February 21, 2024
Welcome to the ‘23-‘24 season! It’s been an odd start, with rideable snow for opening weekend which rarely happens, and then a series of warms ups, then lake effect, now warm again. Tough season!
Please check the Facebook page for the latest updates. We are also now on the Groomer Tracker app! You can download it and sign up to follow our trail system for the latest info of what trails have been groomed. It’s $10 for a year and half of that goes to us as the club! Check it out in your phones App Store or at www.GroomerTracker.com
Ride safe, ride right, ride sober! Please scroll down for each trail.
—We’ve had a busy year, brushing, signing and performing necessary repairs on our 103 mile trail system and our equipment. Please see our Facebook page for pictures and updates on what our dedicated volunteers have accomplished. Thank you all for riding our trail system and supporting the businesses that support the Sault Ste. Marie Snowmobile Association!—
-There is now a plowed parking area at the beginning of trail #8 under the International Bridge, which has an all season porta John. Make sure you lock your vehicles and trailers.
-We now have a marked trail going to Chippewa Motors. It starts once you come out of the woods east of M-129 off #449. It comes into their parking lot from behind if you need parts or service.
-City curfew is from 1 am – 6 am. Remember most City streets are open to traffic 20 mph, stop at all intersections, and ride on the right hand side of street not on side walks. Watch for closed streets that are posted, mainly around the hospital, university, and state trunk lines.
-When the trail is running along roads make sure you go with the flow of traffic on the right side of the road.
-Remember trail base is the amount of snow between your track and the ground below not the amount of fluff piled up in the woods. 10 inches of snow compresses to less then a inch on the trail.
-If you are staying in the Sault please look at our list of supporters on our web page and give them your business. Please do that in all towns you visit. The grooming entities are all made up of volunteers who want you to support those who support us!!!!!!
-Follow us on Facebook too!
-www.sootrails.org
*Sault Ste. Marie to Brimley, Trail #8 –
Poor to fair – watch for some slag rocks between the Soo and 6 mile in spots. Thin, and getting thinner with warm temps
*Brimley to Raco, Trail #8 and #480 to just west of Spile Dam-
Fair – thin, especially as you leave Brimley, better toward Raco
Please use extra caution between Irish Line Rd and the Raco powerline. There is a new culvert here that you will catch air on and potentially lose control if you’re going too fast.
When going across the bridge in Brimley make sure you go with the flow of traffic! Blowing and drifting occurs when you first leave Brimley.
Watch for trail change going south just before getting to Raco.
*Mission Hill trail
Good
*Bay Mills Connector Trail-
Fair- it will change to poor with warm temps and sunshine. There is a very large washout here! DO NOT attempt to cross it! We have rerouted around it along the road shoulder
*Sault Ste. Marie City Trail, Trails #497, #449, parts of #8 & #49
Poor to Fair- thin
Be sure to stop at the stop sign on top of the hill by the tunnel. It is very difficult for groomers to stop when they are going up hill so please stop and stay off to the side.
We now have a marked trail going to Chippewa Motors. It starts once you come out of the woods east of M-129 off #449. It comes into their parking lot from behind if you need parts or service.
City curfew is from 1 am – 6 am. Remember most City streets are open to traffic 20 mph, stop at all intersections, and ride on the right hand side of the street, not on side walks. Watch for closed streets that are posted, mainly around the hospital, university, and state trunk lines.
*Sault Ste. Marie to Kinross, Trail #49 –
CLOSED until further notice from Alberta Ln to Gaines Hwy due to excessive water.
*Kinross loop & south to Pickford, Parts of Trail #49, #472, and #494-
Fair to good but thin
*Kinross to Raco & Rudyard, Parts of trail #472 & #480-
Fair to good but thin
There is a long stretch of road riding along Ploegstra Road before you get to the Spile Dam area where it is down to pavement when we do not have recent snow
Ride safe, ride right, lead right, ride sober!