Iron County snowmobile trails to open Monday

By ZACHARY MARANO

zmarano@yourdailyglobe.com

The Iron County snowmobile and winter ATV trails will open on Monday at 8 a.m. after the conclusion of the four-day antlerless deer hunt in Wisconsin.

"Early season riding conditions can change rapidly. Riders need to use caution as low snow conditions, open water or icy conditions may exist," Iron County Forest Administrator Eric Peterson said.

Iron County has more than 500 miles of snowmobile and winter ATV trails. The trails are maintained by Forestry & Parks Department staff and volunteers from the Mercer Sno-goers and White Thunder Riders snowmobile cubs.

The snowmobile trails include the Iron Horse Trail in Hurley. From the Iron Horse Trail, it is a 12-mile ride to the towns of Saxon and Gurney. The trail also has places to stop for gas, food and refreshments along the way.

Trail 3 leads to Saxon Harbor and provides a view of Lake Superior while Trail 17 leads to Mercer and crosses many rivers and creeks. Trail 77 goes through the towns of Montreal, Pence and Iron Belt and past the historical Plummer Mine Headframe, the only such structure remaining in Wisconsin.

Another trail of interest is Corridor 8, which travels west of Mercer past the Lake of the Falls scenic area and the Turtle Flambeau Flowage. Springstead on Trail 182 has trails that wander through forests and lakes in southern Iron County.

Twenty-four-hour snow reports on Iron County trails are updated by the Hurley and Mercer area chambers of commerce every Wednesday at noon. For updates, call 715-476-7669.