The Keweenaw Peninsula is home to beautiful winter sights such as scenic wilderness and terrain, the coast of the most superior Great Lake and cozy towns with local charm. Snowmobiling provides the opportunity to explore these areas uniquely. As the area receives over 270 inches of snow annually, snowmobiling offers a method of transportation that
conquers these conditions while providing its own excitement.
There are more than 230 miles of snowmobiling trails from southern Houghton County to Copper Harbor that offer access to the Upper Peninsula’s wilderness and Lake Superior. Along the way, local towns provide great food, lodging and other necessities if interested in extending your daytrip. Some recommended trails include Trail #3 that begins in Mohawk, and takes riders up and over Brockway Mountain, Trail #132 is a popular trail that takes riders to Lac La Belle, and the Bill Nicholls Train runs from Houghton to Greenland – about 40 total miles in length. The Bill Nicholls utilizes the old Copper Range Railroad grade in which numerous businesses along the way satisfy gas and food needs. These trails are groomed and maintained by the Keweenaw Snowmobiling Club and you can keep track of weather and trail conditions through GroomerTracker.com.
Snowmobile rentals are available through M&M Powersports and DB Motorsports located in Hancock, or Copper Country Rentals in Calumet. Each business also provides local snowmobiling expertise and knowledge. If your snowmobile isn’t locally owned, before operating in Michigan, that snowmobile must display a valid registration from the operator’s home state or province, or needs to be registered in Michigan. Someone looking to operate their snowmobile must also obtain a permit. Permits are valid for one year, beginning Oct. 1 and ending Sept. 30 of the following year, permits are available for purchase through the DNR eLicense website or from local retailers such as Northwoods Sporting Goods in Hancock, or Dunhams in Houghton.
