LOOKING FOR PLACES TO STAY 09-10 SNOWMOBILE SEASON

[zrgrl]

So I've given in early this year and I've started to look for places to stay in the 09-10 snow season. I'm thinking about finding a place in the south, south western michigan area. Any suggestions? I've looked at Vacationland Resort, Jay's Resort, North Shore Resort, and Wilderness Bay Lodge & Resort all in Watersmeet. Any suggestions on these? How are the trails leaving from this area? Are there any places right off the main trail? Any suggestions would be helpful as we usually stay in northern michigan and am not familiar with this area. Thanks!

[stormbringr1]

I'd go with Iron County WI. Great network of wooded twisty trails right in the snowbelt. We stay at Red Birch House and have been very happy there. Their website is: http://www.upnorthlodging.net

The western UP is good, too. That's the beauty of Hurley/Ironwood. You can hit Iron County for a couple of days and then head across the border into the UP and never run out of good times.

[zrgrl]

How much are the trail passes for Wisconsin? If we did stay in Wisconsin we were looking to stay right at the border so we didn't have to buy Wisconsin and Michigan trail passes.

[bonnevier]

We always stay around the Lake Gogebic area of the Western UP. Plenty of places to stay, restaurants, bars and all near or on the trails. You can start with these two websites and then work from there:

http://www.lakegogebic.com/
http://www.lakegogebicarea.com/

[Hoosier]

If you register your sled in WI, you don't need to also buy a trail pass. Otherwise, I think the cost is similar to Michigan.

IMO - if you ride close to the WI border, you're missing out by not spending some time in WI. The trails are quite different from the UP - more tight and twisty through the woods than wide open. We normally ride out of Eagle River, WI, and I like riding both in WI and in the UP and think it's a fun change to ride in both areas. WI typically does an excellent job grooming also.

[bonnevier]

Hey iusmit...Boiler up!

Just kidding

[zrgrl]

Well we all are from Illinois so are sleds are registered here, so if we do ride both we would need trail permits for both wisconsin and michigan. That is kind of the deciding factor I guess. Were trying to keep costs down with the way the economy is but still have a nice trip. I would love doing both buty i'm thinking of staying farther north. Does anybody have any experience with staying in watersmeet? I've looked at wilderness bay lodge and resorts website and it looks pretty decent for the money. On their site it does say there is an access trail to the main trail, but in the past we've had bad experience with access trails not being groomed and having a rough start to our ride as well as coming home on a long rough access trail after a long day of riding. Thanks for you help guys!

[polaris_5]

zrgrl, Lake gogebic is a nice area.The bergland bay bar has a four bedroom above the bar and a house up the street also four bedroom for rent. Really nice couple that own the bar. Usually good snow around lake gogebic. We stayed in mass city last year that way we could go north or south. Were trying to keep it cheap also we usually stay in Hancock. Staying south cut a little bit off the drive time and gas money. We stayed at the adventure motel and cafe in mass last year.Basic room but cheap.

[stormbringr1]

Hi zrgrl--

The way to do it is buy the two year WI trail registration online at the WI DNR site for $35--that way you don't need to buy the $35 one year WI non-resident trail pass... That's just $17.50/yr

I agree with iusmit. Those in our group prefer the more extensive wooded, twisty trails in northern Iron County WI as opposed to the more unplowed road riding across the border in the UP. There are frequent fun taverns with good food along the 500 miles of wooded trails near/around Hurley and it's an area for snowmobiling unlike almost any other because like 80% of the county is county forest land. That's why the trail system is so big. It's practically all on public land.

Also--after 20+ years of riding both, it's pretty clear that the White Thunder Riders on the WI side consistently do a superior grooming job to practically anywhere else we ride. We head into the UP now purely for variety from time to time.

as far as snow--both Iron County and the UP are buried in snow from early season to late--so that is never an issue... The very same Lake Superior snow belt takes care of that.

If you haven't ridden Iron County yet--you really should. http://www.johndee.com/discuss/clipart/happy.gif

Have fun. Talking about this is getting me ready to see some snow!

[chad66]

ZRGRL. Do you hear that? It's saying come to the Keweenaw! It's worth the extra drivehttp://www.johndee.com/discuss/clipart/happy.gif
Glad I'm not the only one thinking snow!

Chad@M&M

[goingnorth]

Watersmeet is a great area to stay in. They have gotten alot better grooming in this area. Really not something to worry about.

Wilderness Bay, Jays Resort and all the places you mentioned are on the Cisco Chain and great places to base out of.

Bent's Camp, Cisco Bay Bar & Rogers Bar are all great pit stops.

If you are looking for an area for night spots it's pretty quiet of the Cisco.

Watersmeet is about 15+ easy miles by trail and you have the Casino.

20-25 miles to Lake Gogebic.

You are right on the Wisc./Mich. stateline but plenty of riding in Mich.

[Hoosier]

Bonnevier - I'm glad you were joking!

[notaboveme]

We stayed at the Casino in Watersmeet last year and it was great. Right by the trail, plenty to do when the ride is over, and we ran Wisc. one day and the U.P. the rest of the time. Even had lunch at the Gay Bar!

[zrjes]

I hear the Keweenaw is a pretty nice place to visit.

Stack

[peter]

I have stayed at the casino in watersmeet before. It was nice clean cheap room. Even had a live band one night when I was there. I'm not a casino person but I remember getting some free tokens for some slots that I gave away.

[jwilder]

Just come further North! It's nice up here! Wildlife Refuge Cabins in South Range are very nice!

[jime]

vacation land @ thousand island lake has new and old cabins, is a little pricey but is my choice of the resorts you mention. go to bent's every night for the most comfortable place for dinner and drinks. not to many yahoos and only 2-3 miles away.their combination of rooms handle anywhere between 2 and 16 maybe. 15 min. of lake and trail riding to the main trail and yes the trails are groomed. new owners want to please, gas & garage are on site. hurley is for dancers, puke fest and getting lost on unmarked trails @ 2AM.

[mezz]

Come to the Island Mon! The Keweenaw offers some of the best riding, atmosphere & hospitality, you would not regret it.-Mezz

[elf]

Heck, if you plan to travel that far why don't you come to MN and go up the north shore. Phenomonal riding, great snow (usually), and I'd even offer to be a tour guide for you and show you the back country. You could look for moose and wolves, many great resorts to stay at, and you'd never regret it.

[krupps_resort]

We are at Twin Lakes and in the snowbelt for snowdepth. A little farther to drive but excellent location for snowmobiling many directions. Check out our website www.kruppsresort.com (http://www.kruppsresort.com) for info on our cabins. We are taking reservations for winter.
You can snowmobile round trip from Twin Lakes to tip of Keweenaw, or Porcupine Mtns., or Watersmeet, or Big Bay. These areas are each direction from us with many other snowmobile miles you can ride. Lindsay, we're mailing a brochure to you and when you open it to the inner section, it will give you snowmobile miles from Twin Lakes to various locations.

[thebluff]

In the event it is a light snow year, Ontonagon County (White Pine, Rockland, Mass City) and points to the north are usually white no matter what.

www.thebluff.biz (http://www.thebluff.biz) is always here to help too!

wireburnguy-

[zrgrl]

Thanks for all the advice! I can't wait for the snow to come! One of the other people in our group has mentioned staying at Wind Drift Resort. Has anybody stayed there before? How are the trails leaving there?

[goingnorth]

I keep my sleds near the wind drift resort. I have never been to the wind drift before but the trails in the area west to Land O Lakes and south and east to Phelps get very little traffic and are well groomed. Love the area. Not the busiest area at night. This area is a great area to find all types of riding and activites.

North to the UP trails, West to the Cisco and Lake Gogebic or South to Eagle River and Minocqua.

We generally just follow the best snow conditions.

[jakester]

Go to Krupps! Sandy and Richard are the Best!! Hi Mom,Jake

[goingnorth]

Been to Krupps many times, most before the internet exposed the area to all the masses.
Always had a great time up there, always great snow, used to always have moguls the size of the porkies.

If you looking for a combinations of trail riding, fireroads and railroad grades. Great food and drink, Land O lakes and Watersmeet are great, can not be beat.

If you looking for boondocking and/or putting major miles on the sleds Krupps is the best.

I guess ZRGRL you are just going to have to make at least two trips to this area this season.

Have fun this season.

[rakins800]

I strongly suggest going to Ishpeming in the U.P.
It cant get much better. hotel rooms,lodges,vacation homes to rent at reasonable prices. 1 day rides to Munising,Big Bay,L'anse,Sidnaw,Amasa. only about 125 miles to Copper Harbor,easy ride,spend the night at the Mariner North,nice ride home the next day.
not too many hot dogs in the middle of the U.P.
IMHO

[ill_marty]

I second the Ishpeming thing. We are headn to our camp in Ishpeming in about an hr. Lots a ridn . Off trail on trail. We all have rmks and we can getum stuck. Looks like an awesome weekend. ENJOY. Little more tame and fun in Ishpeming. My wife loves to ride in Ishpeming if ya no what i mean.

[keweenawboy]

Try the Keweenaw Moutain Lodge in Keweenaw county.

[cmharcou]

We stayed at the Ramada in Hancock/Houghton area last year just past the bridge. You can't go wrong there. Nice friendly service, its on the trail. You can go any direction you want head north to coppper harbour or South toward Mass City. Its really the best place we have ever been too. Nice free breakfast too. Of all the places we have stayed mom and pop type places to the nicest end hotels, the Ramada was my favorite. They have a club, bar, and restaurant also in the hotel.

[cmharcou]

Oh one more thing about the Keeweenaw area. The trails! They are like super highways. I never hit a bump anywhere in 4 days we were there in January. Groomers everywhere. Going over the bridge is very cool. Its the best riding, on and off trail anywhere period in the midwest.

[signlightseal]

I second what cmharcou says about the Keeweenaw. This will be the 10th year I have been going to the Western UP. We used to stay at the Ramada but for the last 4 years we have been staying at the Parkview. The rooms are very clean, it has a restaurant & bar with very good food, and it's right on the trail. We'll be back there again in December.

[lenny]

before I moved to da UP, we stayed in watersmeet and the trail goes right through. We stayed at the casino and it was good, usually that area is good riding. Personally I have never liked the traffic of Lake Gogebic so I stayed away but it is a beautiful area as good as any. If you are considering watersmeet I think you would be happy

[skylar]

Signlightseal, with the Parkview for sale, make sure you call up there and make sure they are still open when your trip gets near.

[signlightseal]

Thanks Skylar. Unfortunately I knew that it's for sale because of the posts I have seen here and also a buddy of mine talked to the one of owners a few weeks ago when he was up there. If it's not open come Dec. I guess we'll be staying someplace different.

[zrgrl]

Well we&#39;ve made our reservations!! Land O Lakes here we come!<font color="ff0000">•</font><font color="ff0000">•</font><font color="ff0000">•</font><font color="ff0000">•</font> THINK SNOW!!! Hopefully we will get in a second trip again this year!!! CAN&#39;T WAIT!!!