Snow Conditions in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan

Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is a snowmobiler’s paradise, but conditions vary across its 15 counties. To help you plan your winter adventures, here's a detailed look at the snow conditions across various counties in the U.P.

Location of Upper Peninsula on the map of Michigan

Gogebic County

Gogebic County is a true Northwoods escape, shaped by the historic Gogebic Iron Range and surrounded by the million-acre Ottawa National Forest. As the western gateway to the Porcupine Mountains, it offers rugged terrain and reliable winter snow.

Trail Conditions:

• (12/24) Jerry, Shawn, and Carter were out grooming last night.
• Shawn was out on trail 160 and reports a couple wet spot and a few whips here and there.
• Snow begins to thin out a little past the TeePee.
• (12/20) Marenisco section: Warm temperatures and rain on Thursday turned into snow last night and colder weather today.
• Crews out grooming trails and continuing to make improvements.
• Finally groomed the last leg of Trail 1 to PI and it was a challenge!
• A lot of work went into clearing all the downfall on the trail a short while back, but there was still quite a bit of wood buried in the snow that popped up once running the drag through.
• The return trip consisted of frequent stops to get all of it off the trail.
• Trail 1: Groomed and in good shape from Marenisco north to Trail 100.
• Closed beyond that temporarily.
• South from Marenisco is groomed to PI.
• Trail 13: Rerouted at Trail 100 to the north and then heads east at Camp 6 Rd where it connects back into the old section.
• It’s panned all the way to the Trail 2/13 intersection but still lots of water and rough sections.
• Trail 100: Groomed from Trail 1 to M64 with some wet and rough spots.
• Overall, the trails are in decent shape with some nice sections and also some not so nice.
• Again, use caution when riding.
• We appreciate the help from those riders taking down some of the whips and low branches.
• It’s slowly getting better but there are still quite a few out there so if anyone feels inclined, pack a shears and take some more out.
• (12/24) Bergland area - Trail 8w to Wakefield, 8e to Ewen 1n to White Pine and 102 all covered tonight and our entire section of 13 was covered last night.
• The guys started late afternoon when temp's were around 28° which helped out tremendously, by mid evening they started freezing in tight at around 19° to 21°.
• We'll be on a lighter schedule for Christmas Eve and Christmas day for everyone to enjoy time with family and friends.
• All things considered for what it took to get these trail's opened up we're in pretty good shape.
• (12/22) Groomers got out yesterday and groomed the entire system.
• Still some thin areas on the grade and trail 3 north of town.
• Farther west and north snow level gets better.
• We have a good start to the season as all trails have been cleared and groomed a few times but we could really use more snow.
• We have plans to get back out grooming after Christmas and hopefully getting on a more consistent schedule weather permitting.

Ontonagon County

Ontonagon County delivers wide-open space and true northern terrain, from the Porcupine Mountains to 1,200 miles of rivers and the shoreline of Lake Superior. Inland lakes, deep forest, and steady snowfall define the season here.

Read also: Summit County Ski Report

Trail Conditions:

• Trail 1 from White Pine to Silver City is in good condition.
• There is not enough snow to ramp the elevated driveways, please ride with caution.
• The trail past Silver City to the Junction of Trail 11 (South Boundary Road) and then up to the Ski Hill is passable, but not groomed.
• Trail 12 from Trail 1 in White Pine to the Junction of Trail 101 is freshly groomed with 2 large water holes along LP Walsh Road that intermittantly freeze and open with changing temps.
• From the junction of 101 (Potato Farm Road) to Johnson Road has not been 100% cleared.
• There are downed trees and brush impeding the trail.
• From Johnson Road to the NCSC clubhouse has been cleared, but not groomed.
• Between the clubhouse and the intersection of 137/12 has been groomed, but the snow is very thin.
• 12 from 137 to Greenland has been cleared, but not groomed.
• Trail 137 (The Railroad Grade) from Ontonagon to Trail 13 is freshly groomed today.
• Not much has changed in the last few days, all of our trials are open and groomed.
• It is still early season riding in many areas, watch out for wet spots and some thin snow areas.
• Overall I am calling our trails FAIR, there are some areas that are excellent and some that are not great but all are rideable.
• Please ride on the RIGHT side of the trail and STOP at the stop signs!
• Stay on the trail, if you don’t we could lose trail permissions on private property.
• Groomers have the right of way on the trails, pull over and stop to let them safely pass!
• We groom every day that the weather conditions and equipment allow.

Houghton and Keweenaw Counties

Houghton and Keweenaw Counties are where history and wilderness meet, from ancient copper sites to the rugged Keweenaw Peninsula coastline. Lake Superior, dense forests and quiet inland lakes set the stage for adventure year-round.

Trail 124 is now OPEN. Please respect private land owner rights. Trails remain flat with low traffic.

Baraga County

Baraga County is where wilderness takes center stage. Vast forests, quiet rivers and the Lake Superior shoreline create a playground for adventure.

Trail Conditions:

Read also: Hiking Kissing Bridge Trail

• (12/23) 15, 159, 8/18 groomed from L’Anse to Baraga (very low snow in towns).

Iron County

Iron County puts you in the heart of the outdoors, with half the land open for recreation and adventure just minutes from town.

Trail Conditions:

• (12/22) Our trail system is open and rideable thanks to many hours put in by groomer operators, club members and volunteers clearing trails after Thanksgiving snowstorm.
• Trail 15N to Sidnaw is open and cleared.
• Trail 111 to Amasa is open and cleared.
• Trail 116 to Young's has been groomed up to the Chicagoan Lake Inn.
• You can expect early riding/low snow conditions.
• We will groom on an as needed basis until we get more snow.
• Have a very Merry Christmas!!!

Marquette County

Marquette County blends city amenities with northern wilderness.

Trail Conditions:

• (12/24) Big Bay to Marquette is groomed and in fair to poor condition.
• Watch for wet spots and debris.
• Many areas have very little base.
• Very few water spots are still open but use caution.
• Some areas have very little base.
• (12/18) The weather turned warm this week and we have seen some rain.
• While it was still cold last weekend and Monday we managed to pack in trail 5 from the 5/32 intersection to just about our turn around.
• We also got across the Diorite swamp and made it to Michagamme market.
• Still some more swamps to freeze on that route and hopefully once the weather gets cold.
• Trail 18 from republic heading to AMASA still has some logging going on so we have not done anything with this trail yet.
• Our trails were in decent shape until this warm up.
• We will see how they held up once it cools down.
• (12/17) This is the earliest we were able to successfully pan the whole trail since we have started grooming.
• Brandon was able to get almost everything relatively smooth.
• We need a little more snow to fill the ditch and freeze in the hole along CO RD 456.
• But the rest of the trail is in rideable early season shape.
• This year is shaping up to be far better than the last 2 years for snowfall in our area.
• With luck, we can have a successful season and with your help, we can keep it a safe one also.

Dickinson County

Dickinson County offers a mix of history and adventure, from museums to outdoor recreation.

Read also: Skiing at Kirkwood

Trail Conditions:

• (12/14) Our Trails are closed.
• We do not have enough snow at this time.
• Stay tuned to this site for updates when conditions change.
• (12/10) We have about 6″ to 8″ before we rolled after rolling is about 3″ base and with rocks coming up.
• (12/5) With the snow on the ground and more coming, the trails are open except trail 2 from j.5 rd East to the soo line trail 24.
• With that being said we will not start grooming until we get at least 12” on the ground, with the cost of everything going up we do not want to destroy our equipment with not enough snow.
• We are working with our DNR contact Justin to make sure the trails are the best and safest they can be!!!

Alger County

Alger County is home to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and miles of northern wilderness.

Trail Conditions:

• (12/22) Over all great early season riding to be had.
• That last system that went though didn’t give us the snow we were expected to.
• Most of our trail system saw light fluffy lake effect snow.
• From SW to NE 3 to 6 inches.
• We will see what the predicted snow for this week (Wed & Fri) delivers.
• We will look for a window to groom them based on what makes sense.
• Turning our trails in to snirt unnecessarily is what we are trying to avoid.
• There will come a point where we bite the bullet and knock em flat.
• 8 East - Shingleton: Fair to good.
• 8 West - Chatam: Fair.
• 7 North - Christmas: Fair to good.
• Lower traffic.
• 419 East - Wetmore: Fair to good.
• Some chop.
• ‼️ 419 West - Munising: Good.
• Thin an swampy in areas.
• 417 - Brownstone Jnct: Fair.
• Not much base to the trail.
• Watch for rock areas.
• 417 to Carp River - most is ridable.
• 422 - Miners Castle: Good.
• Couple of water holes to be aware of.
• Wetmore Spur: Fair to good.
• Couple area with dirt showing.
• ‼️ 8 North - Shingleton: Fair.
• Questionable at best.
• Needs snow.
• Still passable.
• (12/24) All trails were groomed last night except H58 which was groomed Sunday.
• We are giving our groomers the next couple days off to celebrate this wonderful holiday.

Delta and Schoolcraft Counties

Delta County offers vast forests, inland lakes, and Lake Michigan shoreline. Schoolcraft County stretches from Lake Michigan north past Indian Lake toward Lake Superior, offering vast forests and inland lakes.

Trail Conditions:

• (12/12) Trails are really starting to look great and grooming up nice.
• These are from trail 43 on last nights groom.
• We are doing trail 431 tonight.
• Trail 43 heading up to trail 8 has a few water holes just south of Fox River Road.
• Once you get up towards the grade after the first bridge they’re about three or four water holes still they are starting to freeze in.
• Trail 440 is in pretty good shape until you hit the hardwoods by the groomer turnaround.
• Trail 431 pretty good shape, but there are loggers up there and they will be there until Christmas.
• We tried to fill in the water holes the best we can, but we’re gonna need more snow and colder temperatures to get everything frozen and good.
• We do have around 20 inches of snow on the ground and the base is about 6 inches thick on the trails.
• (12/25) Our trail system took a hit with the recent warm up, and conditions have declined across most areas.
• Many trails currently have bare spots and thin coverage.
• With Christmas here, our groomers will be taking a short break to allow our volunteer operators time to relax and enjoy the holiday with their families.
• At this time, most trails need additional snowfall before conditions can improve.
• We are hopeful for snow in the coming days and will resume grooming as soon as weather and conditions allow.

Luce and Chippewa Counties

Luce County is home to Tahquamenon Falls State Park and vast northern forests. Chippewa County is home to the Soo Locks, historic sites and vast northern landscapes.

Trail Conditions:

• (12/24) Merry Christmas Eve!
• A curious deer checked out our snow gauge overnight.
• A bit of a warm up kept groomers parked yesterday, but cold has returned this morning, and there’s a decent amount of snow in the forecast in the coming days.
• Things were super flat before the warm up yesterday, so once again we have an excellent base.
• We will keep you posted!
• Photos and video from 480 where we cannot groom just yet due to construction, but wanted to get in there and check it out for a visual.
• It’ll be a few weeks and that’ll be wrapped up.
• (12/23) Video of 2 groomers doing trail 45 - Farm truck road to lower Thaquamenon Falls.
• (12/22) 12 degrees this morning under a mostly clear sky.
• Here's the trail report on how things went yesterday.
• We took 2 machines without drags and headed out on the Falls trail #45.
• Unfortunately I can't give you any good news.
• It was U.G.L.Y.
• In fact, da boss said it was the worst he's ever seen....bummer.
• He did say you could make it from the Upper Falls to the Lower to get fuel at the Lower but be careful.
• From the Lower Falls to Paradise IS NOT PASSABLE!!!
• There is a video on our FB page to show you how bad it was.
• We need more snow and cold to even try this again in a groomer.
• Word of warning.....it is ILLEGAL to ride on M-123 from town to the Falls!
• Nothing else was run, we need more snow.
• The Point trails are ridable and the Pine Stump trail is also but thin in a lot of spots.
• We haventt ran south on trail #8 since last weekend either.
• Simply put, we need more snow.
• This weeks forecast doesntt look that promising for any great amounts either.
• Sorry for all the bad news......just being honest.
• I'll let ya'll know when things start improving.
• LET 'ER SNOW!
• (12/14) Trail 8 between Trail 47 & Rexton Road.
• (12/11) Both groomers have been out have been out the past few days trying to freeze in what waterholes are out there.
• It’s a necessary evil.
• Over all the trails are drier than they have been in the last copped if years, which is a great thing.
• Basically they aren’t ready to be ridden on just yet but with the cold temp and more snow coming that should help improve conditions.

Mackinac County

Mackinac County sits at the eastern end of the U.P., with long stretches of Lake Michigan and Lake Huron shoreline backed by forest and inland lakes.

Trail Conditions:

• (12/18) Trail update: We are parked until further notice.
• As soon as we freeze and get some fresh snow we will update.
• With all of the early season work we have done, we should be able to get trails back in shape as soon as Mother Nature allows.
• For now assume bad conditions until we update further.
• (12/14) Trail 43 between McGahn rd south to Sherman drive still remains closed.
• Huge efforts by multiple volunteers made it possible to get the groomers thru.
• We need cold temps and snow!!!!
• (12/20) We can't thank John, Todd,and Rod enough!
• The guys went north on trail 49 from trail 47.
• The goal was to fill in and add binder to some of the worst holes.
• The latest warm up and rain didn't do us any favors.
• The south end of this trail is currently a disaster.
• With some cold, we'll be able to get a machine in there to clean things up.
• We don't anticipate this happening in the next several days.
• The weather looks to be too mild.
• We would love to see photos from your favorite snowmobiling rides!

Weather Forecast

Through Sunday afternoon, temperatures stay milder than average, with highs in the 30s to near 40 and periods of wind, rain, or a wintry mix. Conditions change quickly Sunday night as colder air returns, bringing increasing snow and wind into Monday. Significant snowfall is possible, especially near Lake Superior, with colder, snowier conditions lingering into next week.

Counties that border Lake Superior can expect 1-2 feet of snow, with Delta and Schoolcraft counties seeing 9-16 inches. Wind gusts as high as 65 mph are also possible. The combination of snow and wind could bring down power lines and damage trees. The Monday morning and evening commutes could feature widespread blowing snow and significantly reduced visibility.

Portions of Alger, Delta and Schoolcraft counties could see light freezing rain accumulation early Sunday before precipitation switches over to all snow. Monday. In these counties, snow accumulations are expected to range from 6 inches to the south to as much as 15 inches to the north. Localized blizzard conditions are possible here.

Keweenaw Peninsula Snowfall Statistics

Here, you'll find current and historical snowfall statistics for Keweenaw County.

Resort Name	Snowfall 24h	3 Day Snow Forecast	Base Depth	Open Trails	Open Lifts
Alpine Valley Ski Area	0"	-4"	12-22"	13/25	4/14
Big Powderhorn Mountain	6"	-22"	15"	32/44	6/10
Bittersweet Ski Area	0"	-10"	9-20"	18/18	7/11
Boyne Mountain Resort	0"	-11"	20"	50/65	9/10
Caberfae Peaks	0"	-9"	48"	27/30	5/5
Cannonsburg	0"	-5"	24"	18/22	5/10
Crystal Mountain, MI	0"	-11"	36-42"	57/59	8/8
Marquette Mountain	0"	-22"	18-48"	8/32	2/4
Mont Ripley	0"	-14"	36"	10/24	2/4
Mount Bohemia	3"	-15"	35"	45/105	2/2
Mount Holly	0"	-3"	6-16"	19/20	7/13
Mt. Brighton	0"	-3"	26"	18/26	9/12

Michigan's annual average snowfall total is 64". Snowpack levels across Michigan are currently 131% of normal.

Snowmobiling in Upper Peninsula

Check weekly trail reports below from December 1 to March 31 to find the best snow.

Safety Reminder: Please ride on the RIGHT side of the trail and STOP at the stop signs! Stay on the trail, if you don’t we could lose trail permissions on private property. Groomers have the right of way on the trails, pull over and stop to let them safely pass!

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