Isn’t there something cool about an old snowmobile? Maybe it’s the lettering on the hood, the memorable colors, or the graphics that seem to belong to another era.
Those old machines bring back memories of halcyon winter days spent following winding trails through the crystal forest, a whole afternoon ahead of you and no hurry to get anywhere. What would you give for one more winter afternoon with a full tank, an open trail, and nowhere else you needed to be?
The modern lightweight snowmobile took shape in the late 1950s, when Bombardier’s Ski-Doo hit the market and gave winter a whole new set of wheels (well, tracks!). With reliable snow happening most years and miles of trails to explore, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula was practically made for the sport.
Every December, all that history gets a showcase when antique and vintage snowmobiles gather at the Straits for the Antique Snowmobile Bridge Crossing event. Among all the special vehicle crossings held on the Mackinac Bridge throughout the year, this one has a decidedly old-school personality.
The event brings together riders and collectors who share a fondness for these classic machines. And if you’ve never watched a procession of vintage sleds make its way across the Mackinac Bridge, well, you’re in for one heck of a winter spectacle!
A Crossing with a Story
Long before the bridge crossing became a December tradition, four friends from Goodrich, Michigan, were dreaming up an adventure of their own. In January 1979, brothers Doug and Dallas Fisher and two of their friends set out on a 1,700-mile snowmobile journey to Yellowstone National Park and needed to cross the Straits of Mackinac along their route.
At the time, snowmobiles weren’t permitted to cross the Mackinac Bridge under their own power. The group contacted the Mackinac Bridge Authority and secured special permission for the January 6 crossing. Escorted by a Bridge Authority vehicle, they made their way across the five-mile span, completing a rather extraordinary chapter in the history of snowmobiling at the Straits.
The rest of the journey was hardly a leisurely ride. The convoy lost its carefully assembled trail maps early on and had to navigate much of the route using road maps picked up at gas stations. Subzero temperatures and mechanical troubles added to the adventure, but the friends eventually made it to Yellowstone. Along the way, their expedition became a fundraiser for the American Diabetes Association, raising $9,000 for the cause close to Doug Fisher’s heart.
A Tradition Begins
Nearly four decades later, that memorable crossing got a new chapter.
Snowmobile the Mighty Mac officially began in 2016, when the Top of the Lake Snowmobile Museum in Naubinway joined forces with the St. Ignace Visitors Bureau to create a group bridge crossing just for antique and vintage snowmobiles.
The idea came together after Charlie and Marilyn Vallier, two of the people behind the museum, attended the 2016 Mackinac Bridge Antique Tractor Crossing in St. Ignace. After witnessing more than 1,300 tractors make their way together across the Mighty Mac, they wondered if snowmobiles might get their own opportunity.
They approached the Mackinac Bridge Authority about the possibility, and just three months later, the first Antique Snowmobile Bridge Crossing took place on December 17, 2016. Thirty-eight antique snowmobiles participated that first year, launching a beloved event that would become an annual tradition.
In 2019, Doug and Dallas Fisher returned to St. Ignace as grand marshals of the fourth annual event. Forty years after their original crossing, the brothers once again made their way across the bridge, this time leading a procession of nearly 100 vintage snowmobiles!
Vintage Sleds Take the Mighty Mac
One glorious forenoon in December, antique snowmobiles will gather on the other side of the bridge in Mackinaw City before making their way north across the Mackinac Bridge to St. Ignace.
Be assured that this is not your typical snowmobile ride! Participants bring machines that are at least 25 years old, each fitted with a set of wheels that lets the sled roll across the bridge without its tracks ever touching the pavement (a clever bit of equipment that makes this unusual crossing possible).
The result is really quite a sight: a procession of vintage machines, representing decades of snowmobile design, traveling across one of Michigan’s most recognizable landmarks. Spectators enjoy the procession and can get a closer look at the machines before and after the crossing.
Snowmobile History in Naubinway
The people and machines behind Snowmobile the Mighty Mac have another connection that’s not to miss.
The Top of the Lake Snowmobile Museum in Naubinway began with conversations among local snowmobile enthusiasts who wanted a place to preserve and display antique machines. Those early discussions date back to 2003, followed by organized meetings in 2006. Charlie Vallier volunteered to chair the group, and a team of local supporters got to work.
The museum finally opened on July 4, 2007, with just 62 snowmobiles belonging to nine owners, along with an assortment of snowmobile memorabilia. It has since grown into a nonprofit museum dedicated to preserving the history of antique and vintage snowmobiles.
Today, more than 185 displays showcase the machines, innovations, and memorabilia that tell the story of snowmobiling across generations. Wander through the decades, coming face-to-face with everything from massive wooden snow-flyers of the 1920s to the sleek, neon-streaked racers of the 1980s.
Stay in St. Ignace
The bridge crossing may be the main attraction, but the fun does not end when the last snowmobile reaches the St. Ignace side.
After the crossing, participants bring their machines to Little Bear East Arena & Community Center, where lunch will be waiting. Spectators and guests who didn’t make the crossing but still want to hang out can purchase lunch separately, subject to availability. This is your chance to catch up with the snowmobile crowd before heading out to enjoy the rest of the day.
And the afternoon doesn’t have to end at the arena. December is a fine time to linger a little longer in St. Ignace. Spend some time downtown, settle in for a meal at a favorite local restaurant, browse the shops, and take in the beautiful winter scenery along the Huron Boardwalk.
Better yet, stay a night or two! You’ll have time to enjoy without rushing home, and a comfortable room will be waiting at the end of the day. St. Ignace is a lovely place to linger.
Join the Snowmobile Tradition
The antique snowmobile crossing is a reminder that some of Michigan’s best traditions begin with people who love what they do. A few enthusiasts had an idea, local partners helped bring it to life, and now vintage snowmobiles have their own annual opportunity to cross the Mighty Mac.
Whether you’re bringing a sled across the bridge, meeting friends to watch the procession, or adding a little snowmobile history to your December travels, don’t miss this one-of-a-kind event in St. Ignace.
For this year’s registration and participant requirements, visit the Antique Snowmobile Bridge Crossing official event page.