Trail conditionsNOTE! Our Facebook page is updated as-it-happens.
For most recent updates, see https://www.facebook.com/VTSIGrooms |
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First, the Arrowhead 135 Ultramarathon runs on the Arrowhead trail Monday, Jan 31, to Wednesday, Feb 2, from International Falls to Lake Vermilion. Watch out of fat tire bikers, skiers and hikers competing in this 135 mile race.
We have lots of snow, warmer temps coming and the trails are in AWESOME shape - riding here is as good as it gets! All area (International Falls area, Ash River/ Kabetogama, Orr and Crane Lake) groomers are out multiple trips per week to keep trails in wonderful condition. A big salute to the groomer drivers for the great job! Problem areas from earlier posts are all taken care of, and extra trips will be run in some of the high traffic areas to ensure they are ready for everyone to enjoy some of Minnesota’s and the Midwest’s best trails. In the Park, the Lake trails are being groomed and portages are being groomed also. The Chain of Lakes and Kettle Falls trails are open and groomed as well. The Arrowhead trail from International Falls all the way south is in great shape and is a very fun ride. Area businesses are open for food, fuel, lodging, and great meals. They are all looking forward to helping you enjoy a fantastic snowmobile vacation riding in and around Minnesota's only National Park. So with all of that, don’t miss out! The beauty of this area is special and you will love it here! Good Morning from snowy Voyageur Country. Yes!! More snow fell yesterday, another 6+ inches here and the groomers throughout the area - Int'l Falls, Ash River/Kabetogama, Orr and Crane Lake - plan to groom trails twice for the weekend. Riding conditions have been very good and with this new snow things should go to excellent condition.
The Arrowhead trail from Int’l Falls south to Vermilion is in great shape, with the State groomers doing a good job. The Park has the Chain of Lakes trail (dashed black) and Kettle Falls trail (yellow) open and ready for visitors as well. Watch www.nps.gov/voya/planyourvisit/conditions.htm for updates. We are in full open and riding mode. View or download the trail map at Trail Map which also shows all the businesses that are open and will be happy to see you. Check them all out and support them. Get up here and have some fun enjoying great riding! Please always ride safely, watch your speeds and keep to the right on the trails. Snowmobiling here in Voyageur Country is as good as it gets!!! Have a great weekend!!!!! Ash River/ Kabetogama area trails are all groomed and ready for riders. We are grooming on a regular schedule, and trails continue to improve and are in very good shape.
The North and South Spurs from Orr to the Arrowhead Trail are in very good shape and grooming continues there as well. In the Crane Lake area, the Voyageur South trail and Vermillion River Bridge trail are groomed and looking good. On the Voyageur North trail, between the Arrowhead Link and Ash River, be aware of the dozer that will be clearing and widening the trail for the next few days. That section will be groomed and in good shape for the weekend. The Link trail to the Arrowhead and from the Link to Crane Lake is groomed and in very good shape. The Arrowhead North and South from Blackduck lake is being groomed by the State and is in very good shape also. In the International Falls area grooming is on a regular schedule; trails are in very good shape and ready for riders. In summary, Voyageur Country trails are ready, resorts and businesses are open and ready to welcome visitors! With the warmer weather ahead, fire up the sleds, get up here and enjoy the great trails and beauty of Voyageur Country. The grooming drag that was on the side of the trail on the Bitch hill on the Bill Morgan trail near Ash River morning of 1/7 has been cleared. Special thanks to neighbors who came out to help!
If traveling south from Ash River on the Voyageur North trail, a beaver dam was blown 1/6 and there may be a washout about 6 miles south of Ash River. Please be aware and use caution in that area. It will be fixed when that area gets groomed and snow packed there. On a happier note! The State groomed the Arrowhead trail south from Blackduck Lake to south of Elephant Lake and groomed the Arrowhead north to the Bill Morgan trail. The Park Service staked from Ash River to Crane Lake. Remember, trails are in early stages of grooming so use caution and have fun! Here is the latest update for area trails. The Int’l Falls club has trails east of town open and groomed including the Arrowhead Trail south to the 3K, Hagerman Trail, Blue Ox. Trails are open with a few spots still to go. Trails going west to Birchdale are not yet open/ready.
In the Ash River/Kabetogama area, all trails are open and groomed. This includes the Arrowhead Trail north to the 3K, the 3K to Kec’s, the Ray Spur, ToneDawg, Trapper and Woody trails. The Bill Morgan trail is groomed and in great shape to the garage. We finished widening the trail from the garage to Ash River today and it will be much better for visibility and safety. Use caution in the area just east of the Turtle mounds where a hole was created by equipment that was stuck there yesterday. With grooming tomorrow, that will be much better. Tomorrow will be the second grooming from the garage to Ash River. The North and South Spurs from Orr to the Arrowhead are groomed and will be groomed again this week. Crane Lake has groomed the Voyageur south trail from Crane to the Arrowhead, going thru Buyck and that area. They also groomed north from Crane to the Link trail and from the Link to the Arrowhead today. From the Link to Ash River is open but not yet groomed. Early next week, it will be groomed and ready. As stated earlier, the Park Service has staked from Rainy Lake to Ash River. They will be staking from Ash River to Crane Lake tomorrow. The portage to Kettle Falls is not yet open. Things are looking up, so it's time to RIDE! Voyageur Country is open! Plan your trips and get up here. We will be excited to see people getting out and enjoying the great North. Ride safely and most of all have FUN! In the Ash River/ Kabetogama all trails are open and the groomer has done the first run of the season. Groomer is out today (with drag) doing the Bill Morgan, Arrowhead north to the 3K and into Kec’s. Then doing the Ray Spur. This is the second run with the drag so those trails will be in pretty good shape with the new snow. Both the North and South Spurs from Orr out to the Arrowhead trail have been groomed with drag.
The State has not groomed the Arrowhead trail from Elephant Lake north. They are planning on next week for that. Crane lake area groomer has packed the Voyageur South trail to the Arrowhead and crews are still working on the North trail to Ash River. Trails are open but nothing has been groomed yet. In the Falls area, all the trails east of town to the lake are open. They plan to start grooming as soon as possible, this cold wave will help with that. The Blue Ox is open to Big Falls also. Check the Int’l Voyageur Snowmobile Club website for the lastest information. The Park has the lakes staked from Franks Bay on Rainy all the way to Ash River. The Black Bay and Sullivan Bay portages are open and ready. That’s it for today, have a great weekend, ride safely and have fun, rest assured all the clubs are working hard to get things in shape and great riding is ahead for all of us. Hello from Voyageur Country snowmobiling for winter of 2021-2022
We are working on all area trails. I will try and give the latest updates and what still needs to get done to be ready for the season. Here at Ash River/Kabetogama area, we had a great day of trail clearing on Dec. 4. A large turnout of volunteers was wonderful and a lot of trail clearing was done. We had 40+ people working and had a nice pizza party at the Ledge after the work. That is the good news. However, with the recent warm weather, rain and then wet heavy snow, we have lots of work to do all over again as we have lots of brush back on the trails. If you are in the area and looking to help, Riding all trails and cutting brush and clearing will hasten the time that we can get to ride the trails. Right now, many parts of the trails are barely passable. Things need to get cleaned up before we can get a groomer out there. We will have a machine on the trails this week and I will keep folks updated as the work gets done. In the Area of Elephant Lake and Crane Lake, they have the same issues. They will have a machine working on the trails this week and groups will be heading out of Melgeorge’s and Crane Lake on Wed and Thurs Morning. If you can help, check with them. The Orr trails are pretty much ready to go. Groomers have not been on any trails as of yet, and the Park Service has not staked the Lake Trails, and portages have not been cleared. Riding is not ready here as of yet. Again, if you can get out on trails and bring saws and help clear that would be great. I will keep this site updated as we move forward and get things ready to RIDE! Hello SNOWMOBILERS! Mark your calendar for Saturday Dec. 4 for our annual trail clearing day. Great turnout last year, and with current conditions we will need a big turnout again. Meet at Rocky Ledge at 10 am and head out from there. Pizza party at the Ledge when we finish. The more people the better! Let’s make it a work and fun day!
Another season is coming to a close. With the warm temperatures and more coming the season is over for all trails. Grooming has stopped for the season and trails are mostly dirt. The lake trails are still open but snow is getting very thin there as well. The portages are showing lots of dirt and rock also.
A big Thank You to all who visited our area this season and to all the local people who also support our trail system and enjoy the great trails here Update for today. With the warm weather the trails have taken a hit, causing a number of bare spots and exposed rocks. Wooded areas that still have snow are in pretty good shape. The trails are still rideable, but in poorer condition than last weekend. If riding, you will need to use caution and watch out for the bad sections.
The Lakes are still very rideable but be aware that as the temps cool, the lake trails be will hard and slippery. Scratchers would be a good idea for help in getting lube. The groomers will not be out until we get some snow. I will update this site as conditions either deteriorate, or if it snows and we can get the groomers back out. Keep checking this site for updates. Thanks for your understanding as Mother Nature is in control here. |