If you’re ready to hit the trail for a weekend of snowmobiling, this is the time to do it.
Michigan officials invite the public to take part in the state’s annual Free Snowmobiling Weekend.
Michigan has more than 6,500 miles of trails, and on Jan. 10-11, enthusiasts can ride them all without obtaining a permit for their machines.
The weekend offers a great opportunity to introduce friends or family to the outdoor winter activity, like the state’s free off-roading and fishing weekends in the summer.
Here’s a quick guide to snowmobiling in Michigan ahead of the weekend 2026:
Michigan’s Free Snowmobiling Weekend
All snowmobilers are welcome to hop on the trails for free on Saturday, Jan. 10, through Sunday, Jan. 11.
Participants may ride without the otherwise required snowmobile registration or trail permit. Snowmobilers 12-16 years old are still required to obtain a snowmobile safety certificate.
Michigan’s snowmobiling trails: Where should I ride this weekend?
To explore trails in Michigan, the DNR maintains snowmobile maps to find trails by county. The maps include details on parking lots, surface types and nearby state parks. In addition, there is page on current trail closures.
Some recommended trail areas across the Upper and Lower Peninsula, for quality and scenic views, according to Pure Michigan and the Upper Peninsula Travel and Recreation Association, include:
Is snow in the forecast for Michigan’s Free Snowmobiling Weekend?
Yes. As of Jan. 9, accumulating snow is expected statewide throughout the weekend, although rain may develop in southeast, central Michigan in the lower Peninsula mainly on Saturday, Jan. 10., according to the National Weather Service.
In the Lower Peninsula, highs are forecast to range in the upper 20s to lower 40s. In the U.P., temperatures are expected to be cooler, in the 20s.
By Monday morning, Jan. 12, 0.1-7 inches of snow is expected to be on the ground, with the heaviest snow across northern Michigan and the western U.P., according to the NWS Probabilistic Precipitation Portal. West Michigan, near Ludington, is predicted to see heavy snow as well.
Snowmobiling safety tips: Proper gear, group and ice awareness
For those new on the trails, here are safety tips from Michigan State University’s Extension and the International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association:
“Snowmobiling on ice is much more dangerous and extremely unpredictable. The best approach is to stay off ice entirely,” according to MSU’s Extension. “Remember the safety motto ‘No ice is safe ice.’ Especially on large bodies of water like Lake Huron or Saginaw Bay changes in wind, waves and currents can rapidly destabilize or breakup ice turning even the “safest” ice dangerous very quickly.”
Snowmobiling trail etiquette: When should I pull over or slow down?
According to the Michigan’s DNR, here’s the trail etiquette:
Contact Sarah Moore @ smoore@lsj.com
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Ready to hit the trail? Free snowmobiling weekend is here
Reporting by Sarah Moore and Jenna Prestininzi, USA TODAY NETWORK / Lansing State Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
