Getaway Guide - American Snowmobiler Magazine
Transcription
Getaway Guide - American Snowmobiler Magazine
Other sites to see include the frozen draperies in the ice cave west of Deerfield, frozen Roughlock Falls, the trails around Spearfish Canyon (which is recognized as one of the premiere natural landscapes in America), plus the Mickelson and Needle trails in the Beartooth area. Helpful Sites South Dakota Snowmobile Association: www.itctel.com/sdsa Snowmobiling in S.D.: www.sdgfp.info/parks/Recreation/Snowmobiling S.D. Department of Motor Vehicles: www.state.sd.us/drr2/motorvehicle/title/register. htm#Snowmobiles S.D. Tourism: www.travelsd.com Getaway Guide WEST Colorado • Wyoming • Montana Utah • Idaho • California • Oregon Washington • Alaska Colorado: Have you ever wondered what it would be like to feel 10-feet of thick snow under your feet while getting a sun tan on your snowmobile? You can find out in Colorado, where the snow lasts longer than in most places in North America! For the mountain rider in you, check out the “Snowmobile Capital of Colorado,” Grand Lake, where snowmobiles are even allowed on city streets. There are more than 300 miles of trails, 150 of which are groomed. The city is known as the gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park as it is located on the park’s western end. Trail Ridge Road covers 48 miles between Grand Lake and Estes Park, climbs 4,000 feet and gives you pristine mountain views. Check marked trails regarding snowmobile usage in Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests near the city. You can easily access trails in the area by the South Supply Trail. Grand County has more than 1,000 miles of snowmobile trails that connect its four towns. You also won’t want to miss Colorado’s Grand Mesa, one of the largest flat-top mountains in the world. You’ll find plenty of snow and some great sites to take in, including the 355foot high Bridal Veil Falls, the Alpine Tunnel, Dry Mesa Dinosaur Quarry and more than 300 lakes. Other areas of interest here include the Sunlight to Powderhorn Trail (the longest area trail), Indian Point Trail (good for a single-day journey), Crag Crest National Recreation Trail, the Grand Mesa Scenic and Historic Byway and Grand Mesa National Forest. A good access point is the Hwy. 65 corridor. Another great destination, known by the locals as a snowmobiler’s paradise, is Gore Pass where you can traverse through thick snow that’s almost continuously accumulating. If you’re looking for an old-fashioned adventure head to Clark and Steamboat Springs where you can find a main street general store and Steamboat Lake, an ideal spot for snowmobiling. Beginners may want to start with an escorted tour above the timberline to enjoy views from the Continental Divide. The rolling ranchlands around Kremmling are great to play in too. Helpful Sites Colo. Snowmobile Association: www.coloradosledcity.com Colo. Department of Natural Resources: parks.state.co.us Colo. Tourism: www.colorado.com Lodging Glen Eden Resort 5437 County Road 129 Steamboat Springs 970-879-3907 www.glenedenresort.com Wyoming: Park, the Gros Ventre region, or the Granite Hot Springs. The Continental Divide Snowmobile Trail extends 270 miles from Lander to Flagg Ranch at the south entrance of Yellowstone National Park. From there, sledders can visit Targhee and Caribou National Forests in Idaho, or travel into Yellowstone. The Bighorn Mountains/North Central Wyoming Trail System is said to be among the top 10 snowmobile trails in North America, and we agree. Springtime in the Bighorn Mountains brings warm sunny days with powdery, fluffy snow. Peaks here reach 9,000 ft., but the range itself is not as rough as other Wyoming ranges. You won’t run out of trails in the North Bighorns, and you can play all day until you wear yourself out in thousands of acres of unbroken powdery meadows. For even more snow and adventure, Albany County proves a worthy destination. Western Wyoming’s dry climate west of Laramie provides massive amounts of powder in the Snowy Range Mountains, which can extend the season into May! Check out the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest and the Snowy Range National Forest Scenic Byway, also known as the Great Skyroad. It crosses the Snowy Range Pass at 10,487 ft., which makes for spectacular photos. The season runs mid-December through April 1. Permits are required for both residents and non-residents. Permits cost $25. If you like scenic, mountain riding there is no better place than Wyoming. Picturesque, snowy cliffs await you in this destination favored by the ambitious at heart. For a good all-around experience, you may want to stay at the Togwotee Mountain Lodge, a full service resort. From here, you can ride 500 miles in 2½ million acres. You can tour on the Continental Divide Trail system, through the meadows, or do some challenging backcountry riding. Togwotee Pass receives more than 600 inches of snow annually, so you’re sure to have plenty of powder to carve. Jackson Hole, home to the World Championship Hillclimb every spring, is a good central location as well. You also can hit up Yellowstone National WRITE NO. 16 ON THE READER SERVICE CARD November 2009 • GG WRITE NO. 17 ON THE READER SERVICE CARD Helpful Sites Wyo. Snowmobile Association: www.snowmobilewyoming.org Snowmobile Wyo.: wyotrails.state.wy.us/snow Wyo. Tourism: www.wyomingtourism.org Lodging Togwotee Mountain Lodge Hwy 26/287 PO Box 91 Moran 866-278-4245 www.togwoteelodge.com Tour Operators Togwotee Mountain Lodge Hwy 26/287 PO Box 91 Moran 866-278-4245 www.togwoteelodge.com Other Albany County Tourism Board 210 Custer Laramie 800-445-5303 www.visitlaramie.org Montana: Montana is known as “the Big Sky state” but realistically it could be known as the “the big snow state” as it’s home to the World Snowmobile Expo and massive amounts of snow each winter. Starting with Seeley Lake, between the Mission Mountains and the Swan Range, you’ll find a variety of riding conditions. Popular areas include the Double Arrow Lookout Trail, Seeley Lake-Ovando, Marshall Lake and Monture Snowmobile Trail, which is a low difficulty trail that is great for families and runs 18 miles, one way. You’ll discover some of the best snowmobiling in the world in West Yellowstone. Adjacent to and outside of Yellowstone National Park, there is an extensive trail system too. West Yellowstone is where you’ll find the World Snowmobile Expo every March too. We’ve found that some of the best times for riding are at the end of December and through January. Trails to visit include Two Top, Big Sky and Lionshead. Guided tours of the national park are available. Make sure to check out updated snowmobile regulations in the park at the Web site that follows. Like to travel in the upper altitudes? Then head to Flathead Valley where there is an abundant amount of mountain riding areas. For the little less adventurous rider there are over 200 miles of scenic alpine forest trails and 2,000 miles of national forests to travel through. Trails in the Lolo/Missoula area are extensive and interconnecting with 3,700 miles to ride on. You can crisscross over the Montana-Idaho border, through two national forests (be sure you have trail passes for both states). East Fork, Lost Park, Elk Meadows, Moose Ridge, Cooper Creek and Wagon Mountain are just a few of the trails that will take you through meadows and exciting play areas to the Bitterroot Range, south of Missoula. Other great places to visit include the Skalkaho Pass Trail, Lolo Hot Springs, the Clark National Historic Trail and Clearwater National Forest. There are many more areas in Montana to discover, find them at the Web pages below. Helpful Sites Mont. State Travel: www.wintermt.com Yellowstone National Park: www.yellowstonenationalpark.com/ snowmobiling.htm Regulations in Yellowstone National Park: www.yellowstonewinterguide.com/ snowmobiling/snowmobiling_regulations.php Lodging Days Inn West Yellowstone 301 Madison Ave West Yellowstone 800-548-9551 www.allyellowstone.com Lolo Hot Springs 38500 W. Highway 12 Lolo 406-273-2290 www.lolohotsprings.com Dining Lolo Hot Springs 38500 W. Highway 12 Lolo 406-273-2290 www.lolohotsprings.com Mont. Snowmobile Association: www.snowtana.com WRITE NO. 18 ON THE READER SERVICE CARD WRITE NO. 19 ON THE READER SERVICE CARD November 2009 • GG 11 WRITE NO. 20 ON THE READER SERVICE CARD Dealer/Rentals Lolo Hot Springs 38500 W. Highway 12 Lolo 406-273-2290 www.lolohotsprings.com Yellowstone Adventures 1131 Dunraven St. West Yellowstone 406-646-7765 www.yellowstoneadventures.com All Yellowstone Sports 302 Madison Ave. West Yellowstone 406-646-9332 www.allyellowstone.com Tour Operators Yellowstone Adventures 1131 Dunraven St. West Yellowstone 406-646-7765 www.yellowstoneadventures.com All Yellowstone Sports 302 Madison Ave. West Yellowstone 406-646-9332 www.allyellowstone.com other Flathead Convention & Visitors Bureau 4170 US HWY 2 East #14, Kalispell 406-7569091 www.fcvb.com Utah: Utah riding can be a fun, challenging, and rewarding experience . The Cedar Mountain area is known as the “Gateway to the National Parks,” with snow-clad peaks to the east and the Escalante Desert to the west. Check out the Cedar Mountain/East Fork Snowmobile Complex, east of Cedar City and about 4 hours from Las Vegas and Salt Lake City. Access to this complex is possible at Brian Head, Duck Creek, Strawberry, Navajo, Midway and Ruby’s Inn trailheads. The complex of high mountain trails will lead you to Cedar Breaks National Monument. If you’re looking for exceptional beauty, Heber Valley is a prime spot. Tucked in the Wasatch Mountains, it offers scenic mountain views and vast plateaus to romp on. You can access trailheads at Lake Creek, Wolf Creek, Strawberry Valley, Wasatch Mountain State Park and at Mirror Lake Hwy. 150. Daniels Summit is a primo place to stay in the Uinta National Forest. Helpful Sites Utah Snowmobile Association: www.snowut.com Snowmobile Utah: www.utah.com/snowmobile/laws.htm Utah Tourism: www.utah.travel Idaho: Snowmobile year-round? Almost! Not just potatoes, but frosted peaks, rolling hills and wide-open spaces await you in Idaho. The state has more than 7,200 miles of groomed trails to dash along. Idaho’s tourism board claims to have more groomed trails than any other western state. Having a season that lasts from November to April, there’s plenty of playtime here! Home to AmSnow’s Western Editor, we know that snow can stick around until June – we have the pictures to prove it! Some great areas to tour include Cascade, Mountain Home, Pioneer County, the Stanley Sawtooth area, the Boise National Forest, Island Park and Priest Lake. In the Yellowstone-Teton Territory you can climb 10,000 feet on your mountain snowmobile in the surrounding mountains. You also may want to check out the thousands of miles of trails around Silver Valley, race around Bonner County and Sandpoint, and if you are looking for a remote mountain challenge, try the 12-mile Freezeout Mountain Snowmobile Trail. Areas to ride in the southeast include Bear Lake (Fish Haven/St. Charles trails), Pocatello, Preston, Soda Springs, Portneuf Range (Inkom/ Lava trails), Blackfoot (Bone & Wolverine trails), Malad and Cottonwood (Downey/Swan Lake). Accommodations are welcoming and usually just around the bend. Helpful Sites Idaho State Snowmobile Association: www.idahosnowbiz.com Snowmobile Idaho: www.idahowinter.org/sled Sled the Rockies: www.sledtherockies.com/idaho Idaho Tourism: www.visitidaho.org Lodging The Pines at Island Park 3907 Phillips Loop Rd Island Park 208-558-0192 www.pinesislandpark.com Dining Lodgepole Grill 3907 Phillips Loop Rd Island Park 208-558-0192 www.pinesislandpark.com Dealer/Rentals The Pines at Island Park 3907 Phillips Loop Rd Island Park 208-558-0192 www.pinesislandpark.com Other Idaho Division of Tourism Development 700 W. State St. PO Box 83720, Boise, ID 208334-2470 www.sledtherockies.com California: There are 2,500 miles of snow-covered pristine trails in the California mountains. The San Joaquin Valley area located in central California has WRITE NO. 22 ON THE READER SERVICE CARD WRITE NO. 21 ON THE READER SERVICE CARD November 2009 • GG 13 around 500 miles of trails to pounce on too. The huge flat basin is surrounded by the Sierra Nevada to the east, the Coast Ranges to the west, the Tehachapi Mountains to the south and the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to the north. You will find Mt. Whitney here, the highest point in the continental U.S, and great backcountry riding. There’s also a lot of snowmobiling going on around the Lake Tahoe area. It has the most snowmobile services in the state and a great network of trails that will lead you to remote high elevations. Other spots to check out include the Sierra Nevada Forest, Stanislaus National Forest, Kaiser Pass, Mono Hot Springs, the Spicer Reservoir area and the Mammoth Mountain area. Helpful Sites Calif. Nevada Snowmobile Association: www.cnsa.net Calif. Snowmobiling: www.totalescape.com/active/snow/snowmo.html Calif. Tourism: www.gocalif.ca.gov Washington: With 3,000+ miles of snowmobiling trails, Washington provides riders with deep snow and mountain peaks to lure you to the Northwest. A favorite place to go snowmobiling is Lake Chelan (See AmSnow, Feb. 2006, p.66) with its stellar mountain views and 200 miles of well-groomed trails. Take advantage of the area’s Sno-Parks, which are quite accommodating for travelers. The Winter Recreation Program in Washington provides Sno-Parks, or cleared parking areas for vehicles in close proximity to groomed and backcountry trails. Antilon Lake Sno-Park will have you traveling 97 miles worth of trail where you may view Lake Chelan, Golf Peak, Hungry Mountain and Fox Peak. The area also connects with trails into the Twisp River Valley. All snowmobiles must be registered in the state. The fee is $30 and includes a Sno-Park vehicle parking permit. Helpful Sites Wash. State Snowmobile Association: www.wssa.us Wash. State Parks: www.parks.wa.gov/ winter/snowmobile.asp Wash. Tourism: www.experiencewashington.com GG 14 Oregon: You should make Oregon a priority sled destination because this state has mountains galore and plenty of natural beauty. There are 6,410 miles of groomed trails to wander and excellent views too. Folks here like to keep their favorite riding spots a secret, but there’s plenty of great all-around riding. One spot you can’t miss for a day’s ride is Mt. Hood, the highest point in the state at 11,239 feet, which can be seen from many vantage points. Other areas to consider include the Newberry National Volcanic Monument in central Oregon, Grant County, which has great groomed trails, (see AmSnow, Dec. 2004), the Ochoco Mountains, the Strawberry Range, the Wallowa Mountains and the Blue Mountains. Helpful Sites Oregon State Snowmobile Association: www.oregonsnow.org Oregon DMV: www.oregon.gov/ODOT/DMV/ vehicle/tpsnow.shtml Travel Oregon: www.traveloregon.com USDA Forest Services: www.fs.fed.us/r6/uma/snomobl.htm Alaska: If you want to ride in May then you need to visit Alaska. Only you won’t be riding a “snowmobile” because as Sarah Palin taught the world, only “snow machines” are ridden here. In the Anchorage region, explore the base of the Chugach Mountains, ride on the Eagle River or view the canyons, waterfalls and Eklutna Glacier in the Eklutna Lake Valley. Other routes include the Bird Creek Trail, Ptarmigan Valley Trail and Peters Creek Valley Trail. Located an hour north of Anchorage is the Mat-Su Valley, a popular spot with splendid multi-use trails. Options here include Hatcher’s Pass, Nancy Lake State Recreation Area/ Willow and Big Lake. Helpful Sites Alaska State Snowmobile Association: www.aksnow.org Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles: www. state.ak.us/dmv/reg/snow.htm Alaska Tourism: travelalaska.com AMERICAN SNOWMOBILER • www.AmSnow.com Getaway Guide CANADA Quebec • Ontario Saskatchewan • British Columbia Quebec: You’ll be tempted to never leave Quebec, once you’ve sampled Quebec’s 20,000 spectacular miles of trails. The birthplace and headquarters of Ski-Doo, Quebec is a Ski-Dooer’s paradise! Where to begin? Try Lanaudière, close to Montreal and to the U.S.’s northeastern states and bordered to the north by the Laurentian Mountains. 1,400 miles of trail invite you to take a jaunt through the region, and with an average of six feet of snow there will be plenty to blast through these trails. You will likely be able to ride here from mid-November through March because of the cold temperatures and heavy snowfall. Lanaudière includes part of Mont-Tremblant Park, the largest national park in Quebec, which can be seen via snowmobile. Popular spots to visit include St. Come, Auberge le Cabanon and St. Michel des Saintes. We suggest you take a trip to SkiDoo’s Valcourt headquarters as well to learn how the “ski dog” became the “Ski-Doo.” The Valcourt Museum features the inventive history of SkiDoo from Joseph-Armand Bombardier, known to some as the father of snowmobiling. Valcourt also is great for vintage sled lovers, as you’ll find museums, exhibitions, and if you ride the trails, you might just catch a glimpse of a number of functioning antique Ski-Doos in the area. Read about our ride in the beautiful Saguenay-Lac Saint Jean region. (See AmSnow’s Feb. 2008 issue, p. 52.) On the western edge of Quebec, there are 2,186 miles of snowmobile highways waiting for you in AbitibiTémiscamingue. Snowfall can reach up to 24 feet there. This French-influenced area has plenty of lodging and restaurants. You may even be lucky