Activities

Winter covers the Porcupine Mountains in white powder—nearly 200 inches of it a year, on average—beckoning visitors to get outside and play in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

Snowmobilers will find no shortage of trails in the Porcupine Mountains and Ontonagon County, which boasts more than 350 miles of groomed trails. Sledders will encounter marvelous views of Lake Superior, long stretches of untouched wilderness and great places to stop and warm up. Many of the area’s lodging properties provide easy access to the trails, as well.

Here are some snowmobile sights in the area:

Lake Superior

The Ojibwe named this lake “Great Sea” for a reason—it’s the world’s largest freshwater lake, and it’s an impressive sight. The lake boasts more than 1,700 miles of shoreline, and you can ride a stretch on Trail 1, east of the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park.

Lake of the Clouds

One of the most iconic sites in the Upper Peninsula is a worthwhile snowmobile destination. Lake of the Clouds is surrounded by pristine wilderness, and visitors are treated to incredible views. In the winter, it’s easily reachable by snowmobile—take Trail 1 from Silver City on the park’s east side. You’ll encounter some serious elevation gain on the way in, but it’s worth the trip up.

Lake Gogebic

The largest natural lake in the Upper Peninsula is a popular stop on many snowmobile adventures. The lake’s west shore is bordered by Lake Gogebic State Park, and the lake spans two different time zones (Eastern and Central). When conditions permit, you can ride on the ice—check local conditions and follow the trail to be safe. The lake is bordered by some good places to stop and warm up. You can reach the lake via Trail 1 and Trail 13.

Bond Falls

These impressive falls on the middle branch of the Ontonagon River are even more impressive when cold temperatures freeze the walling water into ever-changing ice sculptures. You’ll find the falls a few miles east of Paulding. You can reach the falls by snowmobile—take Trail 3.

See a map of designated snowmobile trails in Ontonagon County.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources also has maps for snowmobile trails.