Sawyer County
By Cathy LaReau
Folks, the article published in today’s Sawyer County Record (2/5) was an older article I submitted back in mid-January that did not get published – The article below was supposed to be published today, February 5, but they must have mixed it up and put the other outdated article in the paper instead. This one has information accurate as of the day I wrote it (2/2/25) Ugh. Anyhow, keep up the snow dances, looks like more snow is on the way!
FEB 6, 2025 am: SNOW ALERT! Whoohoo! It’s snowing pretty good here in Hayward/Sawyer County and with Saturday’s forecasted snow – I assume we will have some GREAT riding to do! See you on the trail! Cathy
The fear of another lost winter solemnly grew with every passing January day. Pent-up snowmobilers from all over started traveling as far north as needed in search of places to ride. Many found it at Michigan’s snow-laden trails of the Upper Peninsula.
News from riders returning from the U.P., and comments on social media, told a story of intense snowmobile traffic, stations running out of off-road gas, and packed businesses – a wishful scenario for our area.
Our trails are off to a very late start. Around mid-January our area finally got some snow so clubs could start panning the trails, which flattens the snow to create a trail base. After a base is in place, club volunteers groom new snowfall to make smooth snowmobile trails riders love.
Sawyer County barely got enough snow for a good base, and some southern areas didn’t get enough to begin panning trails. At least the arctic January temperatures seemed to maintain what little snow we got.
January’s cold produced thick ice and good riding on the 20-some lakes that our snowmobile trail system crosses. Lake ice-heaves and pressure ridges have been a problem this year- and just recently, lake trail 31 on Lac Courte Oreilles had to be closed due to a large, shifting ice heave. As a reminder – frozen lake travel is never guaranteed to be safe; always be watchful and cautious as ice conditions can change anytime.
Sawyer County trails were considered partially open and poor in mid-January, but sledders still came, especially to ride the lakes. Occasional scant flurries kept riders coming back to ride.
On January 24th the Wisconsin Tourism Snowmobile Trail report for Sawyer County was raised from ‘partially open and poor condition’ to ‘open, fair condition, and groomed’. There are only 6 counties in Wisconsin offering trail reports as of February 2, 2025- Douglas and Ashland show as partially open and in poor condition, and the four counties of Bayfield, Sawyer, Iron, and Vilas counties are reported as open and in fair condition.
Snowmobilers continue to flock to Sawyer County, especially to ride the various lakes, such as the Chippewa Flowage. The heavy use and lack of snow have kept most snowmobile trails worn down to dirt and gravel. Some trails in the woods are good to marginal in areas. Trails along roads were pretty bare. A little snow over this past weekend plus a forecast of more on the way, offers a glimmer of hope for a successful snowmobile season despite the late start.
UTV and ATV riding
UTV trails in the county forest are currently closed- this is primarily the Seeley Hills area. The Alliance and the Sawyer County Forestry department’s policy is to close the county forest trails to UTV use once snowmobile grooming begins. UTV riders can still get around via approved road routes and other trail options, such as the Tuscobia Trail. ATVs can continue to ride the ATV trails during snow grooming season.