I bought a 97 MXZ 583 in the spring and I can't wait to get out on the trails this winter. I was wondering how it is around East Jordan. My wife's grandfather has a summer place up there that is going to be my winter place! I've seen basic maps of the area and it seems you can go all over from there. I've hiked the Jordan River Pathway. I'm sure it will be even better on a sled.

Brian,

The East Jordan area is a nice area to ride. (Wish I had a cabin there too!) They have a very active club, search for their web site on www.michigansnowmobiling.com. I know that they have a clubhouse and do a breakfast every Sunday. I've eaten there. Join the club, and you will always have someone to ride with, and you will make some good friends while helping out with the countless volunteer hours that it takes to keep a trail going. So few snowmobilers ever bother to lend a hand.

The Jordan Valley trail that goes from the clubhouse to Alba is especially beautiful. It runs in the valley along the Jordan river. Have fun.

Yep, nice area. Rode from Larry's bar last year down the Jordan Valley Trail, and east towards Wolverine. The ride through the Jordan Valley is especially nice at night. Sled Dogg and I made some serious time through there at night before calling it a day. Very fun trail to ride fast.

Nah, you probably won't like it. Way too crowded/busy. Crazies everywhere trying to run you over because the only snow in the lower happens to be there......and I wouldn't trade it for the world. Welcome to one of the nicest places to ride in Mich., on the trail to everywhere else there is to ride in Mich.

AL

It's a beautiful area to ride. You will NOT be disappointed.

you will like jordan valley, i have been there many time's.
but like michahicks sead,...it's real busy.
and lot's of hot rods.(watch out for them) :cussing:
we ride only northern mi, i can show you some very nice trails.
just let me know when you come up,
we ride every weekend.
we ride the power lines,and the gas lines.
and lot's of non groomed trails. :thumbsup: mark.

As far as snowmobiling in goes in the northern lower peninsula, the East Jordan
area has got to be the most senic . And the area is also one of the few places in
the state that gets snow to make riding enjoyable. The Jordan Valley Trail is
the most senic in the lower pen. Yes, it is busy on the weekends,but if you go riding
midweek you may only see a handful of sledders all day. I put on 2,300 miles last
year all in the Gaylord/East Jordan area, it is deffinitley the place to ride. :thumbsup:

Thanks for the info everyone. How can I get my hands on some detailed trail maps of the area? Do I have to get them from the local Chambers of Commerce? What are some good places to stop to eat or grab a beverage?

http://www.fishweb.com/recreation/snowmobi...trails/nwl.html (http://www.fishweb.com/recreation/snowmobile/trails/nwl.html)

Best site I've ever found for Michigan snowmobiling. Good maps and fairly reliable trail conditions that are updated regularly.

And I should have mentioned that when we rode the Jordan Valley last year it was during the week, very little traffic on a Tuesday.

seems everyone ,including myslef,share the same thoughts on the area. :thumbsup:

Trail maps very easy to come by at most local businesses catering to the sled crowd....

Originally posted by Beerman@Aug 7 2003, 03:11 PM
Yep, nice area. Rode from Larry's bar last year down the Jordan Valley Trail, and east towards Wolverine. The ride through the Jordan Valley is especially nice at night. Sled Dogg and I made some serious time through there at night before calling it a day. Very fun trail to ride fast.
Here is a pic Art(Beerman) took of me in the Jordon Vally Preserve, there is a stream running below us and behind us.
LOL@that one Art. Here is a funny one guys. Art and I eat dinner at Larry's Bar(no drinking) and head out to fire them up. We run through the vally preserve and to the railroad tracks after the tator field for those of you that know the area and back to Larrys in under 30 minutes. I walk into Larry's to go bathroom and they thought we were still eating. I told him we just got back and they couldn't believe it, that we covered that much trail so fast.. It was one fun night ride, seems like it was -15 or so and man were the sleds running lean and mean. It'll forever be a good memory. Wow that whole 2 days was huh Art? I sheard a trailing arm off to start the day off. What will I do now that Zurumba's burned down lol.

Here is the golf course not to far from Larry's bar ( great drop off point). It was so beautiful as it snowed that night. Saw a huge heard of deer before we got to the course property also. We went on Dec 4, first snow of the year. Wasn't much snow but sure was fun. Was our first runin with a F7 sno pro and man did Art (beerman) and him want to race lol. We ran all over the place but couldn't find a place with enough snow for the F7 deep track. But man o man did it run nice on the wide open roads!

Yep, good riding. I'll definately do it again some time.

Ok, here's my recipe for enjoying the Jordan Valley.
Sunday morning, be on the snow headed for larry's bar by 7:30 A.M. Buzz down through the valley after passing by the bar and the Citgo station. Stop at the Alba sportsmans club for breakfast and then it's back on the sled north either through the valley one more time or up the potato fields. I live in Gaylord so I have to find my way home cross country and varies each trip. I try my best to stay out of everybody's yard. Usually make it home early enough for some Sunday NFL football. Oh, by the way Sledd Dog, in case you need any more parts from Zaremba's they moved to Gaylord and are doing business in the industrial park.

SWRules

Sweet to know they are still around!! I sheard off a trailing arm bolt and they only charged me 62 bucks fro 1 1/2 hours work!! And that was with me helping. That is something I never want to do again!!!!

Ok, here I'am, gloom & doom. I have rode the valley a million times [it's only 11 miles] and it is senic but not that senic. Guess I'am spoiled from riding the U.P.
I have been all over this state and in my book #1 would be BigBay [north of Marquette] and over to Baraga. #2 would be Houghton/Hancock to Copper Harbor area.
I know you wanted to know the East Jordan area so here it is: The valley is ok if you dont mind more ice, stones and dirt than snow. If following groups of 20 people doing 10 mph dont bother you.
Once you make it to 66 the rest of the way is swamp, mud, big holes and pallets to hold you up so you can make it to East Jordan, from there on it's great!
As I said, I'am spoiled and been riding for a lot of years so most riders of today dont even know what "real" snowmobiling is. If you want a little taste of what it used to be like, ride during the week, ahhhhh I miss the old days ???

Ok mikadoo,
When are we goin. Haven't gotten up the nerve to climb the hill at North Range yet. The view from the top is absolutely beautiful. My uncle introduced me to the Kewennaw penn. About three years ago. I bought a house in Crystall Falls last fall in the hopes of migrating there someday. I'ts a little far south of the local snow belt but i have a trailer to take care of that. By the way sledd dog, I see you handle mortgages would you be able to help out with some refinancing? My wife is self-employed and the banks don't
want our money.
Anyway, I started out about four years ago by talking my neighbor into spending a week up near skanee (we found a nice cottage to rent for the week with a hottub). We usually trailer up to Calumet/Larium two days out of the week and spend the rest of the time in the tub or running back and forth between Skanee (near the huron bay tavern) and Big Bay or as in the case, last year running my buddys yammy back and forth to the dealer to replace pistons. Finally fixed it by replacing it with a Viper. That was a fun week. Last year we took the wives up. We are talking about doing another trip again this winter. Kind of a leisure week only put on 3 or four hundred miles. We cook breakfast at the cottage go out and ride and after we come back usually head into baraga for dinner.

SWRules