A Question to Snowmobilers

[Admin]

Ok, I don't want anyone to get offended. I am by no means judging anyone, but I am very curious about something.

A ton of talk on this site this week has been about the warm temps and pending rain. Lots of questions about trail conditions and should I go/not go. I can understand all of that.

I just finished updating the snow cover maps and northern MN looks to have some pretty good snow on the ground and also looks to get hammered by snow in the next 2 days. So my question is why has there been almost no talk about this area? Places to go/stay or conditions at the moment. It is about the same driving distance from Chicago/Milwaukee as the western UP and even closer for folks living in the Twin Cities. Seems to me if I were planning a trip to N. WI or the UP and things were unraveling like they are now, I would be looking into this option.

I understand if someone has a place they own in N. WI or the UP. You would go there, but for all others planning to rent a room or cabin, why not northern MN? I know I have been there in the autumn and loved it. I have never been snowmobiling, so I guess that is another part of my question. I am thinking that had I been able to make the trip there for this weekend, I would have even left the Keweenaw and gone myself, but I have to work both tomorrow and Sunday, so no holiday for me.

For those that just want to keep this a secret, sorry, and don't feel the need to reply, you can do YOUR best to keep it a secret if that has been your intent all along.

-John

 

[misfitinaction]

Hey, John

Our family has a cabin on the taconite trail in ely and to be honest the trails don't compare to Michigan. The trails are nice when groomed. However, all the years I've been riding in northern Minnesota its always hit and miss. When I'm in Michigan I can always count on the trails being groomed. In terms of off trail I have no idea. Even though I have a free place to stay and ride I would always choose to go to the UP instead of Minnesota.

 

[slimcake]

I understand your question. It just seems like n mn does not do the job of grooming/trail care that wi and up does. That atleast was my experience the three years I went n mn. I also live in mn so would be free reg for me. Just didn't think it was near the fun. My 2 cents. I just paid for my cabin on Gogebic for Jan 9th -13th. Hope things shape up by then??.....???

 

[snodogg]

John,

Great Observation. I used to live in Babbitt, MN and it is fantastic for snowmobiling. We may end up heading that way to ride this weekend instead of NW WI. The only drawbacks to that area I would point out are:
1. Longer ride between stops, sometimes 40+ miles, a lot of riders like to stop more frequently, and maybe not as family friendly?
2.MN enforces 55mph speed limit, for most experienced riders it is easy to exceed this esp. on lakes and long, open, straight stretches of trail, and that is where johnny law sets up his operation.

I think those two reasons are why we dont see many out-of-state riders in northern MN

However, I'm sure Northern MN will be plenty busy with snowmobilers this weekend.

 

[98panther]

Maybe cause... most consider this is a UP & northern Wi website.
I go to other websites for info on Northern MN.
I think there are more places to stop in MN than the UP. But I haven't gone to the arrowhead or far north yet. Mostly Brainerd / Mile lacs areas

 

[snodogg]

grooming

My experience while living there was conditions during the week (tues-fri.) would rival that of UP grooming efforts, but the main trails would take a beating on busy weekends. A friend of mine used to groom out of the Ely area and they always groomed during the night. I guess they dont have enough grooming equipment to groom every mile of trail on saturday night. The locals know all the unmapped trails, fire roads and such to ride on weekends.

As far as boondocking, the terrain is not conducive (lots of rock) and typically just not enough snow to make it real fun. The trails up there are more cut through the woods and such as opposed to closed roads and groomed wide open fire lanes in the UP.

 

[snodogg]

Maybe cause... most consider this is a UP & northern Wi website.
I go to other websites for info on Northern MN.
I think there are more places to stop in MN than the UP. But I haven't gone to the arrowhead or far north yet. Mostly Brainerd / Mile lacs areas

agree, I was refering to the specifically to Arrowhead. good riding in Grand Rapids, I Falls/Rainy Lake areas too!

 

[favoritos]

There are a lot of sleds on I35 heading North. I am guessing they are headed that direction.

There is a lot of variety in Northern MN. Some trails are like the RR grades and some are like Northern Wisconsin, but the trails are inconsistant at best. The speed limit is no fun either. It is hard to describe, but it just feels like they do not care if we are up there riding. Michigan and Wisconsin we always get the greeting "Hi guys,, how are the trails?"

We drive through Duluth and make the turn East every time we head up to the U.P. I can say that we have not even felt tempted to keep heading North in the past 14 years.

Michigan feels like going home. Minnesota feels like leaving home.

 

[doo_dr]

Right on!!!

Hey, John

Our family has a cabin on the taconite trail in ely and to be honest the trails don't compare to Michigan. The trails are nice when groomed. However, all the years I've been riding in northern Minnesota its always hit and miss. When I'm in Michigan I can always count on the trails being groomed. In terms of off trail I have no idea. Even though I have a free place to stay and ride I would always choose to go to the UP instead of Minnesota.

While there are great trails and awesome back country riding in Northern MN the trails are not maintained as well. Distances between stops is greater. Less lodging, Eats, and fuel stops. Now this is just my opinion but I think there are less people in northern MN (businesses and locals)that view this sport as a sustainable part of the economy and therefore do not focus on helping us. Again this is my opinion but I think Ice Fishing is a bigger part of the economy up north. I love the north shore and ride backcountry so trails don't matter to me and the guys I ride with.

 

[t660redrocket]

While there are great trails and awesome back country riding in Northern MN the trails are not maintained as well. Distances between stops is greater. Less lodging, Eats, and fuel stops. Now this is just my opinion but I think there are less people in northern MN (businesses and locals)that view this sport as a sustainable part of the economy and therefore do not focus on helping us. Again this is my opinion but I think Ice Fishing is a bigger part of the economy up north. I love the north shore and ride backcountry so trails don't matter to me and the guys I ride with.

Dr Doo is right on too! To add to his opinion......because the economy isn't dependant on snowmobilers there aren't as many deals. most hotels are $100/night, food is more and quite frankly the trails are not maintained like Michigan.

 

[snowlover]

The area of Detroit Lakes, MN and north were excellent last weekend.

My opion of grooming, etc. MN vs. UP is this...lot more miles of trails in MN with tighter trails, not alot of long straight stretches like UP which you can groom at a little faster pace. They do not groom every night in MN because of this. Some clubs take 3 days to just goome their trails one time.

I have ridden almost every part of MN in the last 15 years and yes there are times you hit some crappy trails but the same is true about the UP. 5 years ago the trails were so bad in the UP I swore I would never go back up. I did go back and have had mostly good trails. This will be the first year in many I will not be going back up due to too many snow plowing accounts.

Here are some areas I really like to ride in MN:
Hill City area
Detroit Lakes area north
Baudette area

I have had hit or miss on the North Shore and up by the Ely area.

Before this rain we had some excellent riding in the NW Hennepin County area.

I personally think a lot of people are missing out on some excellent trails and lodging in MN. Try MN you might like it.

 

[jakester]

Creatures of habit, human beings!!! Ever notice if you go on vacation, by water, say Cancun or Florida, and you happen to see the same people for a few days in a row, my wife and I noticed they always try to get the same spot they had the day before. But I think the real reason they don't want to go to MN. is-- Paul Bunyan and Ox don't compare to maybe bumping into J.DEE in the Great U.P.

 

[GTL]

I agree with Jakester..........creatures of habit. I can't get buddies to go to southern MN. , yet they have some of the best trails available right now. Everyones got to go north. As far as too far between stops, are you riding or drinking? I can certainly ride 50 + miles before I "need" a shot! Some of the best spots I've come to know were because we just "went". Get out and ride. I think John may have been trying to say "Go someplace else and ride and leave our area alone.!!!!!??

 

[mn_polaris_guy]

John, I think you are asking a good question. I echo some of the responses, and here is some more feedback.

I have a cabin in Aitkin County on Lake Minnewawa (about 1 hour due west of Duluth) and have ridden in many areas around there and in parts further north. Agreed, trails are hit and miss (but that's the case everywhere you go), but overall they have been good the past handful of years (some of the clubs can work some magic with the little snow they have at times). Here are my observations:

-narrower trails compared to the UP (most everywhere)
-longer loops compared to the UP (again, not everywhere, but especially NW of Grand Rapids by Red Lake)
-trails are not marked in a straight forward/logical manner compared to the UP (again, not everywhere)
-speed limit (but to me, that's not a deal breaker, I like looking for boondocking spots)
-Trails are less crowded than the UP (again, not all the time)

Honestly, I think MN does have fun trails to ride and the quality is overall good, especially when you have a snowy midwest that spreads the riders out. The North Shore is fun (Two Harbors up through Grand Marais and over to Ely and Lake Vermillion area), the Grand Rapids area has some really fun trails, scenic landscape, and then down over to Alexandria and Brainerd are good too. There are other areas as well. As for off-tail riding, it's there, you just have to find it, just like anywhere else you ride (obey the laws, obviously).

Hope this is helpful

 

[pwolfy2003]

studs

cant have them in minnesota can you ? that might be another reason

 

[misfitinaction]

Yep you can, just not on paved trails

 

[zimmbob]

my 2 cents.

• The drive to NW MN is as long, if not longer than to the UP from the Twin Cities. I35 makes that possible. It's 7 to 8 hours to Roseau from the Twin Cites. 5 1/2 to 6 to Bergland from the Twin Cites.
• The trails are not nearly as good as the UP.
• The distance between gas/stops is much greater, more important, gas stops.
• Most of the time, Northern MN doesn't have much snow. Sometimes we get good areas, like on the north shore, but it's still not the 'feet' of snow laying around in the UP.
• The speed limit, and enforcement of it.
• And, as said earlier, creatures of habit. it's so good out there so often, you don't really think of going anywhere else.

I've done my share of riding around central MN (st. cloud up to Brainerd), The Munger Trail up 35 from Moose Lake to Duluth, Park Rapids area, the North Shore Trail all the way to Grand Marais. Hibbing to Ely to Grand Rapids etc. None of it comes close to the trails in the UP under most circumstances. This year, perhaps it will be different, well, at least early on it is different....

 

[Admin]

Thanks for the responses everyone. Some of them were sort of what I thought might be the reason, but did not want to make any assumptions. Never really thought about the creatures of habit, but so true. I first came to the Keweenaw in 1991 and from that time on, we pretty much stayed in the same spot, ate at the same spots (sometimes even on the same days of the week each year!) and rode many of the same routes from year to year. It seemed almost like a tradition to carry on each year.

GTL-

I had to chuckle at your response about trying to get folks to stay away. I suppose there are times when I wonder if our area can support any more snowmobilers without exploding, but seems like the past few years have been slower due to snow in other areas.

I just have always thought of this site as a snow lovers site for the Midwest and was wondering why there was not more talk about MN. Someday I will own a touring sled and it is my goal to see as many of the trails in the Midwest as possible. Just need Grace to turn pro so that I can retire and have her fund my playing!

-John

 

[olsmann]

John, Plain and simple. Trails not as nice, grooming is not taken as seriously, speed limit, not usually marked as well. no off trail opportunities and no pasties! Also it seems as if UP just caters to sledders more.

 

[benz]

I think the biggest reason is the snow is not nearly as reliable. If you book a place, "a nice one," you need to book well in advance. N. MN is not reliable enough. UP always has snow.

At least this is the reason within my group. We have 8-5 jobs (also the "boss" at home) where you have to plan for time off will in advance. Dont want to have poor snow wreck the 1 or 2 big riding vacations you get approval for from the war department!