Wild, snowy trails await in New England backcountry
Thousands of miles of breathtaking snowmobile trails, many maintained by local clubs, volunteers and private landowners, wind through the Northeast. But you don't have to be a club member — or even an experienced snowmobiler — to try this exhilarating sport.
These five places offer exceptional riding with spectacular views and a good chance of wildlife sightings.
Stowe/Smugglers' Notch, Vt.
Location: 25 miles northwest of Montpelier, Vt.
Flanked by Mount Mansfield State Forest and CC Putnam State Forest, this region has an extensive network of trails maintained by the Vermont Association of Snow Travelers. Come for the rugged topography and breathtaking views of surrounding mountains. With many lakes, rivers, quaint towns and several ski resorts nearby, there are plenty of winter activities for the entire family.
Mount Snow, Vt.
Location: 130 miles northwest of Boston
This ski area in the Green Mountain National Forest is one of the closest big mountains to northeastern metropolitan areas. The region has four mountain areas to play on: Main Face, North Face, Sunbrook and Carinthia. Though it's mainly a ski destination, Mount Snow offers snowmobile tours of the national forest on wooded and wide-open trails. All tours are two hours long, but the journey is as varied as the clients. "The tour can go through hills, open straights, woods and a lake," says Geoff White, who works for Snowmobile Vermont at Mount Snow. "We end our tour with a ride on Somerset Reservoir," which is about 4 miles long. Once out on the lake, "people can bring their speed up a little bit because it's wide open," he says.
Moosehead Lake, Maine
Location: 190 miles north of Portland, Maine
At 40 miles long, Moosehead Lake is the largest lake contained in one state east of the Mississippi River. Once the lake freezes, it becomes a hub for snowmobilers. It's centrally located among Maine's Interconnected Trail System (ITS) and a network of trails that link to neighboring states and Canada. In fact, more than 10,000 miles of Maine trails can be accessed from the Moosehead Lake/Greater Forks area. Snowmobilers can ride to the summit of several nearby mountains. Coburn Mountain to the west has the state's highest groomed snowmobile trail, with the summit reaching 3,717 feet above sea level.
Oneida County, N.Y.
Location: 250 miles from Manhattan, 45 miles east of Syracuse
The Adirondack Park system has thousands of miles of diverse riding trails, from wooded backcountry paths to wide, groomed trails. The systems link towns and communities across the region, and lodging and restaurants can be found along the trails. In Oneida County, snowmobilers can ride along the Old Erie Canal State Park Trail, a 36-mile path that connects DeWitt to Rome, N.Y. Locals enjoy venturing to Radar Hill in Steuben, N.Y., where on a clear day you can see all the way to Syracuse across Delta Reservoir and Oneida Lake. It's a prime snowmobiling spot for those who don't want to venture too far from civilization.
Pittsburg, N.H.
Location: 140 miles from Portland, Maine
Pittsburg, in the northern tip of New Hampshire, boasts one of the largest and best-maintained trail systems in the Northeast and is known as the snowmobiling capital of New England. Riders can easily find trails that take them to Maine, Vermont and Quebec, though exploring Canada requires a passport and a snowmobile registered there.
The Great North Woods has plenty of wildlife, including moose and deer. "There have been evenings when we've encountered up to seven moose on our ride back to our lodging," says snowmobiler Valerie Chiang of Bowdoinham, Maine. Pittsburg has nearly 200 miles of groomed trails, and most lodges, stores, restaurants and service stations are accessible by snowmobile. Mountain peaks also provide spectacular views of lakes and mountains.