Snowmobilers Alerted to Lakeshore Regulations

Date: January 16, 2007
Contact: Larry Hach, 906-387-2607, ext. 203

Snowmobiling along a designated route

NPS photo

(Munising, MI) As the snow finally begins to fly, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore’s Chief Ranger Larry Hach has released information designed to assist snowmobilers who will be using portions of the National Lakeshore as part of their winter travel and adventures.

“Within Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, snowmobiles are permitted on the frozen waters of Lake Superior and Grand Sable Lake, and on specific designated roads and road shoulders as listed in the Code of Federal Regulations (36 CFR Section 7.32),” said Chief Ranger Larry Hach.

The specific areas open to snowmobile use are:

A. Sand Point Road from the park boundary to Lake Superior.
B. From the park boundary off City Limits Road southwest to the Becker Farm, and down to Sand Point Road.
C. Miners Falls Road, Miners Castle Road and parking area, and the Miners Beach Road.
D. From the park boundary in Section 32, T48N, R17W, to the Chapel Falls parking area.
E. Road from H-58 at the park boundary to the Little Beaver Lake Campground.
F. Road from H-58 at the park boundary to the Twelvemile Beach Campground.
G. Road from H-58 to the Hurricane River Campground.
H. Road from H-58 to the Log Slide parking lot.
I. Michigan Dimension Road from the park boundary to the Log Slide parking lot.
J. The frozen waters of Lake Superior and Grand Sable Lake.

“Snowmobile use must be conducted in full accordance with State laws,” Hach added, “and the snowmobile speed limit within the park is 45 MPH unless otherwise posted.”

“We also ask everyone to help us to keep snowmobiles on the designated routes,” Hach added. “We have had some very significant resource damage in the Grand Sable Dunes and along the Sullivan’s Beach areas in past years,” Hach said. “These are areas with very sensitive resources and we hope everyone will work with us to protect critical park resources while also enjoying the park.”

“Snowmobile use outside of designated routes is prohibited, and violators are subject to fine and/or arrest," Hach emphasized. “We also remind snowmobilers that many of these same areas are being enjoyed by backcountry skiers and visitors on snowshoes,” Hach concluded. “Let’s make sure we all enjoy the park this winter with no one getting hurt.”

For further information about snowmobiling at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, contact park headquarters at [phone] or the Grand Marais Ranger Station at [phone].