If you only spend a weekend or longer vacationing in the Northwoods during the summer, you know how beautiful it is. Well, you should see it in the winter. All those trees you pass are now covered in snow, the lakes you fish are ice covered, and air is crisp and clean. If you have never snowmobiled in Northern Wisconsin, you will see a whole different side of the Northwoods that will take your breath away. Here are a few things people have said, I heard snowmobiling is cold. It really isn’t if you dress for it. I have never snowmobiled before and I do not have a snowmobile. I get all of that, but done right, snowmobiling can be fun for the whole family. Yes, bring the kids too.

Whether you go to Land O Lakes, Mercer, Boulder Junction, Manitowish Waters, Eagle River or other towns, most have places that rent snowmobiles for a day, weekend or even by the week. Some of these businesses will rent the necessary snowmobile equipment also. Pretty much all will rent helmets, but others could rent helmets, bibs, jackets and even boots. To be safe, once you decide on a location, call ahead and inquire about the inventory they have on hand to make sure they have your size and to reserve said items.

What I will tell you is, when you are riding on snowmobile trails, you get a totally different view of the Northwoods that you have never seen before. Riding on wide, smooth trails through a snow-covered forest and on a few trails, you will ride over bridges with rapids still flowing beneath. Trust me when I tell you, snowmobiling in the Northwoods on scenic trails is an experience you will never forget. Depending on the trail you decide to take, you might be able ride to your favorite supper club, bar or resort, but you usually arrive from a different direction.

If you have never snowmobiled before and are considering renting a sled, there is no need to be intimidated. Tell the folks you are renting the snowmobile from, that this is your first time snowmobiling, and you will be shown how to start, stop and ride the sled.  Still a little unsure? Again, don’t be. You can ride at you own pace that you are comfortable with. Or, there are members of snowmobile clubs that would be happy to guide you or your group. Also, if you are concerned of getting lost, there are loops you can take that will bring you back to where you started. In some areas there are guides you can hire and depending on your skill level, the trails that person believes would be best for you and/or your group.

For renting snowmobiles, here are a few things you should know. Snowmobile rentals range from $175 to $275 per day, but some rentals could be lower on weekdays. There is a $100 deposit to reserve a snowmobile and a refundable $1000 damage deposit on all sleds. So, talk with a few friends or your family and think about giving snowmobiling in the Northwoods a try. Here’s the best tips I can give you. If possible come up on a Sunday and rent a sled on a Monday for these four reasons. 1) The price for the rental should be lower. 2) Most people leave Sunday, so the trail will not be as busy as the weekend. 3) To get comfortable riding the sled, chose a trail that is the shortest and closest to your starting point. 4) There won’t be as much traffic driving up to the Northwoods.

So, what do you think, would you give snowmobiling a shot? If you have any questions, I will be happy to help if I can and I believe if you try this once, you might even buy a snowmobile. If there was enough snow Wisconsin snowmobile trails could have opened today, but we do not have base and as some trails that cross water are not safe yet, so THE TRAILS ARE NOT OPEN.

SO WE CAN HAVE THE BEST RIDING EXPERIENCE, SNOWMOBILE CLUBS IN THE NORTHWOODS  ARE WORKING HARD TO GROOM THEIR TRAILS, BUT SOME SNOWMOBILERS ARE RIDING ON CLOSED TRAILS. GIVE THESE CLUBS A BREAK AND STAY OFF THE TRAILS UNTIL THEY ARE OPEN.