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Trail Report: Tomahawk, Wisconsin – March 2, 2017

Trail Conditions: Early Season

Snow Cover: up to 5 inches

Date of Report: March 2, 2017

Area Report:

This report is dated Thursday, March 2, 2017.

Lincoln County snowmobile trails are PARTIALLY OPEN.

Lincoln County trails in Zone 2 and Zone 3 are CLOSED. Zone 1 remains open for the time being and is  considered very poor, early season condition.  Corridor 19 and Trail 86 in Zone 1 are CLOSED AS WELL AS ALL TRAILS THAT CROSS LAKES & RIVERS. Water levels have risen & there is open water at the edges and in channels. Ride at your own risk.

Oneida County snowmobile trails are OPEN. Trail conditions are considered in poor, early season condition. Ride at your own risk.

​All ATV trails are closed  in Zone 2 and Zone 3 and the trails always close when the temperature is above 28 degrees F.

Please check back as this report is updated as conditions change.

Trail Report: Ely, Minnesota – March 2, 2017

Ely, MN Chamber of Commerce

Trail Conditions: Poor

Snow Cover: 7″

Date of Report: March 2, 2017

Area Report:

 

Ely Area Lakes & Trails: Area trails have a base ranging from 0-4” and are rated as poor.  Anticipate rough trail conditions as trail grooming will not commence until temperatures drop below 20 degrees and we receive at least 4” of new snow.  Lakes may have areas of slush.  Remain on staked trails when traveling across lakes.  Creeks and low lying areas may have open or standing water and no trail base. 

Echo Trail: Fenske Lake and other short trails along the Echo Trail are staked. 

Taconite Trail: Snow – 5-15” depth  Base – 0-4”  Groomed – yes  Condition – poor   The entire Taconite from Ely to Hwy 73 is in poor condition.  There is a small section of open water between Big Aspen and Pfeiffer Lake that is flagged, signed, and passable.

Arrowhead Trail: Snow – 8-18” depth  Base – 0-4”  Groomed – yes  Condition – poor  The entire Arrowhead is groomed and in poor condition.  Use caution when crossing the bridge in the Lost Lake swamp due to thin ice and open water.  This bridge is located two miles north on the Arrowhead from the Hwy 1 crossing. 

Putnam-Fishing Lakes Trail: Groomed – yes  Condition – poor

Lake Vermilion State Park and Soudan Underground Mine State Park: Groomed – yes  Condition – poor

Taconite Spur Trails and Stony Spur Trails: Base – 0-4”  Groomed – yes  Condition – poor   

Tomahawk Trail & Local Trails: Base – 0-4”  Trails are in poor condition.  Everything is groomed from the Knotted Pine in Isabella to the Northshore.  Some sections of trail may have up to 18” of standing water.

Trail Report: Bayfield County, Wisconsin – March 2, 2017

Trail Conditions: Early Season

Snow Cover: 6-12″

Date of Report: March 2, 2017

Area Report:

 

Most of the County received some fresh snowfall on Tuesday.  As a result, snowmobile trails NORTH of Highway 2 will be open starting Thursday (3/2/17).  However, most trails are not groomed and all are in highly variable condition.  Expect trail conditions to range from extremely poor to good.  Before planning your trip, please contact the local club for the most up to date condition report.  As always, please use extreme caution when operating on the trails.  

 

The numerous warm spells have also created various issues.  Many swamps, lakes and wet areas are not frozen; large rocks may be exposed; some fields and open areas may have little, if any, snow; and many trails could be icy or otherwise very rough.  Road routes may also have very little snow cover.  With the forecasted warm weather this weekend, expect trails conditions to deteriorate rapidly.  As a result, it is very likely that all trails will be closed again early next week.

 

Please keep in mind that some of these trails are on private land.  Private landowners give us permission to maintain portions of these trails on their property.  If a segment is in poor condition or if riding could result in damage, please refrain from use.  Any damage to the trail system, especially those that exist on private land, will jeopardize our future use privileges and potentially result in permanent trail closures.

 

Regarding ATV/UTV use on the winter ATV/UTV trails:  To help minimize damage to the trails and snowpack, all ATV/UTV use is prohibited on snowmobile trails when the temperatures reach 28 degrees or higher. This includes tracked or wheeled ATVs and UTVs.  However, ATV/UTV use is still allowed on the Tri-County Corridor and Town Road routes.

 

Trail Closures:

  • Trail 13 south out of Washburn to the Tri-County Corridor is closed.
  • All trails located south of Highway 2 are closed.

Trail Report: Three Lakes – Brule River, Wisconsin – March 2, 2017

Trail Conditions: Poor

Snow Cover: 2-3″

Date of Report: March 2, 2017

Area Report:

the melt down continues to happen. There is a lot of water in some spots and mud in other areas. Trails are poor. Ride at your own risk, however we do not recommend it. Lake channels are opening up and we are pulling barrels as we can. Most lakes are not safe, please do not ride them. Trail 13 to Sugar Camp is closed. Forest County trails will close this Monday for the season. No set date on Oneida county closing. We are not grooming at this time. Please use caution.

Trail Report: Eagle River, Wisconsin – March 2, 2017

Trail Conditions: Poor

Snow Cover: Icy icy thing snow

Date of Report: March 2, 2017

Area Report:

Trails OPEN
Late Riding to Poor Condition

9 degrees at 6:30am.  High of 21 today. Schiff of snow overnight.

Trail Boss Brian reports due to weather and trail conditions no grooming.

Vilas County Alliance President has contacted all 11 Clubs for their input.  The decision has been made to be open at least through this weekend.

If you are riding you will find Adventure Sledding in Eagle River. Meaning all sort of conditions.  In town there is snow but it was mushy and snirty yesterday. Today with the colder temps it is frozen and crusty. There was icy slush areas yesterday. Some of it deep.  Trails along side the roads were down to dirt in a lot of areas from the rain and salt from the roads. Best bet for riding is way out in the woods.

Trail 17N from Eagle River is open only to the connection with Phelps at Shangri-La Rd closed from that point. Trail 10E from Eagle River is open & riders can ride all the way to Three Lakes using the Kimball Creek Trail. Heading west Trail 6 from the Forest County line to Phelps fire tower area is closed due to mush and water.

These are Eagle River Conditions.  If you plan to ride other parts of the County be sure to check with the Club, friend, business or Chamber where you plan to ride as conditions are different from area to area.  You may come upon gates from area to area.

For safety here are 4 areas to stay away from:

TRAIL SECTION 10W/13N aka Wisconsin River Bridge is closed due high water conditions. Gated. DO NOT ENTER THIS AREA

High water/slush is also present on Trail 3 aka the Manske Swamp. Use extreme caution.

Section of Trail 10E from Bloom Rd to Loon Lake Rd has slush.  Recommend taking City Trail on Tamarack St to Trigs Shell Trail to Bloom Rd.

The barrels have been pulled from both Catfish Lake Loop & Eagle Lake Trail.  Advise not to ride.  If you do it is at your own risk.

Be safe & slow down if you are riding.

Holly Tomlanovich
Communications Chair
Sno-Eagles, Inc.
PROUD GROOMERS OF THE SNOWMOBILE CAPITAL OF THE WORLD® – Eagle River
Phone Trail Updates 715.479.5185

News and Reports:

SNO (Saturday Night Out) – Cocktails 5:30pm – Dinner 6:00pm

  • March 25 – Catch 22 on Hwy 70E/Trail 10E about 5 miles from Eagle River.

WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY TRAIL RIDES – No Trail Rides this week

  • Meet on Trail 13 (the Grade) in town between Historic Railroad Depot & Friendship House
  • 9am departure

MONTHLY MEETINGS – 6:30pm Snacks – Meeting at 7pm – All Welcome!

  • March 16 – Eagle Waters (Hwy 70E to Rangeline Rd-follow the signs)
  • April 20 – Gordo’s (Hwy 45N across from Holiday North Gas Station)

BOARD MEETINGS – 7pm at the International Snowmobile Hall of Fame (Hwy 45N next door to the World Championship Snowmobile Derby)

  • January-May the 1st Tuesday of the each month

Snowmobile Information:

DNR Registration, $30 Trail Pass information

AWSC $10 Trail Pass information

Trail Report: Forest County, Wisconsin – March 1, 2017

Trail Conditions: Poor

Snow Cover: 0-4 Inches

Date of Report: March 1, 2017

Area Report:

Forest County trails will remain open through the weekend.  On Monday, March 6th the trails will be closed for the season.  Clubs will not be out grooming.  Riding will be rough in some spots but, this is the last weekend to hit the trails.

Trail Report: Mercer, Wisconsin – March 1, 2017

Trail Conditions: Early Season

Snow Cover: 3 on trail

Date of Report: March 1, 2017

Area Report:

More like late season riding. if you just can.t get yourself to put it away, bring it up & have some fun  you’ll have the trails to yourself & no problem finding a stool. We are starting to get to many upper 30s plus days for the trails to hold up much longer

JIM  / DEAR LODGE  

STAY@FLAMBEAULODGING.CO

Trail Report: Conover, Wisconsin – March 1, 2017

Trail Conditions: Poor

Snow Cover: 8″ in undisturbed areas

Date of Report: March 1, 2017

Area Report:

Temps in the high 30’s with sun Monday, and cloudy/damp yesterday. About 1″ of new snow today with temps below freezing. About 1/2 of last Friday’s snowfall is gone. Trails are thin & ungroomed with bare sports, road crossings were bare but maybe snow covered today. No more snow in the forecast with 40’s by the weekend. Expect water/slush in low areas. 

Phelps has closed all trails except for 6W towards Lando/Conover and ER has closed the 10/13 WI river crossing. Most lakes have been unmarked & are questionable. Do not cross a lake that is not marked.

I have heard today that Vilas trails will remain open thru the weekend. Trail conditions are poor or worse but should stay about the same until Saturday when traffic levels & temps will climb. I expect they will deteriorate to unrideable over the weekend.

News and Reports:

It crossed my mind that for those of you that have never snowmobiled in Vilas or surrounding, it is unlike areas further south. We really have nearly zero farm field crossings. Most riding is in the woods, some trails are on old rail grades & there are lots of lake crossings. But, be prepared to travel a distance to the next stop, especially along the northern portions of the county. Food is hard to find on Tuesdays, carry a snack.

Please stay on the trails; Trespassing is the fastest way to loose trails. Don’t forget you need a WI trail permit to ride the state’s groomed trail system. Aggressive riding causes more trail damage than slower, less aggressive riding. Ride right & be safe.