In the winter the snowmobile is king. With thousands of miles of groomed trails and ample snowfall, northwest Minnesota provides some of the best snowmobiling in the state. Trails from Roseau connect to trails in all directions and to all different types of terrain. For trail conditions check the Roseau County Trailblazers web site.
Below is a description of snowmobiling in northwest Minnesota from the 1996-1997 Minnesota Explorer Insert to the Minneapolis Star/Tribune by Chuck Lennon.
Trail Touring
Snowmobilers Can Choose from Extensive Trail System, Varied Lodging
What do 15,000 miles of groomed trails, 12,000 frozen lakes and a bounty of forests add up to? Great snowmobiling through beautiful winterscapes.
Minnesota's extensive system of well-cared for snowmobile trails criss-cross the entire state. The variety of terrain and landscapes, blended with cozy trailside accommodations, make snowmobile touring an ideal winter recreation experience. It's easy to plan a scenic route for a trip of several days.
Explore miles of woods and countryside by day. In the evenings , take a dip in the pool, unwind in the sauna, or relax in front of a blazing fire. You can use one lodge or motel as the hub of your trip, or better yet, load up your gear and tour lodge-to-lodge. Below is a sample winter trip
The Great Northwest
The vast trail systems in northwestern Minnesota between Thief River Falls, Roseau, Warroad, and Bemidji provide sledders with endless stretches of prairie trail, great for wide-open riding with connections to a series of small communities that cater to winter visitors. This system also connects to the wilderness trails of the Beltrami and Lost River state forests. When visiting Roseau or Thief River Falls on your sledding excursion, be sure to tour the places where world-class snowmobiles are manufactured. Polaris Industries in Roseau offers tours at 2 pm on production weekdays, with more information available by calling 218.463.4999. Also visit the Polaris Experience Center in the Reed River Building in Roseau, Mon-Fri 11:00 am - 6:00 pm - Saturdays: 11:00 am - 5:00 pm - Sundays: Closed.
But when the snow is fresh, trails groomed, the sun high and engines idling, it's hard to stay away from the trail for too long.
The trails around Roseau and Warroad in the far north introduce riders to a system that uses Lake of the Woods and the Rainy River to create the natural border of a challenging speedway that provides lots of ice riding. Remember, the state's snowmobiling speed limit is 50 mph. If it gets too challenging, keep it slow.
In the river land near Thief River Falls, the Clearwater, Red Lake, Lost and Hill Rivers form a loop, meandering through river basins of woods and fields.
Along the way, there are plenty of places for frequent stops. Snowmobile travelers will find a wide selection of motels, and businesses providing essential services to sledders.
