Trail Conditions: Excellent
Snow Cover: 6-12 inch base
Date of Report: February 22, 2018
Area Report:
We have fresh snow and lots of it! Snow fall totals from this latest storm ranged from around 4 inches in the south to as much as 12-18 inches in the north. We also have more snow in the forecast for tonight and Saturday night. Looks like it’s going to be a great weekend for riding!
For those riding forest roads on National Forest Service land, please use caution and stay alert! Especially in areas where you see activity i.e. plowed roads. We can’t monitor all the forest roads throughout the county so unsafe conditions may exist. We’ve had reports of large plowed snowbanks on the roads which can be hard to see, so slow down and stay safe. Detailed reports from the local snowmobile clubs are posted below. Stay safe and stay on the trails!
Namakagon Trail Groomers: Trails are holding up very well! Trails have a good base of 4-6 in. Trails are good to very good condition. The heaviest used areas have some brown mixed in however are grooming well. Riders can expect some icy corners. With new snow of 3-6inches expected Thursday (2/22) into Friday (2/23) watch for grooming operations day and night. Areas of concern are trail 90 east between old grade and federal Rd! The reroute has been removed and trail 90 is open! watch for logging TRUCKS as they are still removing some loads and running on Federal road! Another area is Trail 15 between Club 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!!!
Drummond Snojacks: New snowfall accumulations of 6” over the last two days (2/19-2/20). Groomers are out at night and will continue through the weekend. All trails will be in excellent condition. We advise caution on trail #63 south to Lake Owen due to underlying ice in some areas.
Bayfield County Snowmobile Alliance – Iron River Area: Iron River area received 10 plus inches of much needed snow. Grooming operations will be ongoing throughout the week. Be aware we are still finding icy conditions on hills and turns. Last week we had 3 very close calls with riders not paying attention to trail in front of them. Groomers are out both night and day so please expect them around every corner and blind hill. As always ride safely.
Barnes Barnestormers: Lots of fresh snow, the town of Barnes trails 7 and 17 were groomed last night (2/19). I will be doing 31 today(2/20), expecting it to be in excellent condition. The other trails will be done later this week.
Washburn Valhallers: Washburn area received 10+ inches of snow and both 13N from Washburn to Valhalla and 13S from Washburn to corridor were groomed on 2/20. Trails are in excellent condition but a few icy corners still exist so riders should use caution. All trails will be regroomed on Friday, 2/23 so it should be an excellent weekend of riding.
Trails in the Valhalla area are in excellent condition. New 10-16″ of snow should make for some great riding. All trails in the area will be groomed by the weekend.
South shore Trail Club – Port Wing, Herbster & Cornucopia: Groomed trail 1 40 41 today (2/21) and 1 & 11 into corny tomorrow 2/22. Trails are very good to excellent with some icy corners.
WAINO Riders- Northwest corner of the County: Trail 1 will be groomed today (2/20) or tomorrow and possibly Friday if it’s busy this week.
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 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.