ORV damage causes ski trail closure
Wed, Feb 13, 2008 - By DNR
A portion of the Cedar River State Forest Pathway and Cross Country Ski Trail will be closed for the reminder of the winter, due to deep ruts caused by the illegal use of Off Road Vehicles (ORVs), causing considerable damage to the ski trail.
Russ MacDonald, assistant unit manager for the DNR’s Escanaba Management Unit, said today that the fourth loop of the Cedar River State Forest Pathway, located in Cedarville Township in central Menominee County, is unusable to skiers and cannot be groomed because of the deep, frozen ruts. He added that although attempts have been made to repair the damage, the ORVs have created water-and ice filled holes over a foot deep in most sections of the ski trail, making the damage too severe to repair at this time.
“We are also facing the possibility of completely abandoning this portion of the ski trail, as the damage is quite significant and will require major expenditure and labor to repair the trail to get it back to a usable condition,” MacDonald said. “Unfortunately, the illegal use of ORVs on our ski pathways has become chronic. This severe damage is the result of that illegal use.”
The DNR reminds ORV riders that it is unlawful to use any motorized vehicles on a designated pathway.
The fourth loop of the Cedar River State Forest Pathway is located east of County Road 551. The other three loops of the pathway will remain open for the public to ski and as snow conditions allow, and will be groomed by DNR staff for the remainder of the season.
For more information, contact the Escanaba Unit Office at 906-786-2354.
Russ MacDonald, assistant unit manager for the DNR’s Escanaba Management Unit, said today that the fourth loop of the Cedar River State Forest Pathway, located in Cedarville Township in central Menominee County, is unusable to skiers and cannot be groomed because of the deep, frozen ruts. He added that although attempts have been made to repair the damage, the ORVs have created water-and ice filled holes over a foot deep in most sections of the ski trail, making the damage too severe to repair at this time.
“We are also facing the possibility of completely abandoning this portion of the ski trail, as the damage is quite significant and will require major expenditure and labor to repair the trail to get it back to a usable condition,” MacDonald said. “Unfortunately, the illegal use of ORVs on our ski pathways has become chronic. This severe damage is the result of that illegal use.”
The DNR reminds ORV riders that it is unlawful to use any motorized vehicles on a designated pathway.
The fourth loop of the Cedar River State Forest Pathway is located east of County Road 551. The other three loops of the pathway will remain open for the public to ski and as snow conditions allow, and will be groomed by DNR staff for the remainder of the season.
For more information, contact the Escanaba Unit Office at 906-786-2354.