Snowmobile clubs come in many shapes, sizes, flavors and colors.
Some snowmobile clubs have thousands of members; others merely have a couple dozen. Some snowmobile clubs manage hundreds of miles of trails; others have a small network or don’t manage any at all. Some clubs – often referred to as “working clubs” – focus almost exclusively on the work at hand of putting in and maintaining trails or land access; other clubs – often referred to as “social clubs” – exist primarily to get folks together to ride. Some clubs have been around since the late 1960s; others have been formed recently.
There are snowmobile clubs in the farthest stretches of the Snowbelt – from the wilds of Alaska, across Canada, all over the Northeast, deep into the Upper Midwest, throughout the western mountain states and well beyond.
With so much disparity, what blanket statements can be made about virtually all snowmobile clubs?
1) All snowmobile clubs feature like-minded people who share a love of snowmobiling. Humans are likely to have differences of opinions on virtually any topic – from politics and religion to Coke vs. Pepsi. But there’s one thing that unites snowmobile club members, and it’s the same reason you’re reading this magazine: a passion for snowmobiling.
2) Virtually all snowmobile clubs want and need new members. New members bring new ideas and fresh energy into a club on a variety of topics – whether it’s the routing of trails, where to take future trips or other things with which the club deals.
3) All snowmobile clubs have members with varying levels of commitment. The typical club has a smaller core group that does most of the work and organizes the meetings, etc.; a middle group that helps here or there; and a passive group of members who pay their dues and can be counted as members. All of these people are important – a club needs “doers” who have the time and level of commitment to make stuff happen, but clubs also need numbers. Maybe you’re in a place in life – due to family commitments or other responsibilities – where you can’t be the most active member; join anyway.
4) All snowmobile clubs are important to the future of the sport. Clubs that secure land leases, plot paths, brush and clear the trails and then groom and manage them during the winter are obviously very important to the snowmobile trail network today, but other clubs can also be vital because they add to the political clout and economic impact that gives the snowmobiling community power.
5) Snowmobile club members know how to have fun. If done in partnership, even work projects like building bridges, pounding trail markers into the ground or hosting a landowners appreciate dinner can be a lot of fun, not to mention the club trips and other in-season social affairs.
6) Most snowmobile clubs are integrated into their greater community. In many areas, snowmobile clubs participate in community festivals, fundraisers, charitable events and more. A good club knows how to make itself visible, friendly and approachable year-around.
7) Snowmobile clubs are the envy of most other social groups. Whether it’s by the ATV/UTV crowd, mountain bikers or even local Elks or Lions, snowmobiling’s grass roots network is often cited as the shining example of members who create and care for their infrastructure and join together to create political clout that is the ultimate goal for other groups.
8) Snowmobile clubs create communities. Whether they hold monthly meetings or just in-season gathering, host organized club rides or participate in Memorial Day parades and Labor Day picnics, snowmobile clubs get people together, create bonds and, most often, lifelong friends. It’s not uncommon for club members to go golfing, camping or motorcycling together, and often it’s the folks in their snowmobile club that are the first to offer a helping hand in a time of need.
Does this sound like the sort of people that you’d like to hang out with? Hopefully it does! If so, it’s time that you found a club in your region, in the region where you like to ride – or both.
Below is a list of forward-thinking snowmobile clubs in various states that are specifically reaching out to you and other riders, rolling out the proverbial red carpet to welcome in new riders, and it’s these true advocates of the sport that are bringing you this message. Whether you join one of their clubs or find one closer to where you ride, these clubs realize that the future of trails and riding areas depends on the continued success of snowmobiling’s grassroots network.
ILLINOIS
IL Association of Snowmobile Clubs Inc.
Marseilles, IL
815/795-2021
iasc@mtco.com
ilsnowmobile.com
Cedarville Snow Travelers
Cedarville, IL
815/238-7826
gjherman60@comcast.net
Cedarville Snowtravelers on Facebook
Prairie Drifters
Galesburg, IL
309/299-4347
Prairie Drifters Snowmobile Club on Facebook
Hampshire White Riders Snowmobile Club
Hampshire, IL
847/683-0140
duey683@msn.com
hampshirewhiteriders.com
Riverbend Benders Snowmobile Club
Island Lake, IL
224/489-6210
riverbendbenders@yahoo.com
riverbendbenders.com
Cornbelt Driftbusters
Orion, IL
309/781-9597
danlong@longscarpet.net
INDIANA
Indiana Snowmobile Association
president@indianasnowmobilers.com
indianasnowmobilers.com
MINNESOTA
Minnesota United Snowmobilers Association
Brooklyn Park, MN
866/214-7669
mnusaoffice@popp.net
mnsnowmobiler.org
Andover Sno Dragons
Andover, MN
763/862-2346
andoversnodragon@gmail.com
snodragons.com
Baxter Snowmobile Club
Baxter, MN
320/232-8445
baxtersnowclub@hotmail.com
Baxter Snowmobile Club on Facebook
Belle Plaine Borough Riders
Belle Plaine, MN
952/873-4320
boroughriders@gmail.com
Belle Plaine Borough Riders on Facebook
North Country Snowmobile Club
Bemidji, MN
218/755-9391
ncsclub@paulbunyan.net
ncsclub.clubhosting.org
Crow Wing County Snowmobile Trails Association
Brainerd, MN
218/330-7380
mark@kavanaughs.com
brainerdlakesareasnowmobiletrails.com
Byron Snow Bears Inc.
Byron, MN
leadtrailadmin@byronsnowbears.com
byronsnowbears.com
Chaska Sno-Hawks
Chaska, MN
chaskasnohawks@gmail.com
Chaska Sno-Hawks on Facebook
Snow Thrashers of Dalton
Dalton, MN
218/458-2265
dakarepm@runestone.net
Dalton Snow Thrashers on Facebook
Pequaywan Area Trailblazers Inc.
Duluth, MN
218/390-1136
Pequaywan Area Trailblazers on Facebook
Eden Prairie Snowdrifters
Eden Prairie, MN
Eden Prairie Snowdrifters on Facebook
Blizzard Snowmobile Club
Fairmont, MN
507/238-2190
blizzardsnowmobileclub@yahoo.com
myblizzardclub.com
Faribo Sno-Go Club
Faribault, MN
507/838-1646
lshepherd@fmwildblue.com
sno-go.org
Low Plains Drifters Snowmobile Club
Grant, Douglas, Traverse and Wilkin Counties, MN
320/284-2269
slarson@morris.k12.mn.us
Low-Plains-Drifters on Facebook
Hamel Sno Runners
Hamel, MN
763/400-6660
jerdee4@yahoo.com
Hamel Sno-Runners on Facebook
North West Trails Association
Hennepin County, MN
952/882-6770
nwtrails@nwtrails.net
nwtrails.net
Intl Voyageurs Snowmobile Club
International Falls, MN
ridetheborder.com
Inver Grove Heights Snowmobile Club
Inver Grove Heights, MN
Inver Grove Heights Snowmobile Club on Facebook
La Crescent Snowmobile Club
La Crescent, MN
507/895-6363
lacrescentsnow@yahoo.com
La Crescent Snowmobile Club on Facebook
Lincoln Lakes Area Snowmobile Club
Lincoln/Motley, MN
lincolnlakessnowmobileclub@gmail.com
llasc.org
Loretto Sno-Birds
Loretto, MN
612/590-2020
Loretto SnoBirds on Facebook
Maple Plain Snomads
Maple Plain, MN
snow@mpsnomads.com
mpsnomads.com
Marcell Snowdrifters
Marcell, MN
218/341-8522
snowdrifters42@gmail.com
marcellsnowdrifters.com
Westonka Snoblazers
Mound, MN
snoblazers@gmail.com
snoblazers.com
Lake Runners Trail Association
Pelican Rapids, MN
l.r.t.a.89@gmail.com
Lake Runners Trail Association on Facebook
Prior Lake Snowmobile Association
Prior Lake, MN
952/447-2330
priorlakesnow@gmail.com
priorlakesnow.com
Country Sno-Riders
Redwood County, MN
507/627-2639
mnsnowmobiler.org
Savage Sno-Pacers
Savage, MN
612/567-6691
snopacers@gmail.com
SavageSnoPacers on Facebook
River Valley Trail Blazers
Shakopee, MN
952/445-3169
threegamesandy@aol.com
rvtb.org
South Tonka Sno-Mobilers
Shorewood, MN
952/484-1424
wapeterson1@hotmail.com
sites.google.com/site/southtonkasnowmobileclub/contact-us
SnoGhosts of Anoka County
St. Francis, MN
snoghostclub@gmail.com
sno-ghosts.com
Foxtailers Snowmobile Club
St. Michael, MN
thefoxtailers@gmail.com
foxtailers.com
Warren Sno-Cat Riders Inc.
Warren, MN
218/201-0737
gersk_41@msn.com
Warren Sno-Cat Riders on Facebook
Carver County Snowrunners
Waconia, MN
ccsnowrunners@yahoo.com
Carver County Snowrunners on Facebook
SOUTH DAKOTA
South Dakota Snowmobile Association
Gary, SD
605/272-5900
sdsa@itctel.com
snowmobilesd.com
Aberdeen Driftbusters
Aberdeen, SD
aberdeendriftbusters.com
Poinsett Pounders
Badger, SD
605/203-1594
sites.google.com/site/poinsettpounders
YETIS (Youth Empowerment Through Involvement in Snowmobiling)
Beresford, SD
rachelfwatkins@gmail.com
South Dakota YETIS on Facebook
Dakota Trailblazers of Clear Lake & Gary
Clear Lake, SD
507/327-7364
Dakota Trail Blazers on Facebook
Whetstone Valley Snowmobile Assn.
Milbank, SD
wvsnowclub@gmail.com
Whetsone Valley Snowmobile Association on Facebook
Town & Country Snowdrifters Snowmobile Club
Oldham, SD
605/270-2522
Town & Country Snowdrifters on Facebook
Black Hills Snowmobile Club
Rapid City, SD
605/484-5561
Black Hills Snowmobile Club on Facebook
Sioux Falls Sno Trackers
Sioux Falls, SD
sfsnotrackers.com
WISCONSIN
AWSC-Association of Wisconsin Snowmobile Clubs
De Forest, WI
608/846-5530
awsc@awsc.org
awsc.org
Berlin River Riders
Berlin, WI
920/361-3250
cty76365@centurytel.net
Berlin River Riders Snowmobile Club on Facebook
Luck Snowmobile Club
Cumberland, WI
Luck Snowmobile Club on Facebook
Burnett County Snow Trails Association
Danbury, WI
715/656-3855
Burnett County Snow Trails Association on Facebook
Cozy Corner Trails, Inc.
Danbury, WI
715/656-3855
Cozy Corner Trails, Inc.
Midnight Riders Inc.
Dorchester, WI
715/206-0011
davidbedroski@frontier.com
Midnight Riders Snowmobile Club/Dorchester Wisconsin on Facebook
EIO SnoRiders
Frederic, WI
651/815-9246
twnooner@aol.com
eiosnoriders.com
Prairie Riders Snowmobile Club
Kenosha, WI
847/456-1778
prtreas@yahoo.com
prairieriders.net
Yellow Thunder Snowmobile Club
Lodi, WI
yellowthundersnowmobile.clubhosting.org
Lakeshore Snowmobile Club
Manitowoc, WI
lakeshoresc.org
SnoBirds Snowmobile Club
Menomonee Falls, WI
snobirds.org
Wolff’s Pack Snowmobile Club
Neenah, WI
turfworkspro@yahoo.com
wolffspack.com
Suburban Sno-Hawks
New Berlin, WI
suburbansnohawks.com
Snow Runners LTD
Port Washington, WI
414/828-5265
snowrunners@gmail.com
snowrunnersltd.net
Prentice Bushbenders, Inc.
Prentice, WI
715/428-2332
Prentice Bushbenders Snowmobile Club on Facebook
Lake Country Riders Snowmobile Club
Siren, WI
715/349-7340
Lake Country Riders Snowmobile Club on Facebook
Spencer Swamp Stompers
Spencer, WI
715/650-7998
skoenig626@yahoo.com
Spencer Swamp Stompers on Facebook
Lumberjack Memorial Trails
Wabeno, WI
lmtsnowmobiletrails.com
Walworth County Snowmobile Alliance
Walworth County, WI
262/215-8545
walworthcountysnow.com
Bear Point Sno-Cruisers
Wausaukee, WI
bearpointsno-cruisers.org
Poyganaires Snowmobile and ATV Club
Winneconnie, WI
920/594-2595
Poyganaires Snowmobile & ATV Club on Facebook
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