8 FALL 2021 ISSUE 01 / VOL . 03 SNOWGOER . COM
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Over the years I have become convinced that people who only ride from their own back yard are missing virtually all of the best that snowmobiling has to offer . Seeing what ’ s over the next hill , and then the next one , and then the one after that is what separates snowmobiling from all other winter activities .
So traveling to ride has become a way of life for me and many serious snowmobilers . There ’ s always snow somewhere , and that somewhere can be a pretty interesting place to see . So even if it ’ s only one real trip per winter , getting out of your own back yard really broadens your horizons and significantly increases your enjoyment of the sport . During my more than 50 years of snow riding , I have been privileged to put down tracks in states and provinces from the Atlantic Ocean to the Continental Divide and north well into the Arctic Ocean watershed . So choosing five favorite riding areas in the East wasn ’ t easy because there are so many great trails with so much great scenery and things to do that are supported by so many great services strung all across the northeastern states and eastern Canada .
But , if you are looking for some new trails to ride this winter , here are five areas that are at the top of my list of great places to explore .
The County , Maine
There are two things you need to know about The County : It ’ s a long way from almost anywhere ; and if you are a serious snowmobiler , it ’ s worth the trip .
Aroostook County is the largest and most northerly county in the eastern United States , so it has an unusually long snow season . If there ’ s snow anywhere in the East , it ’ s up in the St . John River Valley at the northern end .
Surrounded on three sides by Canada , and taking up the entire northern 20 percent of Maine , The County is larger than four states , and almost as big as either Vermont or New Hampshire . And within it is some of the most varied and enjoyable riding anywhere . Rail trails make it easy to cover ground quickly to access woods trails , roll-