primarily after this time beginning tonight. Heavy lake effect snow will continue on Saturday thanks to a west-northwest wind, which hints at a shift to out of the northwest by Sunday. KEWEENAW PENINSULA UPDATE via Keweenaw Snowmobile Club >> We are happy to announce that Trail 122 to Gay has been cleared of down trees, the snow is thin in a lot of areas - but you can ride to Gay! The Portage Lake Lift Bridge is not open for the season yet. You can see below, it’s slow moving with so many down trees and branches. THANK YOU to the volunteers local and visitors who have helped along with our crew! Not the start to the season we expected, but we have a lot of season ahead! 😁 #keweenaw #snowphotos WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Marquette Michigan >> A cold front will push through the area on Friday bringing a period of light snow across the U.P Friday afternoon and early evening. Lake effect snow will develop Friday night and continue into Saturday for the northwest wind snowbelts. Windy conditions and cold temperatures will result in wind chills in the -10s and -20s Friday night into Saturday. #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #newberry #soo #straitsareaA cold front will push through the area on Friday bringing a period of light snow across the U.P Friday afternoon and early evening. Lake effect snow will develop Friday night and continue into Saturday for the northwest wind snowbelts. Windy conditions and cold temperatures will result in wind chills in the -10s and -20s Friday night into Saturday. WEATHER UPDATE via Meteorologist Brad Sugden >> SNOW TIME!! <> Latest Trail Reports – Quick Links <>
Also I’ve been informed that there are a couple groups planing SxS rides this weekend so be careful.
☠️ Stretch
Mike Aschliman is up for yet ANOTHER trip this season and shared some amazing photos!
Mike said, “Beautiful spring day 🙂 nothing but smiles!”
Please note that grooming operations ended last night. We have had well below freezing temps and low traffic today, allowing trails to stay in good condition. There is a “storm”moving in to the area starting late tomorrow night in which the form of precipitation could vary greatly from sleet, rain and/or snow. (A lot like the storm we received last week that started out as rain/sleet and then changed over to 16plus inches of snow.)
Trails that run through private property (trails north of Calumet) close at the end of the day, March 31st. Trails on state land such as trail 17 from Calumet to Hancock and trail 3 south of Houghton do not close. The gates to cross the bridge from Hancock to Houghton are scheduled to be closed April 1st also.
Thanks for sharing Mike! Enjoy your day tomorrow!
We would like to thank all riders, sponsors and club members for a great season!Postings From Keweenaw Trail Reports On Facebook
Postings From Western UP Trail Reports On Facebook
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Keweenaw Convention & Visitors Bureau Website >>>>
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Western & Southern UP Trail Reports on Facebook >>>>Postings From Regional Pages On Facebook
Throttle to the bars. Like a rocket ship you accelerate forward. Pines shimmer in your headlights. You and your sled become one. Every worry melts away.
You let off and come to a stop. You shut it down. Absolute silence. Moon above. Stars dancing. NOTHING BEATS THIS!
Had my first ride of the year tonight and it NEVER gets old ❄️
12/12/26 Trail report in the comments! #keweenaw #snowphotosImagine this: it’s 9pm & 10 degrees out on a crystal clear night in the Keweenaw. You’re on a narrow trail in the middle of the woods. Hundreds of miles of untouched trails ahead of you.
Throttle to the bars. Like a rocket ship you accelerate forward. Pines shimmer in your headlights. You and your sled become one. Every worry melts away.
You let off and come to a stop. You shut it down. Absolute silence. Moon above. Stars dancing. NOTHING BEATS THIS!
Had my first ride of the year tonight and it NEVER gets old ❄️
12/12/25 Trail report in the comments!
For additional information, including expected snowfall totals and an hourly breakdown of temperatures, winds, and windchills, please view the full briefing packet found here: www.weather.gov/media/mqt/DssPacket.pdf
Stay safe! #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #newberry #soo #straitsarea
There are concerns with dry air, however the favorable zone for dendrites (snowflakes) to form is essentially on the ground with how cold it'll be. Air temperatures on Saturday alone in the UP may just barely be in the positive single-digits. Wind gusts this weekend may jump to 30-35 mph too, so some of this lake effect snow will push further inland. Totals of 1-3" & 2-6" is a safe bet for much of west and southwest Michigan. Some places may jump above 6" where the heaviest of banding sets up. Further north, our typically higher terrain in the Gaylord region will likely see snowfall totals over 6". Into the UP, much cooler temperatures exist here, and snowfall rates may exceed 1" per hour at times. Totals closer to the one foot mark are likely. The western UP does exhibit a decent chance at totals crossing into the 12-24" category. At the current time, totals are leaning on the lower end of the 12-24" category, but those hotspots where microclimate factors come into play could easily push the upper-bounds of this category. SE Michigan... life carries on once more. Being so far away from the lake effect zones, it's expected that you all will get an inch at most. Isolated hotspots of 1-2" are possible, but don't get your hopes up unless you're close to the Ohio border.
Why 1-3" at the border? Well, we do have a clipper passing to our south Saturday, hence the added 1-3" zone that runs along the MI/IN/OH border. Stay tuned here at MSC for updates this weekend on the lake effect snow AND cold that's set to impact us through Monday. #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #newberry #soo #straitsarea #gaylord #cadillac #benzie #traversecity #petoskeyThe switch is being flipped into the "on" position for lake effect snow this weekend. Much of what you see won't fall today, but as our extremely cold air mass pushes in late tonight, flurries will begin to fly. Much of the higher totals begin beyond 8 pm EST tonight. Lakeshore areas should prepare for travel delays primarily after this time beginning tonight. Heavy lake effect snow will continue on Saturday thanks to a west-northwest wind, which hints at a shift to out of the northwest by Sunday.
There are concerns with dry air, however the favorable zone for dendrites (snowflakes) to form is essentially on the ground with how cold it'll be. Air temperatures on Saturday alone in the UP may just barely be in the positive single-digits. Wind gusts this weekend may jump to 30-35 mph too, so some of this lake effect snow will push further inland. Totals of 1-3" & 2-6" is a safe bet for much of west and southwest Michigan. Some places may jump above 6" where the heaviest of banding sets up. Further north, our typically higher terrain in the Gaylord region will likely see snowfall totals over 6". Into the UP, much cooler temperatures exist here, and snowfall rates may exceed 1" per hour at times. Totals closer to the one foot mark are likely. The western UP does exhibit a decent chance at totals crossing into the 12-24" category. At the current time, totals are leaning on the lower end of the 12-24" category, but those hotspots where microclimate factors come into play could easily push the upper-bounds of this category. SE Michigan... life carries on once more. Being so far away from the lake effect zones, it's expected that you all will get an inch at most. Isolated hotspots of 1-2" are possible, but don't get your hopes up unless you're close to the Ohio border.
Why 1-3" at the border? Well, we do have a clipper passing to our south Saturday, hence the added 1-3" zone that runs along the MI/IN/OH border. Stay tuned here at MSC for updates this weekend on the lake effect snow AND cold that's set to impact us through Monday.
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Posted December 11th at 7pm.
This is for Friday night, AND Saturday, AND Sunday. Don't come at me Saturday morning and tell me I'm wrong. Read, please!
Lake effect kicks in after a weak clipper system Friday night into Saturday morning for those in the U.P. and Northern Lower. Lake effect goes most of Saturday in a west northwest wind.
Sunday, that wind is more north. That'll keep the lake effect coming off Lake Superior for the U.P., but confine it to the shoreline areas of the Lower Peninsula.
IT. WILL. BE. COLD. Therefore, we'll have some intense lake effect bands. Some of the smaller lake effect bands in between the bigger ones that develop won't make it very far inland in the cold, dry air. Highs on Saturday will be in the single digits in the West U.P. and 10s every where else. Wind chill will be sub-zero all day long.
Sunday will warm a tad, but still be cold and windy.
I'll post daily maps individually over the next 24hrs. #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #soo #straitsarea #gaylord #cadillac #benzie #traversecity #petoskey