Current Snowmobiling Conditions Info & Report

Snowmobiling Lake Gogebic and the Ontonagon / Gogebic County area of Michigan is a snowmobiling paradise, boasting more than six million acres of state and federal lands along with hundreds of miles of privately owned snowmobile trails.

If snowmobiling wintry trails beckons you, West Upper Peninsula Michigan has it all. In fact, a growing number of Lake Gogebic hotels, motels and resorts offer door-to-trail snowmobile proximity.

Lake Gogebic is centrally located so it can be used as a hub for your snowmobile activity whether you are looking for family fun, a weekend getaway or overnighters. The trails offer winding forest trails, scenic overlooks, railroad grades, bridges, hills, lakes, cedar swamps, and logging roads - all in a days ride. 

Lake Gogebic to Iron River & Iron Mountain to Lake Gogebic (overnight) Take Lake Gogebic Trail 1 or 13 south to Trail 2. Go east to Watersmeet, through Iron River and on to Iron Mountain. Stay overnight in Iron Mountain approximately 130 miles. Leave Iron Mountain heading north on Trail 5, then east on Trail 16 to Crystal Falls where you head north on Trail 111 to Trail 15 north to Trail 8 and go west through Kenton, Bruce Crossing, Ewen and Bergland approximately 150 miles. 

You may shorten this trip by staying over at Iron River. That would make it approximately 86 miles the first day. Leaving Iron River you would backtrack west, 6 miles on Trail 2 and go north on Trail 15 to Trail 8 and go west through Kenton, Bruce Crossing, Ewen and back to Bergland. Approximately 95 miles. This is an easy ride. 

Lake Gogebic to Copper Harbor & Back to Lake Gogebic (Overnight) Take Lake Gogebic Trail 1 or 13 and north on Trail 13 out of Bergland to Rockland and Greenland. Pick up Trail 3 (Bill Nichols Trail) to Houghton. Follow trail 3 to Trail 132 and into Copper Harbor approximately 175 miles. Follow the same route back. This is a very picturesque trip and includes the three Firesteel Bridegs and the bridge at Houghton. 

Lake Gogebic into Wisconsin and Return (day trip) Take Lake Gogebic Trail 1 or 13 south to Trail 2 east to Watersmeet. Go south on Trail 3 to Land'O Lakes west on Trail 6 (Wisconsin) and follow signs to Bents Camp for lunch. Back out to Trail 6, which turns into Trail 15 west to Presque Isle. Go north on Trail 1 back to Michigan, Marenisco and on to Lake Gogebic. The entire trip is approximately 100 miles. 

Lake Gogebic to Lake of the Clouds and Return (day trip) Take Lake Gogebic Trail 1 north to Silver City then west to the Porcupine Mountains and Lake of the Clouds. On the way back down from Lake of the Clouds pick up Trail 11 south to Trail 8 and Wakefield. Go west on Trail 2 to Marenisco and north on Trail 1 back to Lake Gogebic (approximately 115 miles) 

These are just some suggestions but the possibilities are endless. Be sure to pick up trail maps at any area resort or gas station and check trail conditions before you go. The mileage may vary depending on possible trail re-routing. We want you to enjoy your visit with us.

ANOTHER RECORD BREAKING YEAR!

Join us for a great winter in Big Snow Country! In the UP, it's common to see snowplows mounted on trucks, and snow blowers of all shapes and sizes, often being operated by hearty women. Then there are sow scoops, even child sized ones, a shovel just doesn't do the trick around here. Snow rakes are another handy invention used to scrape the snow from rooftops. Nearly everyone wears the typical winter gear; Sorel boots from Canada and a Kromer, a woolen hat with a string tie that unfolds down into earflaps. 

Heikki Lunta guarantees to the people of the Keweenaw, that they will have an average snowfall of 250 inches. The other guarantee is made naturally from the lake effect snow produced by Lake superior. Heikki Lunta, is the mystical Finnish snow god, lives in the Keweenaw Peninsula region of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Northeast of Gogebic County. 

Heikki the snow god has used his mystical powers to create abundant snow for our region as well. Heikki Luntta at times teases us with just sprinkling, but later surprises us with what we've come to expect. Deep snow! In the long run, Heikki rarely disappoints us; the last time we had less than 100 inches of snow was in 1958!

Heikki Lunta appears in different attire each year depending on his mood. In years past he has appeared in a mixture of animal skins or in a flannel shirt and a pair of swampers, looks a bit like a Northwoods Santa. 

There's even a Heikki Lunta dance and a song made to go with the crazy dance. It is believed that the "Heikki Lunta Snow Song" when played always brings snow wherever it is played. 

If you want it to snow where you live and you don't have the record, there's another method. It is said that you can to a crowded shopping mall and shout "Heikki Lunta, Heikki Lunta," over and over while dancing on one foot and then the other, around and around. The people who truly believe in Heikki Lunta say the bigger the crowd you attract the better the chances of snow!

Heikki Lunta supplies an abundance of snow where ever he is praised. On Lake Gogebic, Heikki has always shared his good fortune with the Western U.P. Lake Gogebic naturally attracts an extra does of snowfall more than the surrounding areas. There's an almost mystical quality when entering into Bergland but inside Lake Gogebic basin snowfalls heavily with flakes larger than half-dollars. 

Heikki Lunta sometimes over does it in the spring when snow is no longer needed. When this happens it becomes necessary to have parades and the like to get Heikki Lunta's attention and then to ask him to stop all of the snow. During these times the people sing and dance along to the flip side of Heikki Lunta's snow dance record that song is called "Heikki Lunta go away!"

Take time out of your schedule for a great time with friends; visit the Western Gateway to Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The Lake Gogebic area has five snowmobile routes to choose from with access through Big Snow Country to over 2,000 miles of trails. You'll find more quality riding time than you can handle in a winter. 

We have dedicated professional trail groomers throughout Big Snow Country to ensure that your riding experience is of the highest quality. The intricate trail system is so complete that area attractions lodging, dining and nightlife are all available by sled.

See you in the U.P.! For more winter and summer information contact the LAKE GOGEBIC AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, P.O. Box 114T, Bergland, Michigan 49910, Office 906-575-3265 or drop us an email at info@lakegogebicarea.com.

Trails are the heart of snowmobiling. Without trails, snowmobilers would only have open fields, frozen lakes and their own back yards to ride on. Actually that's how we used to ride back when I was a kid. My cousin's yellow Ski-Doo followed a series of circled tracks in their backfield. 

We'd go round and round holding on tight for dear life. The end of the ride was always the killer. My cousin Jim would "gun it" over the top of the last snowbank dumping his rider off, ready for the next victim.

There's nothing like a freshly groomed trail that shoots across snowy fields, through deep woods, up hills and down valleys and back again. It's what snowmobiling is all about!

But the trails don't appear out of nowhere. Each one begins as the vision of somebody who believes the location would be another great place to ride. Once this is decided, the trail must be built. 

The first step is to contact the landowner and get his permission to build a new snowmobile trail. In the UP it's a little easier to develop a large trail system because many of the property is still owned by large logging or paper companies. 

Frequently private landowners don't want a public snowmobile trail running through their property. Many have misconceptions about having a trail, once owners fears are discussed most come around and allow a trail to be built on their property. 

Use of trails through private property is not purchased, it's a privilege entrusted and granted by the individual owner out of the goodness of his heart. If there were compensation to an owner, it would make the landowner responsible for any persons injured while riding on their property. The special use permit granted by owners prevents them from being liable for anyone hurt while riding on their land.

After getting written permission from the landowner, sign permits need to be secured and arrangements are made for marking, grooming and maintaining the new trail. 

Please respect the use of riding on private lands; stay on designated trails only. Maintain a safe speed. We need to maintain a fair balance and not abuse the freedom of trail riding.

Lake Gogebic Area Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 114
Bergland, MI 49910
888-464-3242
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