DNR temporarily closes snowmobile trail segment in northwestern Chippewa County
Michigan Department of
Natural Resources has temporarily closed a 2 ½-mile segment of
snowmobile Trail No. 8 in Chippewa County because of unsafe riding
conditions. Trail No. 8 is a major east-west trail for snowmobilers in
the Upper Peninsula.
Warmer
temperatures in recent days have caused ice to melt and water to back
up near the mouth of the Tahquamenon River. Water has pooled over part
of the trail in a lowland area, causing unsafe riding conditions.
The closure is located from
about 1.4 miles south of the village of Paradise in northwestern
Chippewa County and extends south to the Tahquamenon River.
During the temporary trail closure, snowmobilers still will be able to access businesses in the Paradise area.
“Trail No. 8 will be posted
closed along with information signs posted in Paradise and south at the
intersection of snowmobile trails 8 and 475 to notify riders of the
closure,” said Rob Katona, a recreation specialist with the DNR in
Marquette. “This could be a major inconvenience for through traffic with
no trail reroute available because of the expansive Tahquamenon River
watershed.”
Snowmobilers planning on riding Trail No. 8 through this area should seek an alternate route.
Cold temperatures are forecast for the area within the next few days.
“We are hoping that the trail will refreeze, allowing us to reopen this segment of Trail 8 as early as next week,” Katona said.
Meanwhile, the DNR and the Paradise Area Night Riders – the local trail club – will continue to monitor the situation.
For more information on snowmobiling in Michigan, visit the DNR’s Web page at: www.michigan.gov/snowmobiling.
