DNR Urges Caution on Trails After Michigan Blizzard

If your post-blizzard plan involves "getting outside for some fresh air," the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) would like a quick word. Actually, four words: don't be a hero.

Following yet another Michigan blizzard that dumped over four feet of snow in parts of the Upper Peninsula, the DNR is urging residents to check conditions before heading out. Translation: your favorite trail might currently resemble a snow globe that lost control of its life.

Michigan Trail Conditions: What You're Walking (Riding) Into

According to the DNR, trails and state parks across the U.P. and northern Lower Peninsula are dealing with:

• Downed trees and branches
• Bent trees that could snap without warning
• Snow-covered and impassable roads
• Power lines tangled in debris (the ultimate "do NOT touch" situation)

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Some parks? Still buried. Staff continues digging out, but it's not exactly a quick shovel-and-done situation.

State of Emergency in Michigan Counties

Storm damage was serious enough for Governor Gretchen Whitmer to declare a state of emergency in several counties, including Alcona, Alpena, and Wexford. So if the state is raising its hand saying, "this is bad," maybe skip the casual hike.

Michigan DNR Safety Tips

The DNR recommends:

• Check for closures at Michigan.gov/DNRClosures
• Avoid trees touching power lines
• Ride snowmobiles cautiously (and maybe not like you're in an action movie)
• Expect ungroomed trails and low visibility

RELATED: Michigan's Apex Predator: Record Cougar Sightings in 2025

Even 260 miles of forest roads are still closed from prior storm damage. So no, your GPS isn't wrong. The road just... isn't a road right now. Bottom line: Michigan outdoors will still be there when the snow thaws.