Michigan DNR and Straits Area Snowmobile Club reach trail grooming agreement in the U.P.

The state-designated snowmobile trails of Michigan are open Dec. 1 through Mar. 31, and according to the Department of Natural Resources, grooming occurs when there is enough snow. But the DNR ordered several trails closed at the start of the 2022 season because of a lack of grooming.

In Dec., the DNR held talks with the Straits Area Snowmobile Club of the eastern Upper Peninsula to reach a new agreement for grooming the shuddered trails. The all-volunteer club has two trail grooming apparatus which will be used to groom the over 100 miles of trail connecting the communities of St. Ignace, Trout Lake and Epoufette.

"We thank past club leadership for their time and considerable effort over many years to keep snowmobile trails in this part of the Upper Peninsula groomed and open for riders," said Ron Yesney, U.P. trails coordinator with the DNR's Parks & Recreation Division trails section. "New leadership and membership stepped up in the club, which has made this new agreement and trail grooming possible. We thank those club members as well."

In 2021, state-issued snowmobile trail permits increased from $48 to $52. Snowmobile clubs do not profit from pass revenues, as funds are used directly for trail maintenance.
Snowmobile trail permits can be purchased from both our dealership locations in Grand Rapids & Holland at the Parts Department counters.

See the official bulletin at the Michigan DNR website: https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-350-86469-574522--,00.html