(Photo courtesy of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources)

HOUGHTON — The snowmobile crossing along the Portage Lake Lift Bridge in Houghton County is now closed for the season due to deteriorating snow conditions.

“The recent warm weather conditions have exposed steel deck grating that can be damaged by snowmobile carbides, making the bridge crossing unsafe,” said John Codere, western Upper Peninsula forest recreation lead ranger for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

The closing of Snowmobile Trail UP3 at the Portage Lake Lift Bridge is in effect immediately and will remain through the end of the season. The DNR worked with the Keweenaw Snowmobile Club to determine this closure.

“Snowmobiles will have to be trailered across the bridge to access trails north and south of the bridge crossing,” Codere said.

Find more information about snowmobile trail closures at Michigan.gov/DNRClosures and by viewing the DNR’s interactive snowmobile trail map.