Seasonal snowmobile crossing to 230 miles of Upper Peninsula trails open for season

HOUGHTON-HANCOCK, MI –The bridge to the northern Keweenaw Peninsula’s scenic network of trails is now open for snowmobilers.

The crossing is a path made of snow collected in the area that is laid across the lower deck of the historic Portage Lift Bridge. It is located on U.S. 41/M-26 between Houghton and Hancock.

The first snowmobilers of the season used the crossing this week after about three feet of snow fell on the Upper Peninsula, tourism officials said.

It comes about a month later than in it did in the 2023 season when the bridge opened to snowmobiles on Dec. 21. The delay has had a “huge effect” on business owners in the northern part of the peninsula, WLUC-TV reported.

“This pivotal moment in winter is something people look forward to each year,” a news release said.

The bridge, a national historic landmark built in 1959, is still the only land crossing over the Portage Canal into U.P. wilderness that includes 230-miles of snowmobile trails.

Groomed all season by the Keweenaw Snowmobile Club, trails stretch as far as Wisconsin and enter towns like Copper Harbor, Gay and Lac La Belle. Food and lodging is available along the way.

Visit www.visitkeweenaw.com for trail conditions, maps and more information.