Break Out of your Rut!
Ride somewhere new to you this winter.
Story and photos by David Wells
Originally published in the December 2016 issue of Snow Goer
Have you ridden your local trails so often that you know every turn, every tree and every bump between your home and favorite pit stop three townships away?
Particularly those of you who regularly frequent the prime riding locations in the East, are you so familiar with Flat Rock Road that you can put your sled on autopilot all the way from Montague to Centerville Road? Have you taken Trail 5 to Inlet so often that you could ride it in your sleep?
If you see yourself in that picture, it’s time to face the facts: You’re in a rut. You need to ride somewhere new to you this winter.
Here are a few ideas to help you break out of your rut that were selected from some of the very best places we’ve ridden in the East over the past decade or so.
Chautauqua County, New York
Chautauqua County is New York’s snowy secret because this southwestern gateway to the Empire State is blessed with loads of lake effect snow just like Tug Hill. And this plateau area that is 1,500-feet above Lake Erie holds onto the snow just like Tug Hill, too. But not many outsiders have experienced this remarkable winter playground, so visit now before it’s discovered by the thundering herd.
Nearly 450 miles of well-marked and mapped trails lead along unplowed roads and abandoned railroad beds, then roll through open fields and dense state forests. Some trails offer superb scenic views from high vantage points. And a fleet of 23 large groomers operated by five clubs expertly maintains this network.
If you like ice running, Chautauqua Lake is one of the biggest in the state. This sizeable county is dotted with trail heads, or you can ride right from the door of many lodging establishments. And most trails lead to clubhouses and a multitude of great pit stops situated throughout the county. Chautauqua County has excellent and plentiful support services, too, with good lodging, a variety of dining and dealerships for all brands. Our favorites start with Webb’s Lake Resort in Mayville. Their craft bourbons and exceptional restaurant provide an outstanding finish to a great day on the trails, which are accessible right from the resort’s expansive parking lot.
Our favorites continue with Peak ‘n’ Peak Resort near Findley Lake, Pine Junction with its famous “Horse Balls” dessert and annual vintage sled event, Sandy’s White Horse Inn in Cassadaga, the historic Witch Kitch Tavern in Sinclairville and Tom’s Tavern in Maple Springs. And Chautauqua Lake Snowmobile Services
(clsnowmobiles.com), stands ready to help with trail guides, rental sleds, trailering, and sled recovery services.
But what I like best about riding here is that nowhere in New York State rolls out the red carpet for snowmobilers like Chautauqua County. The people here are genuinely glad to see you, and they want you to have a great time while responsibly enjoying their trails and pit stops. So what are you waiting for? Located roughly half way between Buffalo and Cleveland, access is easy via I-90 or I-86. For more information, contact the Chautauqua County Visitors Bureau at tourchautauqua.com or 866/908-4569.
Allegheny National Forest,
Pennsylvania
Located on high ground that holds snow when the rest of the Keystone State is browned out, the Allegheny National Forest covers well over a half-million acres in parts of four counties in northwestern Pennsylvania.
Inside this “Land of Many Uses” are more than 360 miles of snowmobile trails including the generally well-marked 114-mile “loop run” around the forest. There is unusual good scenery on the Kiasutha side trail, particularly at Jake’s Rocks – a group of huge erratic boulders – and the Kinzua Dam and reservoir that Johnny Cash sang about in his ground-breaking Bitter Tears album (“Cornplanter, can you swim?”).
There are also many opportunities to see small oil wells that are still harvesting superb Pennsylvania crude right at trail side, another unusual bit of scenery that is unique to this part of the state. And keep a sharp eye out for the abundant and diverse wildlife found there.
Some of the trails, like the hilltop runs south of Westline, are actually joint-use roads shared with big trucks servicing the area’s natural resource harvesting, so riding in this region is actually better on weekends when there are fewer wheeled vehicles around. One connector trail leads 40 miles north to access another 100 miles or so of great trails in the rugged pre-glacial scenery of Allegany State Park in New York (note the different spellings between the states), but you must be registered in New York in advance to take advantage of that opportunity.
In some ways, riding the Allegheny National Forest is a throwback to earlier days. Trail marking isn’t strong away from “the Loop” so there’s a premium on navigational skills, especially map reading. Grooming is generally good, but some areas are simply better than others. Services are sparse, but available.
We have enjoyed lodging, meals and guide service from the Lantz Corners Getaway, strategically located on the corner of historic U.S. Route 6 and Route 219. We strongly recommend a hearty breakfast at the Kelly Hotel in Marienville, and we’ve had great dinners at both the Bucktail Hotel in Marienville and the historic Westline Inn, so bring your appetite. Believe me, you will not leave any of these places hungry.
The Allegheny National Forest is an absolute treasure that many riders overlook for better-known areas. Located just a few hours’ drive from anywhere in Pennsylvania, much of upstate New York and eastern Ohio, it offers a unique riding experience. For more information, contact the Allegheny National Forest Vacation Bureau at Allegheny-vacation.com or 800/473-9370.
Lake George/Warren County, New York
If fabulous Adirondack Mountain scenery is what you crave, nowhere has better snowmobiling - or scenery - than the Lake George/Warren County area of eastern New York State. The views here are simply incomparable, the trails are excellent for the most part, and this area has some of the best trailside support services we’ve found anywhere in the eastern states. Plus, access to this area is a piece of cake from pretty much anywhere in the East.
The 270-degree panorama from the top of 2,205-foot Prospect Mountain, right outside of Lake George, is the best snowmobile-accessible natural scenic view anywhere in the Empire State, and maybe in the whole eastern U.S. I can’t think of any place that tops it, partly because on a good day you can see for more than 100 miles.
Getting topside doesn’t take a feat of skilled mountaineering, either. It’s an easy 6-mile cruise to the top on a paved highway that is closed to wheeled vehicles for the winter and groomed daily for snowmobile use. Even a 10-year-old kid can handle this ride to the top with ease.
After that enthralling view, more than 300 miles of mapped, marked and groomed trails connect you to other outstanding scenery. One spot I particularly enjoy is the view from the top of Kipp Mountain in northern Warren County, with Loon Lake on one side and
Schroon Lake extending north into Essex County on the other side.
Trailside support services are uncommonly good here, too. We really enjoyed staying at the Holiday Inn Lake George Resort, not just because it’s only a few hundred yards from the start of the highway up Prospect Mountain, but also because it provides amenities not usually found in lodging with trail proximity, and because its dining room is a cut above the usual hotel experience.
We’ve found great dining elsewhere else in Warren County, too, including amazing appetizers like Cajun shrimp and calamari at the Waterhouse Restaurant in Lake Luzerne. You just don’t find culinary fare like this in most snowmobile hangouts. Further north, O.P. Frederick’s, located on a back water of Loon Lake in Chestertown, is another restaurant where we’ve enjoyed an excellent trail break and meal.
So if it’s outstanding riding with fabulous scenery that you crave, or if members of your riding crew want more than just a place to ride your brains out, you need to visit Lake George and the rest of Warren County. Access is a snap from much of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Massachusetts via the interstate highway system to the Northway, otherwise known as I-87. For more information, contact the Warren County Tourism Department at visitlakegeorge.com.