Keweenaw Peninsula Trail Report – 02/23
KEWEENAW PENINSULA UPDATE via Keweenaw Trail Reports >> 02/23
It was an exciting weekend to ride the Keweenaw! So many events taking place after so far receiving measurable snowfall everyday in February, with the exception of 3 so far! Holy wah! We received 82.5 inches of snow in February alone! A season total if 239 inches of snow! ❄️🩵 Cliff View Bar reopened!👏 Be sure to stop in and see everything that is new! Fletchy’s Otter Belly Lodge hosted their annual vintage ride! The club held a club ride from the Groomer Barn to a cookout at Copier Harbor Retreat in Copper Harbor! It was also the exciting Masters Racing Circuit Hillclimb in South Range!
Next weekend is the CopperDog! This is a must see event, starting Friday night in Calumet. A map of the race routes will be included in photos!
Yes, we are in store for a bit of a warm up, but with 40-50 inches of snow on the ground, we will definitely survive! The question is “what amount of grooming operations will take place?” Usually the Keweenaw Snowmobile Club will share a post if they do not plan to groom due to temperatures. We have not yet seen that, however you can check the Groomer Tracker app to see that all 5 machines appear to still be located in Mohawk 😢. Temps are currently 34 degrees with a real feel of 27 degrees. Therefore we are posting screenshots of the trails that were groomed as of this morning and then current screenshots to show how long ago each trail has been groomed.
Eric Normington and Jamie Meadors were up riding and we had the pleasure of chatting with them at both The Drift Inn and Loading Zone. Erik shared some of his photos with us and said, “For many years, I’ve wanted to ride sleds in the Keweenaw Peninsula of the UP! I was just able to do that – Copper Harbor, Eagle Harbor, High Rock.. This is The Top Of The UP.. This Is Copper Harbor, MI❄️.. My Heart Is Full😃! It was a great trip, got to meet Lisa Ann, Neal Roller, “Junior”- Neil Moulis, Mike Carlton & Dionne Carlton! ❄️
We rode our sleds across the Portage Lake Lift Bridge! We also had a delicious Italian Beef at Bergland Bay Bar and were anle to meet Les & Shel! It was an awesome trip!”
We really enjoyed meeting you Erik & Jamie! Lot’s of good sleding stories were exchanged! Lot’s of good laughs!! Thanks for sharing!
<>
<>
<>
KEWEENAW PENINSULA UPDATE via Keweenaw Snowmobile Club >> 02/23
Sunday Morning Goodies! It’s been a great weekend here in the Keweenaw, we have a bit of a warm up the next few days forecasted but still cold nights which will set up the trails for everyone! All of our trails are in great condition, businesses are happy, riders are happy and our team is working to keep things tip top to the end of the season!
<>
Postings From Keweenaw Trail Reports On Facebook
<>
<>
Postings From Western UP Trail Reports On Facebook
<>
Keweenaw Trail Reports on Facebook >>>>
<>
Keweenaw Convention & Visitors Bureau Website >>>>
<>
Western UP Trail Reports on Facebook >>>>
<>
Postings From Regional Pages 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.
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!
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.
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
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.
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.
-- Trusted Partner of the Day --
McKay Tree Specialists | 248-308-7308, call today for all your tree care needs in SE Michigan!
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!!
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
<>
Latest Trail Reports – Quick Links
- Cadillac Area Trail Report – 12/13
- Drummond Island Trail Report – 12/13
- Gaylord Area Trail Report – 12/13
- Frederic / Gaylord Area Trail Report – Sledheads of Frederic – 12/13
- Newberry Area Trail Report – 12/13
- Ontonagon Area Trail Report – 12/13
- Harbor Springs Area Trail Report – 12/13
- Seney Area Trail Report – 12/12
- Lake Gogebic Area Trail Report – 12/12
- Traverse City Area Trail Report – 12/12
- St. Helen – Roscommon Trail Report – 12/12
- Grand Marais Area Trail Report – 12/12
- Sault Ste. Marie Area Trail Report – 12/12
- Ontonagon Area Trail Report – 12/12
- Newberry Area Trail Report – 12/12
- Gaylord Area Trail Report – 12/12
- Frederic / Gaylord Area Trail Report – Sledheads of Frederic – 12/12
- Petoskey Area Trail Report – 12/11
- Keweenaw Peninsula Trail Report – 12/11
- Munising Area Trail Report – 12/11
- Watersmeet – Western U.P. Trail Report – 12/11
- Baldwin Area Trail Report – 12/11
- Lake Gogebic Area Trail Report – 12/11
- Benzie Area Trail Report – 12/11
- Sidnaw – Western U.P. Trail Report – 12/11
- Frederic / Gaylord Area Trail Report – Sledheads of Frederic – 12/11
- Gaylord Area Trail Report – 12/10
- Newberry Area Trail Report – 12/11
<>