It’s all over the news: The less we stay indoors this winter, the safer we stay. Outdoor activities like snowmobiling provide ample airflow and promote social distancing. If you need a perfect excuse to play in the snow, you have one.

Riding a snowmobile is the release you need from stressful days. Any place with snowmobile trails is a great place to go for the sport. Still, limiting yourself to “snowmobiling near me” activities makes you miss out on places farther away.

Consider getting out on the trail somewhere you’ve never been before. Here are some of the United States’ most exciting and beautiful snowmobile trails and why to check them out.

Snowmobile Heaven on Maine’s ITS

Maine’s Interconnected Trail System is also known as the ITS. The system spans 3,500 miles of paths to explore. Wide trails cut through huge swaths of pine forest. Snowmobilers travel flanked by thousands of trees and are bound to see some wildlife that makes the snowy wonderland their home.

What’s even better is that the ITS is far from the only trail system in Maine. It connects with snowmobile trail systems all over the state—an entire 10,000 more miles’ worth! You can explore the entire state’s wilderness on your trusty snowmobile.

Explore Montana’s West Yellowstone on Snowmobile Trails

Montana has some of the most coveted wilderness for all outdoorsy people. The state’s population is sparse and concentrated in a few cities. Montana makes a point to work with the federal government to preserve its wildlands in parks like Yellowstone.

If you go to Yellowstone National Park, the chances are that you’ll spend time in the small town of West Yellowstone. Because the park is a common international destination, there are loads of places to stay and things to do even though West Yellowstone’s population isn’t much more than 1000 people.

The real reason to visit West Yellowstone and Yellowstone National Park is for perfect snowmobiling terrain. When it’s snowy out, you can’t beat the trails at Yellowstone for snowmobiling. If conditions aren’t ideal for snowmobiling, you can still enjoy the park’s gorgeous sites and fun activities.

There are options for hobbyists of all experience levels, and you can enjoy a guided tour or head out on your own. One thing to keep in mind is that it’s far too easy to get lost in Montana’s backcountry. The good news is that park rangers and rescue crews expect cases and have a great deal of experience finding lost people.

Still, it’s best not to get lost in the park, to begin with. If you don’t have a lot of experience and can’t commit to intense research beforehand, stick to simpler trails and guided experiences. This is a smart general rule for any snowmobiling, but if you’re not following it elsewhere, Yellowstone is a good place to start.

See the Mountains in Denali National Park, Alaska on Snowmobile

If Yellowstone isn’t wild or vast enough for you, try this even larger and more secluded destination. Travelling to remote Alaska is worth it to see Mt. Denali, the tallest mountain in the whole continent of North America.

If you’re not familiar with that location despite the record-setting peak, you might know it instead as Mt. McKinley National Park. A prospector named the mountain McKinley after US president William McKinley in 1897.

The United States government adopted this name for many years. Alaska renamed the mountain and park in 1980, and the federal government followed suit in 2015. Denali is what indigenous people in the area called the mountain before settlers claimed the land, meaning “the high one.”

The park is as massive as the mountain is tall: It spans 4,740,911 acres, more than twice Yellowstone’s 2,219,791. That makes it even more important than usual to don snowmobile helmets and carry necessities like walkie-talkies and emergency supplies for worst-case scenarios.

Another great reason to check out Denali is that it’s a wild and remote location you can get to without much trouble under normal travel conditions. The park and Alaskan wilderness are popular with tourists worldwide. So, depending on where you leave from and how you travel, you can often get a good deal on transportation and lodging.

Vail, Colorado Is a Classic Snow Sport Destination

Anyone familiar with snow sports in the United States has at least heard of Vail. The scenic location is known for a dramatic contrast between posh ski lodges and untamable mountain terrain.

Vail is perhaps most popular as a seasonal destination for the rich, but you don’t have to have a lot of money to enjoy the wilderness in Vail, CO.

There’s no shortage of lodging in various price ranges, trails for all ages and skill levels, and guided and unguided adventures. For each activity that people pay hundreds or thousands of dollars for, there’s something to do in Vail that you don’t have to pay for at all. You can put the money you save towards gear and snowmobiles for sale.

Find Cushy Accommodations in Park City, Utah

Vail is among the most popular locations for wealthy winter sports enthusiasts. Park City, UT, is another choice option. As in Vail, expensive resorts are balanced out by affordable lodging and opportunities for cheap-to-free self-guided adventuring.

There are plenty of family activities like kids’ snowmobile adventures in Park City. It’s also an ideal place for adults hoping to indulge in cigarettes and alcohol on their vacations. Vail doesn’t provide too many opportunities for these pleasures, but you can smoke and drink in some public areas in Park City.

Get Volunteered Help in St. Germain, Wisconsin

Wisconsin’s north-central location makes it an ideal spot for snow sports. Snowmobilers heading to St. Germain for an adventure find themselves in good company with all kinds of other winter sports enthusiasts.

Skiing and ice fishing are popular winter activities in the area, along with snowboarding, and hiking is good all year round. St. Germain also has great fishing minus the ice in warmer weather, for the record.

The most notable trails in the St. Germain area belong to the Bo-Boen Trail System.

One of the biggest benefits of snowmobiling in St. Germain is the ease of accessing help. Dedicated volunteers in the Bo-Boen Club maintain the system and offer assistance on the trail. This spirit of camaraderie makes the location a perfect place to start with the sport.

Enjoy Year-Round Minnesota Fun on Gunflint Trail

Minnesota is to Wisconsin’s northwest and is as good as WI is for outdoor leisure. For winter sports, check out Gunflint Trail’s selection of trail loops. Nearby bodies of water make it a wonderful place for fishing with or without ice.

If you enjoy exploring snowy fun apart from snowmobiling, MN is the state to visit. Common sports like skiing and sledding scratch the surface. Or, you could find unique excitement and fun through a somewhat less popular activity like snowshoeing.

The boldest of adventurers can take advantage of dog sledding opportunities while taking a break from the snowmobile. Tourist destinations like the Gunflint Lodge and Bearskin Lodge help new dog sledders learn the ropes.

Experienced mushers can participate in January’s Gunflint Mail Run Sled Dog Race. Others can volunteer support for participants or take a couple of days off from snowmobile adventures to watch from the sidelines. Snowmobiling is a great way to travel all over the area and view as much of the race as possible.

Due to unfortunate current events going into 2021, most prospective participants have to wait for later years to join the race. Don’t let that discourage you from checking the event out, though. This dog sled race (on January 9th and 10th in 2021) is a unique option for getting your mind off the winter’s worries, so hop on your snowmobile to watch along the route.

Go Snowmobiling in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula

The Upper Peninsula of Michigan lies to Wisconsin’s northeast, opposite Minnesota. This other popular midwestern location is loved for deep, powdery snow. It’s extra special because powder snow is hard to find in the middle of the country.

You can travel more than 2,500 miles of trail in the Upper Peninsula, known by locals and fans as “the U.P.” It gets over a hundred inches of snow in an average year. It’s a destination for snow sports of all kinds, as Wisconsin and Minnesota are.

The U.P. is surrounded by water, including the Great Lakes, making it ideal for fishing and water sports along with snow activities.

Make the Most of Outdoor Sports and Leisure

Now that you know these popular snowmobile trails all over the United States, you can plan your next winter adventure. Instead of worrying about the germs, you might catch while hiding indoors, regain your confidence on the rugged trail.

Westshore Marine and Leisure has all the tools you need to make the most of the untamed outdoors. Whether you’re looking for a new snowmobile or to sell an old snowmobile, this is the place for you.

Get in touch with us today with any outdoor equipment questions you have.