35 2022 SNOWMOBILE VACATION GUIDE ADVERTISING SECTION 2022 SNOWMOBILE VACATION GUIDE ADVERTISING SECTION 36
MICHIGAN
The Upper Peninsula
No place seems more custom-made for snowmobiling than Michigan ’ s Upper Peninsula . Spanning more than 380 miles from east to west and surrounded by scenic Great Lakes , the U . P . is a can ’ t-miss destination for snowmobilers .
Throughout this 16,000 square mile area , you will find a rugged and fascinating landscape , packed with waterfalls and overlooks , dense forests and broad clearings that create the ultimate canvas on which more than 2,500 miles of well-mapped and expertly groomed trails are etched . Paint that surface with 200-plus inches of snowfall and you ’ ve got a snowmobiling utopia . And everywhere in the U . P . you ’ ll find snowmobilefriendly businesses and communities .
U . P . trails include something for everybody – from mostly straight rail trails that allow you to connect towns quickly , to logging roads with wide , sweeping turns , to narrower paths that twist through the woods . Modestly priced trail permits are readily available at many businesses . Snowmobile dealer support is widely available , some with rental sleds and gear .
The fun starts in the east after crossing the Mackinac Bridge . Follow the trails east and take the ferry to Drummond Island , or go north toward Sault Ste . Marie to view the famous locks and visit the Soo I-500 snowmobile enduro racetrack . Another can ’ t-miss option is aptly named Paradise , where you can visit Tahquamenon Falls , the second highest waterfall east of the Mississippi . Or swing south to the Top Of The Lake
Snowmobile Museum in Naubinway .
The central U . P . has its own charms . Enjoy awesome views of Lake Superior and Grand Island from the famous Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore northeast of Munising , or visit the Log Slide – a 300-foot-high overlook about 12 trail miles from Grand Marais – before enjoying off-trail fun in the Kingston Plains . Then explore the awesome trails of the vast Hiawatha National Forest . Near Manistique , Palms Book State Park features Big Spring – Michigan ’ s largest freshwater thermal feature , where visitors can use a large wooden cable raft for a self-guided tour of the mammoth spring that stays at 45 degrees ( F ) all year-round .
Or base out of the snowmobiling hub of Marquette , which offers great lodging and dining options . There is easy access to the Huron Mountain Range , Big Bay , Baraga County , Gwinn , Ishpeming and more .
Farther west , a visit to the Keweenaw Peninsula is a must . Follow the unique Bill Nichols Trail north across the stunningly high Firesteel bridges that carry riders literally through the treetops , then cross the bridge at Houghton / Hancock before venturing up to Copper Harbor , the northernmost village in Michigan .
Western U . P . visitors benefit from the big lake effect snows off Superior . A trip to the Lake of the Clouds overlook and into the Porcupine Mountains headlines the numerous scenic options while hubs like Ironwood , Lake Gogebic and Ontonagon offer multiple lodging choices .
When you reach day ’ s end , relax and recharge at one of the many outstanding hotels , resorts , cabins or B & Bs that dot the U . P ., with a wide variety of outstanding dining close by .