Upper Peninsula Snowmobile Trails Guide: Permit, Grooming, Safety

Short answer: The Upper Peninsula is part of Michigan's state-designated snowmobile trail system, which the Michigan DNR puts at 6,300-plus miles statewide. The DNR gives no separate UP mileage on the pages we checked, so we give none. Trails are open Dec. 1 to March 31. Grooming happens when there is enough snow on the ground. You need a Michigan snowmobile trail permit, which costs $65 and is valid Oct. 1 to Sept. 30. Residents must also register their sled with the Michigan Secretary of State. Nonresidents must show a valid registration from their home state or province, or be registered in Michigan.

Check a trail report for your exact stretch before you load the trailer. Snow depth, grooming and closures change day to day.

No ice is ever 100% safe. Check it yourself.

What you need before you ride

The fee rose from $52 to $65 under a statutory five-year adjustment tied to the consumer price index. The DNR says the new fee stays in place for the next five-year period. Permits go on sale Sept. 1 each year.

Some sleds are exempt. A sled used only on the owner's own land is exempt from both permit and registration. A sled used only for travel on the frozen surface of public water for ice fishing is exempt from the permit but must still be registered. Read the full list on the DNR permits page.

Free Snowmobiling Weekend

Each year the DNR waives the permit and registration requirement for a weekend, on DNR trails only. All other rules still apply. When we checked, the DNR page said 2027 dates would be announced soon. Look at the DNR page for the date before you plan around it.

Season and grooming

The DNR says state-designated trails and authorized public lands open Dec. 1 and run through March 31. Grooming happens when there is enough snow on the ground. The DNR does not set a minimum depth on the pages we read, and we do not give one.

Clubs do the work. The DNR says 67 volunteer clubs maintain the trails, and that the program is paid for entirely by trail permit and registration money. That money funds brushing and grooming, signage, bridges and culverts, and trailhead upkeep such as restrooms and plowed parking.

Groomers have the right of way. The DNR says that if you meet a groomer coming the other way, pull over and yield.

Snowfall in the UP

The UP gets lake-effect snow off Lake Superior. For a sourced example, the National Weather Service in Marquette wrote up a January 18, 2020 storm. It reported that the highest snow amounts fell on the Keweenaw Peninsula, with higher totals also along the western shore of Upper Michigan down to Ironwood. It also said the snow turned to lake-effect bands in the north wind snow belts after the main storm.

That is one storm, not a seasonal average. We found no clean NWS or NOAA seasonal snowfall figure for the Keweenaw or other belts, so we give none. Check the NWS Marquette forecast and snowfall reports in the days before your trip.

Key hubs

The DNR points riders to a private site, UP Snowmobiling, for local trail reports. Its report index lists these UP towns, which gives a rough idea of where riders gather:

• Western UP: Ironwood, Watersmeet, Ontonagon, Lake Gogebic, Iron River, Crystal Falls, Iron Mountain
• Keweenaw and Lake Superior shore: Copper Harbor, Houghton, Baraga, Marquette, Ishpeming, Munising, Grand Marais, Newberry, Paradise
• Eastern and southern UP: Sault Ste. Marie, Cedarville, Drummond Island, St. Ignace, Naubinway, Manistique, Escanaba, Menominee

A town on that list has a local trail reporter. It does not mean trails near it are open or groomed.

Where to check trail status

1. Michigan DNR snowmobile trail reports page. The DNR page links to reports from outside partners: the Michigan Snowmobile and ORV Association trail report, the Michigan Snowmobile Trail Report on Facebook, TrailReport.com, and Upper Peninsula Snowmobiling.
2. Michigan DNR interactive trail map. It shows designated trails, closures and parking lots. The DNR also offers PDF maps and KML and GPX files for GPS devices.
3. Local clubs. Clubs groom the trails, and the trail reporters on the UP Snowmobiling site are described as local people who are often groomers for their clubs.

Use more than one source, and treat any report as a snapshot of the day it was written.

Trail rules that matter

• Ride at a speed that fits conditions. The DNR says speed is the main factor in many fatalities, such as taking a corner too fast or not stopping in time.
• Stay sober. Operating under the influence of drugs or alcohol is illegal.
• Make a complete stop before crossing intersections.
• Keep to the right side of the trail.
• Ride within the abilities of the least experienced rider in your group.
• Use extreme caution in reduced visibility.
• Some designated snowmobile trails are shared with off-road vehicles and nonmotorized users.

During the Nov. 15 to 30 firearm deer season, Michigan law bars snowmobiling in areas open to public hunting from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. and from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Check the current DNR regulations for details.

Lake crossings and ice safety

The Michigan DNR says there is no reliable inch-thickness number that proves ice is safe. Treat any number as a floor, not a promise.

No ice is ever 100% safe. Check it yourself.

The Michigan DNR says:

• Check the ice with a spud, auger, stick or axe before you go on it.
• Do not rely on what others tell you. Check it yourself.
• Strong ice in one spot does not mean strong ice in another.
• Watch for pressure cracks and signs of water as you ride.
• Ice covered by snow should always be considered unsafe. Snow insulates the ice and slows freezing.
• Slush ice is only half as strong as clear ice.
• Ice weakens with age.
• If there is ice on the lake but water around the shoreline, be extra cautious.
• The stronger the current, the more likely the ice is to give way to open water.
• Avoid ice with protruding debris such as logs or brush.
• Be careful near dock bubblers and de-icers.
• Keep ice picks in a spot you can reach, such as a chest pocket.

For a thickness reference, the Minnesota DNR guideline for new, clear ice only says: under 4 inches, stay off; 4 inches, on foot; 5 to 7 inches, snowmobile or small ATV. It says to double those numbers on white ice. This is a Minnesota guideline, not a Michigan rule, and the Michigan DNR warns against leaning on inch numbers at all.

No ice is ever 100% safe. Check it yourself.

On a Michigan lake, also follow the speed rule in the DNR regulations. You may not run a snowmobile on the frozen surface of public water within 100 feet of a person on foot, or within 100 feet of a fishing shanty, except at the minimum speed needed to keep moving.

If you break through, the Michigan DNR says to stay calm and keep your winter clothing on. Turn toward the direction you came from, since that is most likely the strongest ice. Dig in ice picks, kick, slide forward, then roll away from the weak area. Get to shelter, change into dry clothes, and call 911 if you show signs of hypothermia. Gear to carry:,,,.

FAQ

How much is a Michigan snowmobile trail permit?

$65. It is valid Oct. 1 to Sept. 30 and is sold online through eLicense, through the Michigan Snowmobile and ORV Association, and at DNR license agents and dealers. Source: Michigan DNR permits page.

When are Upper Peninsula snowmobile trails open?

State-designated trails open Dec. 1 and run through March 31. Grooming happens when there is enough snow on the ground.

Do I need to register my sled as well as buy a permit?

Michigan residents must register with the Secretary of State, unless the sled is used only on private property. Nonresidents must show a valid registration from their home state or province, or be registered in Michigan.

Where do I find current UP trail conditions?

The DNR links to partner reports, including the Michigan Snowmobile and ORV Association, TrailReport.com and Upper Peninsula Snowmobiling. Check more than one and expect some to be out of date.

Is lake ice safe for a snowmobile if it is thick enough?

The Michigan DNR says there is no reliable inch-thickness that proves ice is safe. No ice is ever 100% safe. Check it yourself.