Photo courtesy of Keweenaw ATV Club All trails north of Calumet are closed until May 15 due to spring snow melt and poor conditions.

CALUMET — The Keweenaw ATV Club has announced it has delayed opening the trails north of Calumet until May 15. The club announced that wet spring conditions are making the trails unuseable.

ATV Club Trail Maintenance Coordinator Jim Dube there is still snow still on trails in places, while in others the ground is soft and wet. Keeping the trails closed temporarily protects them from further damage until they have a chance to dry out, preventing erosion and protecting private property.

The Keweenaw ATV Club is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization which allows the club to receive tax-deductible contributions and helps maintain and develop the ATV trail network in the Keweenaw region of Michigan. It works with the Michigan DNR, local governments and private landowners in facilitating an ATV trail system that connects all municipalities in North Houghton and Keweenaw counties, while working within the guidelines and laws of the regulatory agencies that pertain to off-road vehicles.

The Visit Keweenaw website says the Keweenaw’s ATV trail system is built on state and privately owned land. It is through the trust and generosity of private landowners that ORV operators have the permission of crossing their property. It can be revoked at any time.

In Keweenaw County, ORVs cannot legally access the Brockway Mountain Drive roadways. ORVs are prohibited by state law from riding on state highways, including M-26. Since Brockway Mountain Drive has two entry points along M-26, ORVs cannot legally access the drive.