This it the second season I've owned my sled and I'm looking to make some road trips around the province. I live just outside of Winnipeg and I'm getting a little bored with ditches and straight, flat farmer's fields. I'm wondering what other Manitobans or people familiar with riding in Manitoba feel the best places to ride are. I prefer to see some hills, turns, etc, and either some wilderness or something scenic. I don't mind if trails aren't perfectly groomed, and I'd like to hear about any off-trail riding I should do as well.
I've done the Grand Beach / Powerview / Lac du Bonnet area, which is very nice, although I haven't been up Lee River or up to Nopiming. I'm very familiar with the Whiteshell, but I've never ridden a snowmobile there. From the snoman map it looks like the trails around West Hawk and Falcon would be entertainment for about a day. How is the trail up to Rennie from Falcon? The north Whiteshell looks enticing.
I'm also considering heading west as well. I know the Pembina Valley is a very nice area to drive a car around, and I would imagine the trails must be pretty nice too.
Does anyone have any experience with these areas, and are there others I should consider? What are the must-ride areas of the province?
I've done the Grand Beach / Powerview / Lac du Bonnet area, which is very nice, although I haven't been up Lee River or up to Nopiming. I'm very familiar with the Whiteshell, but I've never ridden a snowmobile there. From the snoman map it looks like the trails around West Hawk and Falcon would be entertainment for about a day. How is the trail up to Rennie from Falcon? The north Whiteshell looks enticing.
I'm also considering heading west as well. I know the Pembina Valley is a very nice area to drive a car around, and I would imagine the trails must be pretty nice too.
Does anyone have any experience with these areas, and are there others I should consider? What are the must-ride areas of the province?
hlmrx1
TY 4 Stroke Guru
How far do you ride in one day? The Whiteshell is very nice and you could stage in several locations and do a small or big loop. Sandylands is also a very nice area to ride. Some people I often run into stage at the 59ner and loop right through Grand Beach, Pine Falls, Nopamin, Bird River, Lac du Bonnet, and back through Beausejour. Can't speak for the west side of the Province as I haven't been there to ride, but the La Riviere area south west of Winnipeg is nice too. It really depends on where you want to stage from and how far you want to go in one day. On the annual Manitoba TY ride, we've been staging in Beasejour and last year in Lac du Bonnet and do at least 3 loops in 3 days. Hecla one day, Whiteshell another and Nopamin on the last typically. A small group often get together that same week and do a few 300 mile marathons. Wonder who that would be, lol???
Not sure if the official ride will happen this year as we've lost the main guy planning it, but there are a few of us that will probably get together for a ride. Check out the TY Rides post under the General forums and look for the Manitoba TY ride for more info.
Not sure if the official ride will happen this year as we've lost the main guy planning it, but there are a few of us that will probably get together for a ride. Check out the TY Rides post under the General forums and look for the Manitoba TY ride for more info.
I guess I'd consider 200 miles a good day of riding, though it would depend on the trails. La Riviere is definitely an area I have been eye-balling for the west. I have read the Manitoba ride threads as well. What's Hecla like?
hlmrx1
TY 4 Stroke Guru
The Hecla area itself is quite nice, but the ride from Victoria Beach across the lake can be brutle if it's cold or rough. It's long. Usually the ride comes back on the other side of the lake and crosses from Wpg Beach to Grand Beach I believe. I've missed that ride most of the time as it's not my favorite.
Swiss Sledder
TY 4 Stroke God
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Without a doubt, one of the best rides in Manitoba is from Lac du Bonnet up to Nopiming Lodge for lunch, then doing the loop through the woods before coming back to the lodge for petrol and heading back to Lac du Bonnet.
My other favourite loop is leaving from Beausejour and heading north to Gimli, then riding up the lake to Riverton and taking the loop through Arborg. There is a little restaurant there where three old ladies make some of the best soup you will ever have. Continue on the loop back to Gimli on a very fast trail with wide sweeping turns.
But the best loop is starting in Lac du Bonnet and heading south to Richer, then down through the Sandilands to Sprague, then up to Falcon Lake, then through the Whiteshell back to Lac du Bonnet. It is a 300 mile loop that is an absolute blast. We did it last year leaving at 10:00 when it was -37 and was back at the hotel that eveing at 20:00.
My other favourite loop is leaving from Beausejour and heading north to Gimli, then riding up the lake to Riverton and taking the loop through Arborg. There is a little restaurant there where three old ladies make some of the best soup you will ever have. Continue on the loop back to Gimli on a very fast trail with wide sweeping turns.
But the best loop is starting in Lac du Bonnet and heading south to Richer, then down through the Sandilands to Sprague, then up to Falcon Lake, then through the Whiteshell back to Lac du Bonnet. It is a 300 mile loop that is an absolute blast. We did it last year leaving at 10:00 when it was -37 and was back at the hotel that eveing at 20:00.
