Temporary closure of eastern UP snowmobile trail

Wednesday, January 17, 2024

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has temporarily shut down a 14-mile segment of a snowmobile trail in Chippewa County due to weather-related hazards. Despite the recent lack of substantial snowfall in the eastern part of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, the region has encountered elevated water levels on specific trails, attributed to the generally milder winter conditions.

Snowmobile Trail UP 49, stretching from Sault Ste. Marie south toward Kinross in Chippewa County, is currently inaccessible due to high water, and alternative routes are unavailable. PJ Costa, the trails specialist for the DNR Parks and Recreation Division in the eastern U.P., emphasized that multiple sections along this route are impassable. Ignoring closed trail signs or barriers poses a risk to rider safety.

The proactive closure aims to safeguard riders from potential hazards caused by the high water levels. Costa noted that emergency crews have already retrieved sleds from deep-water areas on multiple occasions in the past week. The trail conditions, particularly in swampy areas with numerous water holes, are not expected to improve until there is substantial snowfall and significantly colder temperatures to freeze and solidify the trails.

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