Trail crossing from US to Canada
- Thread starter fireman
- Start date
POLARISDAN
New member
bearrassler
Well-known member
You can go into Canada just a little north of Crane Lake on Namakan Lake. The trail goes up to Atikokan. A 3 day permit in Ontario is 75.00, a 7 day pass is 140.00. They promote a circle tour that goes from Crane Lake to Ely to the North Shore, then up to Gunflint Lake and into Canada. It ends up in Atikokan and then back to Crane Lake. Crane Lake has a US customs, I don't know if they have a Canadian one or if you need the remote border crossing permit. I have not done the Circle tour yet but it sounds like a great trip. They say it is around 500 miles.
tequilamonsta
New member
The site says do run counter-clockwise. I don't think Sand point customs is open in the winter time, so all you have is the US customs in Crane lake.
Check out http://www.atikokansnoho.com/circleTour/
Never done it myself, but heard some good things and some interesting stories from folks who have.
Check out http://www.atikokansnoho.com/circleTour/
Never done it myself, but heard some good things and some interesting stories from folks who have.
Here is a view of my GPS snowmobile trails in the Crane Lake area.
These are the only snowmobile trail crossings into Canada near Crane Lake. Red dots are Canadian Customs...Blue dots are US customs. Northwest Angle, International Falls/Fort Frances are crossings using a remote video phone all others have actual checkpoints. The ? crossing I am not sure of.
Ontario Trail Permit pricing
http://ofsc.on.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=12&Itemid=134
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These are the only snowmobile trail crossings into Canada near Crane Lake. Red dots are Canadian Customs...Blue dots are US customs. Northwest Angle, International Falls/Fort Frances are crossings using a remote video phone all others have actual checkpoints. The ? crossing I am not sure of.
Ontario Trail Permit pricing
http://ofsc.on.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=12&Itemid=134
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
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oldguy
Member
You should go online and get a Canadian remote border crossing. With that you will not have to stop at any Canadian customs. You still must check in with US customs when you get back. The only place I am aware of a customs office is in the city of Crane Lake. I don’t think there is a US Customs near the Gunflint Trail, that is why they suggest doing the 500 mile loop counter clockwise.
The second or third weekend of February Ontario has have been giving out a free weekend pass. I have not seen anything on it yet this year, but I did get one last year online.
The second or third weekend of February Ontario has have been giving out a free weekend pass. I have not seen anything on it yet this year, but I did get one last year online.
steve_in_il
Member
http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/prog/canpass/rabc-pfre/#c03
oldguy is correct. You will need a Remote Border Crossing "Pass". I rode from Crane Lake to Aitikokan and back 14 years ago...pre 911....and (gasp) was pretty much a renegade customs wise. I would NOT recommend that these days. In fact, our group is considering doing the Circle Tour this year as well. http://www.atikokansnoho.com/circleTour/ 14 years ago, the trail from Crane to Aitikokan was in very rough shape and not well maintained. I would try to check with a local Ontario snowmobile club about their grooming plans for the upcoming winter. http://www.atikokansnoho.com/ BIG COUNTRY up that way if you have never been up before. It's not the Northwoods of Wisconsin with a bar every 5 miles...or 10 miles...or 100 miles in places. You'll have to plan your gas a little bit. But, you won't see much in the way of traffic....that's for sure! Unless of course, you run into us.
oldguy is correct. You will need a Remote Border Crossing "Pass". I rode from Crane Lake to Aitikokan and back 14 years ago...pre 911....and (gasp) was pretty much a renegade customs wise. I would NOT recommend that these days. In fact, our group is considering doing the Circle Tour this year as well. http://www.atikokansnoho.com/circleTour/ 14 years ago, the trail from Crane to Aitikokan was in very rough shape and not well maintained. I would try to check with a local Ontario snowmobile club about their grooming plans for the upcoming winter. http://www.atikokansnoho.com/ BIG COUNTRY up that way if you have never been up before. It's not the Northwoods of Wisconsin with a bar every 5 miles...or 10 miles...or 100 miles in places. You'll have to plan your gas a little bit. But, you won't see much in the way of traffic....that's for sure! Unless of course, you run into us.
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Are you planning on riding more than one day (saddlebagging) in Canada from Crane Lake? If you are I can suggest some routes to take.
If you are planning a one day ride about the only option you have out of Crane Lake is ride to International Falls/Fort Francis then over to Atikokan and then back down to Crane Lake which would be a 250 mile loop. The $30 remote border pass would be a waste of money for a one time entry into Canada.
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steve_in_il
Member
rws,
My "fear" was finding a good spot to cross over to Fort Frances and go thru Customs. I always assumed you couldn't ride across the bridge like the cars and trucks and obviously, Rainy River poses some crossing issues as well. I would love to know how crossing the border at Fort Frances / International Falls by sled is handled. You're right, if this is an easy process, the Remote Permit becomes a non-issue.
rws,
My "fear" was finding a good spot to cross over to Fort Frances and go thru Customs. I always assumed you couldn't ride across the bridge like the cars and trucks and obviously, Rainy River poses some crossing issues as well. I would love to know how crossing the border at Fort Frances / International Falls by sled is handled. You're right, if this is an easy process, the Remote Permit becomes a non-issue.
Cross the lake on the trail marked in red to Rusty's Flying Service indicated by arrow. There is a Canadian Customs phone there to report in. Note: the trail in red is not a state or provincial trail so it is not marked or groomed but you will find a well traveled trail across the lake and over to the L601 trail that goes to Atikokan. The L601 snowmobile trail from Fort Francis to Atikokan will be open this year. I talked to the guy in Atikokan last February who was just putting the finishing touches of rerouting/grubbing the trail.
