Snowmobile Trail News
NEW TRAIL Chassell to Houghton Railroad Grade
CHASSELL TO HOUGHTON RAIL-TRAIL The DNR acquired 8.64 miles of the Chassell to
Houghton railroad grade in 2003. The other owners are Michigan Technological
University and Michigan Department of Transportation. A citizen advisory committee
was formed. They walked the trail, heard comments during public meetings, discussed
options and made recommendations for use of this trail. These recommendations are
being reviewed by DNR staff. The recommendations and the DNR response to those
recommendations will be presented to the public (probably in early 2006).*
* I will try to get me hands on the actual committee recommendations for the trail and post them here.
OLD TRAIL Trail 15 Chassell to Painesdale
The Chassell Snowmobile Club is currently getting needed new easements to re-open
this trail hopefully in time for 2005/2006 Snowmobile Season.
Chassell to Painesdale Trail - Trail 15 from Chassell to Painesdale will be lost for
the upcoming snowmobile season(2004/2005). Loss of land control has caused an impasse. The
Keweenaw Tourism Council was able to keep the trail open last year on a temporary
basis using a portion of a plowed county road; this is not an option any longer. It
is hoped that Keweenaw Tourism, in conjunction with Department staff, will be able
to develop an alternate route for the future that will provide a way for riders to
access the Keweenaw Peninsula from the Baraga area.
Current Detour for closed Trail 15
The second closure affects Trail 15 between Chassell and Painesdale in Houghton
County. The detour to travel west involves connecting with Trail 109 south of
Baraga, and the detour east is Trail 3 to get from Bruce Crossing to Houghton, or
Trail 109 to access the eastern U.P. routes.
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