Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
WAKEFIELD — After decades of work with snowmobile trails, the Gogebic Range Trail Authority is expanding its work to support ORV use in the region, according to club president Steve Hamilton.
The GRTA recently became part of a Michigan Department of Natural Resources administered ORV Trail Sponsorship Program. This program establishes GRTA as the maintainers of a 12-mile ORV trail from M-64 in Marenisco west to Korpela Road in Wakefield Township, and provides access to ORV trail-permit improvement funds, according to Hamilton.
The club previously co-managed this trail section, with MI-TRALE managing ORV side and GRTA managing snowmobile season, said Hamilton.
Through the ORV trail permit funded program the GRTA secured grants totaling more than $30,000 to grade and level this 12-mile trail section as well as maintenance on bridge approaches for the upcoming ORV season.
GRTA will also take over signage on the road-route connecting Korpela Road ORV traffic to Sunday Lake Road in Wakefield, added Hamilton.
“These trail sections east of Wakefield are the only portion of the club ORV trail system that can access ORV Trail Permit funding as they are approved state trails,” said Hamilton. “The club’s local fundraising and volunteers maintain the remaining club trails of Verona Road in Ramsay to the Montreal River Bridge between Hurley and Ironwood, trails on Gogebic County Forestry land in the Powers Road Recreational Area and in the Miner’s Memorial Heritage Park.”
“The club carries insurance for public ORV operation on the summertime trails which covers the club, trail landowners and club membership,” said Hamilton, adding the money comes from budget surpluses from the snowmobile season.
“It must be noted that our snowmobile trail volunteering is the funding we use to do improve local ORV trails,” he said. “We have little to no local ORV involvement and that is exactly why we have little to no progress regarding ORV trail expansion.”
Hamilton said the all-volunteer snowmobile trail grooming crew logged more than 8,300 miles and 1,300 hours this past winter. The GRTA planned to hold a banquet this evening at the Wakefield VFW to thank the volunteers and land owners.
Hamilton said the GRTA has had requests for an ORV trail map and increased off-road routes to provide better access to the different trails, but “one ingredient keeps them from reality this summer: available volunteers.”
Hamilton praised the group’s board of directors, adding the GRTA has made “tremendous advancements for winter-time users and has worked to lay the groundwork to attempt the same for summertime ORV use.”
“The GRTA invites the ORV riding community and anyone interested in increasing tourism in the area to join a fun and diverse club working together to create more trails for all to enjoy,” said Hamilton. “The club has the tools to bring trails to life, the only thing missing is the people to help make it happen.”
For more information, contact Hamilton at at 608-577-6653.
