Good to the last ride!

What a difference a week makes! Riders are saying our trails are holding up better than expected. This week area trails have been challenged by warm weather and both a bit of snow and a bit of rain. A little more snow is expected overnight tonight. Please remember to stay to the right & watch your speed particularly on curves and hills, and be alert to both icy and bare patches. 

All area groomers (DNR, VNP, VTSI) have paused until we get at least several inches of snow to work with. We will see how it goes from here. Keep an eye on trail update posts online as conditions could change rapidly.

Land trails and portages in Voyageurs National Park are showing some wear; expect frozen ruts on the lake trails and icy conditions off trail. Scratchers may help as there is very little snow for lubrication. Where the Green Trail crosses the Kabetogama Ice Road pay careful attention to signage and watch for cross traffic. There is glare ice in areas on the ice roads making them very slick in places. The reroutes around the two pressure ridges on the Green Trail on Kabetogama are still in place and marked with stakes. If you travel off-trail on the lakes stay alert to pressure ridges that have been expanding over the past few weeks. Pressure ridges, reroutes, and other hazards can be difficult to see in low visibility conditions or if traveling at high speeds. Please be cautious in these and other hazardous areas where the ice is still thin: sand bars, shorelines, and shallow areas. Ice is never 100% safe!

The DNR reports the Arrowhead Trail as poor to fair depending on location. Logging areas, swamps and exposed areas have seen a more rapid decline in snow levels and trail conditions. Active logging on, across, and alongside the trail is occurring in several locations- watch for signage leading up to the activity areas.

Think snow!  Our area businesses are open and ready to welcome you! 

For the latest info, visit:

• VTSI:  https://www.snowmobilevacation.com and https://www.facebook.com/VTSIGrooms
• Crane Lake Voyageurs Snowmobile Club:  www.facebook.com/groups/a723936869357904
• International Voyageurs: http://www.ridetheborders.com/trail-report.html and https://www.facebook.com/IVSClub
• VNP Trail Conditions: https://www.nps.gov/voya/planyourvisit/conditions.htm
• DNR Trail Conditions: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/snow_depth/index.html
• Buyck Portageurs: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057218389432
• Ash River/Kabetogama Snowdrifters: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100068157102512