NORTHERN MICHIGAN – The Huron-Manistee National Forests (HMNFs) offer diverse winter trail opportunities for visitors seeking fresh air and recreation. Activities like cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, fat biking, snowmobiling, and dog sledding are popular seasonal pastimes. However, winter conditions and trail usage require extra care from all participants.
Winter trails are maintained and groomed for specific activities, often by volunteers partnering with the U.S. Forest Service.
For example, Friends of the MacKenzie Trail (FOMT) dedicate much of their time clearing fallen trees and ensuring the MacKenzie Cross-Country Ski and Mountain Bike Trail remains accessible. Users are reminded to stick to designated trails to avoid disrupting others’ experiences. Snowmobile trails, for instance, are groomed specifically for over-snow vehicles, and wheeled vehicles can damage these surfaces.
Nick Edington, HMNFs Recreation Program Manager, emphasizes the importance of seasonal road designations. Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) riders are encouraged to consult the Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) to avoid groomed snowmobile trails. Seasonal designations not only reduce maintenance costs but also enhance safety, as OHV tracks can create grooves that endanger snowmobiles.
Maintaining safe snowmobile trails requires year-round work. Pete Finch, a groomer operator for Cadillac Winter Promotions (CWP), highlights their preparations, including securing grants from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to fund trail maintenance. Michigan’s Snowmobile Trail Improvement Fund supports over 6,000 miles of designated snowmobile trails, crossing state and national forests and private lands.
Trail users are urged to exercise caution and respect others on shared trails. For non-motorized users, it’s essential to stay off groomed areas for skiing and walk to the side of trails. Michigan law requires dogs to be leashed, and pet waste must be packed out. Motorized users should create ride plans, stay on designated trails, yield to non-motorized users, and avoid stopping in hazardous locations like corners or intersections.
Safety is paramount on forest system roads, which are often unplowed and hazardous during winter. Visitors should monitor local conditions, carry proper gear, and consult the HMNFs website and social media for updates before traveling. By following these guidelines, everyone can enjoy the winter trails while preserving them for future use.
Below are tips for motorized and non-motorized winter trail users.
Non-Motorized
- At the trailhead, check to see whether the trail is one-way or two-way.
- On shared winter trails, hike or snowshoe on the outside of groomed areas and cross-country ski tracks.
- Yield to downhill and faster traffic. Prepare for blind corners.
- Stay on deep snow cover whenever possible; in muddy spring conditions, stay on snow or walk in the middle of the trail to avoid creating new trails and damaging trailside plants.
- When stopped, move off the trail.
- Michigan has a statewide leash requirement. All dogs must be kept on a leash when recreating on public lands. Pack out all pet waste.
Motorized
- Create a ride plan (times, route location and check-in points) and share with others.
- Stay on the trail and be prepared for changing environmental conditions.
- Be aware of two-way traffic and trail groomers, and “Ride Right” by keeping on the right side of the trail.
- When you see nonmotorized trail users coming from the opposite direction; please slow down, pull over and yield the right-of-way.
- If you stop on the trail, use designated stop areas and remove your helmet. Never stop side-by-side, in the middle, at the crest of a hill, on a corner or in the intersection of a trail.
- OHV riders should consult the MVUM and be aware of seasonal road designations when planning a route. If they encounter a groomed snowmobile trail, riders should choose another trail to avoid undoing the work of trail groomers or tearing up the trail.
