7 Best Places To Go Snowmobiling In North America

Riding your snowmobile around your own land can be fun, but it gets a little old after a while.

Are you thinking about taking a more adventurous snowmobiling trip, but don’t quite know where to go?

North America is home to countless miles of amazing snowmobiling trails.

Keep reading and we’ll take a look at the seven best places to go snowmobiling on the continent.

 

1. Michigan

The state of Michigan boasts over 6,500 miles of groomed snowmobile trails. With routes that stretch from the southern border all the way to the Keweenaw Peninsula, you’ll never run out of new trails to explore.

 

Upper Peninsula

Snowmobiling across the Upper Peninsula is a must for any snowmobile enthusiast.

With over 3,000 miles of groomed trails, you’ll be able to explore places like the Even Ice Caves, the Grand Island Ice Caves, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and Tahquamenon Falls State Park.

 

Thumbs Up Snowmobile Trail

Located in Sanilac County, the “Thumbs Up” trail is the perfect way to experience the beauty of eastern Michigan. Along the way, you’ll be able to visit the Port Sanilac Lighthouse and the Sanilac Shores Underwater Preserve.

 

Northeast Michigan And Presque Isle

If you want to snowmobile in northern Michigan without “crossing the bridge” as locals call it, check out northeastern Michigan and Presque Isle. With lots of well-groomed trails, you’ll have the adventure of a lifetime.

 

2. Alaska

What do you get when you’re the largest U.S. state by area, the most sparsely populated state, and the most northerly state? Amazing snowmobiling, that’s what!

 

Denali National Park

Home to the highest mountain in North America and larger than the state of New Hampshire, Denali National Park is like a snowmobile enthusiast’s dream.

Since this is a National Park, you’ll have to wait for the a-okay from the park superintendent. Once there’s adequate snow cover, open trails will be listed on Denali Park’s official website.

 

Chugach National Forest

This almost seven million acre National Forest in south-central Alaska has quite a few trails open for motorized use. Follow along portions of the Iditarod National Historic Trail, which includes roughly 2,400 miles between Nome and Seward. Like a modern-day frontiers-person, you’ll be traversing a historic path that was once the main artery of Alaska’s winter commerce.

 

3. Quebec, Canada

It’s believed that snowmobiling was invented in Quebec, by a man named Joseph-Armand Bombardier from Valcourt. It’s no wonder that Quebec is the perfect place to go on a snowmobiling adventure!

Quebec has 33,000 km of groomed trails that criss-cross across the province. Whether you’re an adventurer, a nature lover, or a foodie, there’s something for everyone in Quebec.

 

The Northern Trail

If you’re looking to explore the coastline and view the gorgeous vistas of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, check out the Northern Trail. With tons of wide-open space and pristine wilderness, this trail includes some impressive snowmobile bridges, one of which is the longest on the whole continent!

 

The White Trail

This is a great trip for an experienced, expert snowmobiler, but not necessarily for a novice. If you’re new to the sport, it’s highly recommended that you travel with a guide. Even if you are an expert, it’s best that you have at least one other person with you and at least one of you should be knowledgable about first aid and off-road vehicle safety.

Remote and without cell-phone coverage, the White Trail is the only link between the municipalities along the Lower North Shore.

You’ll pass through several villages along the way, including Harrington Harbour, which is considered to be one of the most beautiful villages in the Province. While there are places that offer lodging, food, and gas within the municipalities, it’s vital that this trip is prepared for with care. Along the trail, you’ll find 23 huts with firewood and woodstoves that could save your life in the event of an emergency.

 

The Gaspé Peninsula

This peninsula juts out into the Atlantic Ocean to the south of the St. Lawrence River. While riding here, you’ll be able to enjoy sea-level sites at one moment and then be up in rugged 4,000-foot mountains within an hour.

If you love being able to see the ocean to one side and mountains to the other, this is the ideal place to snowmobile this winter.

 

The Haute Gatineau

Located in western Quebec in the Outaouais Region, the Haute Gatineau surrounds the upper Gatineau River and is sprinkled with lakes and dense forests.

Home to more than 600 miles of amazing trails, you’ll never get bored with the ever-changing scenery of frozen lakes, deep forests, open fields, unplowed backroads, and woodlots.

 

4. New Hampshire

The state of New Hampshire has over 7,000 miles of snowmobile trails. Whether you go out for a few hours in the afternoon or travel across the entire state over a few days, snowmobiling in New Hampshire will be a trip to remember.

 

Coos County

Coos County makes up the northernmost portion of New Hampshire and is the least populated county in the state. Bordering Canada to the north and containing part of the White Mountain Regions in the south, this is the perfect place to experience the deep, pristine wilderness on your snowmobile.

 

Pittsburg Snowmobile Trail System

Every year, over 170 inches of snowfall grace the town of Pittsburg, NH. From Christmas until the first week of April, you can ride across the almost 200 miles of groomed trails. Connecting to Maine, Vermont, and Quebec, you can make your adventure as short or as long as you please!

Along the way, keep an eye out for deer and moose, which are frequently seen along the trails. With views from high mountain peaks and the natural beauty of the region’s lakes, this is one of the best snowmobile places in New England.

 

Bartlett

Set in the White Mountains and surrounded by the White Mountain National Forest, Bartlett is a great place to explore the beauty of this mountain region.

The White Mountain National Forest is one of the most visited outdoor recreation sites east of the Mississippi River. This is due to its thousands of miles of hiking trails, dozens of campgrounds, and tons of ski areas.

 

5. Colorado

If you’re wondering where to snowmobile out west, Colorado is a great state to explore. With high-class ski-resorts in the east and rugged trails in the west, it’s going to be hard to choose where to begin!

 

Breckenridge

From late November to late May, you can enjoy the well-groomed Georgia Pass Road, which is only open to snowmobiles during this time.

Check out the pristine trails in the White River National Forest as well as views from the Continental Divide. You can’t go wrong here!

 

Vail

Whether you take a tour or adventure out on your own, Vail is the perfect place to explore well-groomed trails by day and enjoy the luxurious ski-resort culture at night. If your family is made up of skiers, snowboarders, sledders, and snowmobilers, there’s no better place for all of your interests to intersect.

 

Sunlight Mountain To Powderhorn

With over 120 miles of groomed trails, you can opt to hop on this awesome western trail in a number of different locations. Connecting to an additional 180 miles of associated trails, this is the perfect way to see the beauty of western Colorado.

 

Wolf Creek/Pagosa Springs

With more snow falling here than anywhere else in Colorado, it’s a no-brainer that snowmobiling here is a must.

The trail systems here go deep into the San Juan Mountains, a wild and rugged range that stretches from southwestern Colorado and northwestern New Mexico. If you’re new to the sport, it’s highly recommended that you go with a guide if you’re going to enter this terrain.

 

6. Maine

Maine is home to more than 280 snowmobile clubs and thousands of miles of snowmobile trails. With primary trails known as the Interconnected Trail System (ITS) offering 4,000 miles of trails, plus the additional 10,000 miles of groomed trails connected to the ITS, you’ll never run out of new trails to ride!

 

Aroostook County

Frequently ranked as one of the best places to snowmobile in North America, this most northern county in Maine is known in the state simply as “The County.” The largest county in Maine as well as the largest county in America by land area east of the Mississippi, this is a great place to explore the vast northern wilderness.

With a season that starts in December and generally lasts until April, you could spend all winter riding the trails of Aroostook County. With lots of stores, restaurants, and other establishments catering to the snowmobiling culture, you’ll often find them situated right off the snowmobile trails.

 

Moosehead Lake

Check out the largest lake in Maine on your snowmobile this winter. Ride along the 160 miles of the Moosehead Trail to enjoy the breathtaking beauty of Maine and take breaks at the many spots you can stop for coffee, gas, and lunch along the way.

If you’ve had enough of this gorgeous lake region, you can always hope on the ITS which joins with the local trails. From here, you can check more of Maine or journey to New Hampshire or Canada.

 

Kennebec Valley

Check out the Kennebec Valley Trail in Kennebec Valley, which follows a segment of the historic “Arnold Trail.” Along the way, you’ll see historic markers to enrich your journey with a sense of connection to the past. If you’re a bird lover, keep an eye out for bald eagles and osprey along this route.

If you’re an expert rider and looking for a real adventure in the Kennebec Valley, check out the trails on Coburn Mountain. From the peak which stands at over 3700 feet, on a clear day, you can see up to 75 miles away. To the northeast, you can see the peak of Mt. Katahdin.

 

7. Adirondacks, New York

The Adirondacks is home to approximately 1,800 miles of trails that are on both private and public lands. While New York State has 10,000 miles of snowmobile trails in total, some of the best snowmobiling in the state is within the Adirondack region.

 

Old Forge

With more than 500 miles of trails in this region alone, this is one of the best places to snowmobile in the Adirondacks. Even many of the town’s streets are open to snowmobiles!

Old Forge hosts many tourists in the summer, and therefore there are tons of places to grab some food, gas, or take a rest.

 

Cranberry Lake and Tupper Lake

If you’re trying to get away from it all, check out this region located in Franklin County. Home to some of the least crowded and most remote trails in the Adirondacks, most of these trails stay open all the way through March due to the winter lasting longer.

From Cranberry, you can connect to a larger 500-mile trail system that includes the Brasher State Forest and South Colten.

 

Speculator

East of Old Forge and at the northeast tip of Lake Pleasant, these 650-miles of trails are a part of the Hamilton County trail system.

 

With So Many Places To Go Snowmobiling, Which Will You Choose?

You could spend the rest of your winters exploring the incredible trails of North America and hardly make a dent. There’s nothing like the feeling of riding along perfectly groomed trails, whether deep in remote wilderness or jaunting in and out of quaint rural towns. Make your dreams a reality, and plan your next North American snowmobile trip today!

The question isn’t whether you’ll go on a grand snowmobiling adventure this winter, but rather which of these best places to go snowmobiling you’ll try first!

If you’re looking for more articles about all things snowmobiles, be sure to check out the rest of our blog!