By RICH ADAMS, Tribune Editor

CHEBOYGAN - The West Mullett Lake Trail will remain open to snowmobilers.

The Michigan Natural Resources Commission made the decision Thursday to keep the popular and scenic portion of the trail open to snowmobilers between 8 a.m. and midnight during snowmobile season. The speed limit will remain at 35 mph, said Michigan Department of Natural Resources Press Secretary Mary Detloff.

The trail - the final link in the 62-mile route between Cheboygan and Gaylord, Mich. - was opened two years ago amid much debate. Snowmobile enthusiasts had pressed hard for several years to open the state-owned trail that was once a railroad track. Some property owners along Mullett Lake opposed the opening, having built their homes within feet of the trail that, until two years ago, was limited to non-motorized vehicles.

The opening came after the DNR admitted there was no affordable alternate route available to bring snowmobilers from Gaylord to Cheboygan and beyond.

Detloff said compliance with the rules - the only section of trail in Northern Michigan with time limitations and a speed limit - was good for the past two years.

DNR Director for Resource Management Mindy Koch spoke at the NRC meeting and made the recommendation.

“Our conservation officers and the Cheboygan County Sheriff's Department in those two years have logged 26 complaints, issued 128 warnings and 42 tickets, Koch reported. “Not all the tickets were for speed or hours of operation violations - some were for failure to produce registration, outdated registration, etc.”

Koch also noted the DNR is still working with some property owners on trespass issues, most notably a resort that has some portion of a building on state property, but was pleased that people were working together on the trespass issues.

Officials in Cheboygan, Topinabee and Indian River have lauded the trail as a boost for businesses in the winter. Cheboygan city officials changed their snowmobile policies a few years ago that allow snowmobilers more access to downtown Cheboygan and local hotels and restaurants.

And plans are still in the works to turn an area of the trail at Western and Lincoln avenues into a trailhead, not only for snowmobiles but for any recreational use of the trail, which was paved last year to make it more useful for walkers, runners and bicyclists.

Indian River is also turning a lot near the trail into a trailhead.