Trail Reports
Up-to-date Michigan Tech Groomer Reports
May 8, 2020
Swedetown – Sorry, but there’s not quite enough snow out there this morning to drag or set tracks…
April 27, 2020
Swedetown – While we are through grooming for the season, there’s still lots of snow out there, but please exercise condition as there are a number of hazards–bare spots, sticks, leaves, etc. We will be closing gates and putting up cables today to protect the trails from motorized incursions, so please be aware that there may be additional hazards on your favorite sections of trails.
April 26, 2020
Swedetown – Another great season has come to a close! Classic tracks were set on all loops, and all trails were dragged, but there are a lot of “thin” spots out there–expect to do a little walking (but not much!) on your favorite trail segments. Powderhouse is closed from the field section to the connector on Greenstone, but both Powderhouse and Pine have a lot of debris in the snow–no wax recommendations for that unfortunately.
On behalf of the groomers, the Board, and the many volunteers that support Swedetown Trails Club, thanks for a great season, have a safe summer, and we’ll see everyone in just a few short months!
April 25, 2020
Swedetown – All trails were dragged this morning, but conditions will deteriorate quickly as the temperatures rise. The classic tracks are hit and miss: we will try to set tracks again this evening, but don’t expect them to last more than a day again. Please exercise caution when on the trails: there’s some “rough sledding” out there! You may see a shovel in some places: feel free to throw some snow on the trail at that spot. Grooming completed at 8:30 am (when the temperature hit 40°).
April 24, 2020
Swedetown – Classic tracks have been set on all trails, and unlike the previous day’s effort, we had excellent results: get out early while they’re still firm and fast because they won’t last long! All trails have been dragged and are firm and fast as well. Powderhouse is still skiable, but we will no longer be grooming that trail because we’ve lost access with our grooming equipment. Grooming completed at 9:00 am.
April 23, 2020
Swedetown – All trails dragged, and classic tracks were set on Len’s Loop, Valley, Greenstone, the Bear Loops, and the Tree Loops (Cedar, Birch, Tamarack), with mixed success. The tracks are generally good on Valley, Greenstone and the Bear Loops, but it was a challenge to get a good trackset on the rest of the trails as the temperatures dropped more quickly than expected yesterday evening. We will be tracksetting on the rest of the trails this afternoon, and hope to have good tracks in place throughout the system by tomorrow. Grooming completed at 8:30 am.
April 22, 2020
Swedetown – All trails dragged; there’s still plenty of good skiing, as long as it’s early in the day before the snow warms up. PLEASE do not go on the trails if you’re leaving gouges and ruts! We should have good skiing for another week, as long as we protect our trails. In the next couple of days we will no longer be able to access Greenstone, the Bear Loops and Powderhouse, which means we will not be able to drag out deep ruts and gouges, which accelerate melting. The trails will not be closed; we will no longer be able to groom them. The Snow Bike Trails are still looking good, but with the same caveat: do not ride if you are sinking and leaving ruts. Grooming completed at 8:30 am.
Note: we will be setting classic tracks on Valley, Greenstone, the Bear Loops, and Powderhouse later today when the snow warms up. The tracks should be ready to go tomorrow morning after setting up tonight!
April 21, 2020
Swedetown – All trails dragged, and conditions are still pretty darned good, but it looks unlikely that we’ll hit the six month grooming mark for the year (November 8th to May 8th). We expect to lose some trails this week (Greenstone and the Bear Loops), but we’ll do everything we can to keep things going! The Snow Bike Trails are still looking good for early morning riding. Grooming completed at 8:00 am.
April 20, 2020
Swedetown – All trails dragged, good to very good conditions throughout the system. It’s going fast though, so get out and enjoy it while it lasts! Grooming completed at 7:30 am.
April 19, 2020
Swedetown – A little fresh snow brightened up the trails after yesterday’s damp weather. All trails were dragged, and conditions are generally very good throughout the system. There are some icy spots in the trails where the sun has been working on the snow–exercise caution on south-facing slopes and grades. The Snow Bike Trails were dragged on Saturday evening, and are still best early in the morning when the snow is cold. Grooming completed at 9:00 am.
April 18, 2020
Swedetown – We tried again, but the trails are too soft for grooming. However, early-morning conditions are still great, before the trails get too soft. The classic tracks are holding up, and have a nice glaze in them early in the day. The Snow Bike Trails were dragged Friday evening and were very rideable this morning but still some soft spots. The water on loop four has been bypassed. Posted at 9:00 am.
April 17, 2020
Swedetown – Grooming has been suspended again today due to the nature of the snow pack. The trails are in great shape, but the snow is very dry and is easily damaged by our snowmobiles and drags at this time. The best skiing will be early in the day when there is a slight glaze to the tracks and skate deck, but skiers are reporting good conditions throughout the day, especially classic skiing. Posted at 8:00 am.
April 16, 2020
Swedetown – After an initial pass on Len’s Loop, grooming was suspended this morning in order to preserve the trail surface. The skate deck is still a little soft from the recent snow, but the classic tracks are in great shape! The Snow Bike Trails are holding up well, but are a bit soft as well due to the new snow. Expect things to soften up as the temperatures rise, but overall conditions at Swedetown are very good. Posted at 6:30 am.
April 15, 2020
Swedetown – A repeat of yesterday: all trails tilled and tracked, and once again excellent conditions throughout the system! Grooming completed at 8:30 am.
April 14, 2020
Swedetown – All trails tilled and tracked. Excellent conditions throughout the system! The Snow Bike Trails were worked over yesterday, and will be groomed again this morning to take care of overnight drifting, but expect to find a few soft spots. The Multiuse (Dog) Loops are not being groomed because we can no longer access the trails due to a snow bridge melting last week. They are still accessible from Woodland Road, but part of the loops were damaged on Saturday by ATVs. Grooming completed at 8:30 am.
Maasto Hiihto/Churning Rapids – All trails rolled. Tracks were set on the city-side trails, Meadow/Vista, and River Bypass to Mud Lake Bypass. Use caution as there are many areas of open water and exposed ground.
April 13, 2020
Swedetown – All trails tilled and tracked with the exception of Papa Bear and Ed’s, but blustery conditions have covered some of the earlier efforts. If you didn’t know better, you’d think it was early December! Grooming completed at 5:00 pm.
April 12, 2020
Swedetown – Trails are dragged. Posted at 7:15 am
April 11, 2020
Swedetown – All tasks freshly dragged and the classic tracks look beautiful–spring skiing has never been better! Get out on the Snow Bike Trails before they get soft! Grooming completed at 8:30 am.
April 10, 2020
Swedetown – All trails were dragged and tracked and with lower temperatures forecast for today and tomorrow, should hold up well. Grooming has stopped on the Multiuse (Dog) Loops because the snow bridge at Bruce’s Crossing is gone. If you do venture out on the Dog Loops, please be careful as the snow bridges over some of the other low spots won’t be far behind. The Snow Bike Trails are still looking good, but it’s best to ride early while they’re still frozen. Grooming completed at 9:30 am.
April 9, 2020
Swedetown – All trails were dragged, and are in pretty good shape! There is a fair amount of debris in places, but there’s still plenty of good skiing left this season. We will be resetting the classic tracks tonight in anticipation of some bluebird days over the weekend. The Snow Bike Trails were dragged last night; expect to find good riding again the next few mornings while the trail is frozen. Watch out for the water hole on Loop 4 if not frozen! Grooming completed at 9:00 am.
April 8, 2020
Swedetown – Trails were dragged this morning, but by 10:00 the icy surfaces were softening on their own. All trails are open, but there is quite a bit of debris on wooded sections, especially Greenstone Road, Pine, and sections of Powderhouse. Grooming completed at 9:30 am.
April 7, 2020
Swedetown – Grooming is suspended this morning due to warm temperatures and impending rain. As always, we’re hoping for a drop in temperature so that this precipitation will turn into something we can use. As of yesterday all trails are open, but please be aware that conditions can change rapidly under these circumstances: expect to find bare or debris-laden spots in places, and exercise caution around snow bridges, especially on the Multiuse (Dog) Loops. Posted at 5:45 am.
April 6, 2020
Swedetown – We’re hanging in there: all trails were dragged, but it’s advisable to get out quick before the rain starts coming down! Generally good conditions prevail throughout the system, but the best snow will be found on Valley, Greenstone Loop, the Bear Loops, and the Tree Loops. The wooded sections of Pine and Powderhouse are seeing a fair amount of accumulated debris. The Snow Bike Trails are also looking good, but it won’t be long until they’ll just be “The Bike Trails.” Grooming completed at 8:30 am.
April 5, 2020
Swedetown – All trails, including the Multiuse Loops, were dragged this morning: expect to find fast conditions in the morning, and then generally slower conditions as the temperatures rise. There is a slight reroute on part of Powderhouse to avoid a “thin” (i.e., grassy) spot. The classic tracks have a nice glaze in them and promise to be a lot of fun! The Snow Bike Trails are also holding up well, but the regular guidelines still apply: low tire pressure and if you’re sinking in, please come back when the snow is firmer. Grooming completed at 8:30 am.
April 4, 2020
Swedetown – A little snow can go a long way! All trails are tilled and tracked and not looking too shabby! There is a thin spot on the Jekyll/Hyde hills on Powderhouse, but it’s marked. Be aware that last night’s thin coating will obscure some of the debris on the trails as well. Ski safe, be safe, and enjoy it while it lasts! Grooming completed at 7:30 a.m.
Maasto Hiihto/Churning Rapids – All trails smoothed out and tracked. The River trail in the gorge and Christensen road were not groomed due to areas of exposed ground. Expect good to very good spring conditions.
April 3, 2020
Swedetown – All trails were dragged this morning. Trails are in good shape considering the weather! However, you may want to bring your “B” skis for the wooded sections: there is a fair amount of debris in the snow. If the weather holds (i.e. not raining), tomorrow will be the last day is the season for the Husky. We’ll till and track but please be aware that the trail is getting thin and skiers may encounter dirt and grassy spots on south-facing exposures. Grooming completed at 8:30 am.
April 2, 2020
Swedetown – All trails were dragged this morning, including the Multiuse Loops. The trails are holding up well, and the best skiing will be early in the morning before the temperatures start to rise. We have had some issues with walkers and late skiers on the trails: please do not go on the trails if you’re leaving ruts–that will only degrade the trails faster! (See pictures at Swedetown’s FB page) Grooming completed at 9:00 am.
April 1, 2020
Swedetown – All trails dragged; good conditions throughout the system, but we are starting to feel the effects of both increased daily temperatures and an accumulation of debris on the more wooded sections. Grooming completed at 8:30 am.
March 31, 2020
Swedetown – All trails, including the Multuse (Dog) Loops, were freshly dragged. Expect to find great conditions at Swedetown until it warms up. Please respect the trails and other users: if conditions are extremely soft and the trails are getting damaged, please come back when the snow pack is colder. Grooming completed at 9:00 am.
March 30, 2020
Swedetown – All trails tilled and tracked and the Snow Bike Trails were freshly dragged. Expect to find great conditions at Swedetown until it warms up later in the day. Grooming completed at 10:00 am.
Maasto Hiihto/Churning Rapids – All trails dragged and tracked. There are some areas of exposed ground and water, but we will continue grooming if conditions allow. The River trail in the gorge (Sidewinder to Dam hill) will not be groomed for the rest of the season. Expect good to very good spring conditions.
March 29, 2020
Swedetown – Grooming is suspended today until this falling precipitation turns back into a more tractable state. Posted at 9:30 am.
March 28, 2020
Swedetown – All trails were dragged; typical spring conditions–“rocket fast” in the morning but slowing down as temperatures increase. The classic tracks were reset yesterday and look great, but we (regretfully) are no longer setting our “ski with friends” side-by-side tracks to help ensure social distancing compliance. Enjoy the trails but stay safe, look out for yourself, your family, your friends and neighbors. Grooming completed at 8:30 am.
March 27, 2020
Swedetown – We did the best we can with what we have: all trails tilled and tracked, but get ’em while they last! Generally very good conditions prevail throughout the system, but as the sun rises and the temperature goes up, the tracks and skate lanes will start to soften. The Snow Bike Trails are in great shape, but expect to find softer conditions throughout the day. Please remember to follow social distancing guidelines–maintain at least six feet between yourself and other individuals, and do not bunch up in groups. Grooming completed at 8:30 am.
March 26, 2020
Swedetown – Skate lanes were dragged on Wednesday evening, but quickly softened in the morning sun, as well as the classic tracks. Skiers can expect to find fast conditions early in the morning until temperatures rise and the sun hits the snow. The classic tracks are holding up fairly well with recent temperatures but will be reset Friday morning. Crust skiing is good until temperatures rise. Please exercise recommended guidelines for social distancing when visiting Swedetown trails. Posted at 1:30 pm.
March 25, 2020
Swedetown – Grooming suspended this morning due to warm temperatures. There is still plenty of base and snow, but conditions will be soft. If you’re on the Snow Bike Trails, make sure to ride with low pressure (3-5 psi or lower), and if you’re leaving ruts, pull off and come back when the trails have firmed up. Posted at 7:30 am.
Maasto Hiihto/Churning Rapids – All Maasto Hiihto trails dragged and tracked. Tracks were reset on all Churning Rapids trails.
March 24, 2020
Swedetown – All trails dragged, including the Snow Bike Trails and Multiuse (Dog) Loops. The skate lanes are firm and fast, especially in the morning, and the classic tracks are holding up well with our warmer temperatures, but they too will be fast when the snow is colder. The Snow Bike Trails are firm and very fast! REMINDER: For those out enjoying the trails and woods at Swedetown, please remember to keep at least 6 FEET between yourself and other non-family members. Let’s put coronavirus in its place so that things can get back to normal! Posted at 1:00 pm.
March 23, 2020
Swedetown- All trails were dragged, and although there is plenty of base, expect to find typical spring skiing, i.e., hard and fast in the morning, slower and softer as the temperatures rise throughout the day. We will continue to groom as conditions allow. PLEASE NOTE: while outdoor activities are permitted under Executive Order 2020-21 (COVID-19), please use discretion if visiting Swedetown and follow the recommendations as outlined in the order. The full contents of the order can be found at : https://www.michigan.gov/whitmer/0,9309,7-387-90499_90705-522626–,00.html . Posted at 2:00 pm.
March 22, 2020
Swedetown – All trails were dragged and conditions are excellent throughout the system. Early morning adventurers may wish to try venturing into the woods and fields: there are numerous tracks showing that the snow is setting up nicely for crust skiing. After today, all facilities (chalet and bathrooms) will be closed at Swedetown. Grooming completed at 11:00 am.
March 21, 2020
Copper Harbor – Copper Harbor village trails groomed and tracked for classic. Fort Wilkins trails groomed for hiking and biking.
Swedetown – All trails were freshly dragged, including the Multiuse and Snow Bike Trails. Excellent conditions for the last week of March! The lower level of the chalet will be open on Saturday and Sunday, but in accordance with recommended guidelines, minimal use is recommended, avoid overcrowding, and practice social distancing. Grooming will continue as conditions allow. Posted at 8:00 am.
Churning Rapids Snow Bike- Trails groomed Friday night. Very good conditions.
Maasto Hiihto/Churning Rapids – All trails dragged and tracked. Very good to excellent conditions. We will continue grooming if conditions allow.
March, 20, 2020
Swedetown – The Husky is out and all trails will be tilled and tracked shortly! The latest weather front mean excellent conditions prevail throughout the system! Please remember to exercise social distancing and other precautions if you are out. Posted at 4:00 pm.
March 19, 2020
Swedetown – The trails were dragged, but our work was quickly erased by the drizzle that moved in later this morning. Expect to find soft conditions, but fast (depending on your wax!)
March 17,2020
Churning Rapids Snow Bike- Trails were groomed Monday night. Looks like good riding Tuesday through Wednesday morning.
Swedetown – All trails tilled and tracked–excellent conditions throughout the system. The Snow Bike trails and Multi-use Loops have also been dragged Please note: the upper level of the chalet is now closed. We are working on arrangements for opening the lower level of the chalet (bathrooms and changing area). Please follow precaution advisories and limit occupancy to no more than 10 people when the lower level is open. Grooming will continue through at least the end of March–as long as trail conditions permit. Grooming completed at 10:00 am.
Maasto Hiihto/Churning Rapids – All trails dragged and tracked. Tracks in open areas may be covered from the wind and blowing snow. Excellent conditions.
March 16,2020
Chassell- The tracks have been removed and the trail is open to snowbikes and snowshoeing. The trail is not open to walkers. Thanks to all the classic cross country skiers for their generosity this winter. Classic grooming will resume in December 2020.
Swedetown – Trails were dragged, including the Multiuse (Dog) Loops. A little bit of new snow has freshened up the trails nicely! Grooming completed at 10:00 am.
March 15, 2020
Maasto Hiihto/Churning Rapids – All trails dragged and tracked. Excellent conditions.
March 14, 2020
Chassell- Trail grooming was completed at 7:00 a.m. Conditions are excellent. There are some soft areas where the drifting was the greatest.
Copper Harbor – Trails freshly groomed and virus free. Copper Harbor village and Fort Wilkins trails are firm and best suited for hiking and biking. Tracking will resume after additional snow accumulation
Swedetown – All trails tilled and tracked, Multipurpose Loops packed and rolled, and the Snow Bike Trails have been freshly dragged. Although there is still some debris present from the recent high winds, trails are in very good condition. Grooming completed at 11:00 am.
March 13, 2020
Chassell– The trail was cleared of significant windfalls and tracked this morning. Conditions vary from windblown to excellent. There are many opportunities for awesome photos. This will be the last weekend that the trail will be groomed for classic skiing. On Monday morning,March16th, the tracks will be scrubbed and the trail will be available for people who wish to snow bike or snow shoe.
Swedetown – All trails tilled and tracked but continued high winds are making a mess of things, with a fair amount of wind-blown debris strewn about. For the brave and hardy, it’s not bad! Grooming completed at 3:00 pm.
Maasto Hiihto/Churning Rapids – All trails rolled. Due to the high winds and blowing snow an abbreviated track pattern was set. Expect to find some debris on the trails.
March 12, 2020
Swedetown – Due to warm temperatures and soft snow, as well as expected rain forecast throughout the day, grooming has been suspended this morning. The Snow Bike Trails are soft as well and should not be ridden on if ruts are being created. Posted at 8:30 am.
March 11, 2020
Churning Rapids Snow Bike – Please stay off of the snow bike singletrack Wednesday afternoon through Thursday. Trails are soft with the warm temperatures, and we are trying to preserve them for our enduro race on Saturday morning (email mklein@mtu.edu if you have questions about the race). Riding should be good on Friday and through the weekend.
March 10, 2020
Swedetown – Trails were dragged this morning, and are holding up well with the current spring conditions. Expect to find icy and fast conditions in the morning, softer and slower conditions in the afternoon. Grooming completed at 10:30 am.
March 9, 2020
Chassell- Grooming has again been suspended. The trail is very icy. If we get new snow, we will groom again.
Churning Rapids Snow Bike- Trails are frozen and fast after the weekend thaw. Should be ok without studs, but use caution.
Maasto Hiihto/Churning Rapids – Grooming has been suspended until more snow arrives. Tomasi hill, New River trail, and Sunset trail (Intersection #22 to #25) were damaged by snowmobiles on Sunday afternoon. Unfortunately we are unable to fix the damage with the current weather conditions. Use caution as the trails are very fast and icy.
March 8, 2020
Maasto Hiihto/Churning Rapids – All trails dragged and tracked. Conditions range from good to excellent.
March 7, 2020
Copper Harbor – Copper Harbor village and Fort Wilkins trails are all groomed and tracked. Excellent for classic skiing, hiking and biking.
Swedetown – All trails tilled and tracked, tracks and patterns set back to the regular skiing patterns. The Snow Bike Trails were also dragged. Although conditions are generally very good throughout the system, expect conditions to deteriorate quickly as the temperatures rise. A big THANK YOU! to all the Bear Chase racers, supporters, volunteers and everyone else involved in making the 40th Annual Great Bear Chase a success! Grooming completed at 5:00 am.
March 6, 2020
Chassell- The trail was groomed and tracked on Friday morning. Conditions are excellent. Probably as nice as it will be any more this season. Grooming completed at 7:15.
Copper Harbor – Copper Harbor village and Fort Wilkins trails are all groomed and tracked. Excellent for classic skiing, hiking and biking.
Swedetown – All trails tracked and tilled, ready for a sunny day before the Bear Chase. We’ve caught up with the latest lake effect bounty and are on our way back to excellent conditions at Swedetown! The Snow Bike Trails have been dragged and should set up fairly quickly. NOTE: the trails are currently groomed for the Great Bear Chase, so there are different tracks in places, as well as directional arrows that are for the race. Please consult a map if you are unfamiliar with Swedetown Trails, or catch one of the groomers taking care of last-minute details for the Bear Chase. Please be aware that grooming equipment may be out on the trails at times as well. Grooming completed at 10:00 am.
Churning Rapids Snow Bike- We pushed the new snow off the trails with the V plow on Friday morning. Excellent conditions Friday afternoon. Saturday morning should be very good, but it will probably get soft in the afternoon.
Maasto Hiihto/Churning Rapids – All trails rolled and tracked. Excellent conditions.
March 5, 2020
Swedetown – There will be a delayed start to grooming today as the weather system develops. Tracks will be set for Bear Chase pattern, so expect to find a few changes on Pine, Valley, and Greenstone. Posted at 6:00 am.
March 4, 2020
Swedetown – The trails were dragged this morning, including the Multipurpose (D0g) Loops. The Snow Bike Trails were dragged on Tuesday, and are fast and firm. Everyone has their fingers crossed that this front will bring lots of snow to impress our out-of-town visitors here for the Great Bear Chase! Volunteers are still needed: go to https://runsignup.com/Race/Volunteer/MI/Calumet/GreatBearChase to see how you can help! Grooming completed at 10:00 am.
March 3, 2020
Chassell- The upper trail is groomed and tracked. Conditions are good to excellent. The lower trail tracks have been scrubbed. Hoping for some snow so we can set tracks on the lower trail at least one more time this winter. Grooming completed at 8:00 a.m.
March 2, 2020
Chassell – With the high temperatures on Sunday, and below freezing temps today, the trail will be extremely fast. Please use only the upper trail that is accessed from the Archambeau Rd. And even then, please use extreme caution. With the high winds last night and continuing today, there will be a lot of debris on the trail, which will need to be cleaned up. Once again, thank you for your patience. There will be no grooming today.
Copper Harbor – Copper Harbor village, Fort Wilkins, and Trails End Campground trails are all groomed and hard pack. Excellent for hiking and biking. Waiting for good snow to set tracks for classic.
Swedetown – Trails were dragged, but the recent gusty winds have added even more debris to trails already suffering from high temperatures and too much sun. The more wooded sections of Powderhouse, Pine, and parts of Greenstone have a fair amount of debris. The Bear Loops and Tree Loops are fairly clean, and skiers will find the trails to be firm and fast. Grooming completed at 10:30 am. Pray for snow…
Churning Rapids Snow Bike- Trails are very firm and fast, but unfortunately also icy in some places. Use caution if riding without studded tires.
March 1, 2020
Swedetown – The skate lanes and Multipurpose (Dog) Loops were freshly dragged this morning. A big thank-you to all the Ski Tigers and supporters who came out to enjoy the trails at Swedetown yesterday! Conditions are very good, but expect to find some debris in wooded areas, and the trails will be softening as the temperatures rise. Grooming completed at 9:30 am.
February 29, 2020
Swedetown – Excellent conditions throughout the system at Swedetown, but except things to soften as the temperature rises. Grooming completed at 11:00 am.
February 28, 2020
Churning Rapids Snow Bike- The fluffy snow was pushed aside with the V plow on Thursday night. Excellent riding.
Copper Harbor – All trails are groomed corduroy. The Village and Fort Wilkins trails are hard pack and have icy sections, so please exercise caution on hills and grades. Trails end campground is groomed corduroy also. We will be setting tracks as new snow arrives
Maasto Hiihto/Churning Rapids – All trails dragged and tracked. Excellent conditions.
Swedetown – All trails tilled and tracked and the Multiuse and Snow Bike Trails have been freshly dragged. Please excuse the mess on some (limited) sections of the trail–our groomers have been out taking care of those pesky sticks and branches that intrude on the trails. Grooming completed at 11:00 am.
February 27, 2020
Chassell- Grooming completed at 6:15 a.m. on the complete trail. Conditions range from very good under the Hemlocks, to excellent for the majority of the trail.
Swedetown – We are starting at 9:00 this morning to catch as much snow during the day as we’re grooming. The new snow will go a long way toward covering up the debris from the recent mid-winter thaw and conditions will quickly get back to excellent!
Maasto Hiihto/Churning Rapids – All trails rolled and tracked. Tracks in open areas may be covered from the blowing snow. Excellent conditions.
February 26, 2020
Chassell- The tracks were scrubbed from the entire trail, and the large debris was removed. Tracks were set on the upper part of the trail which is accessible from the Archambeau Rd. parking area. The tracks range from fair to very good. The trail remains icy, so use caution.
February 25, 2020
Churning Rapids Snow Bike – We tried to groom before the trails froze Monday night, but we were a little late so it wasn’t very effective. Riding should still be quite good overall, just a few bumps here and there.
February 24, 2020
Chassell- With the spring like conditions, grooming has been suspended and the trail will be closed until we get new snow that we can mix in to make the trail safe. Thank you for your patience.
Maasto Hiihto/Churning Rapids – Grooming has been suspended until more snow arrives. We hope to groom again on Thursday morning if enough snow falls. Use caution as the trails will be very fast for the next few days.
February 23, 2020
Swedetown – All trails dragged and ready to go! Expect to find soft conditions as this insufferable heat wave continues, as well as a fair amount of debris building up in the wooded sections. Grooming completed at 11:00 am.
February 22, 2020
Copper Harbor – Leveled and tracked today. Trail conditions with the exception of a heavily drifted area across the Fort Wilkins barracks are in excellent shape!
Swedetown – All trails tilled and tracked, generally very good to excellent conditions throughout the system. However, due to gusty winds over the past several days and the lack of fresh snow, skiers will find some debris on the wooded trails. The best skiing will be in the morning before rising temperatures cause conditions to soften. Grooming completed at 8:30 am.
Maasto Hiihto/Churning Rapids – All trails dragged and tracked. Conditions are excellent, but trails will soften as the temperature rises.
February 21, 2020
Chassell– The upper trail was groomed this morning because of the blowing snow yesterday, grooming completed at 5:00 a.m. Conditions are excellent.
Swedetown – Trails were groomed and should be excellent until ambient temperatures rise. Hang on for another warm spell! Grooming completed at 11:00 am.
February 20, 2020
Chassell- Grooming completed at 7:30. Conditions are excellent. Skiing for the next 2 days will be about as good as it gets on the Chassell trail.
Swedetown – All trails tilled and tracked; the Multiuse and Snow Bike Trails packed and dragged. Excellent conditions! Grooming completed at 12:00 pm.
Churning Rapids Snow Bike – All trails groomed Wednesday night. Good conditions overall, maybe some soft spots in the fields where there has been drifting the last few days. There is a new trail section that starts off of the Trillium-SuckyUp trail, drops into Brooks Gorge, and connects to Brooks Road at the bottom. Turn right when you get to Brooks Road to ride it as a loop. The bottom section is snowshoe groomed.
Maasto Hiihto/Churning Rapids – All trails dragged and tracked. Excellent conditions.
February 19, 2020
Churning Rapids Snow Bike – Pushed the soft snow off with the plow on Wednesday morning. Did not do the Tomasi connector, but the ski trails should be groomed today and we will hit it Wednesday night. There is a new trail section that starts off of the Trillium-SuckyUp trail, drops into Brooks Gorge, and connects to Brooks Road at the bottom. Turn right when you get to Brooks Road to ride it as a loop. The bottom section is snowshoe groomed.
Copper Harbor – All trails are open. Fresh snow this past week, Village and Fort Trail are groomed and tracks set for classic skiing. trails end is corduroy for all activities.
Maasto Hiihto/Churning Rapids – All trails rolled and an abbreviated track pattern was set. Tracks in open areas will be covered from the blowing snow.
Swedetown – All trails tilled and tracked, the Multipurpose Loops dragged. However, blowing snow will cover classic tracks quickly in open areas. Grooming completed at 11:00 am.
February 18, 2020
Swedetown – A little bit of snow goes a long way! All trails tilled and tracked and excellent conditions throughout the system! Grooming completed at 10:30 am.
February 17, 2020
Chassell- Grooming completed at 6:30 a.m. Conditions are excellent.
Maasto Hiihto/Churning Rapids – All trails dragged and tracked. Excellent conditions.
February 16, 2020
Swedetown – All trails tilled and tracked, skiers will find excellent conditions skating, striding, snowshoeing, pedaling, or simply taking Spot out for a run on the Multipurpose Trails! Grooming completed at 11:30 am.
February 15, 2020
Maasto Hiihto/Churning Rapids – Tracks were set on all trails. Excellent conditions.
Swedetown – All trails dragged, including the Multipurpose (D0g) Loops and Snow Bike Trails. Generally excellent conditions, but there is some wind-blown debris on some of the wooded sections. Skiers will find conditions to be firm and fast. The countdown for Bear Chase begins–three weeks from today! Grooming completed at 10:30 am.
February 14, 2020
Chassell– Grooming completed at 11:00 P.M. Conditions are excellent. The new snow that we received this morning is really nice.
Swedetown – All trails tilled and tracked; the Multipurpose Loops and Snow Bike Trails packed and dragged as well. As the temperatures rise it promises to be a sweetheart of a day at Swedetown Trails! Grooming completed at 11:30 am.
Maasto Hiihto/Churning Rapids – All trails rolled. Tracks were set on most city-side trails. Due to a mechanical failure we could not continue setting tracks. We hope to have the problem fixed as soon as possible.
Churning Rapids Snow Bike- The fresh snow from the last two days was pushed aside with the V plow. Should be great riding Saturday and Sunday.
February 13, 2020
Chassell- Grooming completed at 7:15 a.m. Conditions are excellent. Enjoy!
Swedetown – Due to extreme cold temperatures and more snow forecast throughout the day, there will be a delayed start to grooming–around 12:00. Please exercise caution if on the trails and protect yourself from the cold, and please watch for grooming equipment on the trails later in the day. Posted at 7:30 am.
Maasto Hiihto/Churning Rapids – All trails rolled and tracked. Due to the cold temps and blowing snow an abbreviated track pattern was set. Some trails that are normally double tracked were single tracked. Conditions are excellent.
February 12, 2020
Swedetown – Lake effect snow…and lots of it! Trails were tilled and tracked, but were quickly being covered as the weather system moved in. Grooming completed at 2:00 pm.
February 11, 2020
Copper Harbor – All trails are groomed and tracks set for classic skiing. Fresh snow has improved conditions. Village trail to trails end is groomed and in great shape, as well as Trails End Campground trail.
Maasto Hiihto/Churning Rapids – All trails dragged and tracked. Excellent conditions.
Swedetown – The skate lanes and Multi-use Trails were freshly dragged. There is some wind-blown snow on Papa Bear and Tamarack loops in the open sections, but the classic tracks are generally firm and fast. Grooming completed at 11:00 am.
February 9, 2020
Swedetown – The skate lanes are freshly dragged, the classic tracks firm and fast, and the Snow Bike Trails are ready for adventure! No matter your choice–skis, snowshoes, or two wheels–you’ll find excellent conditions throughout the system. Grooming completed at 11:00 am.
Maasto Hiihto/Churning Rapids – City-side trails were dragged and tracked for the Barnelopet. Excellent conditions on all trails.
February 8, 2020
Chassell – The trail was groomed on Saturday morning. Grooming completed at 7:00 a.m. With the new snow, conditions are excellent.
Copper Harbor – Main trails leveled and tracked. Good conditions.
Swedetown – All trails tilled and tracked, Multipurpose Loops and Snow Bike Trails dragged. Excellent conditions throughout the system! Grooming completed at 9:30 am.
Maasto Hiihto/Churning Rapids – All trails rolled and tracked. Excellent conditions.
Churning Rapids Snow Bike- Trails groomed Friday night and Saturday morning. Great conditions.
February 6, 2020
Chassell – Groomed and tracked on Thursday morning. Grooming completed at 7:30 a.m.. Conditions are very good to excellent, the snow is transformed so it is very fast.
Swedetown – All trails dragged. Brisk winds combined with the recent warm days have brought some debris down on the trails, but conditions are very good overall. Grooming completed at 11:30 am.
February 5, 2020
Churning Rapids Snow Bike- Trails have not been groomed since Sunday night, but they are still in near-perfect condition.
Maasto Hiihto/Churning Rapids – All trails dragged and tracked. Excellent conditions.
Swedetown – All trails dragged, excellent conditions on a sunny day! Grooming completed at 11:00 am.
February 4,2020
Chassell – Groomed and tracked on Tuesday morning. Continue to use caution if you ski down to the Heritage Center, the snow is really fast. Otherwise conditions are excellent. Grooming completed at 8:00 a.m.
Copper Harbor – Trails are hard packed, groomed, classic tracks set and are in great shape for biking and hiking. The trail off Bernard Street to Trails end Campground is also in great shape for biking and classic skiing.
Swedetown – All trails, including the Multipurpose Loops, were freshly dragged. Grooming completed at 10:00 am.
February 3, 2020
Churning Rapids Snow Bike- Trails groomed late Sunday night. Excellent conditions, and the forecast looks great for the week!
Swedetown – The skate lanes were freshly dragged, as well as the Multipurpose Loops. Excellent conditions throughout the system as we endure a mid-winter warming cycle! The Snow Bike Trails were groomed on Sunday night while the snow was set, which should lead to a firm base as the snow cools. Enjoy very good mid-winter conditions, but lower air pressure for better grip if needed. Grooming completed at 11:00 am.
Maasto Hiihto/Churning Rapids – All trails rolled and tracked. Excellent conditions.
February 2, 2020
Swedetown – All trails tilled and tracked and the Multipurpose (Dog) Loops dragged. Excellent conditions, but expect to find soft conditions at times due to warmer temperatures today. Grooming completed at 11:00 am.
February 1, 2020
Churning Rapids Snow Bike- Trails groomed Friday night. Riding should be good on Saturday.
Copper Harbor – Trails groomed and tracked. Take your pick–hike, bike or ski!
Maasto Hiihto/Churning Rapids – All trails dragged and tracked. Trails are a bit soft due to the warmer temps, but conditions are still excellent.
Swedetown – All trails tilled and tracked; the Multipurpose (Dog) Loops dragged, and the Snow Bike Trails have been worked over. Excellent conditions, but do watch for errant snow bombs as the trees start to unload! Grooming completed at 11:00 am.
January 31, 2020
Chassell- The trail was groomed and tracked this morning. Grooming completed at 5:45. Conditions are excellent, but very fast. Use caution if skiing down to the Heritage Center.
Swedetown – All trails dragged, including the Multipurpose Loops. Excellent conditions! Grooming completed at 10:00 am.
January 30, 2020
Maasto Hiihto/Churning Rapids – All city-side trails, River Bypass, and the New River trail were dragged and tracked. Excellent conditions.
January 29, 2020
Swedetown – The Snow Bike Trails were groomed Tuesday night and should set up well for riding on Wednesday.
January 28, 2020
Chassell – The trail was groomed and new tracks set this morning. Conditions are excellent. Grooming completed at 10:00 a.m.
Copper Harbor – All trails in excellent condition. Open for hiking, biking, and classic skiing!
Swedetown – All trails dragged, including the the Multipurpose Loops. Excellent conditions throughout the system coupled with the absolutely breath-taking beauty of the woods and fields clothed in snow means get out and ski! Grooming completed at 11:00 am.
Maasto Hiihto/Churning Rapids – All trails dragged and tracked. Excellent conditions.
January 27, 2020
Churning Rapids Snow Bike– the trails were groomed again Sunday evening. Very good conditions.
Swedetown – Trails all freshly dragged, including the Multipurpose Loops. Grooming completed at 11:00 am.
January 26, 2020
Chassell– the trail was rolled and then packed this morning. Tracks were set this afternoon. Grooming was completed at 3:30 p.m. With spring like conditions the lower portion of the trail becomes very dangerous. Please use extreme caution if you chose to ski down to the Heritage center. The upper trail, which is accessed from the Archambeau Rd, is a better choice until temperatures drop and we get some fresh, drier, cold snow.
Churning Rapids Snow Bike– Trails were groomed Saturday night. Excellent conditions.
Swedetown – All trails tilled and tracked, and with overnight accumulation, the woods are a wonder to behold! The Multipurpose Loops were packed and the Snow Bike Trails were also packed and dragged, but expect to find soft conditions and use low tire pressure. Grooming completed at 11:00 am.
Maasto Hiihto/Churning Rapids – All trails rolled and tracked. Tracks did not set up well in some areas due to the very high density snow.
January 25, 2020
Churning Rapids Snow Bike– Trails were groomed Friday night. There is a little wet heavy snow on it now. Should be rideable today with soft tires. Please don’t leave ruts because it should cool off and freeze soon, and riding will be excellent.
Swedetown – All trails tilled and tracked; the Snow Bike Trails packed and dragged. Come out and enjoy a snow-covered winter wonderland–it doesn’t get any better than this! Grooming completed at 1:00 pm.
January 24, 2020
Chassell– groomed and tracked on Friday morning. The tracks are good to very good. Grooming completed at 7:15.
Maasto Hiihto/Churning Rapids – All trails dragged and tracked. Excellent conditions.
Swedetown – All trails tilled and tracked, Multipurpose Loops packed and rolled, and the Snow Bike Trails dragged and packed. Excellent conditions abound at Swedetown! Grooming completed at 1:00 pm.
January 23, 2020
Maasto Hiihto/Churning Rapids – Tracks were reset on all trails. Expect soft conditions with the warm weather.
January 22, 2020
Chassell– The trail was groomed and tracked on Wednesday morning. Grooming completed at 7:00 a.m. Conditions are excellent.
Churning Rapids Snow Bike – trails were groomed Tuesday night to smooth out some ruts and hopefully pack down the snow a little better.
January 21, 2020
Copper Harbor – All trails in excellent condition. Open for hiking biking and classic skiing
Maasto Hiihto/Churning Rapids – All trails dragged and tracked. Excellent conditions everywhere.
Swedetown – Trails were tilled and tracked on Monday; skate lanes were dragged on Tuesday, as well as the Multipurpose Loops. All trails are in excellent condition. The Snow Bike Trails are being worked regularly and are firming up nicely.
January 20,2020
Churning Rapids Snow Bike – trails were groomed with multiple passes and multiple implements on Sunday to pack down all of the new snow. Early Monday morning the snow seems to have set up fairly well, but please drop your tire pressure if you’re leaving ruts more than 1″ deep.
January 19,2020
Chassell– Packed and tracks set on Sunday morning. Conditions are excellent. Grooming completed at 7:15 a.m.
Copper Harbor – Groomed today with tracks. A few skiers and snowshoers out today!
Maasto Hiihto/Churning Rapids – All trails rolled and tracked. Trails are very soft today.
Swedetown – All trails tilled and tracked, but the recent accumulation of new snow means that conditions will be a little soft. The Snow Bike Trails are being worked over, but conditions are extremely soft, so use caution. Grooming completed at 11:30 am.
January 18,2020
Copper Harbor – Groomed twice Saturday morning. Will continue in the afternoon. The snow is winning. UPDATE: Snow subsiding. Trails groomed and in good shape (4:20 PM).
Swedetown – We’re trying to keep up with it folks! The driveway and parking lot have been plowed, but the upper chalet will not be open. The Husky is doing laps working in the snow as it falls, and will continue to do so through the afternoon. Although soft, conditions are excellent at Swedetown! Posted at 12:25 PM.
Maasto Hiihto/Churning Rapids – We rolled all trails multiple times. We plan to roll again Sunday morning and set tracks. Conditions are soft.
January 17,2020
Chassell– the trail was rolled, packed and tracked. Grooming was completed at 7:15 a.m. Conditions are excellent.
Churning Rapids Snow Bike– We pushed most of the fluffy snow off of the trail with the V plow on Thursday night. Should be decent riding on Friday before the next round of heavy snow arrives. We did not groom the connector to the Tomasi trail head.
Swedetown – The skate lanes were all dragged as well as the Multipurpose loops. The trails are a bit soft yet from all the recent snow, but should firm up quickly. The Snow Bike Trails have been worked over as well, but low pressure is recommended for best results. Grooming completed at 11:00 am.
Maasto Hiihto/Churning Rapids – All trails rolled and tracked. Excellent conditions.
January 16,2020
Chassell– With the snow and wind, there will be no grooming today.
Swedetown – The lake effect snow that arrived overnight is now part of Swedetown trails: all trails tilled and tracked and the Snow Bike trails and Multipurpose Loops have been packed and dragged also. Grooming completed at 4:00 pm.
Maasto Hiihto/Churning Rapids – All trails rolled and an abbreviated track pattern was set. Some trails that are normally double tracked are single tracked due to the wind and blowing snow.
January 15,2020
Chassell– the trail was groomed and tracked on Wednesday morning. Grooming completed at 7:20. Conditions are excellent.
Copper Harbor – Village and Fort Wilkins trails are in great shape. Hiking and classic skiing open for business as well as added trails for biking.
Swedetown – Although there is a little bit of wind-blown snow here and there, excellent conditions prevail throughout the system at Swedetown. The skate lanes were freshly dragged as well as the Multipurpose Loops. Grooming completed at 9:00 am.
Maasto Hiihto/Churning Rapids – All trails dragged and tracked. Excellent conditions everywhere.
Just a reminder that we do not allow walking on any of our groomed trails. If you see anyone walking please tell them to leave and come back with skis, snowshoes, or a snow bike. Thank you.
Churning Rapids Snow Bike– Trails groomed Tuesday night. Good conditions.
January 14, 2020
Churning Rapids Snow Bike– About 2″ of fresh snow on the trails Tuesday morning, but the base is firm so riding should still be decent. We plan to groom Tuesday night.
Maasto Hiihto/Churning Rapids – Tracks were reset on all trails with the Ginzu. Trails are a little soft due to the warmer temps. Excellent conditions.
Swedetown – Just enough snow to bring out the big machine this morning: all trails tilled and tracked. The Multipurpose (Dog) Loops were also dragged. The fresh snow was also groomed into the Snow Bike Trails this morning. Expect fast and loose conditions as the new snow binds with the firm base–it should be good riding today! Grooming completed at 11:30 am.
January 12, 2020
Chassell– the trail was groomed this morning. Grooming completed at 11:15. Conditions are excellent.
Swedetown – All trails tilled and tracked, and the Snow Bike Trails were freshly dragged as well. Excellent conditions for Winter Trails Day at Swedetown! Free skiing and snowshoeing offered all day, normal day pass rate of $10 is not charged on Winter Trails Day. If you have a membership at other local trails, this will be a great time to visit Swedetown and try all the great trails. Swedetown Trails Club members will be on hand to suggest trails to explore.
Maasto Hiihto/Churning Rapids – All trails dragged and tracked. Excellent conditions.
January 11, 2020
Chassell-The trail was groomed and tracked on Saturday morning. Conditions are excellent. Grooming completed at 7:45 a.m.
Copper Harbor – Take your pick–ski snowshoe or bike–All trails groomed and tracked.
Swedetown – A little unexpected snow overnight pushed my some wind gusts brought out the Husky this morning: all trails tilled and tracked. The Snow Bike Trails were also freshly dragged this morning and are firming up nicely! Grooming completed at 10:30 am.
January 10, 2020
Churning Rapids Snow Bike– Trails groomed Friday morning. Good conditions, but could be a little soft in spots so please lower your tire pressure if you’re sinking in and leaving ruts.
Maasto Hiihto/Churning Rapids – All trails dragged and tracked. Excellent conditions everywhere.
Swedetown – All trails tilled and tracked. The Multipurpose Loops were dragged. The Snow Bike Trails were dragged; please adjust your ride setup for conditions you may encounter on the trail. Grooming completed at 10:30 am.
January 9, 2020
Chassell– The trail was groomed and tracked this morning. Excellent conditions. Grooming completed at 7:15
Churning Rapids Snow Bike- Trails were groomed late Wednesday night. Very good conditions.
January 8, 2020
Copper Harbor – All trails groomed and tracked–ski, snowshoe, and bike.
Swedetown – All trails tilled and tracked. The Snow Bike Trails were double-dragged, the whole system is rideable, just watch your pressure and air down if leaving ruts. Grooming completed at 10:30 am.
Maasto Hiihto/Churning Rapids – All trails rolled and tracked. Excellent conditions.
January 7, 2020
Copper Harbor – Trails in Fort Wilkins and Copper Harbor village are packed and groomed. Great for hiking and biking. Snow is forecast and should be good to set tracks for skiing later this week.
Swedetown – Skate lanes were dragged, classic tracks are holding up but there may be some infilling due to gusty winds across the Keweenaw. Grooming completed at 9:00 am.
January 6, 2020
Chassell– Trails groomed and tracked this morning. Grooming completed at 6:30. Conditions are excellent.
Churning Rapids Snow Bike- We used the V-plow to push the fresh snow off of the trails (except the Tomasi Connector) late on Sunday. Trails should be ok on Monday, but there may be some drifted areas due to the strong winds Sunday night.
Maasto Hiihto/Churning Rapids – All trails rolled and tracked. Tracks may be covered in open areas from the wind. Excellent conditions.
Swedetown – All trails were dragged, expect to see some softer conditions as the temperatures rise. Grooming completed at 12:00 pm.
January 5, 2020
Copper Harbor – The Copper Harbor loop has been groomed today but classic Cross-country ski tracks were not laid because the trail is still shallow. So, if you want to ski, walk your dog, bike or snowshoe, everything should be fine today January 5, 2020!
Swedetown – All trails tilled and tracked, excellent conditions! Grooming completed at 10:00 am.
January 4, 2020
Copper Harbor – All trails are open. Corduroy is down for hiking and biking. More snow is needed to set tracks.
Swedetown – All trails were freshly dragged; tracks and skate lanes are firm and fast. The Snow Bike Trails are firming up as well, but please go to lower pressure if leaving ruts. Grooming completed at 10:00 am.
January 3, 2020
Chassell– The trail was groomed and tracked this morning. Grooming completed at 6:30. Conditions are excellent.
Churning Rapids Snow Bike- Trails groomed Thursday evening with the leveling drag and pan. The snow packed down well with the warm temps, and have firmed up overnight. Riding should be great on Friday and Saturday.
Swedetown – All trails tilled and tracked, excellent conditions! Grooming completed at 10:30 am. The Snow Bike Trails were groomed on Thursday night; low pressure recommended.
Maasto Hiihto/Churning Rapids – All trails dragged and tracked. Excellent conditions.
January 2, 2020
Chassell-The entire trail is now open, conditions are very good to excellent with some soft areas on the lower loop. There is no longer a need to brush the trail, two volunteers took care of that yesterday. Thanks. Just a reminder that there are some really nice snow shoe trails that are accessible from the Heritage Center, so if you are on snow shoes, please use those trails and do not use the ski trail for that purpose. Thanks again.
Churning Rapids Snow Bike- Trails remain soft, but mostly rideable if you drop your tire pressure down to 3 or 4 psi. The River Bypass Trail is open and groomed. We will re-groom everything Thursday night.
Copper Harbor – Trails are open. Corduroy is down for hiking and biking. December spring deteriorated the base and we are working hard to build it back up.
As more snow arrives we will be setting single track for skiing as well.
Swedetown – All trails dragged, including the Multipurpose (Dog) Loops. Excellent conditions throughout the system. Snow bike trails were dragged in the evening, but are still soft, so low pressure is recommended.
January 1, 2020
Chassell– The upper trail which is accessible from the Archambeau Rd lot was groomed and tracked this morning. Conditions are excellent. The lower trail will require 10 to 20 manhours of cleanup before it can be groomed. Anyone who wishes to snowshoe the trail from the Heritage Center up to where the grooming is completed is welcome to help out. It is truly a winter wonderland out there. Thanks for any help. Jim
Churning Rapids Snow Bike- all trails were groomed multiple times on Tuesday, but the snow is still soft. Please use low tire pressure (less then 5 psi). The River Bypass Trail has a wet spot, so the snow bike route is temporarily using The River Trail as a connector to the Tomasi trail head.
Swedetown – All trails freshly tilled and tracked; the Multipurpose trails firming up after packing and rolling yesterday. Excellent conditions throughout the system. Grooming completed at 11:00 am. The Snow Bike Trails were groomed last night but low pressure (>5 psi) is recommended. Riders may need to air down if trail is too soft.
Maasto Hiihto/Churning Rapids – All trails dragged and tracked. Excellent conditions everywhere. Trails are still a little soft in some areas.
December 31, 2019
Swedetown – All trails tilled and tracked, and the trails and woods are beautiful! Conditions will be a little soft as the new snow is consolidated, but trail conditions are excellent. The Multipupose (Dog) Loops were packed and rolled. The snow bike trails are being packed and dragged but will be too soft for riding today, hopefully tomorrow. Grooming completed at 11:15 am.
Maasto Hiihto/Churning Rapids – All trails packed and rolled. We plan to roll again tomorrow and set tracks. Use caution on the River Bypass trail as there are a couple open water areas. Conditions are very soft today.
December 30, 2019
Swedetown – Round one is completed; all trails are tilled and tracked. We will start a second pass with the Husky to keep up with the snow starting around 3:00.
Churning Rapids Snow Bike– Made it through most trails Monday evening and cleared trees. At least a foot of snow so far. Will work on packing it down more on Tuesday. Hoping for good riding on New Years Day.
December 29, 2019
Swedetown update (7:00 pm) -We will have a delayed start to grooming tomorrow–around 8:00 am–and will try to keep up with the snow throughout the day. Please wait at least an hour after the groomer passes to let the trails set up. The snowpack is warm and wet and the ambient temperatures will not begin to drop below freezing until around noon, the best skiing will be then. There are also reports of trees down on some of the trails: that may slow down grooming progress as well. We will be changing the grooming order slightly as well, doing Powderhouse and the Tree Loops first before proceeding to Valley, Greenstone, and the Bears.
December 28, 2019
Swedetown – All trails tilled and tracked, very good to excellent conditions throughout the system, but due to our recent snow drought, there is some debris in the wooded areas. Grooming completed at 10:00 am.
December 27, 2019
Michigan Tech – The Tech Trails are are closed until at least Monday, December 30. The trails are saturated with water from all of the recent melting and rain. Please stay off the trails. Any activity on the trails, mechanized or not, will just make things worse. With US nationals coming to town next week, trails will remain closed until Monday and conditions will be re-evaluated after the snow we are predicted to receive arrives.
December 26, 2019
Churning Rapids Snow Bike– Warm temperatures last night and today mean very soft conditions. Best to stay off until the trails freeze. Friday looks good.
Swedetown – Due to warm temperatures and wet conditions, grooming is suspended until temperatures drop and we can safely work the system. Please exercise caution, not only for yourself (possibly icy patches), but to protect the trails as well.
December 24, 2019
Chassell– Because of the spring conditions we are experiencing, the trail is extremely dangerous when the temps are below freezing. Grooming is suspended until we get some new snow. Please consider skiing at other trails until that happens. Thanks and Merry Christmas.
Swedetown – All trails were dragged this morning; expect fast conditions early in the day when temperatures are below freezing, but beware! and be prepared for icy conditions until temperatures climb. Although this is officially winter, spring-like conditions prevail throughout the system; plan accordingly and be safe. Happy Holidays to all and I’m sure Santa’s bag is stuffed with all kinds of exciting new equipment for the New Year!
December 22, 2019
Swedetown – Due to a large amount of snow falling from the trees and making a mess of the tracks and skate lanes, all trails were tilled and freshly tracked this morning. The skate lane is rock-solid but conditions will soften as the temperatures rise. Grooming completed at 9:30 am.
December 21, 2019
Swedetown – All trails were dragged this morning; trails in are in very good shape, even with the warm weather, but expect to find conditions softening throughout the day. Grooming completed at 9:30 am.
December 20, 2019
Maasto Hiihto/Churning Rapids – All trails dragged and tracked. Due to the warm weather and no snow predicted, we will not be grooming for the next few days. Excellent conditions.
Swedetown – The skate lanes were freshly dragged this morning, but all skiers can expect to find softening conditions as the temperature. Whoever asked Santa for warmer temperatures for Christmas can go back to Florida…Be careful in wooded areas: as the temperatures rise, snow snakes have a tendency to drop off on unsuspecting skiers below. Grooming completed at 10:00 am.
December 19,2019
Chassell– trail was groomed and tracked on Thursday morning. Grooming was completed at 5:45 a.m. Conditions are excellent.
Churning Rapids Snow Bike– Trails groomed Wednesday night. Very good conditions, and it looks to stay that way for a few days with no new snow in the forecast.
Copper Harbor – Trail is established and has limited suitability for fat biking and snowshoeing. More snow is needed before setting tracks.
Swedetown – All trails tilled and tracked; excellent conditions! Riders will find some soft spots on the snow bike trails, riding at low PSI (~5 lbs) still recommended. Grooming completed at 11:30 am.
December 18, 2019
Churning Rapids Snow Bike– Trails groomed Tuesday night. We also plan to do a quick groom Wednesday afternoon before the Cross Country Sports group ride from Christensen Road at 6:30pm.
Swedetown – After fighting the bitter cold and blowing snow, grooming was suspended this morning as the wind was covering up the trails as quickly as they were groomed. For the hardy souls that brave this cold, expect to find soft conditions throughout the system, as well as brisk winds at elevation and in unprotected areas. Stay warm, stay safe!
Maasto Hiihto/Churning Rapids – All trails dragged and tracked. Tracks in open areas may be covered from the wind. Excellent conditions.
December 17, 2019
Chassell- trail was groomed and tracks were set on Tuesday morning. Grooming was completed at 7:00 a.m. Conditions are excellent.
Maasto Hiihto/Churning Rapids – All trails rolled and tracked. There are still a few rough/uneven areas that we plan to smooth out with the drag later this week. Excellent conditions.
Swedetown – (Late update): all trails were tilled and tracked today and the Multipurpose (Dog) Loops were rolled. The snow bike trails have a few soft spots, but overall riders will find the trails firm and fast. Excellent conditions throughout the system, with over 12″ of solid packed base and new snow coming in almost daily!
December 16, 2019
Maasto Hiihto/Churning Rapids – All trails tracked. Excellent conditions.
Churning Rapids Snow Bike– Trails groomed Monday evening. We did not do the connector to Tomasi Trailhead, but the ski trails should be rideable. All other trails are in very good condition.
December 15,2019
Chassell– Grooming completed at 8:45 on Sunday morning. Conditions are excellent.
Swedetown – All trails tilled and tracked and Multipurpose Trails rolled. The snow bike trails were double-dragged, and recommended pressure of 5 psi for best riding experience. Excellent conditions with lots of snow! Grooming completed at 10:00 am.
Maasto Hiihto/Churning Rapids – All trails rolled and tracked. Excellent conditions everywhere.
Churning Rapids Snow Bike– Trails groomed Sunday morning.
December 14, 2019
Churning Rapids Snow Bike– groomed Saturday morning. Should be good riding. May need to run soft tires.
Swedetown – All trails tilled and tracked, and the snow bike trails were groomed on Friday evening. Excellent conditions throughout the system! Grooming completed at 9:00 am.
Maasto Hiihto/Churning Rapids – All Churning Rapids trails dragged and tracked. Excellent conditions.
December 13, 2019
Chassell– groomed and tracked Friday morning. Grooming completed at 10:00 a.m. Conditions are excellent.
Churning Rapids Snow Bike – Trails groomed Thursday evening. Surface is a little soft, so we recommend less than 5 psi for fat biking.
Maasto Hiihto/Churning Rapids – All Maasto Hiihto trails dragged and tracked. We plan to drag and track all Churning Rapids trails tomorrow morning. Very good to excellent conditions.
December 12, 2019
Chassell– Groomed and tracked Thursday morning. Excellent conditions. Grooming completed at 8:00 a.m.
Churning Rapids Snow Bike – Trails groomed Wednesday evening. Good conditions Thursday morning, but more snow on the way during the day. We will groom again Thursday night.
Maasto Hiihto/Churning Rapids – All trails rolled and tracked. Very good conditions.
Swedetown – All trails tilled and tracked. Excellent conditions prevail throughout the system–the new snow is very firm! The Multipurpose Trail has been packed and rolled. Snow bike trails have been packed and dragged, conditions are improving but low tire pressure still recommended.
December 11, 2019
Swedetown – Trails are being tilled and tracked but continuing snow throughout the day will lead to slower conditions. The skate lanes and classic tracks will be soft as we work to consolidate Nature’s bounty. Report posted at 7:45 am.
Maasto Hiihto/Churning Rapids – All trails rolled. Due to the cold weather and blowing snow an abbreviated track pattern was set. The River trail in the gorge and Mud Lake were not tracked. Some trails that are normally double tracked were single tracked. We plan to roll and track all trails tomorrow morning.
Churning Rapids Snow Bike – Trails are very soft with all the new snow and wind. We will be grooming Wednesday afternoon and Thursday evening. Hoping for good riding conditions Friday and into the weekend.
December 10, 2019
Chassell – Groomed and tracks set Tuesday morning. Conditions are excellent. A winter wonderland.
Churning Rapids Snow Bike – Trails were packed Monday evening, and we plan to head out again later Tuesday morning. Trails will be very soft.
Maasto Hiihto/Churning Rapids – All trails rolled and tracked. Tracks are getting covered quick by snow and wind. Very soft conditions.
Swedetown – All trails tilled and tracked, but expect to find soft conditions with all the new snow that came down (and keeps coming!) Valley and Greenstone have been tracked with our popular “Ski with Friends” tracks: side-by-side classic tracks. The snow bike trails are being groomed, but it is slow-going with all of this snow. Grooming completed at 12:00 pm.
December 9, 2019
Chassell– With the warm temps and rain on Sunday, the trail became very soft. It is now very icy and dangerous. Grooming is suspended until we receive snow.
Swedetown – Yesterday’s thaw has turned into today’s base: we now have 4-6″ of extremely hard base being rapidly covered by the latest front. All trails were dragged this morning, but the groomer’s work is being covered quickly. The snow bike trails were dragged Sunday evening and are firm and fast. Grooming completed at 9:00 am.
December 8, 2019
Swedetown – Today’s warm temperatures have led to soft conditions on the trails at Swedetown. The Multipurpose (Dog) Loops have been packed and rolled, but there are a few damp spots in low areas. The snow bike trails are dragged and rideable with a few random soft spots, under 5 psi recommend. Grooming completed at 11:30 am.
December 7, 2019
Swedetown – Skate lanes were freshly dragged; both trails and tracks are firm and fast!
Chassell trail- The trail is now open. The trail was groomed on Friday. Conditions are very good to excellent.
December 6, 2019
Swedetown – ALL trails tilled and tracked with the Husky! Excellent conditions prevail throughout the system. Grooming continues on the snow bike trails for Global Snow Bike Day tomorrow–the trails should be firm and fun for everyone! Grooming completed at 12:00 pm.
Maasto Hiihto/Churning Rapids – All trails rolled. Tracks set on all trails except for the River trail between Sidewinder and Dam hill, and Mud Lake. Good to very good conditions.
Churning Rapids Snow Bike – Trails groomed Friday evening. Should be in good shape for the weekend.
December 5, 2019
Churning Rapids Snow Bike – Trails were groomed late Wednesday evening. As of Thursday morning they are still a bit soft. Please run low tire pressure (less than 5 psi) if you go out today.
Swedetown – The skate lanes are freshly dragged and the classic tracks are looking good! Grooming completed at 9:30 am.
Snow bike trails have been snowmobile packed and we hope to drag tomorrow for weekend, expect soft conditions until temperatures drop and the trails harden.
December 4, 2019
Churning Rapids Snow Bike – Trails are currently very soft. We plan to groom again Wednesday evening. Also, we will be hosting a group fat bike ride from the Tomasi Road trailhead at 10:00 on Saturday.
Swedetown – All trails tilled and tracked, except for Papa Bear and Powderhouse, which were dragged (but not tracked) to build up more base for the big groomer. Conditions range from very good to excellent. Grooming completed at 9:30 am.
Maasto Hiihto/Churning Rapids – All trails dragged except for Ruby Marsh, Diagonal, and the Spring Creek/Thoroughfare intersection to Christensen Rd. City-side, Meadow/Vista, New River trail, River Bypass, and Lookout Loop tracked. Good to very good conditions.
December 3, 2019
Swedetown – Skate lanes were dragged, classic tracks are in good shape. No grooming on the snow bike trails, but we hope to be back up and running on those soon. Grooming completed at 9:30 am.
December 2, 2019
Churning Rapids Snow Bike – All trails were groomed Sunday afternoon including the connector to the Tomasi trailhead and Christensen Road. The surface may be a little soft, so low tire pressure (less than 5 psi) is recommended.
Chassell – The upper 5km is groomed and tracked and in good shape. Access via the parking area on Archambeau Road. The lower 5km still has wet spots and branches and other debris.
Swedetown – All trails freshly dragged. Flat trails with good base (i.e., Len’s Loop, Valley, Greenstone, Cedar and Tamarack) were tilled and tracked with the Husky today! The snow bike trail is down temporarily due to mechanical issues with our SBT grooming machine–we are hoping to have a fix as soon as possible.
Maasto Hiihto/Churning Rapids – All trails tracked except for the River trail between Sidewinder and Dam hill, and Mud Lake. Good to very good conditions everywhere.
December 1, 2019
Maasto Hiihto/Churning Rapids – All trails have now been rolled at Maasto Hiihto and Churning Rapids! The upper and lower half of the River trail will still be closed for the 2019-20 season. We plan to set tracks on a few trails tomorrow.
Swedetown – All trails, packed, dragged, and tracked. Very good conditions prevail throughout the system, but there are still a couple of wind-blown thin spots.
November 30, 2019
Michigan Tech – Trails are still soft but beginning to firm up. The plan for today is to pack and flattened upper trails and flatten the lower trails. Tolkien was rolled yesterday (11/29) but with many trees down, it will not be fully opened until at least Monday (12/2). Cemetery is still closed today. Classic tracks are coming soon! With more snow expected tonight, we plan to set classic tracks on all upper trails for Monday (12/2).
Swedetown – All trails are now open at Swedetown! All trails are dragged and tracked; good to very good conditions prevail throughout the system. The Bear Loops will be a little soft because they were just opened up, but should firm up quickly. Reminder: today is the last day of deer season, dress appropriately–be safe and have fun! Grooming completed at 9:30 am.
November 29, 2019
Swedetown – All trails dragged and tracked, except for Flamingo and the Bear Loops. Good to very good conditions throughout the system. The Bear Loops have been rolled and packed but are quite soft. Grooming completed at 8:30 am.
November 28, 2019
Maasto Hiihto/Churning Rapids – All trails rolled except for Meadow/Vista, and Mud Lake. There are still too many rough areas to set tracks. We hope to set tracks at the end of this week or early next week if enough snow accumulates.
Swedetown: Pine, Len’s, Valley, Greenstone, Cedar, Birch and Tamarack have all been dragged and tracked. Ed’s and Powderhouse have been packed and rolled. Conditions are improving rapidly as the new snow consolidates. Grooming completed at 1:00 pm.
November 27, 2019
Maasto Hiihto/Churning Rapids – All trails rolled except for Mud Lake. There are some thin spots in wind blown areas, and a few wet areas. We plan to roll most trails again tomorrow.
Swedetown – Grooming is temporarily suspended to protect the base while the new snow accumulates. We will post updated reports as conditions change throughout the day.
Swedetown Update: Pine, Len’s, Valley, Greenstone, Cedar, Birch and Tamarack have all been rolled, and will be dragged and tracked early Thursday morning. Expect soft conditions, but after Mother Nature’s recent stinginess, who’s complaining about 20+ inches of snow on the trails!
November 26, 2019
Swedetown – With a 2″-3″ base, the trails at Swedetown are holding up, but just barely. Trails were dragged this morning, but there are numerous thin/dirty/grassy spots, especially on part of Greenstone between the first cable and the gate near Powderhouse. The new area on Tamarack suffered extensive damage from a snowmobile, and the trail has been rerouted on the old section. Grooming completed at 8:00 am.
Michigan Tech – New snow is on its way!! This morning the trails received a light dusting of snow and underneath is a firm pack of thin base. With heavy snow predicted for tomorrow, we will be rolling throughout the day to pack it down. Husky, Cemetery and Lower Trails closedthrough the rest of today but hopefully will open tomorrow with several inches of new snow. Thank you for your patience during the fluctuating weather
November 25, 2019
Swedetown – Skate lanes were dragged Sunday evening in anticipation of warm temperatures on Monday. Conditions will be soft and thin spots are showing on some trails.
November 24, 2019
Swedetown – Skate lanes were dragged this morning; classic tracks are still looking good, but expect soft conditions as the temperatures climb. Grooming completed at 10:00 am.
November 23, 2019
Swedetown – Skate lanes were dragged this morning; classic tracks are looking good! Grooming completed at 8:30 am.
Snow bike trails are groomed and rideable, come check out the newest loop #5, 5+ K of twisting rolling trail. Low pressure recommended. Loop 4 is not ready yet.
Michigan Tech – After a cold night, the upper and competition trails are fast and firm this morning. With the warm weather expected today and into tomorrow, trails will remain as-is until temps drop and more snow accumulates. Husky, Cemetery and Lower Trails closed until further notice due to many thin and wet spots.
November 22, 2019
Maasto Hiihto/Churning Rapids – City-side, New River Trail, River Bypass, and Meadow/Vista trails rolled. There are many areas of open water, exposed ground, and debris.
Swedetown – With a little help from Mother Nature this week, the trails are rapidly improving! All trails are open except for the Bear Loops and the Multipurpose Trail, and all trails are dragged and and tracked. There are a couple of wet spots on Cedar, but they are easily avoided. The skate lane is firm, and both skate and classic skiers can expect to find the best conditions during the colder parts of they day. Reminder: 8 more days of deer season, so please dress appropriately.
November 18, 2019
Swedetown – Due to warm temperatures and low snow conditions, grooming has been suspended until conditions improve.
November 17, 2019
Swedetown -All trails are open except for the Bear Loops and the Multipurpose Trail. All trails tracked and dragged, and rapidly accumulating snow is improving overall trail quality. There are still some thin spots, so bring your “B” skis. Grooming completed at 11;30 am.
November 16, 2019
Swedetown -All trails are open except for the Bear Loops and the Multipurpose Trail. All trails tracked and dragged, with typical early season conditions.
November 15, 2019
Swedetown – Preseason grooming continues at Swedetown Trails. Cedar, Birch, Tamarack and Ed’s have been dragged, and tracks were set on Len’s, Valley, Greenstone, and the trails that were dragged today. The best snow will be found on Ed’s and the Tree Loops, but caution should be exercised as typical early-season conditions prevail. The skate lanes are firming up nicely and should be fast during the colder parts of the day. Reminder: Michigan firearm deer season is open: please dress appropriately with bright, conspicuous colors.
November 14, 2019
Swedetown – Conditions are improving as Len’s, Valley and Greenstone have been dragged. There are still thin spots, especially where the recent trail work was completed. Reminder: Michigan firearm deer season starts tomorrow (November 15): please dress appropriately and be aware that you may come across hunters in the area.
November 12, 2019
Chassell – Chassell will not open until at least December 1, depending on trail conditions.
Maasto Hiihto/Churning Rapids – City-side, New River Trail, Meadow/Vista, Outback, and Mud Lake Bypass trails rolled. Snow cover is very thin and there are many areas of exposed ground, rocks and other debris.
Swedetown – Rolling continues as the new snow accumulates. Len’s, Valley and Greenstone were rolled, with conditions rapidly improving. Expect to find some thin spots on the newly worked sections of the trail. Reminder: Michigan firearm season will be starting in two days. Please exercise caution and wear appropriate blaze orange or other conspicuous clothing.
November 11, 2019
Swedetown – Grooming continued over the weekend, and Powderhouse and Pine have been rolled. Extensive trail work was done on the “field” section of Powderhouse; please exercise caution as the snow cover may be very thin in the areas were trail improvements were made
November 8, 2019
Swedetown – Grooming for the 2019/2020 ski season started today! Len’s Loop, Valley, Greenstone, Ed’s, Birch, Cedar and Tamarack were rolled. Expect early season conditions, with leaves, branches, wet or thin spots, etc. Please note: trail improvements were done on sections of Len’s Loop, Greenstone, Valley, Powderhouse and a small section on Tamarack. The snow is very thin there, as well as a fair amount of debris, so please exercise special caution in these areas.
Michigan Tech – Upper trails rolled.
