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Betty and Maurice Tate operate the Sunset Motel in Watersmeet, Michigan. Located 30 miles north of Eagle River, Wisconsin, Watersmeet is the southern extension of the Upper Peninsula. The riding consists of well groomed, well marked trails that invite you to explore this vast snowmobile area. When we visited the Tate's, the motel was booked solid with snowmobilers. Indy 650s, Yamaha Exciters and big-bore Cats were being readied for a weekend safari into the Ottawa National Forest and along the vast network of Upper Peninsula trails that could take you over to Ironwood, up to Houghton, through Bruce Crossing, or even down to Wisconsin.
Snow in the U.P. is plentiful. Like many of the resorters in there, Maurice Tate spends the pre-season posting trail marking signs. During the season, he helps operate the trail groomer, which covers the trails two to three times a week during the peak of the snowmobiling season. If you ever wonder why the trails are in such good shape, it's probably because of the person who's resort you're staying at. A polite thank you might be in order.
Like the Tates, the Battisfores, who operate the Portage Motel in Houghton, actively groom trails. If you run across a groomer with the name "Gabriel" on it, you'll have most likely run across Don Battisfore. Not all the groomers in the Upper Peninsula are named, but all the trails are maintained with care.
Michigan's Upper Peninsula is a unique pocket of snowmobiling activity. The "lake effect" does double duty - both of which benefit snowmobilers. First, this lake effect makes sure that this territory gets more than 200 inches of snow annually. And second, the Lake's warming effect just about guarantees that every area has pleasant above-zero temperatures for easy and comfortable riding.
Now, if you come north from Milwaukee and Chicago, you can head into the Watersmeet area. In a nearby area, you'll find three of the advertisers listed at the end of this article - the Sunset Motel in Watersmeet, Maple Ridge in Bergland and The Fisherman in Marenisco. These three resorts put you in some extraordinary riding areas. As we mentioned, Maurice Tate can tell you just about anything you want to know about riding in the Ottawa National Forest. But, you're also within easy miles of great riding in the Ontonagon and Gogebic areas.
And whether you come up from Iowa or Minnesota, you owe it to yourself to try a unique experience by riding the Porkies - officially known as Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. This riding area overlooks the south shore of Lake Superior. The trails are marked and groomed. If they seem like highways, well, they should, because that's what they are in the summer.
If you want to ride the trails that Gabriel grooms, head for the Keweenaw Peninsula. There is always snow here. In 1978, there was almost 400 inches of snow!
Out at the tip of the Keweenaw is Copper Harbor which offers lakeshore riding and forested trails. This is historic copper country. The mining is long gone, but the artifacts remain. If you need a place to stay, call Lake Fanny Hooe Resort.
Like many places in the U.P., the snow can come as early as October and stay as late as April. If you like the nightlife of a bigger city, then maybe the Houghton area is for you. If you like the quiet riding of wide open trails snaking through scenic forests, well, there's some of that here, too, but more of it further south.
No matter how much you enjoy riding your favorite old haunts, you can find some new haunts that you'll want to return to season after season.
And remember, just when the snows further south are starting to melt, Michigan's U.P. will still have plenty. For snowmobiling, say yes to Michigan!
For more information, call:
Keweenaw Tourism Commission at 906-482-2388
Ironwood Tourism Council at 906-932-1122
Portage Motel at 906-482-2400
Lake Fanny Hooe Resort at 906-289-4451
Sunset Motel at 906-358-4450
Maple Ridge at 906-575-3545 or 3291
The Fisherman at 906-842-3366