Snowmobile Trails

Editor’s note: The following is the trail conditions report compiled by members of the Maine Snowmobile Association. Those seeking the complete report can visit mesnow.com

Aroostook County

ITS 83 – Sherman, Whetstone – groomed, with good conditions.

ITS 81 – Sherman, Mattawamkeag – groomed to Benedicta. Rest of trail to cutoff will be groomed on Thursday.

No. 70 – Benedicta, Whetstone has been groomed once, needs more snow.

Aroostook Report 1/15: Up to four inches of new snow in some places added to the base of minimal snow cover and trails around the crown remain in excellent condition. Most projects have been grooming regularly and with little visiting traffic locals can enjoy some great riding.

Good news, Rte. 85D is open from Eagle Lake to Allagash. Also ITS 92 has been groomed to Big Black for sledders wishing to take a scenic ride, but there is no through route to St. Pamphile at this time.

North to south ITS 81 is groomed from Madawaska south to the ITS 85 connection. ITS 83 groomed in its entirety through southern Aroostook County, sledders should expect to check locally if they are traveling farther south. ITS 85 is in good shape from Fort Kent to Oxbow and Masardis. East to west ITS 86 is open and groomed from Littleton to Oxbow. ITS 88 is in good shape as well as ITS 90 from Fort Fairfield to Portage.

Houlton-Linneus 1/15: Trails are being groomed daily and looking good. Sledders should use caution on rivers and lakes. Drews and Nickerson are froze good but still should use caution. The Linneus area is signed and in perfect condition.

Penobscot, Piscataquis

Millinocket Area 1/15: New England Outdoor Center Web site reporting that grooming was once again close to perfect. Continued very cold nights and light early season traffic are leaving our trail system in excellent shape. Riding between now and the weekend may actually be some of the very best of the year with the trails flat and firm with just the right amount of loose snow on the surface. Groomers worked on the lower end of the Staceyville road, ITS 86 East from Millinocket, and while the old previously plowed stretch of the trail should still be ridden with caution, it is now in good to very good shape.

Medway 1/13: Medway has a good base and grooming is in progress.

Sebec 1/13: Have started grooming on a limited basis. ITS82 is open but the first two miles into Sebec Village from Rte. 16 is through the woods and very rough. All Club trails have been packed and most have been groomed. Use extreme caution watch out for the stumps and rocks that will need more snow to cover. More snow is needed to begin full grooming operations.

Brownville 1/13: Have started grooming but on a very limited basis. The trails on the roads are not in too bad of shape but the woods trails don’t have enough snow yet to be safe. Rocks and stumps are showing through. Need another foot of snow to cover them. Railroad bed to K.I. is in good shape, with good of trail riding in the mountains.

Greater Bangor

Hampden 1/17: Trails will be groomed and riding good Saturday for the Fourth Annual Five Club Poker Run

Winterport 1/14: Trails are very good. Are dragging day and night. There are a few minor problem areas – nothing that a couple inches of snow wouldn’t cure.

Dedham 1/13: Bald Mountain Snow Riders club secretary Tim Wakeland mentions that they are grooming, snow has been light and fluffy so trails are a little boney – use caution.

Greater Moosehead

Greenville 1/17: In spite of the thinning snow in some areas, there is great riding in this area. The ITS trails are being groomed or panned every night. We are making the most of that foot of snow that we got two weeks ago. We urge caution on the icy corners, particularly on the ITS system. The club trails are holding very well and will all be groomed again for the weekend.

We have 2 areas of logging operation – just beyond the Worsters Bridge on 85/86 north and on a club trail on Scammon Ridge behind the club house. Please go slow in both of these areas – they are well signed.

Abbot 1/16: For the most part, trails in and around Abbot are in good shape. We could use some more snow in some sections of the trail system. Please watch for some icing on corners. Groomers will be out so give them a break when approaching. Please stay on marked trails and off plowed roads, we don’t want to lose any land owner permissions. All inter-connecting trails to the Forks, Bingham areas are closed for the season due to woods operations.

Rockwood 1/15: For the most part, trails in and around Rockwood are great. We could use some more snow in the wooded sections of the trail system. Once you get five miles out of town the riding is flat and fast. Please watch for some icing on corners. The trail across Moosehead Lake has been marked and is safe for crossing. Do not venture off this trail as ice conditions vary across the lake. The Birches Web site reporting trails groomed and in great shape. Rte. 66 Rockwood to Kineo open across lake, but there’s a large pressure ridge near Kineo, which is well marked. Use caution.