Sled trails in Illinois and Wisconsin? Locals can you help?

[pjr]

Hi Guys! My family hope's all of you have had a nice Christmas Day so far!! The living room was a disaster of wrapping paper, boxes and what-not this morning, so I think everyone was happy with what Santa brought them.

As you guys' know, Indiana has had absolutely crap weather and poor snowfall so far, where it's 44* here now with rain for the forseeable future.... We're sick of warm weather, we're tired of waiting for snow, so we want to go somewhere to ride during the Holiday time here. Michigan hasn't really been much better so far, so we were thinking of heading West into Illinois or Wisconsin for some REAL snow!

Hopefully some of you guys' that live in these States or around these areas that know them best can help us out to determine where to go for some good sled trails, lodging, food etc. I'd even be up to meet a bunch of you to have a riding day if we could, just to put some internet names to actual faces. My family, along with my Cousin-in-Law and Brother-in-Law's families will also follow us over too, for a combination of 6-7 sleds.

I will be in the Rockport, IL. area on Thursday (Dec. 31st) to meet some folks, so we would be heading in whatever direction you guy's think is best from there.

A couple of questions-
1. Best sled trails to ride in Illinois or Central Wisconsin?
2. Lodging or area towns to find lodging?
3. Sled registration in those States?
4. Anyone wanna come riding with us to "show us around the area"? (That would be REALLY cool!!!
5. Any other info or "tips" you guy's might know of.

Thenks guys' and I look forward to your suggestions and input! Happy Holidays!!

-PJ

[71bigblock]

Hey PJ

I looked up a snow cover map, as of today, this is what it shows:



We got about 6-8 inches yesterday, only to have it start raining last night. Light rain all last night continued through today, and its still raining lightly now. All that we got yesterday is gone, and probably then some. So the map is decently accurate. The trails here opened at midnight last night, but were closed very soon afterwards. I'm guessing its the same across Wisconsin, that system is moving very slowly, and most of the snow is dumping down hard from central MN west to the Dakotas.

Thats what I can say about here, not sure about southern WI.

[Danzig...]

Snow is dismal south of I-80, meaning zero, zip. Rain all melted it away. Rockford, Illinois north is where you gotta go. Rockport is down by St.Louis...better get a boat down that way. Flood warnings are posted.

Where I am at, 1 hour roughly south of Rockford, we had 6 inches, the rain took it. Now tonight we have been getting snow showers. Right now we have about 1.5 inches on top of grass. Not snowing as I look out the window.

http://www.dnr.state.il.us/lands/Landmg ... index.html

Good luck

[400brian]

PJ

Most of WI got rain Thursday into Friday. We HAD good conditions here in South central, and they may be improving as it is forecast to cool off and there is a chance of new snow.

Campbell and Ross are heading up into the eastern UP. They were reporting 2' before Christmas in the Paradise area.

SNOWING IN EAGLE RIVER!

SNOWMOBILE LAND TRAILS ARE OPEN & GROOMED!

The Catfish Lake Trail & Eagle Lake Trail still remain closed waiting for more ice to build. Should be very soon. Stay tuned for opening.

Snow is falling in falling in Eagle River. Great present for Christmas! Trails are all SNOW covered with a few riders.

[pjr]

Snow is dismal south of I-80, meaning zero, zip. Rain all melted it away. Rockford, Illinois north is where you gotta go. Rockport is down by St.Louis...better get a boat down that way. Flood warnings are posted.

Where I am at, 1 hour roughly south of Rockford, we had 6 inches, the rain took it. Now tonight we have been getting snow showers. Right now we have about 1.5 inches on top of grass. Not snowing as I look out the window.

http://www.dnr.state.il.us/lands/Landmg ... index.html

Good luck

Thanks Danzig and after seeing the weather in Illinois for the next few days (which is pretty much what we get farther East after you) I don't think sled riding in that State is do-able- at least not without a Jet-Ski! Maybe the weather will change for the better (or is it worse?) by Thursday.

PJ

[pjr]

PJ

Most of WI got rain Thursday into Friday. We HAD good conditions here in South central, and they may be improving as it is forecast to cool off and there is a chance of new snow.

Campbell and Ross are heading up into the eastern UP. They were reporting 2' before Christmas in the Paradise area.

SNOWING IN EAGLE RIVER!

SNOWMOBILE LAND TRAILS ARE OPEN & GROOMED!

The Catfish Lake Trail & Eagle Lake Trail still remain closed waiting for more ice to build. Should be very soon. Stay tuned for opening.

Snow is falling in falling in Eagle River. Great present for Christmas! Trails are all SNOW covered with a few riders.

Thanks Brian, I'll check those places out online!

PJ

[pjr]

96 views on this topic and only 3-4 guys have any help????? Wow..just wow........

Well, after doing a lot homework myself and taking the advice of those that did offer some help, (thank you again BTW) it looks like we'll be heading to the Lake Geneva - Burlington area as long as the weather holds as it is up there or gets even better. We have a friend we called up that's been staying at the Best Western in Lake Geneva and he went out and measured 13" on the ground right outside his Motel room, with more expected this week. The sled trail system is also open up there right now too according to the online reports.

I'll still be traveling to Rockford to drop off some sleds, then I'll head due North about 65 miles or so to meet up with my family for some New year's riding fun.

Thanks once again to those that took the time to give me some help and assistance.


PJ

[tjsdad]

well I cant say how Lake Geneva area is, but the Dane Co., Madison area is open, but after 1/2 - 1 " of rain Thurs, Friday, they are very rough and slick.

[pjr]

well I cant say how Lake Geneva area is, but the Dane Co., Madison area is open, but after 1/2 - 1 " of rain Thurs, Friday, they are very rough and slick.

Thanks for the report and it looks like we'll be in Wisconsin riding somewhere.

PJ

[400brian]

PJ

Conditions are improving. They groomed locally today, and we received 3-4" of very fluffy snow that they did not get in Madison. My Uncle was grooming, and confirmed that we have flooding ( open water ) in low lying areas, because of the rain on Christmas. It remains to be seen if we will get cold enough conditions to freeze things solid. Sleds were coming through today, so apparently it is passable.

PJ, I would love to lead a group tour around the area, but am simply so busy here on the farm, that I haven't even got my own sleds out yet.

[427cobra]

Hey PJ...

Check out this site...http://www.upnorthsnow.com/ (if you already havent)

We got some good snow today. Put about 40 miles on the sleds today. However the rain took its toll and closed large portions of the IM (Illinois Michigan) canal around our area. So we only got 20 miles on the canal. Then another 20 miles in the ditches.

It was a light powder snow so it was fun busting through all the drifts in the ditches...

[pjr]

PJ

Conditions are improving. They groomed locally today, and we received 3-4" of very fluffy snow that they did not get in Madison. My Uncle was grooming, and confirmed that we have flooding ( open water ) in low lying areas, because of the rain on Christmas. It remains to be seen if we will get cold enough conditions to freeze things solid. Sleds were coming through today, so apparently it is passable.

PJ, I would love to lead a group tour around the area, but am simply so busy here on the farm, that I haven't even got my own sleds out yet.

Well dang-it, it's high time you took a break and had some fun on those sleds don't you think? I'll be at your doorstep on Thursday and I expect to see all your sleds outside, running and all warmed up for a day's ride!

Peege

[pjr]

Hey PJ...

Check out this site...http://www.upnorthsnow.com/ (if you already havent)

We got some good snow today. Put about 40 miles on the sleds today. However the rain took its toll and closed large portions of the IM (Illinois Michigan) canal around our area. So we only got 20 miles on the canal. Then another 20 miles in the ditches.

It was a light powder snow so it was fun busting through all the drifts in the ditches...

Thanks for website, pretty cool and informative. I saved it to a shortcut on my desktop. Wanna meet up with us for some riding somewhere?

PJ

[79 Spitfire]

Finally some snow in mid central Illinois around the Bloomington-Normal area, I went yesterday around 4 o'lclock and got home prolly around 7 or 8. Wenmt out this morning at 9 and got home around 1130. Going to go to another town in a bit and get some more oil. Gonna be a long day of fun! Pictures will be up in a new thread once done for the day!

[tjsdad]

went for a nice long ride on the 81 LF today....trails were excellent even after the rain. they are very fast with new carbides and 90 studs. The groomers were out, but couldnt get thru the marshy areas as the water is froze only an inch thick.