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Michigan is legendary for its great snowmobiling, situated as it is between three of the five Great Lakes, which tend to bring wintry snows in abundance every season. And not all of the good conditions are in the legendary Upper Peninsula, either. There are plenty of places to ride in the lower portion of the state, with some quality trail systems that invite exploration and enjoyment.
Gaylord is one of Michigan's more popular snowmobiling venues, and after my visit there last February, it's easy to see why. Situated in the upper reaches of the Lower Peninsula, Gaylord sits astride Interstate Highway 75, the north-south freeway that makes it eminently accessible to sledders from southern Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois.
In the summertime, Gaylord enjoys a reputation as a golf Mecca, with no fewer than 21 courses throughout the area, within a 45-minute drive. This makes the town a major attraction, and it boasts approximately 1400 hotel rooms that accommodate visitors year-round, meaning you rarely have a problem finding a place to stay, no matter what your budget might be.
Headquarters for my visit was the relatively new Hampton Inn, a very comfortable place to stay that was located right near the intersection of I-75 and state highway M-32 on the west side of town. Not only was Hampton convenient to downtown and both highways, it was also accessible to the main snowmobile route, allowing sledders to ride right from their door to the trail network. A large parking lot on the rear of the property allowed plenty of room for trailers, and it was obvious that the Hampton catered to sledders in every way. The welcome there was warm, and the sumptuous morning breakfast that was free of charge for guests was proof of that.
The local guide for my visit was Bob Compton, owner of the White Birch Motel at Otsego Lake south of town, and an avid snowmobiler. He was taking a group of Ohio guests out for a Saturday of riding, and graciously consented to allow me and my travel buddy Gary Parsons to tag along with them. With Bob's knowledge of the area, we were treated to an enjoyable riding experience along the established trails, plus the occasional excursion down a back road, or along some other alternate route favored by the local riders. The pace was lively, and it was soon obvious that this was a group that loved to ride.
Our first jaunt was down the Gaylord to Frederic Trail, the main north-south route that parallels the Interstate. This former railroad bed passes right in front of Compton's establishment, and it was a short eleven-mile hop to breakfast at the Swamp II Bar & Restaurant. There was no question that this place catered to the snowmobile crowd, with a gaggle of sledders gathered outside and a huge Caterpillar tractor and groomer parked out front. Inside, an all-you-can-eat weekend breakfast buffet was the big attraction, allowing us to fuel ourselves for the day of riding ahead.
After our meal, it was off again to the north, and it wasn't long until we had covered the 21 miles to Gaylord, where we turned west. Bob took us along some country roads as we headed west of town, making our way to Deadman's Hill and a scenic promontory that overlooked the Jordan River Valley below. From atop the bluff we could see snowmobiles winding their way along the small river a half mile away, and Bob said this was one of the more popular side trails in the area.
Heading south from Deadman's Hill, we enjoyed some fast cruising along a railbed trail that took us past the small towns of Alba and Mancelona. Along the way, a bare field with a large crater beckoned, and we stopped to enjoy zooming around this impromptu play area. With some inclines at just the right angle, we were able to jump the sleds and enjoy the exhilaration of catching air a few times before continuing on.
East of Mancelona, we entered the woods again and passed a groomer working to restore the trails from the pounding of weekend traffic. Then we made our way to Settings Restaurant at Lake of the North Airport for a refreshment stop. Since it was lunch time, there were are good number of sleds parked out front, and the place was hopping. Over at the airport itself, a radar run was going on and several of us took our turns on the quarter mile to see just how fast we could run on the snow-packed airstrip.
From Lake of the North, we went on our way south, into the wilds of the Mackinaw State Forest and the Blue Bear Trail loop. Outside of the State Forest, we passed numerous oil and gas wells, and ran along several pipelines. The gas wells are scattered throughout this area, and are a common sight as you wind your way through the woods and across the fields southwest of Gaylord. Several of the access roads to the wells function as snowmobile trails for short distances, also.
Just a couple miles shy of our afternoon gas stop, my sled ran dry and came to a stop in the midst of the trail's uphill climb. Fortunately, one of the two sledders in our group behind me had a "Super Siphon" hose (see this issue's Gift Guide for more information). This nifty device allowed us to easily transfer enough gas from his machine to mine to get me to the Wilderness Valley Golf Resort, where emergency gas was available by the jug. Once replenished, we were on our way again, with more riding toward home along back roads, power lines and a few more of Bob's favorite shortcuts.
Soon we were back at the White Birch, thanking our guide and saying farewell to our fellow riders. Bob invited us to return sometime to explore the rest of the area, and said that we'd like it even better during the week, when the weekend riders were gone and the trails were less crowded.
Back in town, we capped our Saturday with dinner at the Big Buck Brewery & Steakhouse, certainly one of Gaylord's most popular restaurants. This northwoods-style establishment is right off the trail and draws a crowd every night, so an early arrival is recommended to enjoy some of the best cuisine around.
Besides our route to the west and south of Gaylord, this area offers riding in other directions as well. To the southeast, the North Branch Trail connects with Lovells and Lewiston, and it's just a short distance to the Grayling trail system to the south. To the north of town, the new Gaylord to Cheboygan Trail follows a rail grade that crosses the Sturgeon River several times as it makes its way to Wolverine and Indian River. This route connects with other trails into the forests to the east and west, and opens up the whole top of the Lower Peninsula to adventuresome travelers.
With an annual average snowfall of 180 inches and a wide variety of accommodations, the Gaylord area is well-suited for winter sports enthusiasts. The Alpine Snowmobile Club maintains more than 110 miles of trails in the immediate area, and their system connects with other networks in several directions. It all adds up to an inviting place for riding, with lots to see and do.
For trail maps and more information, contact the Gaylord Area Convention & Tourism Bureau at 800/345-8621. For lodging reservations, contact the Hampton Inn at 517/731-4000.
Read more about Gaylord, Mich.
here.