Are you looking for a new, variety-filled, low-cost snowmobile trip? Check out Grayling, MI. With thousands of acres of state and federal land made for winter fun, there is no place like Crawford County when it comes to snowmobiling.
Located in the Northwest Lower Michigan snowbelt, Grayling offers the first good snowmobiling area for winter fun-seekers heading north. The easy accessibility of Crawford County from I-75 and U.S. 27 means snowmobilers spend most of their weekend on their sleds, not in their cars!
Miles and Miles of Perfectly Groomed Trails
One hundred miles of marked trails are groomed by the AuSable Valley Snowmobile Association (AVSA), connecting to hundreds of more miles in each direction. One of the largest trail systems in the state links the Grayling area with Lovells, Lewiston, Frederic and Gaylord. Other trails connect to Roscommon and Houghton Lake.
The AVSA grooms with state of the art equipment: Two 7830 John Deere tractors equipped with Soucy tracks and blades pulling a Dubie drag and a Snotrac drag. A tip for riders, the tractors weigh 25,000 pounds each and are well-lit, so you can see them coming for miles. When you’re riding tight corners, slow down – those huge pieces of equipment can’t stop on a dime and expect that sleds will go around them! However, they provide perfectly groomed trails for all levels of riders to enjoy.
Take care on the trails; there is a lot of wildlife in the area and many families riding their sleds at slow speeds.
Restaurants and Lodging
Enjoy a day touring the magnificent, rolling terrain, and spend the evening relaxing at one of the many restaurants and comfortable lodging facilities. Overnight stays will cost you less than many of the other snowmobile destinations in the region.
Savor craft beer and a meal at on one of two local breweries, the Dead Bear or Paddle Hard. The Ole Barn offers a full menu and entertainment on the weekends. Spike’s Keg O’Nails is known for a great burger, and you can ride to their back door by getting off the “Thru Town Trail.” Grayling Restaurant and West Side Diner are known for a great breakfast, and the Frederic Inn has a reputation for their wet burritos—plus it’s right next to a gas station and right off the trail. If you want gas and fast food, Charlie’s Truck Stop and Arby’s are four miles south of Grayling.
Family Fun and Adventure
Grayling is a family-friendly area with a newly remodeled historic theater and charming downtown. Be sure to stop at Goodale’s Bakery and load up on tasty treats. My personal favorites are their Cinnamon Fry Donuts and Raspberry Chocolate Scones. Dawson & Stevens 50s style diner (with a huge collection of Coca Cola memorabilia) has a soda fountain with whatever flavored pop you want and some really decadent desserts. Don’t be shy, you’ll want to snap pics and share them with your friends!
If you want a break from riding your snowmobile, go out to Hanson Hills Recreation Area and take a downhill or cross country ski lesson or rent a tube for an hour of fast downhill excitement. The tubing hills are groomed for a fast ride, and you can get pulled back to the top of the hill quickly by a motorized rope. No need to spend lots of energy trudging uphill!
Contact the Grayling Area Visitors Center for a full-color snowmobile map and trail conditions at 1-800-937-8837 or by visiting Grayling-MI.org.
Ilene has worked for the Grayling Visitors Bureau for 25 years. She loves the outdoors and has a home on the banks of the beautiful Manistee River. She has lived in the Grayling area for over forty years.