Eastern counties reach grooming deal

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has reached a deal with the Straits Area Snowmobile Club to resume grooming trails in Mackinac and Chippewa Counties. The agreement covers over 100 miles of routes between Saint Ignace, Epoufette, and Trout Lake.

Negotiations have been ongoing for weeks. The DNR had previously warned people against trying to use the trails at the eastern end of the Upper Peninsula because of the lack of maintenance. While Mackinac and Chippewa Counties are not the most popular snowmobile destinations in the region, a continued dispute between the two sides could have potentially meant more traffic finding its way to the Copper Country.

While businesses would welcome additional sleds on area trails, especially given the slow start to winter, one of the main routes is still washed out from the floods of 2018. Losing the artery between Hancock and Lake Linden has led to congestion on the trail up to Calumet in recent years.