Snowmobile season on the Ottawa National Forest

Ironwood, MI. January 10, 2025, – The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service is thrilled to have a winter snowmobile season in the Western U.P.! The Ottawa National Forest is truly an ideal place for winter recreation, and for many that means on a snowmobile.

There are approximately 450 miles of groomed snowmobile trails that pass through the Ottawa National Forest. These trails are groomed and maintained by several different dedicated trail associations who regularly provide updated trail conditions reports. Those reports can be found on the Michigan Snowmobile Association's website. The Michigan DNR's website provides details on snowmobile laws and regulations, safety information, trail reports, as well as free digital trail maps that show trail numbers and current trail status.

State-designated snowmobile trails are open Dec. 1 - March 31 and trail grooming occurs when adequate snow cover is present.

The use of snowmobiles cross-country is permitted on the Ottawa, except in areas designated closed to snowmobiles.  Snowmobiles are prohibited in designated wilderness areas (McCormick, Sturgeon River Gorge, and Sylvania), Sylvania Perimeter Area, and on plowed National Forest System Roads. In Semi-primitive Non-motorized Areas snowmobiling is limited to designated trails only, which are UP Trails 1, 2, 11, 13, 101, 107 and 150. In Wild and Scenic Rivers Corridors, we encourage all snowmobile use to occur on designated trails only for the protection and enhancement of river values. See Forest Order R907-21-05 Off-Highway Vehicles and Over snow Vehicles R907-21-05 for more details.

Beginning March 1, the area of the Ottawa National Forest south of M-28 and east of Highway M-64 is closed to cross-country snowmobile use. This is to reduce disturbance to wildlife. During this time, snowmobiles are only permitted to use groomed trails or unplowed Forest System Roads within this area, which have not been signed, gated, or otherwise closed to such use. During this period, all other areas of the Ottawa, north of M-28 and west of M-64, are open to cross-country travel, the use of groomed trails, or operation on unplowed Forest System Roads which have not been signed, gated, or otherwise closed to such use

If you choose to operate your snowmobile on the Ottawa National Forest it must have a current, valid state registration and a current Michigan snowmobile trail sticker.

Safety Reminders:

• Ride at a safe speed.
• Ride sober.
• Ride on the right side of the trail; trails have two-way traffic.
• Always wear a helmet.
• Keep lights on while riding.
• Keep a safe distance from the rider in front of you and use caution in snow/dust clouds.
• Come to a complete stop at all intersections. Raise off the seat and look both ways for traffic before proceeding.
• Create a ride plan (times, route location and check-in points) and share it with others.
• Stay on the trail and be prepared to adjust for changing environmental conditions.
• Use designated stop areas if you need to stop on the trail and remove your helmet. Never stop side-by-side, in the middle, at the crest of a hill, on a corner or in an intersection.
• Share the trail. Some designated snowmobile trails are also open to nonmotorized users.
• Nonmotorized trail users have the right-of-way. If you see nonmotorized trail users coming from the opposite direction, pull over and yield.
• Snowmobilers should watch out for, and yield to, trail groomers and avoid modified exhausts.
• Never ride alone.
• When possible, avoid crossing frozen bodies of water. Never operate in a single file when crossing frozen bodies of water.

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