Two Northern Michigan Snowmobile Trails Close, Landowners Pull Leases

Two popular Northern Michigan snowmobile trails shut down for the season.

The Department of Natural Resources closed the trails today after landowners refused to renew state leases.

A trail from Mancelona to Starvation Lake as well as a trail that connects East Jordan to Charlevoix are both closed.

9 & 10’s Blayke Roznowski and photojournalist Erin Malone have more details on the closures.

"The main reason would be the snowmobiles not staying on the main snowmobile trail and going off onto the private property that wasn’t the actual snowmobile trail and homeowners decided to pull leases," DNR forest fire supervisor Dana Pelton said.

Two Northern Michigan snowmobile trails are closed for the season after landowners say snowmobilers weren’t respecting their properties.

"They’re looking for respect and it’s really important that snowmobiles know that we have plenty of designated snowmobile trails in the state of Michigan and they really need to abide by the rules," Pelton said.

Trail #768 is closed from Mancelona to the Starvation Lake area in Antrim County and Trail #4 is closed at M 32 and Rogers Road, which cuts off the route to Charlevoix.

"For Charlevoix, those people know they’re kind of isolated over there, so you would have to haul your vehicles over to East Jordan," T & R Yamaha service manager Tracey Johnson.

Local businesses in East Jordan say they’ll be affected by the closures with less snowmobilers passing through.

"It’s a sad thing. A lot of people will say the same thing," Johnson said. "You close any kind of trail in these small communities, you know, we rely on that. It’s not just me as a dealership, local businesses."

Snowmobilers and those who do rely on the trail being open hope alternative routes can be found to open up access once again.

"All around it’s not good seeing trails close," Johnson said. "Especially in Michigan, we’re a recreational mecca."