Map courtesy of The Nature Conservancy Map of snowmobile and ORV trails in the Keweenaw Heartlands, which includes the closed portion of Trail #3

KEWEENAW COUNTY — The Nature Conservancy (TNC) announced on Wednesday the closure of the snowmobile-only portion of Trail #3 up to Brockway Mountain in the Keweenaw Heartlands to traffic for the summer to ATV traffic. The June 28 release states the purpose of the closure is to protect the trail from further erosion, keep public safe.

The trail, a state designated snowmobile trail located west of Lake Upson and south of M-26, will reopen in the winter for snowmobile use. The trail is being closed to prevent further erosion and protect visitors and residents alike.

“Erosion is becoming a problem on Snowmobile Trail #3, which is why we made the decision to close it for the summer and avoid additional damage to the trail,” Emily Clegg, director of land and water management for TNC in Michigan is quoted as saying. “We ask residents and visitors to stay on the state designated ORV trails and to respect closed gates throughout the Keweenaw Heartlands. Gates are there to protect the natural resources beyond it and keep the public safe.”

Daryl St. John, president of the Keweenaw ATV Club, said the ATV tralis running thrugh the Keweenaw Heartlands are not only some of the best ATV trails in the state of Michigan, but are among the best in Midwest.

“In order to keep them that way,” St. John is quoted as saying in the release, “it’s important to respect gates and stay on designated marked trails to protect the resource and our fellow riders.”

Use of vehicles on the north end of Snowmobile Trail #3 have caused erosion, the release says. To prevent impacting a nearby creek and the countless species that rely on the habitat the trail must be temporarily closed to help reduce further erosion and protect this important habitat.Enri

“The Nature Conservancy purchased the Keweenaw Heartlands so the land could benefit both people and nature for generations to come,” said Julia Petersen, Keweenaw Heartlands project manager. “In order to do that, we might need to occasionally close a trail to allow the land to recover, prevent overuse and keep people who regularly use the trails safe.”