15 Best Snowmobile Places In Michigan 2023

Michigan is a state in the Great Lakes region of the upper Midwestern United States. It is divided into two peninsulas. Most of the state’s land is located in the Lower Peninsula, which has the shape of a mitten. The Straits of Mackinac, a five-mile strait that connects Lake Huron to Lake Michigan, divides the Upper Peninsula from the Lower Peninsula.

Snowmobiling is a very popular sport in both of these two peninsulae and there are many amazing trails sprinkled through the region. Let’s take a look at some of the Best Snowmobile Places in Michigan.

Top 15 Places To Snowmobile in Michigan

Upper Peninsula

Marquette

The mecca of snowmobiling is Marquette. The town sits almost in the middle of the Upper Peninsula, and Lake Superior’s coastlines provide a magnificent backdrop for your snowmobiling excursions.

The region receives more than 150 inches of snow on average, and there are more than 250 miles of trails to explore. The vast trail system in this location is well-maintained, and there are a number of groomed options that provide access to the surroundings.

You may approach Lakenenland through Trail 417, a strange sculpture formed of discarded items that offer a unique adventure. Mt. Marquette is also reachable via Trail 417, a fantastic vantage point that rises 1,200 feet.

Six groomed trails and some of the greatest Pure Michigan snowfall are found in Marquette’s extensive trail network. You will understand why Marquette should be on every snowmobiler’s radar when you consider the variety of hotel alternatives that are close to the trails and the abundance of meal options for fuel.

• Best Time To Visit: December to March
• Trails Around The Area: Trail 14, Trail 5, Trail 310, and Trail 8 are some of the best trails in this region.

Sault Ste Marie

In Michigan, Sault Ste. Marie is the place to be if you enjoy snowmobile racing. The International 500 event takes place here every year, and the town is transformed into an exciting winter wonderland.

Some of the top riders in the world come here to compete on the mile-long trail; it’s like a Nascar race in the snow. It is a circular route rather than your typical trail. However, it’s unique and worth experiencing.

It could be difficult to get on the route if you’re not participating in the race, but the town is buzzing and there are a tonne of other trails to explore nearby. With the most fantastic snowmobile race in the world, which covers 500 miles on a mile-long course each year, Sault Ste. Marie transforms into the snowmobiling capital of the world.

Professionals from all over the world go to Sault Ste. Marie for the Annual International 500 Snowmobile Race, but you are not required to wait for the race to visit and take advantage of this network of trails.

• Best Time To Visit: December to February
• Trails Around The Area: Sault Ste Marie Trail is the best one to go to.

Paradise

Another wonderful spot in the Upper Peninsula that provides access to numerous fantastic snowmobile routes is Paradise. There is a huge network of access points in the area, so you can easily leave town and enter the woods.

Right outside of town, take Trail 8 to connect with Trail 452, which circles the eastern U.P. and can keep you occupied for a day or two. The paths will take you right up to Tahquamenon Falls State Park, which is well worth visiting.

With hundreds of miles of groomed snowmobile routes and other recreational activities, the city, appropriately named Heaven, is a snowmobiler’s paradise. Visit Tahquamenon Falls State Park and Whitefish Point Lighthouse to make the most of your winter trip!

What a terrific moniker for a network of snowmobiles! Paradise welcomes riders with hundreds of miles of trails within ten miles of Tahquamenon Falls State Park, where you may see one of the biggest waterfalls east of the Mississippi.

You can find food and gas in Paradise, so start there and travel up north to the Whitefish Point Lighthouse. Many breathtaking landscapes may be seen while riding a snowmobile through Paradise. Tahquamenon Falls State Park must be included in your itinerary.

A lovely scene with snow-covered pines in the background is created by the entrancing falls’ portions that freeze over in the winter. For expansive, all-encompassing views of Lake Superior, visitors must also ascend to the Whitefish Point Lighthouse.

• Best Time To Visit: December to March
• Trails Around The Area: Paradise Trail is the best to go to.

Munising

Munising, Michigan, has been named the “Snowmobile Capital of the Midwest!” Alger County’s groomed snowmobile trail system consists of ten tracks totaling 300 miles. The routes are not only extensive but also extremely spectacular, with beautiful trees covered with fresh snowfall.

There are also lots of accommodation alternatives in the vicinity for a long winter escape. The location is in Alger County, and the local municipality grooms and maintains the trail network to keep it in good shape all winter.

• Best Time To Visit: December to February
• Trails Around The Area: Shingleton, Grand Marais, Manistique, Rapid River, and Marquette are some of the best trails in this region.

Lake Gogebic

One of the so-called “best-kept secrets” of UP Michigan snowmobile routes can be found in Ontonagon and Gogebic Counties in the western Upper Peninsula, around Lake Gogebic. Hundreds of miles of trails wind through the trees here, and the average snowfall is 200 inches, so you’re guaranteed to enjoy powdery snow.

Snowmobilers can enjoy hundreds of miles of linked tracks through our natural forests in the Gogebic area. The Lake Gogebic area has gotten an average of 200 inches of snow during the last ten years. For two of the last three years, annual snowfall has reached record depths of over 300 inches.

This substantial snowfall provides the ideal riding conditions and trails for you, the rider. Ontonagon and Gogebic Counties in Michigan’s Western Upper Peninsula are the Midwest’s best-kept secrets. Snowmobilers are welcome with open arms to the magnificent splendor of this winter wonderland.

The panoramic vista of this immense wilderness, blanketed in Mother Nature’s winter blanket of snow, is breathtaking. The snowmobile routes are groomed with cutting-edge equipment and are located in regions that are ideal for snowmobilers.

Lake Gogebic is strategically positioned and can serve as a hub for your snowmobile activities in either Ontonagon or Gogebic Counties in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The Lake Gogebic area has it all, whether you’re searching for family fun, a weekend trip, or overnighters.

In a single day, the trails include winding forest trails, picturesque vistas, railroad grades, bridges, hills, lakes, cedar swamps, and logging roads. It’s exciting to be able to ride for several days without seeing the same countryside twice on the same day.

• Best Time To Visit: December to February
• Trails Around The Area: Trail 1, Trail 13, and Trail 2 are some good trails to snowmobile.

Drummond Island

Drummond is a snowmobiler’s paradise, with almost 150 miles of lakeshore and 87,000 acres of woodland, and miles and miles of groomed routes. For the trip from Drummond Island to Canadian Island, Christmas trees are set every 1/8 mile. This is the United States only direct, legal ice access to Canada.

The Drummond Island Tourism Association and Snowmobile Club host Poker Runs and Ice Races throughout the season. This location is well-known for its outdoor activities in both winter and summer and has a plethora of sites to see and enjoy.

There are more than 100 miles of snowmobiling routes to explore and ride in the eastern part of the state. The island has been turned into a sprawling winter playground. During the winter, most of the island’s hotel properties provide direct access to the island’s snowmobile trail system.

• Best Time To Visit: December to March
• Trails Around The Area: Maxton Trail, Reikoff Trail, Sheep Ranch Trail, Marblehead Trail, Clear Lake Trail, and Townline Trail are some of the best trails in this area.

Brimley

This location lies on the eastern edge of the Upper Peninsula, on the shores of Lake Superior near the southern end of Whitefish Bay. Stay in Brimley and discover the miles of trails that connect you to Sault Ste Marie to the northeast, while taking in some spectacular lakeside vistas and top-notch snow.

Brimley has numerous miles of paths that lead to Sault Ste. Marie, which is located on the peninsula’s northeastern tip. You may enjoy the lakeside scenery and good snow while riding.

• Best Time To Visit: December to February
• Trails Around The Area: Soo-Raco Trail, Raco-Strongs Trail, and Raco-Noamikong Trail are some good trails in this region.

Grand Marais

The Grand Marais area is located in the Central UP, east of Munising, and directly on Lake Superior’s coastlines. These trails are groomed by the Grand Marais Sno-Trails Association, who are dedicated to keeping them in excellent condition for everyone riders to enjoy.

Grand Marais Powersports is widely regarded as the Upper Peninsula’s snowmobile rental center. Not only can you get a snowmobile from this equipment rental company, but you can also rent all of the equipment you’ll need to enjoy your journey securely.

• Best Time To Visit: December to March
• Trails Around The Area: Several trails are available in this region.

Lower Peninsula

Gaylord

Gaylord receives some of the most snow in the state, making it an ideal location for winter sports, particularly snowmobiling. Expect about 200 inches of rain per year, much of it induced by the ‘Lake Effect’ formed by the great lakes.

You can get pretty much anywhere in northern lower Michigan from Gaylord. The North Central State Trail, which runs from Gaylord to Mackinaw City, is a favorite of serious sledders. The trail, a former railroad line, runs for 62 miles north through forest, farmland, and villages, all the way to the Straits of Mackinac.

This beautiful trail is open for snowmobiling from December 1 to March 31. The new trailhead is on Main Street’s north. Another popular path is the North Branch, which begins on Old 27 South across from Extreme Power Sports.

The North Branch is a never-ending saga of snowmobiling, funneling riders south to Kalkaska’s spectacular Blue Bear Trail, west to the densely forested Jordan Valley, and east to Lewiston’s Lovells Trail, as well as several connector trails and free-range National Guard properties open to riding.

Parking is simple at Mama Leone’s, where you may also eat before or after your hike.

• Best Time To Visit: December to February
• Trails Around The Area: Several trails are available in this region.

Sanilac County

Sanilac has 100 miles of well-groomed private property paths. Experience the beauty and snowfall of an eastern Michigan winter on the Thumbs Up Snowmobile Trail! Visit the Sanilac Shores Underwater Preserve and the magnificent Port Sanilac Lighthouse while you’re in the region.

Sanilac County’s snowmobile routes are all on private property and are meticulously maintained. There are 100 miles of trails to ride, as well as numerous other activities and sites to explore, such as the Port Sanilac Lighthouse and the Sanilac Shores Underwater Preserve.

• Best Time To Visit: December to February
• Trails Around The Area: Trail 20, Trail 21, and Trail 22 are the best trails in this region.

Allegan County

Allegan County is a popular location for snowmobilers in West Michigan, owing to the lake effect snow that falls in this area throughout the winter. Allegan County has about 98 miles of groomed trails that are almost always in superb riding condition.

Sanilac County’s snowmobile routes are all on private property and are meticulously maintained. There are 100 miles of trails to ride, as well as numerous other activities and sites to explore, such as the Port Sanilac Lighthouse and the Sanilac Shores Underwater Preserve.

Allegan is a good starting point for snowmobiling journeys across this county’s 98 miles of groomed trails. Snow conditions are usually excellent, and Allegan hosts wonderful events all year. This historic site on the Kalamazoo River’s banks includes attractions such as the Old Iron Bridge, which was completed in 1886.

• Best Time To Visit: December to March
• Trails Around The Area: Trail 593, Trail 591, Trail 599in North Loop; Trail 592 in West Loop, Trail 594 Fennville, and Trail 59 in SOuth Connector are the best trails to go for.

Cheboygan

Cheboygan is located at the northern extremity of the lower peninsula. This is yet another snowmobile trailhead on the shores of Lake Huron. It’s part of the network of trails that reach down to Gaylord, so it makes for a wonderful stop along the journey or a destination all unto itself.

There are more than 50 miles of groomed trails in the area. Black Mountain Recreation Area has several nice possibilities, and you can check out a map of that here. SM9 is a trail that passes through town and continues to the U.P. bridge.

This region of Michigan includes 500 miles of snowmobile trails, which link to Gaylord regions. The Black Mountain Recreation Area is a particularly intriguing portion of trails that is quite popular with snowmobilers.

• Best Time To Visit: December to February
• Trails Around The Area: Several trails are available in this region.

Cadillac

Cadillac is the list’s southernmost spot, yet it still boasts plenty of ski trails and good snow. There are nearly 200 miles of groomed access here, as well as lots of ungroomed sections to explore.

Within Fred Meijer White Pine Trail State Park, there is a 92-mile stretch of trail for snowmobilers to utilize in the winter. When you’re out cruising, just keep an eye out for cross-country skiers and other riders.

The term “electronic commerce” refers to the sale of electronic goods. The trail system connects north and south, making it ideal for sled days. The White Pine Trail at Fred Meijer White Pine Trail State Park is one of the trails. The linear trail is 92 miles long with an 88-mile segment available from Cadillac to Grand Rapids.

• Best Time To Visit: December to March
• Trails Around The Area: North Country Trail, Manistee River Trail, and White Pine Trail are some great trails to snowmobile on.

Rose City

The Ogemaw Hills Snowmobile Club maintains several great routes around Rose City. Their website offers some fantastic suggested itineraries, both under and over 100 miles long, beginning at the Frank Alley Memorial Park trailhead.

The Ogemaw Hills Snowmobile Club has taken on the responsibility of maintaining the trails surrounding Rose City. The term “electronic commerce” refers to the sale of electronic goods. You might end up at Frank Alley Memorial Park while cycling.

• Best Time To Visit: December to March
• Trails Around The Area: Several trails are available in this region.

New Buffalo

The area around New Buffalo, MI, includes a well-marked snowmobile track commencing at M-239 and Wilson Road running to the Indiana/Michigan line, maintained by the Snowbusters Snowmobile Club.

There, you can connect to various trail networks that travel through scenic rural areas. There are various rallying locations for bikers and a roster of activities.

Snowmobilers can take advantage of a snowmobile trail in New Buffalo, located in the state’s southwest region. This well-kept path, which begins at the crossroads of Wilson Road and M-239, is operated and maintained by the Snowbusters Snowmobile Club. It stretches all the way down to the Indiana border.

• Best Time To Visit: December to February
• Trails Around The Area: Several trails are available in this region.

Michigan Snowmobile Laws and Regulations

Who Is Allowed to Drive a Snowmobile in Michigan?

It’s a good thing to know the rules and regulations of the state you are going to visit or perform an activity in. This can save you from a lot of trouble and will definitely make your experience smooth. So let’s take a look at some rules that must be followed while snowmobiling in the state of Michigan.

• Anyone has a driver’s license unless their license has been suspended.
• Anyone above the age of 12 and under the age of 17, possesses a valid snowmobile safety certificate and is supervised by an adult 21 years or older. He or she must have a valid snowmobile safety certificate in their immediate possession in order to cross a street or highway.
• Any individual under the age of 12 who is supervised by an adult 21 years or older or who is on property controlled or owned by his or her parent or legal guardian – yet youngsters under the age of 12 are not permitted to cross a roadway or highway.

Where in Michigan Can a Snowmobile Be Driven Legally?

• Private property that has not been registered.
• Registration is required for public waters, but no permit is required.
• Trails are open to the public with permission and registration.
• A public highway or county road with numerous restrictions.

Crimes Associated with Snowmobiling in Michigan

Snowmobiles, like any other motor vehicle, have the potential to be dangerous. When operating a snowmobile, you could be charged with a felony in the following situations:

• Driving a snowmobile when high on drugs or alcohol.
• If you’re driving too quickly for the conditions.
• If you cause damage to public lands where forestry projects are being carried out.
• Getting too near to another person or traveling too rapidly on public seas.
• If you are smuggling a weapon unlawfully.
• If you pass through a cemetery, an airport, a railroad, or are within 100 feet of a sledding, skiing, or skating rink.
• The use of a snowmobile to pursue or kill any wild animal.
• If you drive recklessly in a parking lot.
• If an accident is not reported.
• Furthermore, if you use a snowmobile to conduct vehicular manslaughter, negligent homicide, or any other felony, you may face the penalties associated with such offenses. This involves being given points on your driver’s license.

Michigan Snowmobile Trail Pass/Permit

• A Michigan snowmobile trail permit sticker must be purchased in addition to registering a snowmobile.
• The permission is valid for a year, starting October 1 and ending September 30.
• Trail permits are available at a variety of sites, including sports goods stores, snowmobile dealerships, department stores, and resort motels.
• Failure to get a permit may result in a fine of up to $100.
• The trail permission sticker must be firmly attached to the front portion of the snowmobile, directly above or below the headlight.
• A trail permit sticker is not required for a snowmobile used exclusively for transportation on frozen public waters for ice fishing.

You can learn about Michigan Snowmilile Laws here on their official site

This concludes our article on the 15 Best Snowmobile Places In Michigan 2023. We hope you find this article helpful for your next snowmobiling trip. Want to know some safety tips for snowmobiling and avalanches?

Then make sure to read 5 Safety Tips To Survive An Avalanche On A Snowmobile.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)