Thursday, December 16, 2021

Michigan DNR facing snowmobile trail grooming challenge in the eastern UP

Michigan Department of Natural Resources trails staffers are working with the Straits Area Snowmobile Club to reach a grant agreement for trail grooming over 101 miles of state-managed trails in the southeastern Upper Peninsula.

In the meantime, snowmobilers will want to avoid this area. Trails will not be groomed until further notice.

The affected trails are in Mackinac and Chippewa counties, connecting the communities of St. Ignace, Trout Lake and Epoufette.

“No grant agreement is currently in place between the club and the DNR,” said Ron Yesney, DNR trails coordinator for the Upper Peninsula. “The DNR is looking at all possible solutions, including alternative arrangements, for improved trail management.”

The grant agreement issue surfaced before the Dec. 1 opening of the snowmobile season. The situation has since been discussed daily and continues to evolve.

For more information on closures and reopening of DNR facilities in Michigan, visit Michigan.gov/DNRClosures.

DNR COVID-19 RESPONSE: For details on affected DNR facilities and services, visit this webpage. Follow state actions and guidelines at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus.

Contact: Ron Yesney (Trails) 906-228-6561 or John Pepin (Media) 906-226-1352