Anybody have any good info on whether Tomahawk Road is currently drivable? If so, how far east of Hwy. 1 could I go with good clearance and 4WD?

I haven't been up there this year, but checked it last year mid april wanting to go paddle on the Island river and it wasn't even close to passable then. I don't think it's plowed in the winter.

Assuming you were looking at east of Hwy 1. I think it's it plowed towards Babbitt (west).

In years past the logging operators have run a grader on the road at times. However, they're absent this winter and I got some bad news from an Ely-based musher today – "miles and miles and miles" of downed trees across the road east of the end of the Kelly loop. The December storms with their unusually wet snow are probably to blame for this.

Somewhat echoing what Speckled said....



Last year there was some logging going on near the junction with Highway 1 which I believe kept the first few miles in pretty good shape but, after that, it was totally unmaintained. I did make it through early last May but it was a somewhat nerve racking drive as there were still long stretches of ice & snow.

To reiterate: That was in May so, correlating that with trying to get through in February..... Still, I have no current firsthand knowledge of what it may be like this year. Perhaps things have changed or, someone has taken the time to keep a longer portion of it up throughout the winter???

I made it about as far as the logging landing, where they had the wood stacked. Tried to go a bit further, nearly got stock and abandon the plan. Looking back at my notes, it was late April I went up there last year.

Tried it today but, only having my van, I decided to turn around shortly after the logging area. However, there were clearly tracks heading eastward but, the amount of slush on the road made me uncomfortable.

TuscaroraBorealis: "Tried it today but, only having my van, I decided to turn around shortly after the logging area. However, there were clearly tracks heading eastward but, the amount of slush on the road made me uncomfortable."

Thanks for the update!