A 14-mile section of a Chippewa County snowmobile trail has been closed temporarily by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources because of hazards posed by weather conditions. 

While the eastern portion of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula didn’t receive the same significant snowfall other areas of the state did in the past several days, this area has experienced high water on certain trails because of this winter’s overall milder weather conditions. 

Snowmobile Trail UP 49 from Sault Ste. Marie south toward Kinross in Chippewa County is temporarily closed because of high water, with no reroutes available.  

“Multiple spots along this route are not passable,” said PJ Costa, eastern U.P. trails specialist with the DNR Parks and Recreation Division. 

Disregarding closed trail signs or gates could jeopardize rider safety. The trail closure is taking place to proactively help protect riders from these hazards, Costa said. 

“Emergency crews have pulled sleds out of deep-water areas a couple times over the last week,” he said. “These areas with swamps have a lot of water holes in the trails. Conditions there may not improve until significant snowfall and much colder temperatures occur, which are needed to freeze and firm up the trails.” 

View the DNR’s interactive snowmobile map for more details. 

For the latest information on DNR trail and other facility closures, visit Michigan.gov/DNRClosures.  

For more information on snowmobiling in Michigan, visit Michigan.gov/Snowmobiling. 

Review trail safety tips at Michigan.gov/RideRight.