Northern MN ride?

[robgoggins]

My son and I are looking for a place to snowmobile Feb. 17-19. We're based in the Twin Cities and we're willing to drive 4-5 hours for good snow. I travel and work a bunch, so I want to maximize the likelihood that we're going to enjoy good snow. I may only get one more trip in locally before the season is over. Looking at all of the green color (deep snow) on this website's snow map, it appears the two best places to go are: 1) Silver Bay through Grand Marais, MN; or 2) the Houghton, MI area. A few questions...

* Since I can save 90 minutes to 2 hours of drive time by staying in MN, any big downside to heading up to that Silver Bay/Grand Marais area?

* Has anyone stayed up there? Any recommendations for hotels/resorts/restaurants? I'm at a point in my life where I'd much rather pay a few bucks for a nice place, vs. saving a few bucks.

* Any recommendations for trails, or are trails somewhat limited given you have a gigantic lake to the east?!

* A little off topic but we're going to vacation in Steamboat Springs, CO in late March. Currently we're planning on renting snowmobiles a couple times while out there for a week. There are 3 of us so it looks like it will run ~$200 to $250/person (including tip) to rent a snowmobile each day, or about $1500 for two days of riding. Or...we could pull our two sleds out there and all 3 of us can ride for free. (I have no clue where we'd go, but clearly there are plenty of trails out there and we'd do some research and figure it out.) We have an enclosed trailer but I've only hauled it about 500 miles so far. Would you pull a trailer 15 hours out to Steamboat (30 hours round trip!) to save the $1,500? I'm just debating whether I want the hassle of pulling that wide trailer all the way out there and back.

Thanks all!

 

[snowchief]

We do a trip that weekend and stay on the shore in two harbors, we found the closet to fin k and we got the more traffic especially on the north shore trail, we rode west over to cotton and up to Virginia and back down through hoyt lakes barely seen another sled on that loop until we got back to nsst, one of my favorites is the Yukon trail that is nice, we stay at superior shores the only bad thing bout staying on the shore is that you always have the same trail in and out each time, have you ever rode up at voyageurs park?

 

[600_RMK_144]

My son and I are looking for a place to snowmobile Feb. 17-19. We're based in the Twin Cities and we're willing to drive 4-5 hours for good snow. I travel and work a bunch, so I want to maximize the likelihood that we're going to enjoy good snow. I may only get one more trip in locally before the season is over. Looking at all of the green color (deep snow) on this website's snow map, it appears the two best places to go are: 1) Silver Bay through Grand Marais, MN; or 2) the Houghton, MI area. A few questions...

* Since I can save 90 minutes to 2 hours of drive time by staying in MN, any big downside to heading up to that Silver Bay/Grand Marais area?

* Has anyone stayed up there? Any recommendations for hotels/resorts/restaurants? I'm at a point in my life where I'd much rather pay a few bucks for a nice place, vs. saving a few bucks.

* Any recommendations for trails, or are trails somewhat limited given you have a gigantic lake to the east?!

* A little off topic but we're going to vacation in Steamboat Springs, CO in late March. Currently we're planning on renting snowmobiles a couple times while out there for a week. There are 3 of us so it looks like it will run ~$200 to $250/person (including tip) to rent a snowmobile each day, or about $1500 for two days of riding. Or...we could pull our two sleds out there and all 3 of us can ride for free. (I have no clue where we'd go, but clearly there are plenty of trails out there and we'd do some research and figure it out.) We have an enclosed trailer but I've only hauled it about 500 miles so far. Would you pull a trailer 15 hours out to Steamboat (30 hours round trip!) to save the $1,500? I'm just debating whether I want the hassle of pulling that wide trailer all the way out there and back.

Thanks all!

We stayed at Hahns Peak Roadhouse outside of Steamboat. Nothing fancy, but they have: fuel, restaurant / bar and small grocery store all onsite. And they do rent sleds (Skidoo I believe). Ride directly from your cabin. I will say you have to go right over The Snowies to get out there, so depending on conditions, roads can be pretty dicey. But, isn't that why you have your own sleds, so you don't have to rent? Tuff call on that one.

 

[snowlover]

The Northshore will be very busy that weekend. Also you will be lucky to get lodging. I ride all over the state of MN and try to avoid the NS on long weekends. Also, more snow means the rougher the trails get at the end of the day.
I would look at Grand Rapids area, west of Duluth, Orr or Tower area. A little less snow but not as heavily traveled. My son rode last weekend from Aitkin to Hill City then north of Grand Rapids, Swan River to McGregor and back to Aitkin on Saturday. He said from Palisade, MN north it was excellent riding. Smooth snow covered trails. He said north or Grand Rapids it was beautiful scenery and trail wise and that there was 18+" of snow on the ground. This was his first time north of GR and wants to go up that way again. I've been up there quite a few times and the scenery is beautiful with lots of loops to do and nice places to stop to eat.
The Tower area is nice but limited in lodging. Orr is nice with 3 motel/hotels in town. Lots of areas to ride up that way and the trails are usually smooth and scenery is beautiful.
West of Duluth is nice also along with the Iron Range. Check it out.

 

[Wyelde]

You don't say what sleds you have, but pretty much all of them require a clutch adjustment, such as new weights/spring, carb jetting changes, and some even recommend gearing changes, when going to high altitude.

 

[robgoggins]

Yes, good point about traveling over mountains hauling the trailer. And we'd be hauling it with our "baby suv", not the big one (leave that home for wife) so it's probably not an ideal situation. I'll check out Hahn's Peak, thanks for the tip.

- - - Updated - - -

You don't say what sleds you have, but pretty much all of them require a clutch adjustment, such as new weights/spring, carb jetting changes, and some even recommend gearing changes, when going to high altitude.

Great point! I'm still learning about this snowmobiling thing so I appreciate the heads up.

- - - Updated - - -

The Northshore will be very busy that weekend. Also you will be lucky to get lodging. I ride all over the state of MN and try to avoid the NS on long weekends. Also, more snow means the rougher the trails get at the end of the day.
I would look at Grand Rapids area, west of Duluth, Orr or Tower area. A little less snow but not as heavily traveled. My son rode last weekend from Aitkin to Hill City then north of Grand Rapids, Swan River to McGregor and back to Aitkin on Saturday. He said from Palisade, MN north it was excellent riding. Smooth snow covered trails. He said north or Grand Rapids it was beautiful scenery and trail wise and that there was 18+" of snow on the ground. This was his first time north of GR and wants to go up that way again. I've been up there quite a few times and the scenery is beautiful with lots of loops to do and nice places to stop to eat.
The Tower area is nice but limited in lodging. Orr is nice with 3 motel/hotels in town. Lots of areas to ride up that way and the trails are usually smooth and scenery is beautiful.
West of Duluth is nice also along with the Iron Range. Check it out.

Great tip - along with the others posted here. Thanks so much. I think this info, along with the other info about the same trails in/out of the shore have persuaded me to check out lodging options in the Grand Rapids area. Looks like there's some decent snow up that way, particularly north and northeast of Grand Rapids.

This will be our first official trip with our sleds. Well, to make it clear, this will be our first snowmobile trip EVER in MN! (We've ridden our own sleds a bit around our own lake, and we've rented sleds with a guide out west.) I've viewed snowmobile trail maps on the MN DNR trail website. But it's one thing to look at the squiggly trail lines on a website, and quite another to be out on the trail with 5 layers and a helmet on, and possible no cell phone/GPS connection. So...do these resorts usually provide a little guidance on where to catch the trails out of their parking lots? Do they have hardcopy trail maps? Are the trails usually pretty well marked? Do you ever just stop and ask other snowmobilers for help if you're lost?

Sorry for all the rookie questions. Appreciate the help!

 

[sweeperguy]

......
............

This will be our first official trip with our sleds. Well, to make it clear, this will be our first snowmobile trip EVER in MN! (We've ridden our own sleds a bit around our own lake, and we've rented sleds with a guide out west.) I've viewed snowmobile trail maps on the MN DNR trail website. But it's one thing to look at the squiggly trail lines on a website, and quite another to be out on the trail with 5 layers and a helmet on, and possible no cell phone/GPS connection. So...do these resorts usually provide a little guidance on where to catch the trails out of their parking lots? Do they have hardcopy trail maps? Are the trails usually pretty well marked? Do you ever just stop and ask other snowmobilers for help if you're lost?

Sorry for all the rookie questions. Appreciate the help!

Most places will point you in the right direction to the trail. Make sure to ask when making reservations if they are on the trail.
Alot of the front desks will have current trail maps available, if not the gas station probably will. Or asking should be able to tell you where to get a map.
Most trails ARE pretty well marked, and unless snowing heavily, pretty easy to follow groomed, and snowmobile tracks.
You most certainly can put your hand out to stop sleds going by to ask for help, or directions. Alot of people as they go by will (we do this) put there thumb up, if your okay you give a thumbs up, if you need help wave your hand like "come here " and group will stop to help you
Any other questions feel free to ask. A lot of good info available here on site.
If you get any one being SmartA$$, ignore them, someone else will most likely answer any questions you have
Remember, the only dumb question is the one you don't ask!

 

[ChillyWilly521]

Download the Polaris Ride Command app. Then within the app download the MN map then you can use it offline. If you have an iphone the map will work with the phone in Airplane mode since the iphone has an internal GPS. Now you have battery life pretty much all day. I use it as a back up to my GPS on my sled. Of course, you ALWAYS want a paper map. Also, pack a small flashlight (little LED one) so if you want to look at things on the trail when it gets darker.

Good luck and have a blast with your son. Like everyone said the trails are well marked and just try and plan a loop here or there and stop at some place on the map for lunch and fill up (if you have the chance).

 

[rayds]

One question is the age and experience of your son. My first thought---- stay at Devils Track Lake, it is inland from Grand Marais. One can make it a high mileage day/s or shorten it by traveling some of the spur trails. IF you want to put some miles ride down to Trestle Inn at Crooked Lake, an interesting outpost. One can stay in Grand Marais but check to see what the snow conditions are in town and going up the hill, We have been to that area many times and NEVER disappointed. Another area is to stay in the Ely or Tower area, lot of good trails and good scenery as well (been there many times as wekk, (I am heading to Ely this weekend).

 

[rayds]

I am afraid I may have painted a picture that Grand Marais does not have snow in town, sometimes not but most times yes. In 2014 because of the deep snow in town some of the sidewalks were groomed! Whereever I have been in the whole NE Minnesota, I have found all the communities are snowmobile friendly.
Also when driving up the north shore, and you don't see a LOT of snow, don't be disappointed, as soon as you go inland only a few miles--4 to 5 miles, snow conditions change FAST and gets deep. I have seen barren ground by the lake and DEEP snow within a 5 miles inland up the "hill". (reason the North Shore State Trail is not next to the lake). I believe you will get a lot of good advice for Minnesota here--- we all have pride in our home state.

 

[robgoggins]

Download the Polaris Ride Command app.

Great advice, thank you. My son downloaded it so we'll be prepared for the ride.

- - - Updated - - -

Thanks to all of you for your comments. We decided to take the advice of staying in the Grand Rapids, MN area. When booking the hotel I talked with the front desk guy and he assured me they have plenty of trail maps and there are snowmobiles "all over town". He said we won't have a problem just cruising out and about right from their parking lot.

Now we just need to make sure there will be snow on the ground because we're due for a little warm spell in the next few days.

Thanks again everyone!

 

[rjensen450]

Great advice, thank you. My son downloaded it so we'll be prepared for the ride.

- - - Updated - - -

Thanks to all of you for your comments. We decided to take the advice of staying in the Grand Rapids, MN area. When booking the hotel I talked with the front desk guy and he assured me they have plenty of trail maps and there are snowmobiles "all over town". He said we won't have a problem just cruising out and about right from their parking lot.

Now we just need to make sure there will be snow on the ground because we're due for a little warm spell in the next few days.

Thanks again everyone!

Grand Rapids area is very good right now. It's probably going to get thin by saturday night but until then, i think you'll have some good riding! Enjoy the ride!

 

[600_RMK_144]

Really hoping the storm for next w/e pans out. Gotta get the son out and looking like we'll have to travel up toward G. Rapids. Which is about 6-7 hours for us. But he won't be a happy camper if we don't get a ride in this year!!!

 

[POLARISDAN]

Most places will point you in the right direction to the trail. Make sure to ask when making reservations if they are on the trail.
Alot of the front desks will have current trail maps available, if not the gas station probably will. Or asking should be able to tell you where to get a map.
Most trails ARE pretty well marked, and unless snowing heavily, pretty easy to follow groomed, and snowmobile tracks.
You most certainly can put your hand out to stop sleds going by to ask for help, or directions. Alot of people as they go by will (we do this) put there thumb up, if your okay you give a thumbs up, if you need help wave your hand like "come here " and group will stop to help you
Any other questions feel free to ask. A lot of good info available here on site.
If you get any one being SmartA$$, ignore them, someone else will most likely answer any questions you have
Remember, the only dumb question is the one you don't ask!

whaatttttt...did u just call snobuilder a smart azz???? hahahahahahahhaah