Snowmobiling in
Iron County  

Iron County’s Groomed Trails

Iron County boasts more than 260 miles of extensively groomed and well-marked snowmobile trails, drawing riders from throughout the region and beyond to enjoy scenic journeys that are a trademark of trails here. The wide open trails traverse abandoned railroad beds, weave through varied wooded terrain and cross lakes for excellent sledding. Snowfall totals are between 90 and 120 inches each season. The season opens Dec. 1 and closes March 31. The county trail system includes Amasa, Crystal Falls, Iron River, Sidnaw and Kenton areas. The Iron Range Trail Club (906-265-7152) maintains and grooms about 150 miles of trail while the Chippewa Sno-kats Snowmobile Club (906- 875-3117) grooms and maintains about 100 miles of trail. Snowmobile derbies, festivals and races are sponsored each season by clubs and communities. In February watch the Mid American Championship Snowmobile Hill Climb and in March the Chippewa Sno-Cats Snow Drags.

Iron County serves as a hub for not only local trails, but far beyond. Snowmobilers can tap into the vast network of trails in the Upper Peninsula and northern Wisconsin for an extended riding adventure. Gas stations, restaurants, lodging and sled rentals available. For trail reports call (906) 265-7152 or (888) 879-4766. For trail maps contact the South Central UP Snowmobile Council at osieger@fast-air.net.

Iron County snowmobile trail maps are available at the Iron County Chamber of Commerce office, at most area gas stations, and many local businesses. Trail permits can be purchased at the Chicaugon Lake Inn.

ATV & ORV

Let’s rev up our off road vehicle engines and venture out on more than 3,100 miles of the best ORV trails in Michigan. Michigan ORV trails host two-track, twisty single-track, rocky hill climbs and soggy mud bogs and welcome dune buggies, dirt bikes, quads and four-wheelers inviting us to enjoy the muddy side of Pure Michigan.

Michigan offers many trail riding opportunities. Michigan’s public Off-Road Vehicle (ORV) trail/route system provides four types of riding opportunities: motorcycle trails, all terrain vehicle (ATV) trails, ORV routes which are open to ORVs of all sizes including Secretary of State licensed vehicles, and scramble areas. 

There are five scramble areas, two of which are on state forests (St. Helen’s Motorsport Area and Black Lake Scramble Area), one at Silver Lake State Park, one at Bull Gap in the Huron National Forest, and one at The Mounds, a Genesee County Park. 

The ORV trail/route system covers 3,700 miles with 73% on state forests. Of the system, 30% is cycle trail, 50% is ATV trail and 20% is route. In the Lower Peninsula, the system is the only legal place to ride Non-Secretary of State licensed ORVs on public lands other than frozen waters. In the Upper Peninsula, it is legal for ORVs to operate on state forest roads as well as the designated trail system, unless a specific state forest road is posted closed to ORV use. Trails are lightly groomed and riders are likely to encounter narrow sand trails, rough moguls, steep hills, stumps, rocks, brush, loose surfaces and other hazards.