Chippewa Nature Center Trail Conditions

Update - 1/26/12:
Still holding out for snow! Currently, the trails are not in good shape at all. In fact, instead of your rock skis, we’d advise your crampons! With the freeze and thaw cycles we’ve had, there are certain stretches of the trail that are solid sheets of ice, and other sections that are totally bare. Just watch your step, but it’s no reason to not get outside! Take advantage of this mild winter and venture out!

Update - 1/18/12:
Patience is still required for the ski trails here. Conditions are honestly not very good; still in need of a little more snow! We have rolled all of our designated ski trails in order to preserve them through some of our temperature swings we’ve had. So right now they are bumpy, lumpy and crunchy. That’s the bad news. The good news is that when do get a little more snow, we will have a great base underneath it! Also, even given what’s currently rolled, we still have ten miles of un-touched trails that are great skiing right now! The un-groomed areas are actually better for skiing than areas that are groomed! What a winter!

Update - 4/28/11:
According to the National Weather Service, a Flood Warning continues for Tittabawassee River at Midland. * From now until further notice. * At 10 am Thursday the stage is 25.5 feet and rising. * Flood stage is 24.0 feet. * Moderate flooding is occurring. * Forecast is to crest around 27.9 feet tomorrow morning.

Arbury Trail is the one trail we can consider passable. Most other trails will have at least some sections with substantial puddles, and those near flowing water, like the River Trail, Sugar Bush Trail and Meadow Mouse Trail, should especially be avoided.
Pine River Road is now closed between Poseyville Road and Grey Road.
Water is flowing a little over Patterson Road and Chippewa Trail at Pine River Road. There are also various other sections of Chippewa Trail west of Patterson Road that may be difficult for a bike to navigate.
The parking lot gate at the Ridge Area is closed. The trails are filled with water; it is unsafe for bikers to use the section of Chippewa Trail from there to the Tridge.
The Homestead Road gate will close at 5 p.m. today to keep vehicles out of a potential flood area.
This evening’s In Search of Woodcock and Snipe hike is cancelled.

Update - 4/4/11:
Many trails are impassable due to flooding. Wear your boots! Extreme caution should be used along the River Trail.

Update - 2/22/11:
The trails are on their last hurrah, but are definitely skiable. If you haven’t been out skiing yet this year, you should do it soon! The Homestead and River Trail are groomed with track set and look great, except for a few bare spots here and there. We plan on grooming the Chippewa Trail tomorrow, and possibly setting track, depending on depth.

Update - 2/21/11:
Yesterday's storm left us with about 6 inches of fresh powder to work with. It's not enough to totally revive our trails, but it's enough to make them skiable for a little while longer!

With the strong winds still blowing, we rolled trails today, and will plan on setting track tomorrow. The Chippewa Trail skating lane had one major bare spot near the Wetlands. We only rolled this trail as far as the Ridge parking area. (The open field areas have no base left on top of the asphalt). The Homestead and River Trail are also rolled. There is an 80m-ish stretch of bare ground under the pines by the Homestead. Rock skis would be a good idea now; there is a lot of ice under the snow from our previous half-melted base. If you are hiking, YakTrax or some similar traction aids would be a wise idea!

Update - 2/14/11:
Trails are going fast! While conditions are by no means ideal, they are still skiable here. In certain places with more sun and more skiers, the tracks are worn heavy, but icy and hard. Other places they are soft and slow. We still have about 4 to 5 inches of base in most places. The only bare patch we’re aware of is in the Homestead Pines ... we'll see what the next few days bring! The end is near! Come out and ski/snowshoe while there’s still time!

Update - 2/8/11:
After the warm weekend (relatively speaking), the ski tracks iced up to some degree, but the fresh snow Sunday night freshened everything up perfectly! The Classic tracks are still totally see-able and skiable. We may re-groom today or Wednesday to smooth out the hard use they’ve received.

Update - 2/4/11:
The Homestead and River Trail are groomed and track set, and the Chippewa Trail has been groomed for skate skiing. We will set track on this today. There were a lot of twigs that were down from all the wind, but we got most of them while grooming. The base is a fantastic 5 to 6 inches deep and is very firm. We actually had to shovel the base away in one place to make it under an over-hanging tree - that's a first!
These are the best snow conditions we’ve had in a long time. Come out and enjoy the winter views!

Update - 1/31/11:
Conditions are the best that they have been all season! All of our usual trails were groomed on Saturday, and saw a lot of use over the weekend! The first 100 yards of the River Trail are getting pounded pretty flat, but the tracks are holding firm everywhere else. We’ve got a great base built now. Get out and take advantage of this great opportunity to enjoy the Michigan winter!

More snow is predicted in the next couple of days, so we should have the trails re-groomed and freshened up shortly after the snow is done falling.

Update - 1/28/11:
The Chippewa Trail has been rolled to pack the base and gather the expected snow this weekend. The Homestead and River Trails are in great shape for classic skiing, snowshoeing or hiking. Come on out and enjoy the new fallen snow!

Update – 1/20/11:
Trails are groomed and track set! They are in the best shape that they've been in all the year! The River and Homestead Trails have tracks set on the left side, and so far walkers have done a great job of staying on the groomed side and skiers in the tracks. Thanks to everyone for making this work so well!

The Chippewa Trail has been groomed for skate skiing. We did not set track here because the base isn't quite thick enough over the asphalt. Your pole tips still hit, but at least it's solid, smooth and makes skate skiing a lot easier!

Let us know what you think when you get out on the trails! Comments are welcome to: cholsinger@chippewanaturecenter.org

Update – 1/19/11:
The base is growing in depth and firmness. All of our normally groomed trails (the Homestead, River and Chippewa Trail) are rolled and the base packed. With the recent warm temps and now the temp dropping, we should have a really firm base. We will have the trails groomed and track set by this afternoon for the first time this year! Come on out and enjoy classic skiing on any trail and classic or skate skiing on the Chippewa Trail!

Update – 1/12/11:
Winter strikes again! The last little snow storm left us looking a little more like we should for mid January! The trails are freshened up and are more skiable now. Tracks indicate that there have been a number of skiers out, as well as hikers and kids being pulled in sleds! The trails are more snow packed, and less icy, but, as always in a Michigan winter, be careful of slick spots under the snow. We have not recently rolled nor groomed the trails … still in need of a little more snow!

Update – 1/6/11:
The River Trail has been “rolled” in the hopes of gathering more snow. Currently, the base is very thin and fluffy! Skiing is possible, but not good at all today. If you come out, “rock skis” would be recommended. The Chippewa and Homestead Trails have not been rolled. Use caution on all of the trails as there is patchy ice under the snow, creating some really slick spots in random places.

Update – 1/3/11:
The recent warm temps depleted what snow we did have on the trails. The current freezing temps are keeping the trails firm for hiking.

Update – 12/22/10:
The Chippewa Trail was rolled today. The Chippewa and Homestead trails have a solid based. The cross country skiers who have been out have begun to set track. Once we get a few more inches of snow, we will groom the Chippewa, Homestead and River trails.

Update – 12/14/10:
The Homestead, River and Chippewa Trails have all been “rolled” to compact the base and catch any drifting snow. We will wait to set track until the wind adds a little more to the base. Currently, we don’t have a very thick base, but the snow that is there is quite firm due to the warm initial temperatures.

The Chippewa Trail will be groomed for skate skiing with a classic track set on the side. The other two trails will be groomed for classic skiing on the right with walking room on the left. All other trails will be left untouched for those of you who like to break your own trail! Come on out from dawn to dark and enjoy the snow while the cold, cold temperatures keep it here!

Update – 7/13/10:
All trails are passable, including the rustic (north) section of the Ridge Trail, although this section may be quite muddy.

Update – 5/20/10:
All trails are passable, except for the rustic (north) section of the Ridge Trail which is impassible due to flooding.

Update – 5/14/10:
Due to the heavy rains this week, some of the trails are very wet.

Update – 4/20/10:
All trails are passable, except for the rustic (north) section of the Ridge Trail which is impassible due to flooding.

Update – 3/18/10:
All trails are passable and free of snow (in places with big puddles and mud), except for the rustic (north) section of the Ridge Trail which is impassible due to flooding.

Update – 2/23/10:
Trails are snow covered with a thin base. Grooming is expected to happen in the next 24 hours!

Update – 2/11/10:
The trails are great today! We got about four inches of powder Tuesday night, with some deeper drifts in open places. The River Trail and Homestead Trail were groomed Wednesday the 10^th with classic track set. Our Chippewa Trail bike path was groomed Wednesday as well and is in excellent shape for skate skiing! The base is solid ice in sunny places, but there are no bare spots and the skiing is great!

Update – 2/3/10:
There is no bare ground showing through on the trail, but there certainly are some VERY thin spots. The worst area is through the pines at the Homestead and on the Southern-most part of the River Trail. The base is very hard and icy underneath, too solid to set track into it, but our recent inch of snow freshened up the top. Using either your worst good skis or your best rock skis would be a good idea.

The Wood Duck Trail is not flooded currently, but only because everything is locked in ice and snow right now! There will certainly be several spots along it this spring that will be impassable. The beavers that are living in the lodge right next to the trail have done a superb job of keeping the water backed up! Now is a great time to hike/ski that portion of trail before ice-out.

There are no major limbs or trees down on the trails (just a few twigs).

Update – 1/11/10:
Trails were groomed and track set this afternoon. As of this morning (Monday), we had two inches of fresh snow. Conditions are perfect for some great skiing!

Update – 1/5/10:
Like all of the local skiers, we have been hoping for snow. Our grooming equipment is itching to get out and do its job! We have rolled and groomed the trails only once so far this winter. There just isn’t enough snow yet to do anything with. Considering what snow we’ve had, though; the base is good, and there are not many bare spots. Rock skis would still be a good idea, especially in areas like the Pines near our Homestead Farm. We will be grooming and setting track on the River Trail, the Homestead Cut-Across, and the Chippewa Trail Bike-Path (our normal routes). This gives almost seven miles of groomed trail, and leaves over eight miles of un-groomed trails. There is no admission and we are open year-round. Currently the trails are rolled, with no tracks set; however there have been a number of skiers out that have begun to set their own tracks. Come on out and make some tracks of your own!