Michigan Snowmobile Trail Report

Tuesday January 13th, 2026 - 3:48 pm

SAULT STE. MARIE AREA UPDATE via Old Soo Line Grade Lodge >> 🎉❄️ TRAIL 480 IS OFFICIALLY REOPENED! ❄️🎉
The bridge is in, the trail is groomed, and Trail 480 is back in action in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula! 💨 This is a HUGE win for riders and a key connection for our local trail system.
A big THANK YOU goes out to the Sault Ste. Marie Snowmobile Association for their tireless work grooming and advocating for our trails, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources for their coordination and support, and the contractor who delivered a solid bridge that will serve riders for years to come. 👏👏👏
This project took teamwork, patience, and dedication—and it shows. We’re proud to see riders safely crossing once again and enjoying everything the U.P. has to offer.
If you’re riding through the area, fuel up, ride safe, and enjoy the fresh trail!
** There is still exposed stone at the bridge …. Please see the updates on the associations page!
Stay Safe …
📍 Trail 480 | Eastern U.P.
🏁 Open • Groomed • Ready to Ride #soo🎉❄️ TRAIL 480 IS OFFICIALLY REOPENED! ❄️🎉

The bridge is in, the trail is groomed, and Trail 480 is back in action in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula! 💨 This is a HUGE win for riders and a key connection for our local trail system.

A big THANK YOU goes out to the Sault Ste. Marie Snowmobile Association for their tireless work grooming and advocating for our trails, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources for their coordination and support, and the contractor who delivered a solid bridge that will serve riders for years to come. 👏👏👏

This project took teamwork, patience, and dedication—and it shows. We’re proud to see riders safely crossing once again and enjoying everything the U.P. has to offer.

If you’re riding through the area, fuel up, ride safe, and enjoy the fresh trail!

** There is still exposed stone at the bridge …. Please see the updates on the associations page!

Stay Safe …

📍 Trail 480 | Eastern U.P.
🏁 Open • Groomed • Ready to Ride

#Trail480 #UPSnowmobiling #BackOnTheTrail #SaultSnowmobile #OldSooLineGrade #RideTheUP #SnowmobilingMichigan #ThankYouGroomers #MIDNR ... See MoreSee Less

Michigan Snowmobile Trail Report

Tuesday January 13th, 2026 - 4:30 am

WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Marquette Michigan >> Mixed precipitation, mainly of rain and snow, will spread west to east across the UP tonight into tomorrow morning. Pockets of freezing rain could also mix in at onset and lead to a light glaze of ice on roadways for the Tuesday morning commute. Heavy lake effect snow will then be reinvigorated with a secondary cold front Tuesday night into Wednesday morning across the N and NW wind snow belts. This will combine with northerly winds of 40 to 50 mph, resulting in blowing snow and near zero visibilities for the Wednesday morning commute. #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #newberry #soo #straitsareaMixed precipitation, mainly of rain and snow, will spread west to east across the UP tonight into tomorrow morning. Pockets of freezing rain could also mix in at onset and lead to a light glaze of ice on roadways for the Tuesday morning commute. Heavy lake effect snow will then be reinvigorated with a secondary cold front Tuesday night into Wednesday morning across the N and NW wind snow belts. This will combine with northerly winds of 40 to 50 mph, resulting in blowing snow and near zero visibilities for the Wednesday morning commute. ... See MoreSee Less

Michigan Snowmobile Trail Report

Monday January 12th, 2026 - 1:06 pm

WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Marquette Michigan >> The week starts out dry today with temperatures climbing above freezing across the UP. The next system brings a mix of rain and snow on Tuesday before temperatures turn sharply colder Tuesday night, followed by a round of potentially heavy lake effect snow in the north wind snow belts on Wednesday. Quieter weather on Thursday then gives way to another chance of snow with the next system on Friday. #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #newberry #soo #straitsareaThe week starts out dry today with temperatures climbing above freezing across the UP. The next system brings a mix of rain and snow on Tuesday before temperatures turn sharply colder Tuesday night, followed by a round of potentially heavy lake effect snow in the north wind snow belts on Wednesday. Quieter weather on Thursday then gives way to another chance of snow with the next system on Friday. ... See MoreSee Less

Michigan Snowmobile Trail Report

Monday January 12th, 2026 - 12:37 pm

WEATHER UPDATE via Michigan Storm Chasers >> It's noon here on Monday, January 12th, and this week does present a couple instances of lake effect snow throughout the week. As a preliminary first call for the entire week, we've displayed current odds at areas receiving more than 4" of snow based on data from medium range models, and the WPC.
Most of the lake effect snow for the UP will fall between Tuesday and Thursday, where much of the higher elevation areas along Lake Superior currently have a greater than 50% chance at 4" of snow by the end of the work week. For much of the LP, lake effect snow will be confined primarily to Lake Michigan and Lake Huron, especially AFTER Wednesday heading into Thursday. We are keeping an area of 1-20% across much of southern and central Michigan in the event wind shifts or passing clippers allow for extra accumulation, but the greatest chances for 4" will be in the far southwest corner, the thumb, or your typical lake effect zones across northern lower Michigan.
We have lake effect snow forecasts coming all week, along with other forecasts for other weather phenomena such as wind, rain, and perhaps mixed precipitation. Click the follow button on our profile today here at Michigan Storm Chasers! #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #newberry #sooIt's noon here on Monday, January 12th, and this week does present a couple instances of lake effect snow throughout the week. As a preliminary first call for the entire week, we've displayed current odds at areas receiving more than 4" of snow based on data from medium range models, and the WPC.

Most of the lake effect snow for the UP will fall between Tuesday and Thursday, where much of the higher elevation areas along Lake Superior currently have a greater than 50% chance at 4" of snow by the end of the work week. For much of the LP, lake effect snow will be confined primarily to Lake Michigan and Lake Huron, especially AFTER Wednesday heading into Thursday. We are keeping an area of 1-20% across much of southern and central Michigan in the event wind shifts or passing clippers allow for extra accumulation, but the greatest chances for 4" will be in the far southwest corner, the thumb, or your typical lake effect zones across northern lower Michigan.

We have lake effect snow forecasts coming all week, along with other forecasts for other weather phenomena such as wind, rain, and perhaps mixed precipitation. Click the follow button on our profile today here at Michigan Storm Chasers!

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Michigan Snowmobile Trail Report

Monday January 12th, 2026 - 3:11 am

WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Marquette Michigan >> Light snow will continue moving into the western half of the UP over the next 2 hours. Snow will continue west to east quickly, diminishing in the Keweenaw and central as the night progresses. Snow will diminish in the eastern UP by early morning. #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #newberry #soo #straitsareaLight snow will continue moving into the western half of the UP over the next 2 hours. Snow will continue west to east quickly, diminishing in the Keweenaw and central as the night progresses. Snow will diminish in the eastern UP by early morning. ... See MoreSee Less

Michigan Snowmobile Trail Report

Monday January 12th, 2026 - 3:02 am

SAULT STE. MARIE AREA UPDATE via Sault Ste. Marie Snowmobile Association >> 1/11/26
Good evening all!
Groomer Pete was out tonight on the city trails, and here’s what he had to say-
“I went out for my scheduled Sunday night of the city trails.
The Good:
The base we do have is pretty thick and flat. The Ashmun Bay access trail ( Trail 8 )is in fine shape all the way to the staging area. Trail 49 from the tracks into town is in good shape, and the hills between the tunnel and the airport are good! The rest of 49 is in good shape as well all the way to 3 Mile.
The Bad:
The warm temps and amount of rain last week definitely hampered our trail building efforts. 449 is pretty good most of the way. There are definitely some soft wet areas approaching Seymour and going to Kewadin. I stayed on the drier side of the trail and avoided opening up any water holes, but riders beware that the water and slush is there! The trails are very icy with a little fluffy powder on top. The sugary snow and powder don’t really setup well, so use caution on turns.
The Ugly:
497, the trail to the High School, is a mess. Tons of water. I made it a couple hundred yards in, and it was a mess. I did a 30 point turn and went back out. I could see significant water holes and nastiness inside the tree line and decided not to make it worse. Plus I was worried about getting stuck, with water hole depth unknown. That trail should be avoided for a couple days until the very cold returns and we get some heavy snow. I would not expect this trail to be groomed again for a few days. Picture is provided to show the conditions.
We survived last weeks warmup and rain, but we have some recovering to do for sure. Do your snow dances and fingers crossed that the cold returns later this week.
-Groomer Pete”
Thanks Pete!
I’ll follow up with a couple more reports from the day in a bit.
497 to the high school pictured #soo #soo0111e #snowphotos1/11/26

Good evening all!

Groomer Pete was out tonight on the city trails, and here’s what he had to say-

“I went out for my scheduled Sunday night of the city trails.

The Good:
The base we do have is pretty thick and flat. The Ashmun Bay access trail ( Trail 8 )is in fine shape all the way to the staging area. Trail 49 from the tracks into town is in good shape, and the hills between the tunnel and the airport are good! The rest of 49 is in good shape as well all the way to 3 Mile.

The Bad:
The warm temps and amount of rain last week definitely hampered our trail building efforts. 449 is pretty good most of the way. There are definitely some soft wet areas approaching Seymour and going to Kewadin. I stayed on the drier side of the trail and avoided opening up any water holes, but riders beware that the water and slush is there! The trails are very icy with a little fluffy powder on top. The sugary snow and powder don’t really setup well, so use caution on turns.

The Ugly:
497, the trail to the High School, is a mess. Tons of water. I made it a couple hundred yards in, and it was a mess. I did a 30 point turn and went back out. I could see significant water holes and nastiness inside the tree line and decided not to make it worse. Plus I was worried about getting stuck, with water hole depth unknown. That trail should be avoided for a couple days until the very cold returns and we get some heavy snow. I would not expect this trail to be groomed again for a few days. Picture is provided to show the conditions.

We survived last weeks warmup and rain, but we have some recovering to do for sure. Do your snow dances and fingers crossed that the cold returns later this week.

-Groomer Pete”

Thanks Pete!

I’ll follow up with a couple more reports from the day in a bit.

497 to the high school pictured ... See MoreSee Less