Any trail reports?

[311Hemi]

I rode both days this weekend with my father in law and had a great time, and found good trail conditions. If your looking for a place to ride, I would definitely recommend it.

We rode in an area that included Bad Medicine lake, over to Elbow Lake, up to Fosston, over to Shevlin, and down through Itasca State Park, and back to Bad Medicine. We rode a number of the trails within that loop as well. I would say that 90% of the trails were in good+ condition, even though there is not a very deep base. We found a few trails that had not been groomed, and broke trail on one of them in White Earth State forest. Groomers have done a good job on most of the rest of the trails, and there has been very little traffic in the area. The bigger main trails are in very nice condition!

I think we came across two or three groups on Saturday after 170 miles of riding, and 1 sled on Sunday after 100 miles of riding. Ditches were also good and plenty of fun, although they need a just a bit more snow to do any side hilling! Definitely good snow conditions in that area, and we trailered there based on the MN DNR snow coverage map. Another 12" will make it awesome as far a snowmobiling conditions go for this winter.

My one gripe.....what do people drive vehicles down snowmobile trails? I saw way to much of this this past weekend, and actually came across a truck with a 4 wheeler in back and a snowmobile on a single place trailer coming down a trail. He pointed me to move off the trail so he could pass. Must have driven at least 3-4 miles down a nicely groomed trail. I had heard reports from another group that came across a vehicle on the trail as well this past weekend. We also rode a number of trails that had ruts from vehicles....more so than I have ever seen in the past. Not sure if it's just the early season and hunting may be open or something?

Still slush on the lakes.....so if you are crossing be carefull. We came across a number of areas where we were riding across slush.

[sunniewally]

ahh they are probably the same ones on their sled that don't know how to control their throttle finger and tear up the tails and corners with the track!!idiots..

[Xplorer]

Did a mini tour on the trails around the Cloquet area and everywhere I rode was great. Lots of fun stuff off trail but it is deep for this time of year : )

trail base looks really good so hope it stays that way for the season Heading back out the next two days in other directions so will post what i find.

[BoxMN]

Holy cow, log time no new reports

Stayed up north for a day with Grandkids and today was BEAUTIFUL sledding on the lakes and trails! Nobody out and more snow than expected, and WARM! Kis had a blast! Lakes are great, especially the deep drifts on the east side of fresh lakes.

Sunday I went out early for a solo ride in the Emily area and the trails were GREAT! Then I found out why, I came up the groomer and a group of folks waiting behind him. Had a good chat while we waited and then went back to warm up the fish shack. Great conditions. Hate to have to go home, but got a Monday in sledding with my favorite partners

[Meat-Run]

Was out last night with some buds and the trails were ok to good the groomers needed this new snow and smooth out the trails. This was up in the Brainerd lakes area and I know there was some Frozen Four event going on so trails got a lot of attention. I'm sure they will be out tonight in full force.

MR

[toughguy]

I was on the trails in the Gunflint area for the past 6 days. I've been going there for years and the trails are the best I've ever seen them there. We left yesterday morning and they were getting another 4-8".

[CANOPY SAM]

We got another 4-5 inches in NW MN, and the trails are beautiful.

We took the sleds up to Hayes Lake State Park, and the Bemis Hill area Sunday afternoon ahead of the snowstorm. The trails honestly needed a few inches of fresh snow so I'm sure they're perfect now.

We rode a few trails last night in the Thief River Falls area, and had a blast. 4-5 inches of fresh, clean, new powder! And our temps!!!! Finally something above zero!!!!

[Xplorer]

Rode 85 miles Sunday afternoon west and south of Cloquet, and the trails are the best in years!! Only saw 6 other sleds the whole time, saw way more deer than that LOL. And we got another 6" yesterday, whoohooo!!!!

[randerson]

Did the Fort Ripley loop and the south long lake loop saturday and rod e the general area sunday didn't see many out but did notice the trails were a little more worn sunday. Saturday night I rode to south long lake and looked to be the only one out passed 4 guys on my ride back

[MNUser]

Get out and ride. There is a ton of snow. The drifting is sick. Rode down to the fort tonight. 371 was a blast.

[FishHawk11]

We went from Brainerd to Bemidji on Saturday and Back on Sunday. 130 Miles from Brainerd to Bemidji and we had about 2 miles of so so trails, other than that they were perfect. Stopped by to say hi to some friends at Eel Pout and carried on. Not many people out this weekend which was nice. Trails were a little beat up on the way back Sunday, but not bad.

[CANOPY SAM]

The wife, youngest son and I did some trail riding last night South/Southwest out of Detroit Lakes, MN, and dude, I'd just simply say avoid those trails (those marked on the DL area maps)! The majority of the "mapped tails" were nothing more then goat trails on the tight road shoulder, and many were actually the county roads themselves with no shoulder to ride on at all! On one extended stretch of "trail" we had nothing but loose snow pack on gravel road, bordered on both sides with tall snow berm and barbed wire on both sides of the road! It was semi-dangerous at every turn, and tough on the sleds to say the least!

Silver lining? We went North/Northeast out of DL this morning and put near 100 miles on between DL and Elbow Lake. Absolutely gorgeous, well planned, well marked trails, all in good shape! Some stretches thru there were some of the nicest riding I've had all year. They could certainly use a few inches of fresh snow, but all in all some of the BEST miles we've put on the machines this year!

Kinda unnerving thing I've seen little of before, that whole Detroit Lakes area has an alarming amount of barbed wire fence (and NO TRESPASSING signs) near everywhere you go!?!? I don't know about everyone else, but I get just a little timid riding 45-55 mph on groomed trails with miles of barbed wire fence all around me. Sure would like to see the riding clubs in the area push the landowners to take some of that down, and minimally replace with another type of fencing. Just spooks me to think one of my kids or my wife could potentially grab a deep groove and veer into a barbed wire fence! I really hate that stuff!

I'd imagine we're winding down kinda fast now. Didn't get above freezing where we were today, but the power of that ever rising sun left a pretty good glare/crust on the snow today. Would be nice to see one more shot of 4-5 inches of fresh soft snow!

Anyway, GREAT RIDE today! Perfect weather, and very nice trails! (North/Northeast out of Detroit Lakes on up to Elbow Lake).

[leech~~]

Hit the Finland area yesterday and the weather was the best for riding I have seen this year. The trails were pretty good all day for the most part other then one stretch were the groomer left a nice grove down the trail. The Po-po 3 of them were setup at the rail road tracks stop a few mile out of the Two Harbors parking area off hwy2 checking tabs and speed. Trail traffic wasn't to bad with only a few my "personal race track" guys sliding around the corners!

[Xplorer]

Made the loop yesterday starting at Orr and heading south to the Arrowhead, then north and took the Crane lake cutoff past VRT and Echo lake up to Crane lake. The Orr spur trail was great, the Arrowhead had a few bumps starting to show, and the Crane lake cutoff trail was awesome!!

Ate a late lunch at the new Voyagaires resort, BEAUTIFUL and good food. Just a really nice place to stop for a bit. Next trip up we will be looking at staying in one of their 8 lodge rooms instead of in Orr. Then took the land trail back to the Arrowhead to the north, then swung south to Elephant lake where they had vintage sled races going on!! Must have been about 125 sleds parked on the ice when we passed thru, looked like they were having a great day

The trails all the way back to Orr were great. Getting a little loose in some corners with the sun but we had a great family ride!! I talked to a group at the hotel (stayed at Oveson's on Pelican) and they rode the Rainy area and reported good riding there too. I do have to say that at the end of the day it felt really good to drop into the hot tub and sauna at Oveson's That, and Rick has brought the "pink thing" machine from Kettle Falls to the resort for the winter. A couple of those will take any aches away you may have.

All primed for next Saturday!!

[leech~~]

Sounds like a great ride Xplorer, not sure if we can top that next Sat or not with the weather getting warm?

Did you ride on many lakes and how were they?

[Xplorer]

South end of Crane, a little bit of Elephant and the east bay of Pelican. All were great on the trail, no slush at all. Off trail we heard that things got interesting.......

[Meat-Run]

One of the groomers in Brainerd are stopping there routes since its getting so warm now. I suspect that the trails will deteriorate rapidly in the next week so I say ride ASAP!

MR

[toughguy]

I hit the trails around Waseca with a buddy yesterday. Did about 70 miles. Trails were great to start but getting rough in some areas by the end of the day. There was a strong south wind so the east-west trails were drifting pretty bad in the open areas. I think I might be done for the year. My next few weekends are spoken for.

On a side note we saw a ton of pheasants in the area. Good to see that they are surviving the winter. We also saw two bald eagles, a few turkeys and two deer. I swear snowmobiling is the best way to see wildlife.

[Meat-Run]

Just went for my last trail ride for season, left Brainerd and went down to South Long lake. Trails were good Saturday and tonight down right horrible.....snirt is the best description. I might be done unless we get a whopper of a snow storm. Be safe and watch out for exposed rocks!!

MR

[BoxMN]

Drat MR, I was hoping they might hold till this Saturday morning.

I too was out last Sat morning up by Emily Outing and they were GREAT!!!! Just crossing fingers that one more ride might happen...

[Meat-Run]

Box,

I would still plan but some of our trails that cross fields, open ditches are almost dirt but the woods were holding there own. Stick with your plans just knowing that they may not be perfect but ok for the time being. Lakes are holding snow but slushy and good to run on to help keep hyfaxs cooled down.

Have fun

MR

[leech~~]

Just went for my last trail ride for season, left Brainerd and went down to South Long lake. Trails were good Saturday and tonight down right horrible.....snirt is the best description. I might be done unless we get a whopper of a snow storm. Be safe and watch out for exposed rocks!!

MR

What, the last ride is this Sat 15th just above Virginia to Ely! Be there 9:00am.

[Meat-Run]

Leech....be there or be square right!? haha

thanks for the invite but I've used all my kitchen passes up and need to save some for my Rainy River trip. Now that you have that hot-rod AC not sure if my popo could keep up...;o)

MR

[leech~~]

Leech....be there or be square right!? haha

thanks for the invite but I've used all my kitchen passes up and need to save some for my Rainy River trip. Now that you have that hot-rod AC not sure if my popo could keep up...;o)

MR

Well it's still just a fan, you know you would be still in the front of the pack! I will say that the group I rode or should I say tried to ride with last weekend kicked my buTT. We were doing 60mph a 1/2 mile out of the parking lot! It was a long day.

[Meat-Run]

Drop the luggage rack and cutter and i'm sure you'd keep up hahaha

I'm going to buy a two up in the coming weeks for my ice fishing and wife to ride with so maybe you and I can ride around the lakes area next year maybe that'll slow me down. lol

mr