25 Awesome Snowmobile Clubs In Minnesota You Can Join
Photo taken by Nicolas Hesson
There are plenty of reasons for those of you with a snowmobile in your garage to join a snowmobile club. You gain land access, first of all, and get to create and groom trails.
There’s also the social aspect of it — enjoying club rides and overnight trips as well as meetings and fundraisers. In fact, wintersports magazine publisher John T. Prusak has ten reasons why you should join a snowmobile club, and he calls you a “freeloader” if you don’t.
If you own one of the 1.4 million registered snowmobiles in the US, and you’re looking for a riding club in Minnesota, where about one-fifth of those sleds reside, we’ve got a list of 25 for you to consider. It’s just the tip of the iceberg, so to speak, but these groups — unlike many — have websites and/or Facebook pages, most with trail system maps, that you can take a look at.
And if you're trying to figure out how you're going to fit that snowmobile in your packed garage, be sure to see how an organized garage can change your life and the cleaning tips to get you there!
Andover Sno Dragons
Established in 1995, the Andover Sno Dragons Club was created to establish and maintain high safety standards within the sport of snowmobiling. This MnUSA member club meets monthly in Coon Rapids and organizes day trips as well as overnight club rides.
Belle Plaine Borough Riders Snowmobile Club
Club members of the Belle Plaine/Henderson Borough Riders help maintain more than 200 miles of trails in western Scott County as well as parts of Sibley and Carver Counties. Monthly meetings are held throughout the snow season (September – April) and members can also see what’s happening on their Facebook page, such as when a notice was posted reminding riders that winter wheat fields are not part of the Belle Plaine trail system.
Crow River Sno Pro’s Snowmobile Club
Grooming and maintaining some 150 miles of snowmobile trails in McLeod County, including the Luce Line and the Dakota Rail trails, this club has been going strong since its founding in 1986. Winter activities include a First Snowfall Contest, workshops, clubs rides and a holiday party in addition to monthly club meetings.
Carver County Snowrunners
A non-profit club of snowmobiling enthusiasts in Carver County, this club rides miles of well-groomed trails. The club also enjoys campfires, club trips and an annual Christmas party. In March, members will hold a benefit fundraiser for one of their fellow Snowrunners who was injured while riding her snowmobile a year ago. Information about the Nikie Ehlan Benefit can be found here.
Clay County Trail Blazers
From monthly club meetings to weekly Sled’n Sundays, this Minnesota United Snowmobilers Association member has lots going on. Organizers write that the club was “formed [in 1998] primarily to establish and provide marked and groomed snowmobile trails, and to promote the sport of snowmobiling in West Central Minnesota.”
Cokato Ridge Runners Snowmobile Club
In addition to monthly meetings where snowmobiling trips are planned, members of the Cokato Ridge Runners groom local trails and offer an annual youth training class.
Delano Snowstormers
This non-profit snowmobile club has approximately 37 memberships (family and individual), and enjoys organized club rides in and around Delano as well as visits to other Minnesota trail destinations. The club puts on a youth snowmobile safety training event every year in January, and it hosts special club events plus a yearly fundraiser.
Members also participate in community events throughout the year, and volunteers perform extensive trail maintenance each spring and fall. This includes creating new trails, building or repairing bridges, and installing signage. There are also more than 40 miles of snowmobile trails to groom and maintain, plus a club shelter along the trail to keep in shape so that snowmobile enthusiasts can enjoy a break from their trail ride.
E-Z Riders Sno Club
With an emphasis on fun family adventure, this club is is associated with the Little Crow Area Trail, which maintains approximately 200 miles of groomed trails. One of the older clubs around, the original E-Z Riders club was formed in the early 1970s.
Emily-Outing Snowbirds Snowmobile Club
Maintaining some 96 miles of club trails located in the Emily-Outing area of Crow Wing County and Cass County, the Snowbirds have earned a “best trails” distinction by the Crow Wing County Trail Association. The club’s December snowmobile safety class was attended by 19 children, and although lack of snow cancelled one club ride plans are in works for an overnight ride to Grand Rapids.
Farmington Sno-Tigers
Another group that’s been around since 1970, the Sno-Tigers say they’re “snowmobiler enthusiasts dedicated to preserving the sport we love.” The club is located in the south central part of Dakota County and maintains and grooms approximately 50 miles of trail around the Farmington area. The Sno-Tigers provide the classroom training and riding experience necessary to earn the MN DNR Safety Certifications.
Greenway Snowmobile Club
This family-oriented snowmobile club in Calumet has more than 140 miles of groomed trails. February sees two important annual events take place: The radar run will be on Swan Lake this year and the Youth Snowmobile Safety Certification Class will be held at the Greenway Snowmobile Club.
Hinckley Pine City Flames
This 80-member snowmobile club grooms and maintains 106 miles of snowmobile trails in east central Minnesota. In fact, volunteers just finished trail work, equipment maintenance and deck removal at the bar. There’s a lot of work to make riding successful, and it can be dangerous, as when two members were doing trail work and broke through the ice.
Ideal Sno Pros Snowmobile Club
Located in Crow Wing County in Central Minnesota, this club’s stated mandate is “to create a safe, positive environment for people who enjoy the sport of snowmobiling. Through trail maintenance, education, and training, we hope to continue the sport of snowmobiling through the next generation while continuing to protect the natural resources that create an incredible trail experience.”
Lincoln Lakes Area Snowmobile Club
Started in NW Morrison County nearly 20 years ago to develop trails to connect the Morrison County trail system to the Todd County trails, this club now maintains and grooms these trails as part of the Morrison County system. Upcoming events include an annual Get-Together in Bowlus, sponsored by the Morrison County Recreational Trails Association, where snowmobilers and get together and also check out some new snowmobiles.
Mystic Riders Snowmobile Club
With more than 160 miles of groomed and maintained trails in Isanti, Mille Lacs and Kanabec Counties, the Mystic Riders have been “promoting safe, fun snowmobiling and family adventures since 1968.” More than 150 families make up the club membership, and they all get to enjoy organized club rides, trips and many other social activities throughout the year.
The group is also very active in the community, donating to youth groups, food shelves, missing children groups, and fire and rescue. The club even offers a scholarship program through area schools.
Naytahwaush Nightriders Snowmobile Club
Working with snowmobilers, resorts, businesses, government units and local land owners for more than 40 years, the Nightriders have been helping to build and maintain a network of snowmobile trails in the White Earth State Forest, near the Naytahwaush/Twin Lakes area in eastern Mahnomen County. They’ve got a Fun Run coming up in mid-February and a Snodeo in March.
New Prague Snow Drifters
Calling themselves the “Gateway to the trails of Southern Minnesota,” this 120-member club was organized in 1969. Dedicated to organizing and maintaining trails from the southern edge of the metro suburbs, the 32 miles of trails provide connections to the cities of Prior Lake, New Prague, Veseli, Lonsdale, Le Sueur, Belle Plaine Le Center and Montgomery.
Northern Pine Riders Snowmobile Club
Located in and around Willow River, this club of snowmobile enthusiasts and volunteers develop, groom and maintain some 156 miles of snowmobile and ATV trails. Grooming is a weekly event and accomplished with either a John Deere 6430 or Bombardier BR 180 (depending on the snow conditions) and Trailmaster drag. Other activities include club snowmobile rides, Landowner/Volunteers Appreciation Day, spring clean-up day, fall trail workdays, and a float in the Willow River Days parade.
Northwest Trails
This organization of enthusiastic and committed snowmobilers in Hennepin County and the northwest suburbs of Minneapolis says that its “mission is to support a safe, adventurous and friendly snowmobiling experience primarily through trail coordination, safety education, and club activities of value to members.” Northwest Trails encourages family involvement and has social activities that include dinner outings, club work nights and group snowmobile trips.
Ponto Knight Riders Snowmobile Club
A smaller club with about 32 members, the Ponto Knight Riders maintain about 75 miles of trails in the Backus area. These trails cross several private properties, and the club says it’s “indebted to these local citizens for their generosity.” Members not only volunteer to help maintain the trails and support snowmobiling locally, but also meet up with other snowmobilers for riding and other fun events.
Rosemount Sno-Toppers
This non-profit club was established in 1969, and its members offer all-ages snowmobile safety classes, manage the Rosemount area trail systems, and hold family and club outings. Upcoming events include a Club Ride in February.
Savage Sno-Pacers
Waiting for a good six-inch snow base before opening the trails isn’t an avid snowmobiler’s idea of fun, but riders know that minimal snow coverage isn’t good enough. This year-round snowmobile club in the northeastern part of Scott County is part of Scott County Sno-Trails and helps maintain more than 200 miles of trails. Family activities include snowmobile trips, local rides and off-season get-togethers.
Sno-Serpents Snowmobile Club
Located in Deerwood, this club of 48 members is made up of mostly family memberships. The volunteer groomers help maintain more than 80 miles of trails in Crow Wing County, from Deerwood to Aitkin, Riverton (including the Cuyuna Recreation Area), Crosslake, and Bay Lake. Like most snowmobile clubs, the Sno-Serpents sponsor youth snowmobile training and hold an annual banquet to thank the landowners who work with the club.
Wabasha Driftskippers Snowmobile Club
Snowmobilers riding these 89 miles of trails — running from south of Lake City to Wabasha, Kellogg, Weaver, Theilman and the outskirts of Plainview — get some really nice views of the Mississippi River Valley.
Westonka Snoblazers Snowmobile Club
The Westonka Snoblazers say they’ve been “snowmobiling in Western Hennepin County, MN, since 1972.” Part of the Southwest Trails Association, this group of snowmobilers is from the western suburbs of the Minneapolis metro area and take out-of-town snowmobile trips as well as ride locally around the Lake Minnetonka area. In addition to helping SW Trails with maintenance, the members are active in the community and assist the Midwest Vintage club with its annual show in Waconia, a major annual fundraiser for the Snoblazers.
Images by:
Nicolas Hesson /Flickr
E01 / Flickr
Paul Williams / Flickr
destination arctic circle / Flickr