I bet you are looking at a very nice log home on the west side of Chassel….rented out by the Kemp's

I have rented this house if it's the one I have described.

So here goes and I've written about this before.

Trail 15 is closed going north out of Chassel due to landowner disputes years ago and now is a fat tire bike trail or cross country ski trail.

Trail 15 out of Baraga up to Chassel wasn't even being maintained by any groomer as far as I could see when we stayed there about 5 years ago.

The only way to get to Trail 3 without scraping the heck out of your carbides is to trailer over to Painesville, otherwise you will have to ditchbang the entire way.

We tried several times to do this and each time stopped and turned around...the plow guy in the area literally scrapes the roads down to the aspalt and leaves no

little area for potential sledders to ride the side of the road....it sucked.

We did talk about just hitting the portage and riding up to Houghton, there was a lot of tracks showing it was doable, but we decided not to chance that.

 

I bet you are looking at a very nice log home on the west side of Chassel….rented out by the Kemp's

I have rented this house if it's the one I have described.

So here goes and I've written about this before.

Trail 15 is closed going north out of Chassel due to landowner disputes years ago and now is a fat tire bike trail or cross country ski trail.

Trail 15 out of Baraga up to Chassel wasn't even being maintained by any groomer as far as I could see when we stayed there about 5 years ago.

The only way to get to Trail 3 without scraping the heck out of your carbides is to trailer over to Painesville, otherwise you will have to ditchbang the entire way.

We tried several times to do this and each time stopped and turned around...the plow guy in the area literally scrapes the roads down to the aspalt and leaves no

little area for potential sledders to ride the side of the road....it sucked.

We did talk about just hitting the portage and riding up to Houghton, there was a lot of tracks showing it was doable, but we decided not to chance that.

Thanks Sean..... I did see your other posts but was hoping something changed this season..... but that's what I was afraid of..... what a shame..... looks like a great area.

Actually, the place I was looking at was managed by a person named Adams but it looked great, was very reasonably priced and she just offered a 20% discount if I booked two weeks.

I need to decide if we want to trailer over to Painesville like you or go with the other option I am looking at over in the Little Lake area. I found a place over there that is less than a mile from the trail and the owner said you can ride the roads or part of the lake to get there.

Let me know what parking was like over at Painesdale and whether you think it is worth it based on the riding out of there. Looks close enough to Chassel that I wouldn't bother tying down the sleds.... I'd just drive them in and close the door. I would just really prefer to park the trailer and not use it again till we left.

Thanks for the info!!!

 

The owner of the house I'm looking at in Chassel told me to search Houghton-to-Chassell rail trail.

I did and found this...... anyone know anything about the Houghton-to-Chassel Rail Trail and the Houghton Waterfront Trail or does the owner just really want me to rent their place? Looks like 13 miles for both trails.

Owner claims that there is a review for her place where the renter said they jumped on this trail right outside the property. I'm going to search for that review to check it out.

Overlaying these maps with the trail maps shows that the Houghton Waterfront Trail does pick up SM3 in Houghton.

Houghton-to-Chassell Rail Trail Description

The rail-trail between Chassell and Houghton roughly parallels US 41 on one side and the shore of Portage Lake on the other. This trail is open to snowmobiles in the winter and walkers/hikers and cyclists during the rest of the year.

Users be warned that parts of the trail can be wet and muddy and some areas still have railroad ties, so be mindful as you use the trail. In the north, the trail connects directly to the paved Houghton Waterfront Trail.

 

Plenty of parking in Painesville and a great little diner for b'fast there as well!

Never heard of this rail-trail!!!

 

Plenty of parking in Painesville and a great little diner for b'fast there as well!

Never heard of this rail-trail!!!

Thanks for the tip!

I took a look on Google Maps and I can see this rail-trail. The owner said it is right across the street from the house and that looks to be the case.

There were three or four reviews from snowmobilers and no one complained about trail access. Although one guy said he jumped on Portage Lake to run to Houghton.

The two rails to trails systems total 13 miles according to the website... they seem to connect.... and they run into Trail 3. The one trail also says it is open to snowmobiles. I'm sure it is not groomed but if there is not tons of traffic on it then it might not be too bad to run.

At least this house is back on the table based on your Painesville info and this rails-to-trail option.

Thanks again!

 

Good luck with whatever you choose to do.

I love the Keweenaw and have spent a lot of time over in that area.

Was not a big fan of staying in Chassel as well as Baraga....both seemed a bit of a pain getting around to where ya really wanted to go.

I will say this...just north of Chassel on 41 is a pretty good restaurant with some good steaks, it is called The Pilgrim.

Also I was on a bike trip this past summer and we rode all the way up to CH and back down, saw that a restaurant that has always been closed

re-opened under new management a few miles south of Chassel, The Iron Horse....have never eaten there but will next time I get a chance later this winter.

 

That railroad trail is doable, but will be rough with a lot of driveway crossings and when you get into houghton it will be all plowed and salted. Also riding the road from Chassell to painsdale is an option, but the conditions vary on weather of course.

 

Chassell is not your best option for trail access, I would not rely on the RR grade trail. The lake has ice on it now and the lack of snow is helping a lot. It can get very slushy with heavy snow. The ice on the canal at the bridge has been coming and going. If the conditions are safe, the lake is your smoothest option to connect with the trail network. Get on the lake from Chassell and cross to Dollar Bay then onto Hancock. Avoid the area directly under and near the bridge. I plan on ice fishing Portage Lake after Christmas.

You would probably be better off to find somewhere else along the trail. The motel in Twin Lakes is right on the trail but is closed right now. Calumet might also be an option for lodging as well as Houghton or Hancock.

 

Totally agree with Mr Fish Finger....better places to stay than in Chassel.

Last season we stayed at Centennial Cottages in Calumet, was great. The cottages were clean and comfortable and they have their own little trail that hooks up with Trail 3/17 right out the back. Some good restaurants nearby as well and Calumet is a great little town to visit.

If you want a larger private house to rent call the Kemps and see what they have available....we stayed at one of their houses in Dollar Bay 2 seasons ago, the one above the garage....can handle up to 16 people....and they have others as well.

The only issue with staying in Dollar Bay is Trail 3 going north is closed but we got used to using The Dreamland trail, which was really cool.

 

Chassell is not your best option for trail access, I would not rely on the RR grade trail. The lake has ice on it now and the lack of snow is helping a lot. It can get very slushy with heavy snow. The ice on the canal at the bridge has been coming and going. If the conditions are safe, the lake is your smoothest option to connect with the trail network. Get on the lake from Chassell and cross to Dollar Bay then onto Hancock. Avoid the area directly under and near the bridge. I plan on ice fishing Portage Lake after Christmas.

You would probably be better off to find somewhere else along the trail. The motel in Twin Lakes is right on the trail but is closed right now. Calumet might also be an option for lodging as well as Houghton or Hancock.

^^^^

x2

I would stay in twin lakes, calumet, or south range area ...

closer to trail 3 that runs from Greenland, twin lakes, houghton and up to copper harbor lots of good loops off that main trail

the snow is better as you go north too

 

We stay at the AmericInn in Calumet.

Trail just out behind the hotel.

Don~

 

Thanks for the feedback Don and the rest of you guys.... much appreciated!

I did decide last week that Chassel was not a good option even though the place was great and there were positive reviews from other sledders. I'm now leaning towards a house on Little Lake south of Marquette. it is about a 1/2 off Trail 8 and the owner said you can ride to the trail.

That being said.... I am going to check our your recommendations as well.

 

Good choice, Trail 8 runs right thru there so cruising in either direction will get you going quickly.

Also you have the Throttle Bar nearby and the Up North Lodge for dining.

Now we just need some snow and this governor to open up the state...IDIOT!!!

 

So I changed gears a bit and pulled the trigger on a VRBO in White Pine between Lake Gogebic and the Porkies for mid-February right off Trail 1. We have been wanting to ride over that part of the UP and while it will be a 13 hour haul for us to get there, the place looked nice and the price was pretty reasonable.

Looks like there are a few loops to ride and should be lots to see. We wanted something with some loops near our basecamp in case nothing is open and we want to get back to eat and warm up.... plus we'll have the dog with us.

Too far for a run to Copper Harbor but we could load up the trailer and drive to the center of the Keweenaw and then ride from there. Could also ride down into Wisconsin a bit. Looks like they average about 180" of snow so should be good riding and it will be nice to ride somewhere new.

Thanks for all the tips guys! If you have any others for riding over that way, please let me know.

 

Now that is a switch up!

Currently we are going to Grand Rapids, Mn. March 6th-13th and then on our way back going to stay on the west side of the Keweenaw for 4-5 days of riding. We haven't been thru that area in quite sometime and even when we did venture in that direction we only hit up Lake Gogebic and then cruised back to Houghton. So we want to hit up the Porcupines this go around.

Let us know how it goes over there Judge!