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MICHIGAN’S
UPPER PENINSULA SNOW
Winter
lays a white blanket across the hills inviting all to come outdoors
and play.
Snowmobile
down endless groomed trails. Michigan is a snowmobiler’s paradise,
boasting more than six million acres of state and federal lands
along with hundreds of miles of privately owned trails
It’s
Snow Time for West Michigan Snowmobilers Michigan ranks among the
top eight snowmobiling states in the nation. It’s first in
sheer beauty, with thousands of miles of groomed and ungroomed public
trails. They span whole regions of countryside, winding across rolling
fields, then plunging down woodland ravines up into deep pine forests,
from town to town in West Michigan.
If
wintry trails beckon you, West Michigan has it all. In fact, a growing
number of hotels, motels and resorts offer door-to-trail proximity.
No
agency has been more active in transforming West Michigan into a
haven for snowmobile enthusiasts than the Michigan Department of
Natural Resources (MDNR). They are the creators and guardians of
West Michigan’s major trail network through the state park
system. But to use MDNR trails, you must have a permit. The cost
is $25. Permits may be obtained by calling WMTA at 1-800-246-0260.
If
you enjoy snowmobile racing, you won’t want to miss the North
American Snowmobile Festival Sno-Cross Races in Cadillac, January
31, and February 1. The winter equivalent to motorcycle racing,
competitors will run a manmade course of jumps, moguls, twists and
turns. Race classes will be available for anyone over 10 years old.
To enter the racing events, call the American Snowmobile Racing
Association at (905) 476-7182.
The
races signal the start of Cadillac’s North American Snowmobile
Festival, February 3-8. In its 14th year, the event features a poker
run, fireworks and a chili cookoff. Activities for kids and grown
ups alike range from snow sculptures to winter softball, snowmobile
safety classes, trail lunches and a cross-country ski tour. For
information on the Snow-Cross Race the Snowmobile Festival or any
of West Michigan’s other outstanding snowmobile events, call
WMTA at (800) 442-2084.
Snowmobiling
is becoming more and more a family sport. Safety is paramount. Most
accidents occur when drivers override their headlights at high speeds
on remote trails. Alcohol is frequently a factor. When you snowmobile
in West Michigan, observe state laws. Protect the environment and
your own safety by sticking to established trails. Use common sense
and courtesy. And enjoy.
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