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How Many Weeks of Rideable Snow Do You Get?

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7K views 68 replies 39 participants last post by  McGill1  
#1 ·
Saw a reply in a post recently and they said something like 16-21 weeks of winter riding. Blew my mind. I cannot imagine that much of heaven.

It got me thinking about how many weeks of predictable riding we have in our area - nothing remotely near that amount. Also got me thinking about others seasonal riding opportunities.

So….Where are you located? How many weeks of somewhat predictable winter snowmobile riding weather do you get?

For Us:

Houghton Lake, Michigan, so in the northern middle of the lower Peninsula. It fluctuates between 4-8 weeks of reliable snowmobiling. No trailer, so limited to what we get around our cottage.

I’d say in recent years much more in that 4-6 weeks range for decent riding. Used to be much more in those areas. Go just a little north or west, and those numbers jump up a lot.

Curious about others. Thought this might be a nice thread to peak in on other peoples areas. Perhaps it even becomes a source for considering future trips for those with trailers.

Where are you from, and how many weeks of rideable winter snow do you get?
 
#2 ·
Usually get around 10 solid weeks from my door in eastern Muskoka, Ontario. From around the start of January to mid to late march. last season, first ride was Dec. 26th but then it warmed up and it took a while for the trails to get good (was one of the worst winters in a while in my area). 2018, trails were open before new years and closed near the end of March but I have pictures out on the lake still on April 20 with some fresh snow.
 
#7 ·
Jesus. I need to move to New Brunswick!

Also from Muskoka, but with a trailer...I almost always get out on my parents farm by Collingwood before December to scratch the itch (earliest I've ever done is Nov 18th - Collingwood), am trail riding by new years (earliest is Dec 20 - Haliburton), and ride until mid / late March (latest is April 1st - Cochrane)
 
#23 ·
I hear you on the trails! Between scarce snowfall, or light snowfall, and the volume of weekened riders, they are toast early on weekends.

I rarely even bother with trails on weekends unless I can hit them early. I retired in 2020 so I can now hit them more during week days after a fresh snowfall, so that has been a difference maker for me. On weekends, we might hit trails early, or just hit up HL lake and cruise around on it.
 
#26 ·
I live in Eastern Ontario so around home I would say 10-12 weeks is normal but with trailering about 2.5 hrs North in either Ontario (Deep River) or Quebec (Mont Laurier) we can extend our riding by another 3-4 weeks usually.
Put 4600kms on the 21 XRS last year and my biggest year was 8400 kms.
In a crappy year we only get 8 weeks of riding :cry:
 
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#27 ·
10 weeks maybe? To be honest I pack it in in early March when the sun starts clobbering stuff. At that point I’m pretty well over snowmobiles and ready for motocross. Come September I’m ready for sleds and patiently await for snow in December / January.
After spending a year down south where you can ride moto all year long, it loses its luster. I’d have to imagine snowmobiling would be the same in that if you could do it year round it wouldn’t be nearly as enjoyable.
 
#32 ·
Eastern Ontario here. 20 years ago we could have decent snow by Christmas that stayed until the first of April. The last few years it seems mid January before we get anything worth riding on, then we have a thaw and it all goes away. More snow comes and the pattern repeats itself through February. Rarely ever get any snow in March the last 10 years. So maybe 6-8 weeks riding from home. Other that that we head North.
 
#37 ·
Eastern Ontario here. 20 years ago we could have decent snow by Christmas that stayed until the first of April. The last few years it seems mid January before we get anything worth riding on, then we have a thaw and it all goes away. More snow comes and the pattern repeats itself through February. Rarely ever get any snow in March the last 10 years. So maybe 6-8 weeks riding from home. Other that that we head North.
Little bit further south and it gets worse. Last year was the first time in about 3 years I could ride from home. It was nice to ride to the spot I usually trailer to. But there wasn’t lots of snow, it just stayed and then melted abruptly in early March, the day I bought my sled…….

Typically 8 weeks with a 1.5 hour truck ride to get to snow.


Sent from the Island of Misfit Toys.