Reporter:BayfieldCounty
Trail Conditions: Good
Snow Cover: 3-6 inch base
Date of Report: February 1, 2018
Area Report:
The cold has returned and now we need some fresh snow to go with it! With these temperatures we are definitely holding on to our base and trails are in good to very good condition. Detailed reports from the local snowmobile clubs are posted below. Stay safe and stay on the trails!
Note: For those riding forest roads, please use caution and stay alert! Especially in areas where you see activity i.e. plowed roads. Remember that these are roads, not trails, so conditions will vary and they are not groomed for snowmobiles. In places where logging has occurred there may be snowbanks in the road that can be hard to see, so slow down and stay safe.
Namakagon Trail Groomers: Namakagon Trails are holding up well considering the warm weather and traffic. Trails have a good base of 3-5 in. Trails are fair in areas to very good in other. The heavily used areas have some brown mixed in however are grooming up well. Riders can expect some icy corners and a few bare spots. Areas of concern are trail 90 east between Old Grade and Federal Rd! Follow reroute signs and watch for logging TRUCKS! Another area is Trail 15 between Rock Lake Rd and Camp Eight Rd at the Great Divide. Heavy ICE over the Trail due to a spring that continues to spread water across the trail! SLOW Down!!! Lots of tracks into the TREES!!
Drummond Snojacks: Trail grooming resumed Wednesday, 1/31/18, on all trails and will continue with night time grooming over the weekend. Heavy use has packed the trails with 90% coverage. Some bare spots in tall pines areas. Fair conditions on the Lake Owen Trail, #63 south, due to icy steep grades making it difficult for grooming. Caution is advised on this trail.
Barnes Barnestormers: All Trails 7, 17, 18, 31N & 31S were groomed Sunday – Wednesday, 1/28-1/31/18, and are in very good riding condition. There are a few areas with bare spots and some icy areas, ride with caution.
Bayfield County Snowmobile Alliance – Iron River Area: Iron River area has greatly improved this past week with colder temps. Expect some bare windblown area but for the most part good to very good condition.
Washburn Valhallers: The Washburn area remains in decent, ridable shape. We groomed #13 North from Washburn to Valhalla Wednesday (1/31) and the trail remains flat, with some icy corners, and little to no bare spots; certainly more snow towards Valhalla. We will regroom on Friday 2/2/18. Trail #13 South from Washburn to the Tri-County Corridor is about the same and we will retouch that one on Saturday.
Despite the recent winter warm up Valhalla area remains in good to excellent condition. There is still active logging on trail 1 around Henkens Road. All trails are still being groomed.
South shore Trail Club – Port Wing, Herbster & Cornucopia: Will finish grooming Trail 1 to Corny Thursday 2/1. Groomed Trails 1, 40, and 41 on Monday. Trails are good to very good.
WAINO Riders- Northwest corner of the County: Trail 1 to Port Wing is a good ride yet. I believe it will be groomed before the weekend.
Closures:
- Trail 1 near Port Wing: This is now open but use caution as ruts have frozen into the ground.
- Trail 63 in the Cable Area: Trail 63 just south of the intersection with Trail 70 south of the town of Cable is closed until further notice.
- Trail 31, South of the intersection with Trail 1 near the City of Bayfield is not signed and not being groomed. There is currently no trail access to the City of Bayfield, but there is access to Legendary Waters Casino.
ReReoutes:
- Trail 13 outside Washburn, follow signs. Permanent reroute.
- Trail 4 east of Mason, follow signs. Seasonal reroute for now, includes road routes.
- Trail 70 south of Cable, follow signs. Seasonal reroute for now, includes road routes.
Logging Activity
- Trail 40 Southeast of Port Wing has a timber sale going active this week so keep your eyes out and stay alert in that area.
- Trail 1 between Cornucopia and Bayfield near Henkens Road has an active logging operation. They are logging off the trail and using the trail as a haul route so use caution.
- Trail 51 south of Cornucopia near Jodi road is now being used for an active timber sale. They are logging off the trail and using the trail as a haul route so use caution. Jodi road is also being plowed for a short distance.
