Michigan has a wide variety of beautiful snowmobile trails to experience. We have prepared a list of these Michigan snowmobile trails to save you time in your search.
Our 12 picks for the best Michigan snowmobile trails are as follows:
- Allegan County
- Curtis
- Gaylord
- Marquette
- Munising
- Seney
- Paradise
- Sanilac County
- Cadillac
- Sault Ste. Marie
- Newberry
- Bill Nichols Trail
Read on to learn more about the best places to snowmobile in Michigan including the details of each.
Michigan Snowmobile Trails – The 12 Best Trails
1. Allegan County
Allegan County is one of the best places to snowmobile in Michigan with its 98 miles of amazing snowmobile trails. Its annual snowfall averages around 70 inches, making it ideal for snowmobilers to enjoy the splendid adventure. The Allegan County trails are interconnected to other snowmobile trails in Michigan, so you can conveniently ride into another trail.
The ride may not be for newbie snowmobilers as the trails are winding and hilly; an inexperienced rider may take a wrong turn and cause a mishap. Nevertheless, with a reliable guide, it could be a challenge that new riders would want to conquer. In case you want to ride alone, you have to drive at an appropriate speed and follow the markers for your own safety.
Should you decide to ride this trail, the reward would be tremendous as the wildlife you could encounter is enthralling. The splendid views along the way from Indiana to Gun Lake are also breathtaking. The wooded area following the Kalamazoo River offers a sniff of nature that many people would find relaxing and inspiring.
2. Curtis
The snowmobile trails Michigan can be proud of in the Upper Peninsula is the 140-mile stretch of the Curtis snowmobile trail and the Manistique Lakes Area. This trail is perfectly maintained by the Curtis Michigan Chamber of Commerce and as a result, it was voted by SnowGoer Magazine for various awards. Two of them are The “Best Overall Snowmobiling Area” and “Best Power Riding in the United States.”
Curtis is in the bucket list of the majority of snowmobilers as the trail offers unprecedented 20,000 acres of terrain and lakes. Its has all the mesmerizing scenic spots and incredible wildlife you would hope for. In fact, this famous trail has also been awarded the “Most Scenic” snowmobile trail in the U.S. So, remember to bring a reliable camera with you.
To add to all these advantages, you would certainly enjoy an adventurous ride into the heart of Michigan as the Curtis Trail would connect you to the various trails of the State of Michigan Trail System. You could go on for days exploring the 2,500 miles of superb trails.
3. Gaylord
There’s no dearth of great snowmobiling trails in Michigan. The area of Gaylord is another best place to snowmobile in Michigan. From there, you could ride to the other trails in the area. You could also travel to the city in your snowmobile at 10 mph, using the side streets, and avoiding sidewalks. Isn’t that a pleasant surprise?
The popular trails in Gaylord are the: North Branch Trail and the North Central State Trail. The North Branch Trail stretches 73 miles from Gaylord to Mackinaw City. It provides an ultimate journey for a snowmobiler as the varied encounter with vast farmlands, the primeval forest, and the quaint villages could leave you in awe.
The North Central State Trail connects to a number of equally beautiful trails, such as another snowmobilers’ paradise – the Blue Bear Trail of Kalkaska. You could also venture west into the Jordan Valley forest, or to the Lewiston’s Lovells Trail in the east. It’s an endless array of snowmobilers’ trails that you can explore at your heart’s desire.
4. Marquette
Next on our list of the best snowmobile trail Michigan is Marquette. The Marquette County offers a number of groomed state-funded trails for adventurous snowmobilers, who want to bask in the pristine snow and the wonders that go with it.
These trails are interconnected to the extensive and broad 13,000-mile Michigan trail system. Some of these trails are the: Arnold Trail, the Clowry Trail, the Republic Trail, the Big Bay Trail, and the Marquette Trail.
Since Marquette is the largest county of Michigan, you can expect additional trails operated by private entities. Reportedly there are more than a dozen recognized trails in Marquette that totals to around 341 miles. These trails have multiple uses, such as snowmobiling, biking, walking, hiking, and dog-walking.
5. Munising
Munising Michigan claims the title “Snowmobile Capital of the Midwest”. Rightfully so, because it can take pride in the over 300 miles of great snowmobiling trails that any enthusiast would want to explore. The trails are regularly groomed as the weather permits.
The exciting snowmobile trails can carry you through Great Lakes, into the inviting forest and over hundreds of miles of scenic spots, streams, and falls that could, most probably, calm your restless spirit.
The snowmobile trail system of Munising extends from Shingleton to Grand Marais, Manistique, Marquette, Chatham, Seney, and Rapid River. Alger County has so much to offer that a ride in this area would be a rewarding and learning experience.
6. Seney
Next on our list of the best snowmobile trail in Michigan is Seney. Seney boasts of 90 miles of snowmobile trails that are connected to several trail systems in the area. The exciting trail can be conquered by new or old riders alike as long as they’re equipped appropriately and properly.
The trail is maintained by the officers of the Seney Snowmobile Association, which is a non-profit group concerned in granting snowmobilers a fabulous experience in the trails.
Although Seney, may have had a negative reputation in the past because of rowdiness, (when saloons mushroomed in the area due to logging), the town now is the center of recreational events, such as snowmobiling, hiking, and wildlife preservation.
The snowmobile trail provides a distinctive mark as the gateway to the North Country Trail. Seney is now one of the best places in Michigan to test your snowmobiling skills.
7. Paradise
The 200 miles of Paradise Trail in Michigan is one of the best places to snowmobile in Michigan. It offers snow-packed trails, and although the groomers are usually busy ensuring that the trails are properly maintained; nonetheless, inclement weather and the prevailing conditions may not allow them to do so.
Hence, you can expect to encounter some challenging parts of the trails. To ensure that you succeed in riding your snowmobile in that area, you may want to seek assistance from local guides or groomers. Paradise averages an amazing 106 inches of snow every year. Plus, snowmobilers could expect snow 7 months of snow a year; thus, you could still be snowmobiling in Paradise while the snow in other trails may have already melted.
Paradise sits at the heart of the Upper Peninsula’s snowmobile network of trails. So, you can imagine how extensive it is. The trails span to the scenic Whitefish Point, then to beautiful Newberry, and continues to St. Ignace, and then to the enticing Grand Marais. You may opt to ride to the Upper and Lower Tahquamenon Falls to experience its grandeur, as well.
8. Sanilac County
Sanilac County offers more than a hundred miles of properly groomed trails. One of the most popular trails is the Thumbs Up Snowmobile Trails that extend into the Port Sanilac Lighthouse and the Sanilac Shores Underwater Preserve. The county has an abundance of the white stuff; thus, it’s a preferred haven for snowmobilers and those who love winter sports.
The 120-miles of Thumbs Up Snowmobile Trails are typically groomed every day. The trails traverse through Forester, Sandusky, Minden, Deckerville, and Ruth. You can have fun driving through privately owned lands that provide the same outstanding views and scenic spots as state-maintained public places and trails.
9. Cadillac
The Cadillac area is one of the best Michigan snowmobile trails as the 200-mile groomed trails have significant markers that allow snowmobilers to maneuver the area safely. Just like other Michigan trails, Cadillac connects to the extensive network trail system of Michigan.
You may want to follow the 92-mile White Pine Trail to the White Pine State Park and explore its inherent beauty. You could venture into Manistee National Forest and the Grand Rapids to marvel at the glorious views.
If you want a greater snowmobile adventure, you could go, south, north, or west to connect with other Michigan trails. Taking your family to a grand winter vacation – when the local situation permits – would be an excellent idea. You can all submerge yourself into the delightful world of nature’s sights and scents.
10. Sault Ste. Marie
The City of Sault Ste. Marie became famous for hosting the International 500, a snowmobile race of the best riders in the world. It provides more than 100 miles of superb snowmobile trails that go to various places in the area. You could ride to St. Ignace, Pickford, Newberry, or to Paradise, Cedarville. and Strongs.
The trails will also take you to remarkable places outdoors that you would definitely appreciate. You would experience also some parts of the trail that ran along roads. Hence, you must know and observe road courtesy and the laws of the state of Michigan regarding snowmobiles.
Be alert to the announcements of local groomers whether the trails are smooth and passable or not. They ensure that the trails are in tiptop condition, but there may be times that the trails can’t be maintained due to harsh weather or emergencies.
11. Newberry
Newberry village is a perfect destination for snowmobilers, who want to experience the massive network of trails in Michigan. You can start your adventure from there and travel the vast trails of the state. You could connect easily to the 128 miles of trails in the Upper Peninsula. This is because Newberry is found exactly at the heart of the UP.
With hundreds of miles of national forests that surround Newberry, you can take in Mother Nature and the peace and tranquility it can provide.
Tahquamenon Falls is another destination you must visit. The wilderness in Newberry can serve as a refreshing adventure for snowmobilers who are on vacation from their urban areas. Newberry offers some of the best upper Michigan snowmobile trails you can ride.
12. Bill Nichols Trail
This exceptional trail provides 41 miles of pure delight to snowmobilers, as the trail ventures into historical sights and indigenous wildlife. You would have a field day filming and capturing all these fascinating views in the Keweenaw Peninsula.
You can start from Houghton’s Canal Drive and follow the Copper Range Railroad to the Twin Lakes State Park, and then to Adventure Mountain. During the journey, you would be crossing the Firesteel River bridges before arriving at Adventure Mountain. The last part of the trail to the mountain may be rugged, so keep an eye for those crucial road marks, and beware of other snowmobilers.
The last leg of the ride into Houghton is easier as its downhill; so take time to appreciate the astonishing view of one of the historical places in the city – the Portage Lake Ship Canal. The ride would be educational and fun as you learn about the history of the place while enjoying the beauty and joy the unique trail provides.
Conclusion – Michigan Snowmobile Trails – 12 Best Trails
So to recap, what are the best places to snowmobile in Michigan? Our top 12 picks for Michigan snowmobile trails are as follows:
- Allegan County
- Curtis
- Gaylord
- Marquette
- Munising
- Seney
- Paradise
- Sanilac County
- Cadillac
- Sault Ste. Marie
- Newberry
- Bill Nichols Trail
These trails have their own perks to offer; so, we cannot recommend only one. Every person has his own likes and dislikes and what’s the best for one may not be the best for you.
If you are traveling to Michigan from out of state, or perhaps even out of the country, I highly recommend taking a trip to more than one of these places. There are so many beautiful snowmobile trails in Michigan that it would be a shame to limit yourself to only one.
