Know where to ride
Late season riding possible in designated areas
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While snowmobile trails that are on private land are closed for the season and grooming on trails also concluded last week, the die-hard snowmobilers that still want to ride can find places where they can legally ride.
All trails owned by the State of Michigan, and considered 'multi-use' trails are open to ride. Most of these are the abandoned rail grades that the state now owns. Those trails are open to snowmobiles and off road vehicles. This includes the rubber-tracked Side-by-Sides. However it's the rider's responsibility to know whether trails are accessible.
Just saying to a DNR Conservation Officer, 'I thought this was a multi-use trail,' is not good enough to keep you from getting a citation.
You can also ride on Michigan State Forest roads. However, you need to know that you are riding on a state forest roads. Just having snow on a two-track forest road does not mean it is a Michigan State Forest.
Commercial Forest Act (CFA) land has never been open to recreational snowmobile riding. CFA land is only open to very specific riding, and even under the very specific laws, you still need the permission from the land-owner. Just because you see snowmobile tracks, doesn't mean you can ride on it.
The major concern snowmobile clubs and snowmobilers have is when people ride on private land at this time of the year, without 04-07-23_LetsRide_MASTERS Terra-X Connor Pestka and Girl permission. Or land that had a trail with a closure date. For most that would be at the close of the season last Friday.
When you ride on those trails, you are putting that trail at risk of being closed to all snowmobiling next year.
Federally managed pubic land, i.e. US Forest Service, have their own rules. They are different than that of state forest land. One needs to stop at an Ottawa National Forest Office and inquire as to what forest roads are still open, and to pick up a designated motor vehicle use map. You should also ask as to when those roads are closed for the season.
Understanding all this does not mean all forest roads and trails are closed. One may find miles and miles of roads and multi-use trails that you can still ride. There is still quite a bit of snow in forests.
Recently, I saw a group of riders from a Minnesota based Snowmobile/ORV Aftermarket company proudly post online how much fun they had riding in our forests.
I sarcastically posted as to how the locals didn't know that our area still has a lot of snow in the forests. What I did not know is if all the pictures they posted were of the riding in forests that were legal to ride in.
This time of the year has always been a good time to snowmobile off-trail on designated routes. All it takes is to purchase a plat book and identify Copper Country State Forest land, or go to an Ottawa National Forest office and simply ask where one can still ride and the purchase a map of which roads are open to ride.
Now is a time you don't need layers of clothing to stay warm, the snow is hard-packed, and you don't need your hand warmers on. Providing you know where you are riding, it really is a good time to still go snowmobiling. However, coat your open skin with sun-block as now is a time to start on your tan.
Who says you have to go to Florida to get a good tan? Not the 'die-hard' snowmobilers. The reflection off the snow can give you a sun-burn like you wouldn't believe. Just ask my wife.
OTHER NEWS:
Kaedin Kaurala of Nissula, Jordan Stank, MTU Alumnus, Jesse Poksyzk of Friendship, Wisconsin recently competed at the World Championship Hillclimb in Jackson, Wyoming. All of them along with 6 others represented the Mid America Snow & Terrain Expert Racers (MASTERS) Racing Circuit. Kaurala missed advancing to the finals in the Junior Division by less than one second. Stank and Poksyzk also missed advancing to the finals by one second. Congratulations to ALL the MASTERS Racing Circuit Representatives for representing and being the 'ambassadors' of our area at the World Championship Hillclimb.