Benzie-Manistee Snowmobile Club
Updated: 12/22/2009
Base: 1 to 2 inches
Snowfall Past 24 hours: 1 1/2 inch

Last Grooming: 12/17 between 11pm finished 5:30 am Friday morning. NOT grooming again till we get more snow.

Current Trail Conditions: Fair

There’s 3 to 6 inches ground cover on south end and it’s 4 to 7 inches ground snow on north end. We
received 1½ inches of fluff today on south end and 1 to 2 inch lake
effect on north end. Groomed south and middle section also Bear Lake loop
and finished by 5:30 am Friday morning on north end. Base is some to 2
inches south to middle section and north end all report conditions fair,
base worn thin in areas, some snirty spots, little snow in wooded area.
Weather forecast is temps in high 20’s to low 30’s with possible light
lake effect through week next snow, moving in mid-to weekend possibly a
white Merry Christmas and we wish you a Happy Holiday. Trails are fair
for most part but NOT Grooming any parts of trail until we get snow storm
or receive a lot of lake effect snow. Come enjoy your weekend with us,
hope to see you on our trails. Ride safe and sober makes it fun for all.
Hope your sleds are tuned up gassed up and ready for the snowmobile season.
Support your winter sports fun, don’t forget to buy your trail permit for
2010 season here and pick up our trail map at local merchants.

*** let it snow***  *** let
it snow***

BENZIE BUREAU – 12/17
Hi all! Not too much new to report. Decent weekend traffic and warmer temps melted the snow down a bit over the weekend. But we got 2-4 inches more of the fluffy stuff and the temps have dropped. The base is worn a bit thin in some areas, so you’ll find some snirty spots out there but overall 4-5″ base holding up. Groomers have been out and say its looking pretty darn good out there! So keep the fingers crossed and keep your feet moving to the snow dance! Remember the Groomers are volunteers out there so give them the right of way, show your appreciation with a thumbs up as you pass by! Grooming is done 3-4 days a week, by 3 groomers at different parts of the trail, every Mon, Wed, Fri, and Sat. nights, plus as needed. FYI – Next Snowmobile Safety class at the Snowbirds Clubhouse is coming up Saturday, January 9, 2010, 8am start, ages 12 and up. It’s Free, & Lunch is provided. Drop me a note to let me know your adventures! I love hearing your reports, your stories, and seeing pics! I’ll let ya know as soon as it changes again! BE SAFE, BE SMART, and I’ll seeya on the trails! CarolB — Benzie Bureau

Hi Everyone, well the 1″ to 3″ turned into just 1″, but everything helps with the snow pack. All the guest that are riding are having a ball and several have extended their stay. That’s why I always say that weekday riding is always the best, light to no traffic on the trails. We have been getting a little snow almost everyday, so there is fresh snow for lube. The forecast the next couple days is mid twenties during the days and cold at night (2 degrees) until late Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. They still are not sure if it’s going to be a sloppy mix or just snow, but with any forecast, I’ll believe it when I see it. This is still early season riding and the ground is not completely frozen, so trail conditions can change fast with the temp. Most county roads are snow covered, so getting fuel or food shouldn’t be a problem, except right in the Village of Baldwin where it is getting a little bare and there is tons of snow in the woods, so two tracken and seasonal roads are a blast right now. (Which there are tons of). THE LAKES ARE NOT SAFE YET.

Rooms and Snowmobile Rentals are available.

We are members of the Cycle Conservation Club of Michigan, Baldwin Trailriders Snowmobile Club, Benzie/Manistee Snowbirds Snowmobile Club, Irons Area Tourist Association Snowmobile Club, Wellston Area Recreation and Tourist Bureau Snowmobile Club, Lake County ORV Club and the Michigan Snowmobile Association, which are the local grooming clubs. I can not thank these guys and gals enough, they do a lot of work for free, so we all can enjoy this sport. I would only think that if someone is complaining about a bumpy trail on Saturday afternoon, come to a couple club meetings and see just what these people do. They would never complain again. Thank you again.

Here is a list of the snowmobile trails in this area, are you ready? The Baldwin trails go south from here for 146 miles to Newago, Irons trails wrap around Wolf Lake and then heads north for 122 miles and connects to Cadillac and Wellston trails, Cadillac trails connect into the Irons and Wellston trails all the way to Cadillac, then south to Leroy, they groom 124 miles. Wellston trails connect to Cadillac to the east, Benzie/Manistee trails and Irons trails to the north and west to Stronach for 68 miles, Pere Marquette trail connects to The Baldwin trail and all the way to Evart and up to Leroy to the Cadillac trail system for 144 miles, the south Pere Marquette trail runs to Grand Rapids I think about 140 miles. The Benzie/Manistee trails run north of the Wellston trail all the way to the Empire Airport on the Bear lake and Platte river trails another 150 miles I think. Let’s total this up, 146 + 122 + 124 + 68 + 144 + 140 + 150 = 894 in groomed connecting trails just in this area alone and we are right in the middle of them. I don’t know about you but that’s a ton of riding. Now there is more trails to get to, but that would be just over kill and this is not even counting all of the two tracks and seasonal roads that you can ride. Why spent an extra $200 to $300 in fuel to get to Gaylord or the UP when we have fantastic riding right here and spend that money on snowmobile fuel.
We have two bedroom lake front rooms with full kitchens, living rooms with a sofa sleeper, (sleeps 6), double lake front rooms with a queen and full beds and a kitchenette (sleeps 4). Double motel rooms with two double beds and a mini fridge, (sleeps 4) and single motel rooms with one full bed, (sleeps 2) and a large Bunk House which has two bed rooms with queen bunk beds and a queen sofa sleeper, (sleeps Ten), full kitchen, full living room, a bar and a fireplace. We have something for everyone.
Call 231 745 4101 8am until 10pm. See ya soon on the trails.