Minnetonka Lake. Where not to ride.

crispyknite

New member
I never been on this big lake with my snowmobile. I like to take a day just to cruise along the shores with my wife and check out all the big shacks on the lake.
Maybe show her some of them that I worked on. Just wondering where NOT to ride to avoid any thin ice or open water. Thanks and Happy Trails
 

POLARISDAN

New member
always be careful under bridges,,as a lot are thin but passable..remember not to stop..and remember 50 mph out there as they radar
 

craigrev

Member
I asked an avid ice fisherman of LaVoixDesert (near lando lakes) this same question(about LaVouixDesert NOT Minnetonka). His answer was "20 inches of ice everywhere no problem ride wherever you want" . I took my young niece for a ride around the lake and soon found us surrounded by slushy water. I will never forget the awful feeling that came over me. Kept it pinned and made a wide u-turn and went back to the ice fishing area. I told my friend(same avid ice fisherman) of my scary experience and his response was "you were in Misery Bay---everyone knows to stay away from Misery Bay it never really freezes" I learned a lesson that day that information from local experts should be taken with a grain of salt and verified by multiple sources. Hope you get some good advice from the JD folks. Please be careful!!
 

anonomoose

New member
I asked an avid ice fisherman of LaVoixDesert (near lando lakes) ..... I learned a lesson that day that information from local experts should be taken with a grain of salt and verified by multiple sources. Hope you get some good advice from the JD folks. Please be careful!!

With ice freezing and uplifting, there is really no place that you can count on that will keep you on the upside of the lake.

Just remember, that if an ice bridge forms, it no longer will build ice and the water below is semi insulated from the cold. A lake can be a dangerous place for sledders and just because it was okay two hours ago doesn't mean that it is safe now.

Fun to rip across the lake but realize that there are several hazzards to watch for, which makes going around it at night even more of problem.

Just keep in mind that you need to use extreme caution on water of any sort as condtions can change all winter long.
 

ezra

Well-known member
seaton channel just under the bridge ok now but can get thin just go over 25 and u will be good but do not speed in seaton they always radar in the cat tails . the Chanel just out side of fetchers is always iffy if not plane wide open. u can take the cat tales away from fletchers cross the road and ditch bang for a block and get back on at the boat launch there will be sled tracks to follow.
other than that it is frozen deep out there.
on a side note there will be one less piggy out there for a few days at least.
I saw a brown poo 2 up turbo sheriffs sled on the trailer with the whole left suspension tore off .Made my day .I have not had time to go to tri-k to get any picks but I really really need to
 

GTL

Member
Never ridden it, Never will, EVERY year somebody drowns hitting open water on that lake. with all the nice trails in the area WHY ride the lake?????
 

ezra

Well-known member
Never ridden it, Never will, EVERY year somebody drowns hitting open water on that lake. with all the nice trails in the area WHY ride the lake?????
dont think only 1 in 10 yrs has drown on the lake on a sled and he was a old timer crossing seaton under the bridge late season going like 10mph at night alone.
but yes 2 in cars last yr both driving in a channel.
6 mile creek in to st bonni can be sketchy but most of the time if u go down it is in 2ft or less of swamp water. or under the bridge in st bonni.
I have a friend who works for cat and a few yrs ago she checked out 3 new turbos to take a new big shot at cat and his wife out to show them the local trails .they sank 2 under the bridge at 6 mile. the new boss and his wife. but hey the sleds had 10 mi each on them .no she wont live it down sinking the new boss.
and btw I am rolling to the black hills tue but shoot me a pm I will show u guys around the lake point out a few famous peeps homes hit some local trails islands etc etc .if I am out of town one of the local clubs hooks up every sat or sun at the club fish house for a ride I know they would welcome u to ride with
 

6mile

Member
Like others have said when touring the Tonka. The channels are always suspect, water flow and road salt will make the ice very unpredictable. The Channel from Halsteds Bay to Cooks Bay often times has open water or really thin ice, just follow the tracks that bypass the channel opening and cross the road and then back to the water on the other side. Also the Narrows Channel can be the same way.

6Mile (My nickname on all the forums) Creek can be sketchy. I grew up on the south side of the creek and have put a machine through a couple of times. Water levels in the lake will play a big part in the ice stability. The lower the water level, the thinner the ice. Did you know that lake muck never really freezes solid when there is no water? when I was a kid I managed to put a couple of sleds in the drink/muck on the creek by not paying attention to the conditions. Needless my dad was not impressed.
 
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